Just Pretend

Back at It Again

(BEOMGYU POV)

It was time for me to go back to school. I'd stayed home for a while, but I have history again today, and I can't leave Y/N to do all the work on her own. At this point, I can no longer avoid my old friends. I have to go. I have to be brave enough to try.

I throw on a baggy gray sweatshirt and shove my phone into the pocket. Then I grab my backpack and walk out to the doorway, tying the shoelaces of my yellow converse.

"Ready to go?" My older brother asks.

"Yeah" I open the door and we leave. The jingle of his several keychains can be heard as he unlocks the car door and we hop in.

He turns up the volume of some rock song. We drive in silence to school. As we wait to turn into the school parking lot, he speaks.

"So, finally going my back?"

"Yeah, can't hide from my ex-friends forever" I say.

He nods, "I think you'll be okay, Beomgyu"

I look to him in confusion, "Really?" I ask.

"Yeah, you're pretty tough. You've been through a lot, but you always pull through. I mean, look at your music. Even with everything else, you can work really hard when you want something"

I look away as a smile forms on my face, "thanks"

We slow as he parks the car. I grab my bag and close the door behind me.

"Hey," my brother says as he pats my back, "you got this"

I smile, "thank you, bro"

Then I walk to my class. When I go with my brother to school, I'm always a little late. The halls are empty, just the other late kids rushing (or not) to class.

I gently open the door to the classroom and walk in. I try to be quiet, but even the lightest of footsteps seem loud. I notice Yeonjun first, a dark glare from the seat next to mine. Then I see Y/N. She gives me a happy, reassuring smile. And I smile too.

------

The bell rings. As my old friends walk past, most of them ignore me, or give me a cold gaze, or even pretend to be happy and distracted. But Yeonjun... the look in his eyes is different. I knew him well enough to know.

It was forced, it wasn't even mean. It was almost, pained. Lonely. He looked sad. Like he was trying to seem cool and unfazed, but the shock in his eyes and the bags under them proved otherwise. I drop my head back down to my desk.

Once everyone had left, I pulled my backpack over my shoulders and walked out, alone. Except as I exit the room, I'm met with someone else.

"Hi!" Y/N greets.

"Oh, hey" I say.

"You've been gone a while, I was worried"

"Yeah, I'm sorry. I'll catch up on the work for our project, I just-"

"Not about the project!" She stammered, "about you"

I look into her eyes. My shoulders slump down at her expression.

"You were?"

"Y-yeah," she blinked, "so, is everything okay? are you feeling any better?"

"Well, It's still been rough," I sigh, "but I'm doing better"

Her eyes light up, "that's good! While you were gone, I-"

She stops as her eyes widen, "n-nevermind" her expression falls flat and she purses her lips, "I should get to class"

"What? Is something wrong?" I grab her shoulder.

She turns to me. Her face has significantly paled, "no, everything is fine. I have to go"

I watch as she runs away. She isn't even moving in the direction of class, just away from me. What's going on with her?

------

After school, I head to the library to meet Y/N and work on our project. I set the table with my laptop, textbook, everything we need to get to work. Then I watch the clock and wait.

Tick. Tick. Tick.

Minutes go by as I sit alone. My mind wanders, has she stood me up too? Did Yeonjun spread some mean rumor while I was gone? And I flinch as I think, does she hate me now, too?

But... she was worried about me. And I know she was. Her feelings emanate from her like an aura, so genuine, you'd be stupid to doubt them. She's my friend, probably my best friend these days.

So I open her number on my phone, typing out a quick message:

Me: Where are you? We're still working after school today, right?

I wait even longer. But it's been 40 minutes now. I even try calling her, but no one answers. Panic builds in my stomach, did something happen to her?

I decide to pack up my things and try going to her house. Something's up, she's been weird all day. I need to make sure she's okay.