Hate Tutor || Hong Jisoo||

CHAPTER 38

Author's Pov:

The practice started and everyone was shocked seeing Haeun so quite. "Stop", Seungcheol said, "Joshua, what's wrong with you?".

"Uhh, sorry. Actually I didn't have proper sleep last night. But I'll not make mistake again", Joshua said.

The tension between Joshua and Haeun was palpable. "Try not to make mistake again. We need to take this seriously", Seungcheol warned him.

Joshua sighed his again meeting Haeun but she avoided his gaze. "Let's start again", Jihoon said. Everyone agreed.

The music slowly started, Haeun looked at Joshua who already had his eyes on her.

Secretly laughing, secretly crying
While hiding my state [of mind]
The day that seems too much for me passes by...

His gaze never wavered from hers. Haeun felt the weight of his unspoken confession, the melody wrapping around her like a fragile thread. But she couldn't meet his eyes. Not after what had happened.

It was now almost the end of the song, Jihoon's voice was joined by Seungkwan and Joshua whose eyes still bored Haeun's.

To me you are very precious
You can tell me today was tough
I am here, you suffered a lot
I love you
I will hug you.

Haeun's vision blurred with tears. She couldn't bear it- the guilt, the longing. She stood abruptly, knocking her chair backward. The others stared, shocked, but she didn't care. She ran out of the auditorium, her heart shattering with each step.

"Haeun", Yerin called her but she had left. She turned to everyone, "What happened to her?". Without wasting a second, Joshua kept his guitar aside running behind her.

"Haeun", he shouted trying find her. He ran around trying to find her. "Aish, where is this girl?", He whispered.

He ran around the campus until he saw her sitting on bench. Before he could approach her, Seungcheol already did. "What's wrong, hmm? Why are you crying?", he asked.

Joshua stopped. Haeun shook her head, "Nothing's wrong. I-I just-", she turned away just to see Joshua who was standing at a distance.

Seungcheol looked at Joshua, "Oh you are here". Joshua nodded, "You can go. I will be here".

"Oh, fine. I'll go", Seungcheol said getting up. Joshua who felt a spark of jealousy said, "I just ran around the campus to find you. Just to see you along with Seungcheol".

Haeun looked at him, her eyes red because of tears. "What do you mean?", she frowned. Joshua scoffed, "What's the important thing you want to tell me? Your love for Seungcheol?".

"It's nothing like that, Joshua. Don't make your own stories", Haeun snapped. Joshua chuckled, "Why are angry on this? I thought that you rejected me because of your mother but now I realised you still like Seungcheol".

"What has my mother to with it?", Haeun asked. "There's a lot you don't know, Haeun", Joshua answered leaning in. Haeun glared at him, "First of all why are you bringing my mother into it? And no, I don't like Seungcheol anymore".

"Who do you like then? That 14 year old boy?", Joshua asked. Haeun stared at him, "What's wrong with you Joshua? You are behaving so weird right now".

"Haeun", Soonyoung came running. He saw her red face, "Oh my, did you cry again?", he cupped her face. Haeun tightly hugged him, "I'm going home, Soonyoung. I had enough".

Soonyoung glanced at Joshua who realised the way he spoke to her. "Please, stay Haeun. Eomma is not home. No one will be, I can't let you go alone. Not in this situation".