Strawberries | SKZITZY

10 ~ apology for nothing

Ryunjin walked back to class after the lunch break just to see Hyunjin sitting at her place again. Her blood was boiling with anger but she decided to hold back.

"What?! Am not changing places." Hyunjin said when he noticed Ryujin's deadly glare. Ryujin tapped at his arm as if saying "You are lucky, Yeji's here." A shiver ran down his spine.

"Ugh. This woman's scary." Hyunjin shook his head before turning to Yeji who chuckled at his remark. Ryunjin had long gone by then.

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The bell rang announcing the end of the classes. Chatters and noise of all sorts filled the air as students prepared to go home. Ryujin's eyes busily seeked for one person.

"Let's walk home together. We need to talk." Ryunjin positioned herself between Hyunjin and Yeji who were picking up their bags.

Yeji nodded as a reply and waved Hyunjin bye. "Ouch." Were the last words she heard Hyunjin utter. Turns out Ryujin had stomped on his foot as a revenge for the torture he had put her through that day.

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"Are you still angry about the fact that I didn't tell you about my accident?" Ryujin began to ease the increasing awkward atmosphere between them.

"No. Not at all... " Yeji denied strongly waving her hand in the air.

"Then?" Ryujin questioned.

"Wait, did something happen between you and Hyunjin when I was gone?" Ryujin exclaimed. "That jerk! Oh my God. I specifically warned him to keep away from you."

Yeji laughed out loud. "Nothing like that happened."

"Then why were you taking his side? I really hope you haven't been enchanted by his sweet talks. He's really good at that." Ryujin crossed her fingers.

"I was actually avoiding you." Yeji finally let out. Like how it should have been. She just needed to talk it out and see how it ends. If Ryujin decided to end their friendship, it would hurt but it was better than having to walk on eggshells around her.

This was like a breakthrough for Yeji. She was always the type to keep things to herself. Often bubbly and outgoing, she masked all emotions like that.

"Shall we go to a café and talk about this? Am a little nervous." Yeji suggested.

"Sure, I know one that's nearby. They have this delicious, mouth-watering matcha cheesecake. Let's go there!" Ryujin sounded way too excited as if trying to mask some sort of concern.

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"Did I do something wrong?" Ryujin asked after they had placed their order and picked a seat.

"It wasn't you. It was me who did something wrong." Yeji was nervously fidgeting with the hem of her skirt.

"Iamsorryforhavingfeelingsforyourboyfriend!" Yeji blurted out in one breath. Ryujin almost didn't catch on her words but once she did, she thought she heard her wrong.

"My boyfriend?" Ryujin's eyes widened.

"Yap. Bangchan..." Yeji stated. "I really didn't know that you two had a thing. I only realised at the hospital. Sorry."

"Uhmmm... " Ryujin paused to give room to the waitress who had brought their order.

Once the waitress left, Ryujin bursted into a laughter. "Hwang Yeji, I don't know what your tiny pretty head be telling you, but no. Chan is not my boyfriend."

Yeji was baffled to say the least. She hadn't once considered that her assumption might have been wrong.

"Then what was all that about?" Yeji recalled.

"What? The flowers? Or him feeding me?" Ryujin's eyebrows arched. "He's always been like that. Gentle and caring. To everyone. He's very attentive and giving."

"So no. We are just friends."

"Ah. You have no idea how relieved I am. Goodness gracious fyuh." Yeji fanned herself with her hand displaying relief.

"And even if I was dating him, it would still not be your fault. You can't control your heart." Ryujin placed her hand on Yeji's.

"I don't even know why I was so scared to talk to you about this. Am so glad we talked it out!" Yeji squealed like a kid.

"Well let's take pictures for Instagram." Ryujin giggled.

In the midst of taking pictures, Yeji's thoughts wondered back to Hyunjin. She was glad she took his advice. She didn't have his phone number otherwise  she would have immediately sent him a message thanking him.