T W E N T Y S I X ✧ W O O Z Y
. . .
SCHOOL has never felt so dreadful before.
Classes seem to drag on for hours upon end, seeming like a never-ending loop, and when the day has passed, it all passes in a blur. Sure, there are some highlights during the day such as recess and lunch time where I meet my little group of friends
Currently, it is lunch time and I am sitting with the boys and Seo Hyeon. We are talking loudly as usual (well, they are, at least), and everything seems to return to the status quo, except for the fact that I've got more friends now.
I am munching on a sandwich, laughing at appropriate times and giving little comments here and there to spice up the conversation. It al feels fine, until Dong Jun suddenly clears his throat and earning everyone's attention.
"Jungie-ah, can I talk to you for a sec?"
Swiveling my head to face him, I see from my peripheral vision that Wonwoo and Seo Hyeon are quietly discussing something on their end of the table, their eyes flickering from the floor to each other. When it comes to these two, nobody really ever knows what's on their minds or what they're talking about—neither of their eyes nor expressions give away anything.
I shrug it off, and respond to Dong Jun with a nod. He leads me outside of the cafeteria where it's quieter, and my thoughts go off wondering about all the possible things that he might want to talk about with me. Could it be about Wonwoo and Seo Hyeon? Is there anything going on between those two? Or did I do something wrong to him? Did I—
"Soo Jung," Dong Jun says, snapping me out of my thoughts. He stops and turns to look at me, face serious. "Relax, you're not in trouble or anything."
"How'd you know what I was thinking about?" I ask, hoping for a chance to deny it.
"Your eyebrows were furrowed and you looked so tense I was sure you would blow up."
My eyes cast downwards, obviously embarrassed of the fact that I was caught in the act. The boy, on the other hand, only laughs in response, a warm and rather pleasant sound to my ears, and ruffle my hair as if I were a child.
"Cute,"
My head snap upwards almost instantaneously, recalling how Mingyu would sometimes call me that back when he was still here. The way Dong Jun said it was the same way he used to, implied in the same way, but the difference in the people makes me feel a little sad somehow. Nevertheless, I simply bite on my lip in an attempt to prevent myself from saying anything stupid or anything relating to the blue-haired boy and ruining the mood.
"So... Soo Jung... We've hung out for a while now..." He starts, rubbing the back of his neck and not making eye contact with me. His sudden change in tone catches me slightly offguard, and I reply by simply bobbing my head slightly in hopes that whatever he wanted to tell me, he would make it quick because I'm starting to feel a little awkward at the moment.
"And uh... I know that we've only known each other for a couple of months and all but..."
My eyes wander around the hallway, looking for an escape of sorts. For some reason I feel a little suffocated right now, like the oxygen in my lungs have significantly decreased, and if Dong Jun is going to say whatever I think he's going to say, I'm certain that it wouldn't help me even in the slightest bit.
"Would you... Maybe want to go out with me?"
Crap.
Before I can even open my mouth to respond, more words start to fly out of his mouth at a rapid rate, making me blink in surprise at his sudden outburst.
"You don't have to give your answer now, of course. Take as much time as you n—"
"I... I'll consider it." I cut him off, mustering up a tight-lipped smile. "Um, I just remembered that I forgot to submit my History homework that was due this morning. I'll, uh... Catch you later, okay?"
"Oh, sure—"
With that, I turn and walk away from him. Once I'm sure that he can no longer see me, I start rushing to my locker and grab my bag, and exit the school building to go back home.
✧ ✦ ✧
THE DAY passed by fairly quickly.
Once I was back home, I called the school to tell them that I left early because I wasn't feeling well. In all honesty, that isn't really too far from the truth; all these things that's been going on around me is starting to become a pain in the neck.
I didn't do anything particularly productive while I was at home. All I do was sit on the couch and ponder about things while staring at the blank TV screen, waiting for the time I need to leave for work. I got a couple of messages from Seo Hyeon and Dong Jun every couple of hours or so, but I don't answer them and switch my phone off instead.
The next thing I know, it was 3 PM and I had to leave for work. That in itself was fairly monotonous, and then before I know it, it was already time for me to go back home to rest.
I feel nothing but emptiness as I shower and do all my nightly routine, the same thing playing over and over in my mind: Dong Jun's confession.
Do I accept his feelings and just go out with him? Or do I say no? I don't want to ruin the friendship, though...
Don't get me wrong, the boy is overall a nice boy. He's got the looks, the brain, the figure...
But after what happened with Mingyu, heartbreak is something I hope to never experience again in the near future.
I sigh.
Maybe if only I hadn't met Mingyu...
Just then, I feel a sharp pain in my head, causing me to stumble backwards. Everything starts spinning like a top, and I trudge towards my bed, everything feeling incredibly woozy, for fear that my legs would give in any second now and I would wake up in the morning with a cold on the floor.
Thankfully enough, I manage to throw myself onto the bed as black spots start to cloud my vision. I try to blink them away but to no avail, so the only solution I can think of is to get pulled under oblivion—and hope for the best.
