CHAEBEOL | minsung

nineteen

⋆˙⟡♡ ⋆˙⟡

Hyunjin was waiting with one hand stuffed into his pocket, the other scrolling through his phone. His eyes were unfocused, pretending to look at the screen but really not seeing anything. He was waiting, but he didn't want anyone to know that.

It was rare for him to be seen here, outside the lunch hall, and he was doing everything he could to avoid being noticed. His body curved inwards, tucked into the side of one locker, and he kept his head tilted down. Head down, but eyes up.

"Felix?"

The blonde had come out on his own, so Hyunjin braved himself. The name was murmured, quiet in the bustling corridor, but Felix heard it.

"Hyunjin?" Felix locked eyes with him with a frown. "What are you doing here?"

Shifty eyes glanced side to side. "Can we talk somewhere? Somewhere quieter?"

Felix's frown grew, but he nodded his head. Gestured for Hyunjin to follow him, and led him through a doorway just past the lunch hall out to a secluded spot outside.

"You didn't tell me that Jisung hit Jeongin." Through gritted teeth, Hyunjin said it without looking at him.

Felix, sheepish, dragged his eyes away too.

They were a funny pair; both had their eyes averted, looking at different spots in the well-maintained courtyard that Felix had brought them to. Hyunjin was leaning against a wall, and Felix stood opposite him. He was toying subconsciously with the sleeves of his school jacket.

"Were you there? When it happened?" Felix wasn't answering, so Hyunjin changed his tactics.

"I was there."

"Did you at least try to stop it?" With this, Hyunjin turned cold eyes onto Felix, only to find the younger still wasn't looking at him.

"Yes! I did try, but Jeongin bumped into Jisung in the corridor, and I thought Jeongin would just apologise and it would all be fine. But then Jisung took it too far, and Jeongin called him a narcissist, and I promise I tried to step in, but he didn't listen to me. Nobody ever listens to me." Felix's head was down, and his words were aimed at the floor. This meant Hyunjin didn't see tears gathering in the corners of squinted eyes.

He heard them, though. Heard the way they lay thick in Felix's voice.

"Hey," Hyunjin mumbled. "Don't get upset."

Shimmering eyes lifted, wide, boring into Hyunjin's. They were looking for something. Imploring, desperate. "Do you believe me?"

Hyunjin shrugged. "Jisung's a psycho, and Jeongin's not good at staying out of trouble. Your story adds up."

"I really did try to stop Jisung from doing it." Felix strained his voice to stop it from cracking.

"I believe you." Hyunjin smiled as he said it, and Felix attempted a watery smile, too.

"Where are the other prefects? You're not with them?" Hyunjin asked with a crease in his brow.

"They were in the lunch hall. I left early. Said I needed the bathroom, but I wanted... I don't know. Some space? Some fresh air?" Felix explained.

"Works for me. It's easier to speak to you alone."

The older was about to say something else - although he wasn't really sure what - when a noise behind them made both boys jump. The devil had been called, and someone had come into the courtyard, the door slamming shut noisily behind them.