Two-Sided Coin

Chapter 24

"Yook Sungjae?" I repeated, studying the black-haired boy intently. He looked vaguely familiar, but I didn't remember actually interacting with him. Sungjae nodded with an affirmative hum.

"How are you the second best thing that's gonna happen to me?" I asked him. "And while we're at it, why second best? What do you think is the sole thing that beats you?"

Sungjae let out a soft chuckle.

"Well, I think I'll be pretty important because, unlike most of the others, I'll actually listen and try to help. I realize you've been through some shit and, well, so have I," he explained, then raised a finger. "But, I know that Jeon Jungkook had been the shoulder you lean on for as long as you've lived here, so I can't possibly take the top spot."

I stood silently for a few moments, taking that in.

"How do you know so much about me?" I asked, glancing suspiciously at him. He shrugged.

"I have my ways," he told me vaguely with a smile.

Okay...

"So," he spoke after a few minutes. "What's up with you?"

I tensed. I wasn't ready for this. I'd just met him. How could I just spill? Even with Amber, who was an exception, I had kept out the most important bits.

"Alright," he breathed, then cleared his throat. "How about I tell you what you did in the class, maybe follow up with my life story, give you a couple minutes...or hours...or days... Then, you can tell me what you've been up to."

I nodded silently.

"Okay, so, basically, you totally freaked out," he started. "You kept calling yourself V and started acting really scary..."

For the half hour or so, he explained what happened back in the class. And let me tell you something about this Sungjae: when he explains something, he doesn't just tell you about it. He explains it. His whole spiel came complete with animated hand gestures, frequent derailing from the topic to add something, and self-interruptions. It was quite amusing to watch. Maybe we could really be friends.

"Then, you, like, turned back into the you you and you probably remember what happened after that, so yea..." he finished, trailing off. We both didn't talk for a little while as I ran through the whole thing in my head. It was so surreal, but for some reason, the way Sungjae told me, even though it seemed very messy, was so structured and complete, I understood it better than if anyone else described it to me.

"So, do you want to talk, or should I explain the shit childhood I had?" he suddenly asked, looking over at me with an amused look on his face. When I didn't answer, he nodded once and looked back at the street.

"So, knowing me, you wouldn't believe half of this, but I promise it's true. My father is the director of this school and my mom's an actress. You've probably heard of her..." he began talking about himself. This lasted for quite a while. He told me how when he was five years old, his mother visited his house for his birthday and he overheard his parents arguing. Long story short, he found out that his father regretted having him and that his parents hated each other and were going to divorce. Basically, the worst birthday present ever.

It went on in a similar fashion: he basically became slightly messed up in the head after that, acting out constantly. And, since his father couldn't stand him, instead of helping him, he just sent the boy into a mental institution when he was fifteen. After that, he was in and out of various hospitals, all the while holding a grudge against his father.

It was fascinating to hear about someone else's life. It really surprised me how willing he was to tell me everything. Afterward, he stared at me for a few moments, waiting for some reaction. But, I had none to give.

Finally, he stepped back with a sigh.

"Well, that's all I have," he announced, then quickly, with no warning, stuck his hand in my pocket and pulled out my phone.

"What the hell?" I yelled, reaching back for it. He calmly moved out of my reach and typed something. His own phone suddenly rang and he dismissed the call, then sent a text, my own message tone beeping. He smiled at me and held me phone out. I hesitantly took it.

"Don't worry," he assured. "I just exchanged our numbers."

I nodded and looked at my lit screen, seeing that there was a text from an unknown number, saying simply, "Whenever you're ready~~~"

"Just call me or send a text if you feel like talking," Sungjae said, then saluted me and turned, hurriedly making his way back inside. Not sure what just happened, I stared down at my phone, slowly adding his number as a new contact.

...

I didn't stick around after that.

When I heard the bell ring, I quickly walked down to the ground floor and onto the street, wanting to get home. Like last time, I only had my phone on me, but I didn't really care. All I could think about was my conversation with this Yook Sungjae.

"I'm the second best thing that's ever gonna happen to you."

Maybe that was true.

This boy, he was something. I've never met anyone like him. He was so animated and he just understood me. He really was the second person I've ever met that I felt like I could open up to.

But not now.

Soon.

Before I knew it, I was home. I felt another pang in my chest when I opened it to emptiness. I didn't see Jungkook in school, but a part of me was hoping that that's where he was. I didn't want to think that he was out on the streets somewhere. I didn't want anything bad to happen to him. I hoped he would come home soon.

With a sigh, I flopped onto my bed. The happenings of this morning were sinking in. I talked down to, then punched J-Hope. I scared the whole class. I threatened Jin, then kissed him.

My eyes fluttered open.

Oh. My. God.

I kissed Jin.