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Thirty-four

6 November 2009

"Good job today, class," Mr. Do, Victoria's Korean literature teacher, said in a tired voice as he slumped behind his desk. She gazed upon the miserable man, sure that she knew what he was feeling. Her eyes were stained red for crying so much over her dispute with Jimin the past few days. The short male would refuse to look at her if they saw each other in the halls, and as a result, she distanced herself from Hoseok and Jin as well.

If there was a word for what she was feeling, it was depressed. Victoria was depressed that the one person besides her brothers that she loved unconditionally wouldn't even look at her. Jimin could hold a grudge better than anyone she knew. The part that made her sad the most, however, was that she didn't exactly know what she did to upset him. If their close relationship was that easily erased, was it the same for her brothers? Her mother?

The thoughts only dragged her down further and she was grateful that none of the three boys were in her grade. She could sulk and not be asked about it. As if on cue, the bell rang, making the students around her basically jump out of their seats. They had been preparing their things the entire time she had been sitting there staring off into nothing and feeling sorry for herself.

She packed her things into her bag slowly, eventually being the only one left to leave. It was the last class of the day and on a Friday, nonetheless. Everyone else was dying to go hang out with their friends, but she was just dying inside. The last thing she wanted was to see any of her "friends". In high school, Victoria really was a self-pitying loser like most other high schoolers. Fortunately, she didn't stay that way.

Victoria stood up when everything was in her bag and slung it over one shoulder before walking out. Mr. Do paid her no mind as she left because he was laying his own head on his desk and mumbling to himself. Part of her wanted to pat him on the back and say she understood, but she was too engrossed in her own problems to actually do it. It only resulted in her hesitation by the door before walking into the hall.

"Noona."

She stopped dead in her tracks. It was Hoseok's voice, she knew, because she had hung out with him pretty much every day since she got to KIS. She turned around to face him, still refusing to meet his gaze. "Oh. Hey, Hoseok."

"What the hell is wrong with you?" he asked with a concerned tone, walking toward her so he didn't have to speak loudly. Most of the kids had fled the hallways as if there was something going on. "You and Jimin have been avoiding me like the plague. What's up?"

Victoria shrugged. "Nothing." It took her by surprise when he grabbed her chin and gently turned it to face him. His eyes were serious, searching hers.

"Don't lie to me. If I did something just say it." She was only silent as he looked into her eyes, fingers still gripping her chin. He let go quickly and stepped back a bit before sighing. "Is this about Jin-hyung's Halloween prank? Because I—"

"You didn't do anything," she said quietly. "It's not you."

Hoseok sighed, his gaze softening. "Come on," he said gently, beginning to walk toward the entrance. "Let's find Jin-hyung. I think something's happening."

Victoria appreciated that Hoseok didn't press her. She smiled after him, wondering if he could be the friend that would never leave her. She followed silently, grateful for the warmth he emitted in her presence. Though Hoseok came off as an asshole, she knew there was a softness to him. Perhaps she could break through to it.

Hoseok led her wordlessly to the boy's dorm and the two realized that there were only a few students dotted here and there. The prefects seemed confused as well. Having so little students to prey on was no fun for them. They saw a few of them gang up on one of the greasy kids as they crossed campus. While passing a prefect, they heard him mutter, "I really need to beat someone."