Yuju sat silently at her desk, working on her assignments. It was already almost 11 PM, but why should she lie helplessly in bed when she could do something for school? With her insomnia, she wouldn't be able to sleep anyway, so it was smarter to get something done for school.
Speaking of school, today had been eventful for her. During the breaks, she spent them, as usual, in the new building area, but today with Heeseung. He had appeared out of nowhere and spent both breaks with Yuju. It felt like they were really friends because he had laughed with her. Actually, she had expected him to ignore her all day, but he hadn't in the breaks.
His whole behavior confused her. Why did he act like he didn't know her when other people were around, but when they were alone, it was as if they were friends? She had tried multiple times to get closer to him in the classroom, but either he turned away from her, or someone else intervened.
But his three friends, Sunghoon, Riki, and Jungwon, had greeted her today as they entered the classroom. Since their encounter last week, they greeted each other whenever they saw each other. Yuju was starting to feel sympathy for the three of them. Although she didn't know what they thought of her, she thought they were actually quite nice.
Last week, she overheard Garam and her friends gossiping about her, which wasn't surprising. From the beginning, Yuju had known that the diva was just using her for a good grade. Why would she hang out with a shy and introverted freak? Garam would just finish the project with her and hopefully never speak to Yuju again. Yuju couldn't stand fake people.
Exhausted, Yuju leaned back and closed her eyes. On top of everything else, her boss Jaeyun was also a bother. He had once again asked her out on a date, but, as usual, Yuju turned him down.
"Yuju Dongsaengii," a tired voice piped up at the door. Yuju looked in the direction of the voice and saw Yuria. Not to forget, her fourth problem.
Yuria stood leaning against the door. This time, she wasn't wearing her usual skimpy clothes, which she always wore when coming home, but today she was in gray sweatpants and a green hoodie. Her hair wasn't styled as usual either; it was open, like she had just been through a tornado.
The older sister walked up to the younger one and stood in front of her. Yuju scrutinized her. Her sister's odd appearances always left Yuju uncertain about what she would say. One day she'd come and insult her, and another day she'd show up with a mental breakdown and cry to Yuju. It would be interesting to see what today would bring.
"Can you give me some money?"
In no time at all, Yuju pushed Yuria out of her room and locked the door. Her sister started banging on the door, crying and begging for money.
"Is she completely out of her mind?" Yuju wondered and fell onto her bed. It seemed like her savings weren't enough for her sister. Yuju couldn't wait to turn 18 and move out, so she wouldn't have to see her selfish and narcissistic sister anymore. Yuria had caused her enough harm already.
Speaking of harm, suddenly Yuju felt a sharp pain in her chest. She stood up and searched for her medication, which she found, but it was empty.
"Shit," she cursed, and had no choice but to go to a pharmacy to buy more. Although she didn't have much money left, what she did have would be enough for the new medication.
She threw on her fluffy jacket and left the apartment. It was almost midnight, and only one pharmacy was open at this hour. Luckily, it was just 15 minutes from Yuju's apartment because she hated walking alone at night in Seoul. It had happened several times before when she was in convenience stores at that hour, and she had the feeling someone was following her.
She walked quickly down the streets. It was cold, so she pulled her jacket tighter and put her hood up. She walked through alleys, which she hated, but it was the shorter path.
"Excuse me," Yuju startled when she bumped into someone's back because she couldn't see anything due to the darkness, and the streetlights in this alley were broken. The person turned around, looking her up and down before a small grin appeared on his lips. Yuju got goosebumps.
The stranger looked a little older than her, maybe by 10 years. He reeked of alcohol and cigarettes. He wasn't much taller than her.
"What's such a little thing doing here at this hour?" he asked, stepping closer to her. Yuju's heart hurt, and she placed her hand on the spot. Of course, her stupid heart had to hurt at this moment!
"Do you want to be my baby, and I'll be your dad—"
"Sorry again," Yuju bowed and quickly started walking away. She hoped she was just imagining the footsteps behind her, but when she glanced back, she saw the stranger following her.
She became afraid and even tried to run, but she didn't want to take the risk. Her chest hurt, and she urgently needed her medication.
"Why are you running from your daddy?" he yelled, almost drunkenly. Yuju fumbled for her phone from her jacket pocket, and what happened next could be explained by one word: reflex.
"Yuju?"
She heard from the phone. Relieved but still tense, Yuju held the phone tightly to her ear.
"Hee- Hee- Heeseung," she trembled. She was incredibly scared.
"Who's my baby talking to?" the stranger yelled. Yuju looked around and saw she was almost at the pharmacy.
"Yuju, what's wrong?" Heeseung asked, confused.
The fourth time he had said her name.
Nervously, Yuju wanted to say something, but she couldn't because she was shaking too much and almost running. Her fear and trembling were so audible over the phone.
Suddenly, she heard a hum from her phone. The trembling stopped, and Yuju tried to focus. It felt like someone had lifted a huge weight off her shoulders.
After the hum, a small song came through the line. The song was so beautiful that Yuju completely forgot about the drunk man behind her. The song brought a smile to her face, and she felt a warmth around her heart that wasn't familial.
She reached the pharmacy and still held her phone tightly to her ear. Her chest no longer hurt, and it seemed like the stranger understood he had no chance and simply walked off. Relieved, she held the phone to her mouth and said:
"Thank you."
She quickly hung up and went into the pharmacy. She walked straight to the counter to ask for her medication. An older man approached her.
"Good evening, what do you need?" he asked with a smile. He looked tired; you could tell by the way he looked. Yuju respected people who worked late like that. She told him what medications she needed, hoping to get them quickly and head back home.
"Wait, Yedam will get it for you," said the pharmacist. Yuju froze at the name.
"Yedam?" she asked uncertainly. The pharmacist turned toward her.
"Do you know him? He's your age and doing an apprenticeship here," he smiled at her. Deep in her heart, Yuju hoped it wasn't the Yedam she knew.
"What should I get?"
An 18-year-old came out of the back room and first looked at his boss, then at Yuju. When he saw Yuju, his eyes widened.
"Is that you, Kirai Yuju?" he asked in disbelief. She looked at him, surprised in a negative way. He walked over to her and stopped in front of her.
He had grown taller, and he had a new hair color. His face had also changed a little; now he looked more mature.
"I can't believe I'm seeing you-"
"I have to go," Yuju said panickedly, looking at the pharmacist and bowing to him. Then, she ran out of the pharmacy, leaving without her medication.
YOU ARE READING
Strange Hearts || Heeseung
Fiksi Penggemar"My heart will always be yours." Kirai Yuju is an introverted and unsocial person, the girl has a sick heart, because of it she can die any second. She's an outsider at her school. Lee Heeseung is the typical popular boy that every girl wants to b...
