What Can I Do

Chapter 23 ~I can't bear to hear you say you love someone else

Study period dragged on, occasionally being interrupted by a loud joke or the scraping of chairs. Many students preferred to study in the library during study period, so there weren't many students left in the classroom.

Finally the bell rang, signaling the end of the period, but the teacher still wasn't back yet. Wonpil silently packed up all his stuff, waiting back for Dowoon to finish gathering all his things as well.

The pair were making their way out of the class, when Sungjin suddenly grabbed Wonpil's arm.

Wonpil flinched, alerting Dowoon to what Sungjin was doing and he immediately inserted himself in between Sungjin and Wonpil, dislodging Sungjin's hand in the process.

Sungjin looked hurt, staring at Wonpil with pleading eyes. "Wonpil, can we please talk?" he asked.

Dowoon looked between Wonpil and Sungjin, seeing how Wonpil already began to turn weak in front of Sungjin. Dowoon selfishly did not want Wonpil to hear whatever Sungjin had to say. He twisted around and took Wonpil's hand into his, forcing him to look at him.

Dowoon stared at Wonpil, conveying his concern and caution against speaking with Sungjin.

Sungjin noticed the way Dowoon pulled Wonpil's hand in his and immediately scrunched his eyebrows. Since when had they been that close? Was something going on between them? Sungjin frowned, questioning himself about their own friendship. He felt ashamed at how little he knew about his friend at the moment.

How had they drifted this far apart? Sungjin knew it was his fault and the words Wonpil had said to him the last time they spoke had been replaying in his mind ever since. He could barely fathom that his best friend of 4 years was –had? been in love with him.

"Wonpil..." Sungjin said, trying to reach around Dowoon to grab Wonpil's hand instead, but Wonpil twisted away from Sungjin, releasing his hand from Dowoon as well.

He only wanted to escape from the two boys that were making him feel suffocated. Away from the hurt Sungjin still caused him to feel and away from Dowoon's inquisitive eyes. 

As he turned away, he knocked into one of the desks, knocking over the paint can at the edge of the desk. The can's lid flew open and spilled the contents of paint all over the floor. They were meant to be kept in the art classroom, but seeing as that classroom was abandoned, many of the art supplies were kept in empty classrooms. 

The bright can of red paint, stained the ground along with Wonpil's shoes, causing enough noise to knock the boys out of their stupor. 

"What is that noise!" Teacher Kim called from outside the class, alerted by the crash, stepping in to the disaster inside.

"Kim Wonpil, Yoon Dowoon, Park Sungjin!"

The three boys turned at the sound of their names, all wide eyed at the incident before them.

"What on earth happened here?" the teacher asked.

"I'm sorry, seonsaengnim, it was an accident, I knocked over the can." Wonpil said, guiltily.

"No!" Sungjin interjected, "It was my fault, I startled Wonpil."

Wonpil turned to argue with him, but the teacher cut both of them off, not in the mood for arguing, "Regardless of who's fault, you should not be in this classroom after the bell. Detention for all of you after school today!"

Wonpil lowered his head, nodding, wondering if he was grateful for the teacher's interruption or not.

~~

Outside that room, Brian was making his way towards his next class when he heard Haru and Jae arguing in the hall.

"Just let it go!" Brian heard Jae raise his voice, frustration seeping into his words.