LOST [MiChaeng]

chapter 2

Five Months Later

“Are you coming tomorrow?”

Chaeyoung turned in her seat to face seven girls who were looking at her expectantly. She looked each of them in the eye. Chou Tzuyu. Minatozaki Sana. Hirai Momo. Kim Dahyun. Im Nayeon. Park Jihyo. Yoo Jeongyeon.

All of them had become friends with Mina and I. We’ve all known each other since third grade.

All of them know about Mina and I.

About Seokjin.

Nayeon, Jihyo, Sana, and Momo are closer to Mina than they are to me. Dahyun, Tzuyu, and Jeongyeon are closer to me than they are to Mina. But we all get along fine. Well, I mean, Dahyun and I get along fine with them. Jeongyeon and Tzuyu sometimes have...difficulty.

“Tomorrow’s the last day of school,” Nayeon prompted, a sparkle in her eyes. “Seniors won’t be here. We’ll be the oldest kids around.”

“Most people aren’t coming,” Chaeyoung said, turning back around to finish working on her art project. She only had this period to finish, and she didn’t want to fail art.

“That makes it better!” Jeongyeon exclaimed, thumping Chaeyoung on her shoulder. “We’ll be alone – no other students, just us, ruling the school. Plus, I bet teachers will give us free periods.”

Chaeyoung shook her head. “I’m not wasting my time coming to school, Jeongyeon.”

She turned around just in time to see Momo pout and say, “Fine, if you won’t come, I’ll call Mina.”

Oh, will you now.

And just at that moment, Seokjin and Mina walked in, hand and hand. Chaeyoung repressed the urge to groan loudly. Speak of the devil.

Tzuyu, Jeongyeon, and Dahyun got up, looking down at Chaeyoung, waiting for her to stand up too. They had most likely anticipated her to stand up and leave, like she had been doing for the last five months, avoiding Mina whenever she could. But this time, Chaeyoung shook her head at them, and gestured for them to sit down. They did, reluctantly and confusion evident on their faces.

It wasn’t like Mina was trying to avoid Chaeyoung as well. In fact, she’d try to talk to Chaeyoung whenever they passed each other, but Chaeyoung would brush her off. Chaeyoung’s phone would be spammed with calls and texts, all from Mina, asking for forgiveness. Forgiveness for what? Chaeyoung didn’t see Mina breaking up with Seokjin. Chaeyoung didn’t see Mina realizing that dating Seokjin was a mistake. There was nothing to forgive.

“Are you sure you want to stay?” Tzuyu breathed, leaning close to Chaeyoung, close enough that Chaeyoung could feel her warm breath on her neck, close enough that the dark purple in Tzuyu’s hair that normally looked like black actually looked like purple. “You don’t have to do this. We’ll all leave with you, if you’re uncomfortable.”

“Five months of running, Tzuyu,” Chaeyoung quietly replied. “Five months of running away from her. I’m not going to talk to her, but I won’t run away, either. She can do whatever she wants; she knows I’ll ignore her. There’s no point in running away.”

“Minari!” Sana greeted Mina cheerfully, with a quick glance at Chaeyoung. “Are you coming to school tomorrow?”

Chaeyoung caught the glance between Seokjin and Mina before Mina apologetically said, “No, I’m going somewhere with Seokjin.”

“Of course,” Chaeyoung muttered under her breath. “Where to? An abandoned shed?”

“Calm down, Chaeng,” Dahyun whispered, worry shimmering in her eyes. She looked up at the others, who were sitting up straight, towering over Chaeyoung, acting like a barrier around her – Tzuyu in front of Chaeyoung, Jeongyeon behind with Dahyun. “The bitterness is coming off of you in waves, as Tzuyu would say.”