pink roses. || l.ty

seven.

Tuesday morning rolled along, and Taeyong was sitting at his desk in History class. He was sitting peacefully and tapping his pencil on his notebook. Rose didn't come to school that day, which brought relief to Taeyong. He went back to his sad, boring life. Where a girl wasn't bothering him. Plus, he didn't want to see her anyway.

Wednesday afternoon, Taeyong was sitting at lunch with his friends. None of them spoke as they sat there, eating. His friends kept on glancing at the empty spot beside him. Taeyong just looked down and ate his food. She actually listened to me for once, Taeyong thought to himself. However, something inside of him, somewhere deep inside felt guilt and worry for her.

Thursday afternoon, and still no sign of Rose. Taeyong's friends have become worried about her. Seeing her usual desk in class empty frightened Jaehyun and Winwin. Taeyong slightly felt worried as well but was able to hide it well from his friends. Jaehyun and Winwin ask Taeyong if he has seen her, but Taeyong just shakes his head and turns away from his friends.

Friday afternoon, it has been three days since the last appearance of Rose. Jaehyun is standing by her locker, waiting for her to arrive to school. Taeyong stands at his locker, looking over to where Jaehyun is standing. He sighs and unlocks his phone. He goes through his contacts and unblocks Rose's number.

To: Rose.

7:48 AM
taeyong:
stop hiding and come back to school. jaehyun and everyone else is worried sick for you and i don't want to deal with them.
! message not delivered.
7:51 AM
taeyong:
park rose, answer me.
! message not delivered.

Taeyong puts his phone back in his pocket and sighs. He runs his hands through his hair and closes his locker. He walks over to Jaehyun.

"Come on, we should get to class." He tells him. Jaehyun scoffs and turns to look at him.

"You go right ahead. I'm just gonna wait here until she comes." He replies, looking away. Taeyong sighs and walks away to class.

During the middle of his first class, Jaehyun walks into the classroom, alone. The teacher asks why he is late but he ignores him and sits down in his regular seat. Taeyong sees the sadness and worry in his face. Jaehyun looks at Taeyong and shakes his head at him. Taeyong's eyes widen and he turns back around in his desk.

"See what you did to her, huh? She's skipping school just to avoid you. All because of your stupidity!" Taeil yells at Taeyong at the lunch table. Taeyong sighs and rubs the back of his neck.

"She's just being stubborn." He said. Jaehyun scoffs at him, glaring at him.

"After all that you said to her? I doubt it." Jaehyun says, eating his food. Taeyong truly did feel guilty and worried for Rose. He felt bad for saying those mean things to her. He felt something that he wish he didn't feel.

Taeyong felt himself missing Rose.

Little did they all know, Rose was at school. She has come to school all days this week. She just happened to come late while everyone was in class. She would roam the hallways and hide in the janitor's closet. She would hide in the closet in order to wait for her next beating.

Each day, Jisoo and Lisa would meet Rose in the janitors closet to beat her up. They would beat her up until their knuckles became red and until Rose was struggling for air. They would then leave her there, stranded alone in the closet.

Rose was at school today and was waiting to get herself beat up. However, today there was something different this time.

It wasn't in the janitor's closet.

Lisa pulls on Rose's hair and drags her outside of the school, along with Jisoo walking behind them. When they make it outside, Lisa throws her onto the ground. Rose already felt so much pain from all the bruises, cuts, and scratches that were all over her body. She was completely weakened and she couldn't do anything. Jisoo stands in front of the girl that was on the floor, putting her hand on her hip.

"Round 5, let it begin."

Taeyong was still sitting down at the lunch table, feeling his friend's stares on him. He felt awkward eating around them. But he felt worse about Rose. It was all he could think about.

Suddenly, Taeyong stands up from the table and runs out of the lunchroom. He found himself running out of the school. He was standing outside, panting, trying to catch his breath.

From afar, he could hear as if someone was punching or kicking something. He slowly walks around the corner, until he sees two familiar girls beating up some girl on the ground. Oh, but it wasn't just some girl that was getting beaten. Taeyong could immediately recognize who it was.

Taeyong runs over to them and pushes them back. He looks at Lisa and Jisoo with widened eyes. The girl's were shocked to see that it was Taeyong who stopped them. Taeyong looks down to see Rose's weakened, fragile body curled up into a ball on the ground. She had her eyes half way open and she was looking straight at Taeyong.

Taeyong crouches down, picking up her delicate body and carrying her bridal style in his arms. Rose winces and whimpers as Taeyong held her beaten body. She buries her face in the crook of his warm neck and starts crying. Taeyong looks over to Lisa and Jisoo, who were as shocked as ever.

"Don't ever lay a finger on her again." He told them, glaring straight into their eyes. The two girls slowly nodded. Taeyong walks away from the school, leaving Jisoo and Lisa stunned.

•••••