ALL HE CAN GIVE.

(NOT)* 2 THINKING OF HIM

Seo Do Yoon's POV

I am supposed to be practicing a school piece, not playing the drums randomly. Granted, it is my school break, and a little relaxing wouldn't hurt anyone, but hitting the drums right now is relaxing me, more so distracting me.

It has been A WEEK! Since I saw Ju Ha, "I guess I'm going to be seeing you more" has a different meaning than I thought, or maybe I shouldn't have put too much thought into just nine words. Words that circled in my mind nonstop, making me smile randomly like an idiot. Words that were a catalyst for me texting him multiple times, more than usual. Asking how his day had been and what he had eaten. And ... let's not think about it.

He didn't respond; worse yet, he left me on read after the last three messages. I could take that as a sign that he is not a good texter. We never texted much before anyway, but I thought after our last "goodbye," something he has never done before. I thought we had gotten closer, so those nine words no longer bring me joy. Otherwise, I wouldn't be drumming for hours or maybe more. I couldn't be sure. The only indication of time I have is that my hands are going numb and stinging with every hit I make.

A small, faint buzz has me dropping my sticks and lunging to my side table, Someone has texted me. I pray it's Ju Ha. I know I shouldn't get my hopes up, but when have I ever been rational when it comes to him? I unlock my phone and navigate to the message icon in almost second-nature motion. The name with a notification next to it isn't Ju Ha's; my shoulders slightly droop as I click on Se Heon's name.

"Hey, are you free? Wanna hang out? I've missed your ass" the text said. I almost responded with a "yeah sure" when another text appeared.

"Tae I is here to" and that was my cue to say no, being a third wheel right now would only make me feel worse.

What if I left the house, got distracted, and missed Ju Ha's text? On the other end, it is better than staying cooped up waiting for someone who probably isn't thinking about me like a pathetic loser. I am a loser, but that's beside the point. I'll be less of a loser if I leave the house for a few hours, take my mind off "things".

I might not meet up with Heon, but I can find someone else. I scroll looking for suitable options and settle on Jae won, he is in the same grade as me, but in a different class. He is a good guy, a little direct but fun to be around. We have hung out multiple times, at the court and outside school. I would consider him an acquaintance; he probably sees me as a friend, but who cares about such logistics? I sent him a text asking if he is down to hang out. I expect it to take a while; it is 2:03 pm, and I am assuming he is probably doing something. I assumed wrong cause he responds immediately with the location of a pc room.

"I am here." He texts.

Nothing could be more perfect than wasting an entire evening on video games to get your mind off things.

"I will be there in a few," I respond as I pocket my phone and grab the nearest jacket before walking out of my room.

I wanted to stop by the study to tell my dad I will be heading out, but the green sticky note on the fridge suggests he is not home, another business trip? Or meeting? I don't care. I ensure I lock the front door and gate behind me before heading out to the pc room, it is a couple of blocks away, at least a fifteen-minute walk.

It was a seventeen-minute walk, I thought, as I walked into the business. The room is in the darker side, the streaks of LED lights not doing much to illuminate the place. There is a slight stuffy smell, expected for a place filled with unemployed teenagers, and a ridiculously loud humming aircon is trying hard to fight the smell, but failing on that, instead it keeps the room cool, if I didn't have a jacket on, I would be forming goosebumps.