𝐓𝐁𝐙 𝐈𝐌𝐀𝐆𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐒

72 - Hyunjae

I've been going to the library every day, and it's definitely not voluntary. Honestly I haven't met a single person who likes to be forced to go to a public library to study and read huge useless textbooks.

It was 11 PM, and I still hadn't finished my homework.

I slumped down in my usual spot at a table inside the cozy library, thankful that the librarians had turned on the heater. It was freezing cold outside, especially because it was mid-November, and I was not willing to numb my fingers for this.

"Okay... Page 65," I murmured under my breath, emptying out my whole bunch of textbooks, workbooks, folders, and notebooks from my heavy backpack.

There were few people left. After all, most people had gone to sleep around this time, or probably in their houses doing their work instead of a lame library.

I dug through my backpack that now had scarcely anything inside anymore to try and find my handy pencil pouch. A few minutes later of digging around, and my search was resulted with empty hands.

"Oh god no," I groaned.

I unzipped every single pouch of my backpack but still to no avail. Mentally facepalming I remembered the last place I had put it- in my desk back at school.

The school was many minutes away from here and I couldn't push through the violent winds and the freezing temperatures just to fetch a pencil pouch.

I rubbed my tired face, massaging my wrinkles caused by how sleep deprived and exhausted I was. Why can't schools give students a break for once?

Tired and ready to give up and go home without doing my work, I placed my head on the tabletop, my hands covering both sides of my face so no one could see how miserable I looked.

"How am I going to get my work done..." I thought aloud with a feeling of helplessness tower up like building blocks inside of me.

I felt like a mouse in a mouse trap. Stuck with my tail  in the metal, unable to move and free myself. A mixture of loneliness, fatigue, and stressfulness lingered around me as I felt my eyes begin to tear up.

Why am I crying over a little thing like this? I should be used to it. I shouldn't be crying over schoolwork.

But I couldn't help but let my tears flow out of my tear ducts. My shoulders quivered, and I hoped no one would approach me while I'm in an inappropriate state like this.

Stop crying.

I kept scolding myself for being able to easily cry from a little stress, and I wiped my tears away with my sleeves, sniffling and loosening my tensed muscles.

I looked up, and someone at a table in front of mine was toying around with a book he was holding.

He was definitely looking at me and trying to get my
attention. Confused and curious, I pointed at myself.

The boy nodded with an encouraging grin and began to goof around, one moment hiding his face behind the book then poking his eyes out as if he was playing some sort of childish game like peekaboo.

Usually I wouldn't have been amused and continued working, but right now, I couldn't help but break into a smile.

The boy with brown hair continued to horse around with the book until one of the librarians snatched the book away from him and began lecturing him about playing with books he didn't own.

I laughed quietly and waited for him to finished getting scolded.

As if he knew I was waiting, he headed over to me and pulled a chair out, sitting down right next to me.

"Hey! You looked pretty down earlier, and I was trying to get you to laugh a little. Why're so upset?" He began immediately, a smile already on his face.

"Oh, well, thanks. School work is just stressful, y'know? I don't have a pencil with me, it's almost 12, and I didn't even start of my homework."

"Aw, cheer up. I have an extra pencil, and plus I need to do some of my work too. I'm Hyunjae by the way, if you wanted to know. I go to XXX High," He introduced.

"Oh! I'm from that same high school too! I'm Y/N L/N," I responded with a brighter smile. I must admit, it's better now that I have company.

Hyunjae nodded and handed me his pencil. "Well, I hope you know that no matter what, you always have people looking out for you. If you ever need support you have your friends and family! Even people on the internet to help you out!

"And if you think school or work is getting too hard or overwhelming, take a little break. Relax. You deserve it. You don't need to overachieve or overwork yourself.

"That's not going to help you at all. Go your own steady pace, and people always have your back. Your friends and family will encourage you, and you can console with them if you need to let something out. Cheer up! And keep doing what you do."

With tearful eyes and a smile, I nodded.

"Thanks."

~~~
hey! this is a sorry chapter for not being able to update regularly. and this is also a message to anyone in school or having a job or just having a hard time. i got your back! if you need to let
anything out, don't hold it back in and let me know. i'll be there for anyone, no matter who or what. love you all xoxo