Semaphorism » Park Woojin

13장

Woojin was in love.

To simply call it a crush was an understatement. He was head over heels in love with stupid Gong Minjae and her stupid cute face, her stupid cute voice and her stupid way of being way too touchy. Whenever he saw her, thought of her or spoke about her his heart would beat at least three times faster than normal and he would break out in a cold sweat afraid to make a fool of himself.

After Minjae had left him that evening, after the intense hug and her softly caressing his back, telling him how much she had missed him, he was a wreck. His Father came into the room when the dinner was ready and found his lovesick son lying on the floor, smiling at nothing in particular.

"So this is the Minjae-girl you can't seem to shut up about?" Mr. Park asked and Woojin nodded, his smile even more prominent on his lips. "She's cute." Mr. Park said and Woojin nodded. "The cutest, right? She may look stupid and she isn't one of the top students but she is such an interesting girl. I'm still impressed at how tough I thought she was when I first met her." He laughed and his Father shook his head. "The dinner is ready Woojin. Come and eat some you crazy lovebird."

Woojin couldn't hide his excitement for his birthday party anymore as it was just him and his closest friend planning on doing some secret drinking and being silly. Maybe he could ask his Father do rent a Karaoke machine for his party so he and his friends could sing some jams. Woojin could low-key confess his love to Minjae in one of these songs. But... did he really wanted to confess immediately?

The following days were tough for Minjae. She was excited about Woojin's party, but not sure what to get him. What would an eighteen-year-old boy want for his birthday? Jihoon and Jinyoung were no help at all, and Hyeongseop was super secretive about his present so Minjae decided to ask her best friend for advice the day after seeing Woojin.

"Good morning, Choa. How was the casting?" Minjae asked after sitting down next to her friend. "It would've been better if you wouldn't have ditched it," Choa said sounding annoyed. Minjae rolled her eyes. "I told you I had something more important coming up!" Minjae pouted and now it was Choa's turn to roll her eyes. "Yeah, visiting your boyfriend." She hissed and Minjae sighed. "He's not my boyfriend." Minjae said and Choa cocked an eyebrow.

"Ever since he spent a night in your house all you've been talking about was Park Woojin. And you kept hanging out with his friends! You even ignored your duties as a Drama Club fan!" Choa hissed and crossed her arms over her chest. "M-My duties?" Minjae asked, ignoring the other things Choa had thrown at her.

"Yes! Your freaking duties. You're supposed to cheer me on and practice my lines with me. You didn't even appear to your last chance for an Audition." Choa threw her arms in the air. "Did you forget that I am your best friend?" Choa asked. "Because you didn't appear to the Audition we had to pick someone else!"

"You never wanted me to be an official part of the Drama Club, right?" Minjae asked and looked at Choa with big eyes. "It had always been your thing, Ahn Choa." Minjae said and licked her lips. "No wonder I never got picked. I bet you told Mrs. Hwang that I was your biggest fan and that you didn't wanted me to join the Drama Club-"

"Park Woojin is a member of the Drama Club. And he never auditioned."

Minjae looked at Choa as if she was a mad woman. "What are you even talking about? Woojin-ah? Drama Club? Surely not. I would know that. We are friends!" Minjae said. "It's his punishment. And Mrs. Hwang chose the punishment." Choa continued, a winning smile on her face. "Your lying, Choa. Woojin would tell me if-" - "Why would he tell you, if he knew how much you wanted to be a member and he simply became one?"

Minjae felt her heart ache. "You're just saying this to tease me!" Minjae gasped and Choa shook her head. "I am not. Ask him. Ask him if he's a Drama Club member. I'm not shitting you. I saw him practising the male counterpart to my role." Choa continued and Minjae furrowed her lips.

"I can't believe you!" Minjae screeched. "Believe me!" Choa said and looked around. "Ya! Ahn Hyeongseop, come here for a second." The black haired lass called and the class clown immediatley walked over to them. "What's up buttercup?" Hyeongseop asked and winked at Choa who simply ignored him. "Tell Minjae what Woojin is hiding from her." Choa said and Hyeongseop looked at Minjae.

"H-Hiding?" Hyeongseop asked and Choa nodded. "What happened after he pushed you down the stairs?" Choa asked and Hyeongseop opened his mouth and closed it again. "It's not like that, Minjae-ah." Hyeongseop said and Minjae furrowed her brows. "W-What?" She asked, her voice shaking.

"He surely wanted to tell you." Hyeongseop said. "But he felt guilty because I told him how often you lost the audition and how badly you wanted to become a Drama Club member. He, he really felt bad." Hyeongseop spit and Minjae felt her eyes fill with tears.

"You're both lying. Right?" She asked, her voice breaking. "I'm sorry, Minjae. He wanted to tell you. He-" - "He is a loser, Minjae. You should've never befriended him in the first place." - "He is not a loser!" Minjae yelled. "He... He..."

"He lied to you, Minjae!" Choa now yelled back. "How can you be so blind!" Choa continued. "No wonder you never made it into the Drama Club! You're delusional!" Choa ranted and Minjae opened her mouth, but no words were able to leave her mouth.

"I thought you were my friend." Minjae whispered. "First of all, I know I am not as fabulous or pretty as you are. Second, I know I am not a talented Actress but I... I have knowledge and lastly Park Woojin is not a Liar! You don't even know him!" Minjae screeched out and threw her bag pack on the table before running out of the classroom, tears streming down her cheeks.