𝐒𝐔𝐂𝐊𝐄𝐑 𝐏𝐔𝐍𝐂𝐇

#.. FIFTY-SIX

jungsu's parents were called to the principal's office. the latter sat there like a small child, holding a grudge, while his parents seemed hysterical.

"what did he do this time?" his mother asked, letting out an exaggerated gasp when he turned around.

the principal sighed. "i believe it's self-explanatory." before his mother or his father could say something, he intervened.

"he punched hyeongjun!" jungsu immediately protected himself. "you can't tell me that that's fair!"

"but hyeongjun could've defended himself!" jungsu seemed surprised. "hyeongjun's my friend! of course i'll help my friend!"

the principal intervened. "it's been said that you slapped kwak jiseok, too. isn't he your friend?" jungsu felt his parents look at him in shock.

just then he realised that it was jiseok. he stayed silent, thinking about the moment.

he started a fight with suryeol after he saw how the bully started kicking hyeongjun. someone tried to pull him away from suryeol but he was too overwhelmed and slapped the person.

he didn't see who it was because he immediately got kicked in the back after this, and when he recovered the person was already gone.

jungsu knew that he fucked up. "it was jiseok..?" he asked, praying that she would deny it. but she nodded.

"he ran up to mrs choi and told her that there's a fight going on" the principal explained. "his cheek was visibly red so he told her what happened."

jungsu wasn't listening. he was faded out, deep in his thoughts. waves of regret washed over him, drowning him in them.

an escaped tear brought him back to reality. he blended out his mother shouting at him, he just focused on the principal, who looked at him like she awaited an explanation.

"i don't know why i did it..." he mumbled, quiet and timid - unusual for him.

but jungsu was really ashamed of himself. the principal sighed. "you weren't the one who started it but i still have to give you the usua punishment for that - suspension. you're suspended for two weeks. you're dismissed."

[...]

"the bandaid on your nose looks cute" jooyeon grinned as soon as hyeongjun left the room.

still wobbly on his knees, because suryeol landed a kick right in his stomach, he walked towards the boy and greeted him with a hug.

"thank you. you made me feel better about it." as jooyeon stood up and walked towards him when he walked out of the station, they were further away from the couches for waiting people.

jiseok was there, too, his legs angled to his chest and he looked deep in his thoughts. "he hasn't talked at all ever since we brought you to the nurse" jooyeon explained. sad.

they walked up to said boy, both of them having encouraging smiles on their lips. "are you okay?"

just a silent nod.

"is it because of the slap? or is there something else that bothers you?"

just a silent headshake.

"you're not in the mood for talking?"

just another nod. yet this time he looked at hyeongjun, a sad smile on his lips. it was adorable, but the background to that wasn't as adorable.

jiseok just stood up, standing besides them, waiting for them to lead the way.

and as they actually still had lessons for ten minutes, they decided against coming inside the classroom and immediately walked towards the attic, where they'd spend the break.