Flowerfield ~ Han Jisung ✓

chapter 23 »:(

The next day I go to school even earlier than usual, even though the chances of seeing Jisung at this hour are slim. Nevertheless, it gives me time to process my worries before I hopefully do get to see him. Because after what happened yesterday, I was left extremely concerned about him, but I don't think he'd want me to pity or worry about him, so I'm trying to control it.

I just hope he's okay.

Though my locker is working perfectly fine, I breathe a sigh of relief when I open it and find Jisung's backpack still hanging safely on the hook, since he didn't mind running back to class to fetch it yesterday.

I wonder how he dealt with being absent from all his classes. His parents were definitely called, but maybe he communicated with them. Now I'm wondering if his parents know he has anxiety, or if he was hiding it from them as well.

I wonder who exactly this secret was kept hidden from. Everybody? Or just me?

Maybe today, if Jisung is comfortable talking about it, I can ask him all these looming questions.

I spend the extra time I have before school starts by studying slash procrastinating in the form of watching my current favourite k-drama. Well invested in the fifth episode, which I don't get the opportunity to finish, a multitude of students begin pouring into the school, causing ruckus around the lockers and making their way to their respective classes.

"Sooyun."

I eagerly turn to face the person who called my name, only to see it's Minho.

"What's up?" I greet him.

"What exactly happened to Jisung yesterday? He already told me, but not much."

Considering for a moment whether Jisung would be okay with me telling Minho, I decide to do it because it's his best friend who's likely also worried about him, and as he said, Jisung already told him the basis of it. So I explain everything that happened in semi-full detail, and he listens.

After I'm done, Minho nods but says nothing at all. I use the occasion to ask him one of my burning questions.

"Did you know...?"

"That he has–yes, I knew. I'm surprised he didn't tell you, actually."

"Oh."

And now, another flood of questions surface in my mind, having me question everything about my relationship with Jisung and whether we're even as close as we thought. Because if so, why wouldn't he tell me too? But the doubts are quickly tossed away because it's his choice to tell who he wants and that shouldn't have any say in our friendship. Hopefully.

The first bell suddenly rings, catching both Minho and I unawares.

"Also, is he not here yet?"

I take a good look around, just for good measure, but I haven't seen him at all yet.

"No...maybe he's running late?" I respond. "Um, I have his bag. Do you want to take it?"

"Sure."

Once I hand over the bag, I head to mathematics alone.

Halfway into class, Jisung still hasn't shown up and the atmosphere is visibly more quiet and calm, compared to other days. There is no chit-chat coming from our table, no clever comebacks to Ms. Woo, no funny jokes the entire class hears but the teacher chooses to ignore. And I'm sure I'm not alone when I say it's a lot more boring this way.

I'm still thinking about all this when suddenly, Mrs. Woo is making her way directly towards me. In the blink of an eye, I focus back on my worksheet and pretend I was doing it the entire time.