11

978 40 1
                                    

"Mom," I whispered into my phone as I walked towards K-25, "I'm staying after school to do some group studying with the others." I could hear that she was happy I was mingling with friends, "Sure! Just be back before dinner! If you need me to pick you up, I'll come right over!

We said goodbye and I hung up the phone as I walked to the door and opened it to see Woojin already there practicing. I smiled as I watched him work hard and I walked over to the piano and started playing along with the song. Soon the others came in and yet again with Sejeong dangling over Daehwi carrying her. Yoojung walked over, "Hyerin, I'm sorry for asking Woojin that question. Could you forgive me?"

I nodded, "It's okay if I were you I would've been curious too." Daehwi walked over, panting, and then dragged me off the piano seat, banging my knees on the piano and slamming my head against the floor as I complained, "Tell me what happened to the two of you guys!"

I told him it was none of his business and I walked over to my backpack and pulled out my homework. I finished my homework considerably fast but then the three of them asked me to do their homework and I felt like they wouldn't be able to finish their homework unless I helped them so I did while ordering them to do the dance properly making Daehwi super annoyed.

"Daehwi, stop looking stressed! Think happy thoughts! Like Tinkerbell!" I shouted at him at one point but he just barked at me, saying I was nagging too much. And then right before they were about to leave, the rest of the girls quickly judged and all of them left right after, leaving me and Woojin in the practice room alone.

"Hey," I scooted over to him and poked his shoulder as he turned around, his face all sweaty from the hard work, "Do you want to go home yet? You've practice long already, you need to copy all my work to your paper too."

"No, you can go home first," he smiled, "You look tired, sorry about how lacking we are that you had to fix everything." I shook my head, flustered, "No you guys were really good! I just wanted to push you guys!"

He laughed and patted my head, making my heart flutter at his small action, "Just get home already, I'll go home later! You have to get home before dinner, your mom would be worried." Just as I was about to protest I hear a soft ringing from behind me and pulled out my phone from my backpack, "Hello?"

"Hyerin, when are you coming back home?" my mother asked. I told her I would be back right away and hung up, putting my things back into my bag. I excused myself and was about to leave when Woojin called out to me, "Hyerin ah."

"Yeah?" I asked turning around to face him again. He pouted, "I need a little more energy, best friend. Smile for me." I felt my face turn warm but I gave him an exaggerated smile, one that made my eyes disappear, before waving and leaving the room. Friend-zoned.

------

All school day long, I didn't see Woojin in the hallways or at lunch which worried me to death that he was stressing out about it too much. Jinyoung said Woojin was practicing during break and lunch, plus whenever he could. Right after school, I went to the practice room to see Woojin already there practicing.

This time, the boys let us off on judging but we all hung out in the practice room to do our homework, even Sejeong had willingly joined us. The boys weren't as bright as they were a few days ago and even Daehwi, who was always poking around people's business, was quieter than usual.

I sighed as I watched the three of them practice the same three songs over and over again, trying to make it perfect. I crawled over to the mirror and faced them as they concentrated on dancing, "Expressions guys, this is your passion and you should be happy about it!" I waved my hands around until they smiled.

Then they took a break to do some of their homework while I did the other half of their homework along with my homework at the same time. I sighed as I pulled out my phone, texting my mom that I wouldn't be able to go home until 10pm and that I wouldn't be walking home alone.

I decided to order dinner for them and that brightened their faces a little, well except Woojin who was looking like a walking zombie. After dinner, we did some homework together before the three boys practiced one last time for the night. And then the rest of them left, leaving us two alone in the practice room again.

"Ugh how did it go again?" he groaned as he fiddled around with his movements. I showed it to him once before it came back to him but I stopped him from dancing for a minute. I squeezed his cheeks together, "Woojin! Get a grip of yourself! Stop stressing out so much!" He just laughs at my attempt and shook his head, "Smile for me again?" And for him, I did which actually seem to make him feel better.

I finished up my homework and packed up before slouching into the couch, watching Woojin dance. I pulled out my phone and added Sejeong to the group chat before announcing something that I knew would make Woojin and the others feel a lot better. There was a knock on the door and the guard said we should leave in ten minutes so he can lock the doors.

"Woojin," I smiled, "Hurry up. Should we walk home together?" But he just stayed quiet as he walked up to me, I frowned at his reaction but don't say anything about it as he moved closer, "Can I have a hug?"

"Ne?" I asked, "A hug?" he nodded and so I gave him a hug despite the fact that he was quite sweaty and dirty from all that dancing. When we pulled away there was a smile on his face. I picked up his backpack and passed it to him.

"Hey, Woojin?" I whispered as we walked out of the room, "Can you perhaps take a break tomorrow?" Looking at me, he frowned, "Why?" I laughed lightly as he stared at me in confusion, "Let's go to Lotte World tomorrow. I already told the others so if you're not going, you're missing out." A smirk appeared on his face as he stuck his thumbs up, skittling around in excitement before answering my question.

"Call."

trust me | park woojinWhere stories live. Discover now