If All Else Fails

o n e

For most people, nearing the end of high school feels like teetering off the edge of a cliff you've been so comfortably grounded atop of for the past four years. Then in the final months of senior year, there's a visible crack in the rock that only mildly alarms the people it's been holding, because when you've been this settled in for so long, the imminent danger of the situation takes quite a while to fully sink in. 

Hyunjin thinks Heejin sits the furthest from that metaphorical crack, blissfully sifting through the pages of volume 60 of Boku no whatever-the-fuck-it's-not-like-it-matters.  She's almost, just almost envious of this alternative dimension her best friend gets to escape to whenever the mounting discomfort of her responsibilities and this humid classroom gets to be too much for her. It almost elicits just a twinge of guilt when she brushes the thin wisp of hair away from the unconscious girl's ear and gently whispers the one thing that could reel her back to this unremarkable universe-

"Heejin-ah... the bakery across the street is closing down."

"OVER MY DEAD BODY!" 

No matter how many times she's found herself in this exact scenario, it still takes her about 3.5 seconds (Hyunjin has made it a rather sad hobby of tracking) or longer to fully register the situation. The evidence is undeniable: a small, cold puddle of drool on her desk; an open copy of the fourth volume of Goblin Slayer hidden behind her calculus textbook; the disappointed but not surprised glower on the second period french teacher's face. 

"Bonsoir, Belle au Bois Dormant." 

The class erupts with laughter - some genuine, others forced for the sake of keeping on madame Kim's favourable side.  Though Hyunjin quietly snickers behind her book, Heejin knows it's for a different reason altogether. She can't bring herself to be upset or even feign annoyance. It's been far too long since she's seen her friend's features contort into any expression but concerned over how relaxed Heejin could be during a time like this. 

She'll let her have this moment for now. 

Lunch is usually a time when Hyunjin rattles off about the importance of preparing thoroughly for entrance exams to ensure a spot in the most competitive universities. Heejin's disinterested attention span manages to catch little tidbits about scholarships and some mention of study cards, until ultimately the chewy, spongy bread between her teeth becomes more interesting than any of this combined. 

"So here's why Nanase Haruka is my husbando of the week," she begins before Hyunjin can take another huff of air to continue what she already knew Heejin had stopped listening to a long while ago. At this point, she thinks they both know these rants are more so a therapeutic thing to help her cope with stress than to really offer Heejin any useful information. 

With a defeated sigh, Hyunjin leans back in her seat. "Alright, go off."

"So-"

"Oh lookie lookie who finally came to lunch!"

Heejin groans as her spotlight is swiped yet again by the grinning face of Mark Lee, captain of nearly every major sports team. "If you didn't bring milk, you can't sit with us," she warns. 

"Don't be like that, Heejinnie. I haven't seen you since episode seven of-"

"Shut up. We don't talk about that," she interjects with an ominous glare, which she forgets only serves to ignite that sadistically teasing smirk on his lips.

"I know, I know. I'm just saying it must have been so sad to see your husbando of the month lose his only friend and go through all that grief, then finding just a sliver of hope before getting completely mur- o-owwww what the f-"