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"ARE YOU SURE you aren't coming?" Jieun questioned, desperate for me to join them at lunch.
I nodded, shutting my locker door, "I can't. I have to finish up my math assignment."
Jieun frowned, straightening herself up, "Alright. See you after school?"
"Yeah," I responded, a small smile forming on my lips. Jieun returned the smile before we parted our separate ways. I stopped, turning around to make sure she was out of sight. I watched as her figure walked into the lunchroom, the large door closing behind her. I turned back around, tightening the grip around my backpack strap. I made a turn down the hallway, entering the school's back exit.
Ever since Taehyung left to hang out with Miyeon that day, I've been walking home by myself. Occasionally, he accompanies me to my classes every now and then, but that doesn't stop him from spending time with Miyeon. He started bringing her to lunch with us, making it extremely uncomfortable for me. As much as I try to play it off, it doesn't stop my emotions from going haywire, so I started skipping lunch.
It helped me forget about Taehyung and Miyeon, even for the smallest amount of time. Yet I still felt guilty for avoiding my friends. Usually, I would make up a lie about finishing up an assignment or studying in the library. They play it off and don't question it, but I know them. I know that when I turn my back to leave, the worry in their eyes only gets worse, I knew deep down that doing this was wrong, but it helped me control myself - to numb my pain.
I reached the back entrance, placing my hand on the double doors, pushing it open. The sunlight practically blinded me, gleaming into the hallway. I walked outside, greeted with the school's garden. I made my way past the garden, towards a small bench hidden underneath the shadow of a large oak tree.
In order to satisfy the interests of hundreds of students, our school had various kinds of clubs. One club being the gardening club. It sounds dumb, but the members took great pride in their plants and skills. The school allowed them to use the wide, open grass field at the back of the school as a garden. It was quite beautiful in the spring, the wide arrangement of flowers against the glistening sunlight.
I sat on the bench, leaning back as I sighed to myself. I placed my bag on the ground, unearthing my lunch from the small compartment. I pulled out a container full of leftover, cold pasta from the night before. I took a sip of my iced tea, admiring the garden in all it's glory.
At the beginning of the back entrance was a wide, brick pathway towards the garden. Diverse carnations were spread, accompanying the common bluebells. Large, flourishing sunflowers sprouted from the ground, its tall stalk looming over the garden. Rose pink tulips were neatly arranged, contrasting to the mauve purple dahlias. To top it all off, massive maple trees developed around the area.
