Cold Hearts - Mark Tuan fanfic

19 - Strangers

You drive to school because Peniel didn't pick you up. You don't see his car in the parking lot of the school either. You take out your phone and call him, but he won't answer. Phoebe and the two other girls come to you as you get out of the car.

"How's Mark?" They ask almost at the same time. 

"He's fine. I think he won't be coming to school for a while. He needs to recover." You look around. Maybe Peniel didn't take his car. "Have you seen Peniel?" 

"No. He hasn't arrived yet. Why?" Phoebe answers.

"Nothing."

First class has ended and he's still not in school. You start worrying. So, you go to the principal's office to ask if he's called in. You ask the secretary, and she says his father did call. He said Peniel is sick and can't attend school today. 

After school, you tell Sasha to lead cheerleading practice. You go to Peniel's house with food in your hand. The maid lets you wait in the living room.

"Mr. Shin, I'm ..." You greet him as he comes down the stairs to the living room. 

"Elysa, right?"

"Yes, sir. I'm here to see Peniel."

"Honey..." he sits beside you. "I'm sorry, but I don't think he wants to see anybody yet."

"Oh."

"But, I'll tell him you came."

"Thanks. Can you give this to him, please?" You hand him the box of cupcakes you brought. 

"Sure thing, honey."

Before you drive off in your car, you send him a text message. 

'I hope I see you in school tomorrow. I'm sorry.'

You look up to the window of his room and you see a figure briefly standing there and moving away. 

"Please, don't be like this." You tell him in your mind.

The next day, you see his car already parked in school. You immediately look for him. 

"Peniel," seeing him in his locker, you run. "Are you feeling better?" You take his hand, he lets you. 

"I'm...I'm fine, El." Then let's go and walks away. 

You run after him inside your first class. Even when you sit beside him, he doesn't look at you. And after the class, he goes straight to his next without saying a word. 

"Are you two fighting?" Phoebe comes to your side, noticing how cold Peniel is to you.

You lean on your locker and tell her about what he said the other day. 

"Oh, Elysa," Phoebe's arms go around you. "I'm sorry. I'm sure he'll come around."

"What do I do?"

"We'll think of something. But for now, you have to run to class. You're gonna be late." She pushes you away from the locker. And she goes the other direction where her class is. 

During lunch, you walk towards the table where Peniel is sitting with his friends. The look he gives you says he doesn't want you any closer. You dump your food in the garbage and go outside, to the bleachers at the field. 

Just when you think everything is back to normal. You just hope that he's coping up with the stress in his house. You cry. You cry for him, for Mark and for yourself. 

He leaves early after school, skipping soccer practice. 

On your way to the field to meet up with the squad, Phoebe talks to you.