Distant Luminosity | Hanjoo

Chapter Five

Hansol and I've been walking to the library together everyday after school, except for Fridays. He's told me he's busy on that day, but never explained what. I don't mind though; an entire weekend of loneliness isn't that bad, right?

It was two weeks since our first meeting at the library, we haven't advanced anywhere from there. I mean, I've mentioned a possible visit to my house a few times before but never got the courage to actually ask. Today, Monday, was the day I'd invite him over to my house. I could already imagine my mother's reaction. Squealing, clapping, jumping up and down; it must be hereditary.

As I was rummaging through my locker for my math homework before fifth period started, someone tapped my shoulder. I turned around quickly, accidentally touching noses with someone. I had no idea who he was, but he looked quite upset with me. Basically speaking, I'm fucked.

Finally, he said something, "Hello there."

"Oh, that assertive tone." I accidentally stated without thinking it through first, gulping anxiously. The internal facepalm was real.

The male slammed my locker shut, then gripped onto my shirt collar as he yanked me all the way to the bathroom. Afterwards, he threw me against the opposing wall, his hand tightly around my forehead.

"I do believe you have something of mine."

I felt a lump in my throat, choking out under my shaky breath, "What are you talking about?"

He shoved my head back on the wall, "You're so full of it."

"I really don't know what you're talking about." My eyes burned with tears welling up inside.

"You expect me to believe that?!" The bell rang before us, but he didn't seem to care about tardiness.

"I'm serious! Get off me!" I tried to kick him off of me, but he didn't budge.

He leaned closer to me, making me want to just disappear, "I'll give you a month to return what you stole from me, else you and your whore's little secret will be spread all around the walls here."

Considering he used an offensive slang towards the person I'm supposively holding a secret with, I assumed he meant Hansol. I've heard the rumours, so I wouldn't be surprised if this guy believes them. Knowing me, though it's a bad move, I scoffed, "What secret?"

"Oh, I think you know." He hissed under his breath.

Great. A secret not even I, myself, know about.

"Look, I don't know what you're talking about, I swear you have the wrong guy-"

"Believe me, I don't feel like being the bad guy of the situation either. However, I'll do whatever I can to get that money back."

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Okay.

"Dude, I'm sorry it was stolen but I didn't take it. I promise." I tried kicking him off, again, but he was stiff.

"Never make a promise you know you can't keep, idiot." With that, I only remember him punching me straight in the nose, before letting me loose and darting out of the bathroom.

Everything happened so quickly, I was having a tough time comprehending the situation as a whole. Why did he assume it was me, out of an entire group of stuck-up popular boys, who stole some dollars from him? If anything, I'd be the last person to steal, considering not many people have even see me open my mouth. Although I guess I'd be seen as a 'sly fox', so maybe I'm wrong. But, why was he so determined to get it back anyway? And why is he being so damned violent about it? Anger is one thing, but... ugh.

I was the only one in the bathroom now, no doubt that I was going to be late for math. I didn't care, honestly. I just wanted to crawl into a hole and never come back out. I was stuck in something that could possibly affect me, and Hansol, in the end.

I backed up into a corner, burying my face into my arms and letting go of the tears that I've tried holding back for ages.

Someone could easily walk in on this display, but do I care? Of course not.