[EDITING] Stay With Me | Lai Guanlin

∆25

I fixed the hair clip on my hair, making sure everything's perfect. I took a deep breath, as I started to feel nervous. Today is the day.

I'll confess.

"You'll be fine, Yunhee. You're going to be fine." I then took my bag, and left my room.

_/_/_/  _  \_\_\_

As I arrived at school, Guanlin was nowhere to be found. I tried to look all the places he often go, but the result was disappointing.

But then, I saw Jinyoung coming. He walked alone, not with Sohye as he usually did. Nothing was written on his face except sorrow. I couldn't help but feel strange looking him walked alone. He never walk without Sohye to school, though.

It was a perfect timing when I then saw Jihoon. I fastened my pace, trying to catch up with him. "Hey, Jihoon!" I called, trying to catch his attention.

Hearing my call, he stopped walking and looked at me. He smiled as usual and asked, "Oh, Yunhee. What's the matter?"

I stopped in front of him. "Do you know what is wrong with Jinyoung? He seemed off when I saw him earlier," I asked, feeling really curious. "Oh, and he was not with Sohye too. Is everything actually okay?"

Jihoon's face expression turned to a guilty one. He rubbed the back of his neck, probably unsure to say anything. "Well.. I don't even know what to say. I think it's the best if you ask him yourself," he said.

I blinked my eyes in confusion. Everything seemed so wrong. "Err.. Is that so? Okay, then. Thank you, Jihoon."

With that, he then nodded and went away.

I started to walk again, trying to find Jinyoung. My instinct told me to go to the locker section, so I did. And there he was, getting some books with a really dark expression on his deep face.

I walked towards him. "Jinyoung?"

He turned his gaze towards me. A bitter smile formed on his lips. "Hey, Yunhee."

"Are you okay?" I asked, as he looked so gloomy.

He heaved out a deep sigh. "I think so," he answered, shrugging his shoulder.

"You sure? You look so gloomy, though. Plus you're not with Sohye. Where is she? And where is Guanlin?" I asked directly. It was tiring to hide my feelings anymore.

Upon hearing Sohye's name, he looked down to the floor. "Sohye and I..."

"We broke up."

I gasped in shock, not believing my ears. How can these two lovey dovey lovebirds break up? They love each other so much! "You.. You did?"

And then Jinyoung nodded. His eyes full of sorrows.

"But.. why?" I carefully questioned, not wanting this boy to be hurt even more.

He shook his head. "You should ask that to Sohye. She's your best friend anyway." Just like that, he closed his locker shut, and left me there alone.

I massaged my temple in confusion. "What the hell is happening??"

_/_/_/  _  \_\_\_

As I was about to leave, my eyes caught two persons. They walked with their hands interlocked. Their laughing voices synced in unison. I stared at the two persons blankly. Everything seemed unbelievable.

It's Guanlin. With Sohye.

I could feel my heart aching and slowly it shattered into pieces, as if it was stabbed with a knife. It felt like there was a lump in my throat, and out of nowhere my eyes became teary. I couldn't believe my vision.

"Guanlin..? Sohye..?" I softly called when they walked passed me.

They stopped walking and turned around, giving me a somehow annoyed look.

"Wh-what is happening?" I asked, almost sounded like whispering.

Sohye scoffed at my question as she hugged Guanlin's arm. "Are you blind already? We're obviously dating now."

Her answer made me stunned. I opened my mouth to speak, but close it again because I know the tears would slide down my cheeks anytime if I talk.

"Waiting for you is somehow wasting. Why should I wait for you, when there's a girl who I actually deserve for?" Guanlin gazed at Sohye with full of loves. The look he used to give only at me.

"Let's just go. I'm so done looking at her face," said him with annoyed tone.

She nodded, agreeing. "Yeah. Let's go."

I was abandoned there alone. As every step they took, tears also slid down to my cheeks.

I bit my lower lip hardly. 'Guanlin...'

_/_/_/  _  \_\_\_

In class, I really couldn't focus. Like.. how can I focus with Guanlin beside me?

He didn't even talk with me, nor look at me even a bit.

I really missed him disturbing me.

I missed the old him.

"Spacing out, Ms Kim?"

I was startled when Mrs Oh suddenly turned her attention to me. "S-sorry?" I asked, feeling embarrassed.

Mrs Oh heaved out a sigh, hands on her hips. "You seemed off today, Yunhee. Are you okay? Or do you have any problem?" She softly asked with a really caring tone.

This is why everyone loves her.

I shook my head and smiled bitterly. "Nothing, ma'am. I'm fine."

"Are you sure?" She asked.

I nodded.

"Okay." She continued teaching, and I acted as if I was focus. Even though the truth is I was thinking about other thing.

_/_/_/  _  \_\_\_

I threw my bag on the floor and laid on my bed. I stared at the ceiling. Nothing escaped from my mouth.

The moments of Guanlin and me kept on playing on my mind. Everything was fun and lovely, but when they became memories, why did it hurt so much?

There, I cried again.

I bit my lower lip and mentally cursed myself. 'Since when am I a crybaby?' I took my phone and unlocked it. Without I even realized, I was looking through my old conversations with him. I giggled reading some of them.

@uyunhee

Ergh! Why do I keep chatting with you?

@laiglennin

Because you can't resist me babe ;)

@uyunhee

Eww don't babe me

That sounds disgusting 🤢

@laiglennin

Mean :')

But then, tears streamed down my cheeks uncontrollably. Looking at our old conversations, I realized how I always gave him cold shoulder before. He must have been tired treating me nicely, because I never did vice versa.

Damn it. For sure I looked pathetic; laughing and then crying.

"...I'll wait for her even for so long." Guanlin's words towards Nashy before replayed in my mind.

I closed my face with my palms in frustration. He said that before. He did. But why is everything changing now?

At the moment, I finally understand what he felt before.

I understand if he's so done with me, but why with my own best friend? They hurt me, and they hurt Jinyoung too.

That evening, I fell asleep without even changing my clothes. I was drifted into a sad dreamland with dried tears on my cheeks.