she's | lee jeno

skip

she arrived early, intentionally.
nobody's here at this time.
she can do her homework and eat her breakfast (an apple) without being bothered.

no bullies, no zombie mom, no sister to take care of.

it's nice, quiet, peaceful, safe.

– hey, fatass.

one of them throws her books to the floor and the other grabs her apple and takes a bite out of it.
she spits it out, making it hit seomyeon's face
– it's disgusting, you deserve it.

fuck.
fuckfuckfuckfuckfuck.

no more safe space.
they're here.

she runs to the bathroom, insults and laughs following.
shuts the stall's door.
cries silently, in case someone comes in.
someone does, without her realizing.

she doesn't realize the girl stepping on the toilet from the stall beside hers.
nor the bucket filled with water resting on the wall separating the two stalls.

– need an umbrella?

she shoots her head up, right before getting soaked in icy cold water.
the girl snickers evilly and walks out.
she cries with sound now, doesn't keep anything in.
doesn't care if people hear.

//

– have you seen seomyeon?

"why should i know?"
"don't think about her, the world's better off without that pig anyway."
"she's probably crying, or, better yet, dead."

how cruel do you have to be to just casually say shit like this?!

someone decent answered his question, though.

– i heard her crying in the bathroom. the floor's puddled with water, though. probably minhye and sunbyul.

he thanks chaebin and runs to the girls' bathroom.
luckily, there wasn't anyone in there except her.
jeno knocks on the only closed door and waits for an answer.
nothing.
knocks again.
– it's jeno, open up.
a startling sound coming from the inside of the stall, then a small shreek.
– dude! this is the girl's bathroom!! get out!
jeno chuckles softly.
– fine, but i'm only leaving once you're by my side, walking out too.

she curses silently, then slowly opens the door and steps out.
jeno chuckles warmly, then leads her outside.

– let's go and get you changed, alright?

it took her a bit by surprise.
nobody's nice to her.
this is so new, she doesn't know how to react.
she can't even imagine getting used to this.
a friend.
what a concept.

//

they skip the rest of the day and hang out at his house.
he lets her take a shower and change into some of his clothes.
this is too weird.
for her, at least.

when she walks back into the living room where jeno was waiting, she catches herself saying something.
– was all this a dare or something?

her words surprised jeno, not expecting that.
her stuttered for a good minute before being able to form an actual sentence.
– n-no! what makes you think that? you're silly, seomyeon.
– you sound suspicious.
– i was just taken aback, you dummy.

she hung her head after that word.
dummy.
do friends call eachother that?
people use it as an insult toward her, so why would it be any different in this situation?

jeno realizes his mistake almost instantly, and covers his mouth, right before saying something.
– i didn't mean it in that way, seomyeon... oh god, i'm really so sorry!! i didn't know you were that sensitive about these things...

silence.
that's a little scary.
but she breaks it.

– it's okay.

kind of dry, but he doesn't mind.
it's okay.

– uh- i'll make it up to you!! how about you stay for dinner?

she thinks about it as her face lightens up, right before drooping back down just as fast.

– i'm sorry, but i have to take care of my sisters.. maybe some other time.

he's a little concerned at how she seemed so saddened by a little bit of babysitting, but he left it at that without asking questions.
to pass the time, they did their homework and studied for the english exam on the next day.
it was like a nice sunday with a friend, except they skipped school instead of being on break from it.
like a sunday, but a little more exciting.

just like jeno.