Overshadowed || Han Jisung

3

  "Hey! Hey are you alright?!?" Someone ran towards me, the echo of their shoes coming from an uncertain direction. I tried to nod and say yes when I noticed my throat was to dry to speak.

  "Here, it was unopened, take a drink."

  I felt a cold liquid drip down my throat, the stranger holding onto my shoulder to keep me from falling. I took a deep breath with my eyes closed, trying to get ahold of myself.

  When I opened my eyes again, my vision must've still been messed up. Jisung sat in front of me with his lips pressed into a sad smile and a plastic water bottle in his hand. "Are you okay?"

  I couldn't bring myself to speak. I just awkwardly nodded, pulling down at my sleeves. He attempted to hand me the water, but I watched his eyes shift as I noticed how shakey my hand was. He instead brought it to my mouth to help me take another sip.

  I pulled the tie out of my shirt, covering my pronounced ribcage. Quickly shuffling to get my flannel and mask, I managed to get to my feet, quickly bow, and run away.

  I ignored the dizziness, running all the way home, sneaking back into the basement window and back up to my room.

  Upon changing my clothes, I noticed one of the bandages on my thigh was soaked in blood. The sight worsening my condition as I ran to the bathroom, making it to the toilet to throw up.

  Shit... Now I have to avoid Jisung..

It didn't take long for me to pass out after getting comfortable in bed. Was it from blood loss or lack of food? Probably both, but I didn't care. Eating was just a chore.

---

  The next day, I caught Jisungs eyes in the hallway. I immediately looked away and kept walking, knowing he will give up eventually. He never tried to approach me, so that was good.

  Time came for lunch, so I returned to the roof. My body was extremely weak today, but that was expected. I had thrown up my breakfast so I really wasn't in the mood to try again.

  I pulled out a cigarette and took a big puff, letting it out with a big sigh. Laying my head on the ledge, I lightly hummed a song I had stuck in my head.

  It was a cloudy day, a droplet of water dropping from the sky every so often. I enjoyed it, the temperature being perfect for my comfort level.

I love the smell of rain..

It's comforting

  I was dreading dance. I knew I didn't have the energy, and I couldn't sit out because Yuriko would worry. It was also going to be impossible to avoid Jisung if he approaches me.

  Time seemed to go faster. I was already walking into the dance room, meeting Yuriko in the back as students still walked in.

  "Hey, you look pale.. are you okay?" She frowned, feeling my forehead. I forced a chuckle, knowing she was in a good mood today. "I'm okay, I am just tired. What's got you all bubbly today?"

  She shook it off, shrugging her shoulders as the bell rang.

  So far, he didn't look back once. When it came time for him to start helping people, I made sure I was doing exactly as I usually do so maybe he'd figure out I'm not going to try.

  As he walked back, I couldn't help but get anxious, a wave of nausea hitting me. He was suddenly in front of me, leaning closer. "Stay after the bell, we should talk."

  No, we really shouldn't

  He walked away, helping our peers get the dance moves down. I was to panicked to focus on that, repeating the easiest move to not get caught slacking by the teacher.

  When the class came to an end, I booked it out of the door. I got out of the building, finding Yurikos car in the parking lot and sitting on the ground behind it to hide.

  I became lightheaded, doing everything I could to get back to my feet by the time Yuriko got outside.

  "What was that? You didn't even wait for me?" She crossed her arms, looking down at me on the ground. I pulled myself up, nervously chuckling. "I uh- I dont-"

  "You are acting strange today, are you sure you're okay?"

  I placed a hand on her shoulder, blinking a few times to keep my vision straight. "Yeah, I'm okay. I was trying to avoid an awkward conversation with an annoying girl.. sorry."

  She let out a chuckle, opening the door. "Don't scare me like that Mori, next time just ask me to walk with you and I'll tell whoever it is to back off."

  I forced a chuckle, nodding my head. "Okay, I will."

-- four days later --

   Loud chatter filled the school this morning. So far, I've been able to avoid Jisung, though it wasn't easy. He tried pretty hard the first few times but it was obvious be started to give up.

  He had been sparing me less glaces in the hall and didn't try to talk to me again during dance, I thought I was off the hook.

  I went up to the roof for lunch once again today. I found a small sticky note on the rail, folded in half.

  Cigarettes are bad for you, you know?

  Of course I know that. Why else would I smoke them?

  Whoever this was... knows I sit up here almost every day.

  I was able to brush it off until I arrived to vocal training and found another folded sticky note at my desk.

You have a pretty voice, be confident, you know? :)

Who in the-

I looked around the room, not noticing anyone suspicious. It started to make me annoyed, feeling like I was being stalked.

Who would go out of their way to talk to me, let alone leave notes?

When I arrived to dance, Yuriko was having a conversation with Jisung. I cursed under my breath, throwing my stuff to the side and sitting in my spot to stretch.

"No before class chat?" Yuriko frowned with the worried looking boy next to her. I nervously chuckled. "I haven't felt super talkative, sorry Yuri."

"It's okay, I have time to drop you off at home so wait for me, okay?" She ruffled my hair, getting in her spot to stretch as well. Jisung also walked away without a word, giving me relief that he did indeed give up.

The class went by as usual. By the time the end rolled around, I took my time stretching until the boy left the classroom.

I walked back to my stuff and Yuri, meeting her furrowed brows. "What?"

"Why are you avoiding Jisung? He wants to be friends."

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