CHAIN MAILS [RICKY SHEN] ✦ZEROBASEONE✦

PART 10

{ricky}

days passed & i could finally leave the hospital. i haven't seen and heard about airi ever since that night she gave me that box of chocolate.

i exited the hospital and embraced the breeze of the outside world. it's been a while, but you're still crap. i cursed at the world in my mind.

i wore the hood over my head and walked to the bus stop. while waiting for the next bus, that's arriving at twenty minutes, my phone 'ding'ed.

°

GYUVIN
•online

GYUVIN
hey i heard that u r discharged from the hospital now

GYUVIN
are u feeling better?
[seen 09:46]

RICKY
why would u care

GYUVIN
you are my friend

RICKY
*were

RICKY
that's PAST tense

RICKY
not anymore.

GYUVIN
sigh ricky, you should take care of yourself and stop being an asshole

GYUVIN
stop fighting

RICKY
you're not my mom stfu

GYUVIN
also, did u hear about airi?

RICKY
what about her?

GYUVIN
so you care about her?

GYUVIN
you immediately responded at the mention of her

RICKY
shut the fuck up.

RICKY
you and gayeon also have something, right?

GYUVIN
do you wanna know what happened to airi or not?

RICKY
not if you admit there's sumn between you and gayeon first

GYUVIN
there is nothing between us.

RICKY
like hell i would believe that

GYUVIN
like hell would you also believe that airi got suspended because of you?

RICKY
wait.. what?

GYUVIN
their strict adviser got mad when she got the news that she skipped school

GYUVIN
u always get people in trouble.

°

i bit my lower lip but then scoffed. i shouldn't worry about her anymore.

the bus i had been waiting for finally stopped by and i entered, scanning my bus pass before sitting down at a seat just beside the window.

i stared outside as we pass by a beautiful view of han river. just seeing the large amounts of water there makes me sick.

my breath hitched. i am still so sorry, jungwon. i miss you, bro.

the bus finally drove through the sight and we arrived at a more urbanized area.

when the bus stopped, i hopped out. both my hands are clenched inside my pockets, walking in an inn i could stay overnight at.

i don't wanna go home and hear my parents' nagging when i just got out from that boring, white room.

i paid in the lobby & went to the room where they told me to go to.

i opened the door with my keys and plopped down at the bed, tired.

not that long after, i fell asleep.

°

"glad you're back, ricky!" yujin put me in a headlock and ruffled my hair.

i groaned and pushed him away. "don't touch me"

he huffed, "rude."

i then happen to look over to the girl just ahead, placing something in her locker.

she closed her locker & turned at my direction, locking eyes with mine.

she didn't react or say anything but just walked at the opposite direction of where i'm at.

"hm? something happened between those two." i heard gunwook whisper.

"i know, right? maybe they fought." yujin whispered back.

"yeah what if airi said, 'no! i like gyuvin! go away!'" gunwook tried imitating a female voice.

"and ricky was like, 'no! i like you-" before yujin could say more, i lightly punched their stomachs.

"can you two shut up with your bullshits?" i glared at them and at the same time, the bell rang.

the two were crouching down, holding onto their stomachs. i rolled my eyes at their exaggeration & walked the opposite way of where my classroom is at.

"HEY DONT SKIP ANYMORE" gunwook yelled but i pretended like i didn't hear him.

i stepped out the gates and halted when i heard a voice.

"hey, there, buddy." daeyoung approached me with a smug face. "got out the hospital now?"

"fuck off." i hissed and tried walking pass him and his minions.

"don't you fear that something bad will happen to your girl?" he smirked.

i turned to him with furrowed brows, "my girl?"

he darkly chuckled. "that bitch you were with at the arcad-"

he didn't get to finish when my fist collided with his face. he & his minions were surprised by my sudden attack.

"if you do anything to her, i'll fucking kill you." i threatened. he held onto his cheek while looking at me as if i was somekind of monster.

i scoffed at him and went back in the school gates.

i'm not skipping anymore.

what if he'll do something to airi while i'm gone and just slacking off?

i know i shouldn't care about her anymore but i just can't help it.

funny, i didn't care like this for gayeon.

"then you better change and don't involve her in your fights." i recalled what her brother said.

then i'm changing.

°