𝗠𝗬 𝗥. ✔

10

°HITOMI°

i was eating alone at a table, feeling like the air constantly pushing off the edge, it was once again, nice to be here alone, with no one to disturb you, i guess, i still want this feeling back.

but then, a tap made me look up to the person behind me, seeing that it was chaeryeong, chaeyeon's sister. she looks worried, hesistant to talk, she was shifting her gaze everyone, as if she was checking if someone was looking at us.

"can we talk? in private." and what dies this girl want? is it about something in the cheerleader thingy, anything? we are not close, so it was a wonder why, i looked at her eyes, digging down as if i was trying to figure out what she needed.

i nodded, standing up and leaving my tray, as she started walking out of the cafeteria, she lead me to the janitor's room, closing it, before leaning in the door, sighing and looking up at the ceiling, though it was hard to see her since it was dark,

i could see her almost close to crying.

she wiped her tears, coughing, looking at me.

"what is it chaeryeong? are you perhaps pressured about the cheerleading thing?" i asked, making her shake her head, a frown on her face, looking away.

"no! it's not about that!" she yelled, as she bit her bottom lip that made me surprised.

this girl was stressed.

"c-c-chaeyeon unnie— she's in the hospital!" chaeryeong stated, making my eyes widen, approaching her with a worried look,

what the hell happened to chaeyeon unnie?

"what happened to her?" i asked, making her wipe her tears, as more flow down her eyes.

"i—i just saw her laying in the bathroom with the sleeping pills scattered!" chaeryeong yelled, her tears falling on the ground, as her eyes starts getting red and she looks like a mess for crying hard.

why would chaeyeon unnie do that?

"why? is she alright?" chaeryeong nodded, smiling sadly.

"i saw her just right on time."

oh, so that's why maybe she wasn't showing up in school in the past few days,

she was depressed.

stressed.

why didn't i notice it?

she was my friend.

i looked down, guilt in my chest.

"i should visit her." chaeryeong nodded.

°°°°°°°°°

i opened the door to chaeyeon's room in the hospital, seeing her laying down, eyes closed, resting.

she deserves a rest, she must be really tired.

i sat on the nearest seat beside her, putting the gifts on the table beside her, she looks pale, almost a different chaeyeon.

she's always happy.

i didn't know she was suffering.

still—

she wasn't supposed to do this.

chaeyeon's eyes opened, making me stand up and run to her, helping her seat up.

chaeyeon smiled at me, in her eyes the pain was visible.

"help me up." she stated, but i shook my head, scared that something might happen to her.

"you need to rest—"

"i'm okay now, i just need to talk to you." she stated, making me nod and help her out.

°°°°°

we are finally in the garden sitting on the bench, with her looking down.

it was hard to bring her here, i had to be careful.

"thanks for visiting hitomi." chaeyeon stated, which made me look at her and smile.

"you're my friend, and i'm worried about you." i said, looking at her, my face turning into a worried one.

"i was just stressed with everything, there's so many things happening in my life, there is no way i could keep up in everything, i'm tired of passing exams even when those things won't freaking get me to heaven, i bring myself in hell, knowing this, right now is already hell, the stress i am feeling was hard to fight." chaeyeon started, sighing.

"look— i always lock myself up in my room realizing this is not what i should be doing, i should be enjoying life! be a cheerleader and all! but you see— it was hard when you keep focusing in something you can't do."

chaeyeon paused, looking at me.

"i don't know what to do."

i nodded, looking down.

"but i guess, please, remember, the group is always there for you,"

"i know, i suffered a lot in this thing too."

"so if you feel like you are stressed, let me help you."

i stated, smiling.

"thanks hitomi." chaeyeon smiled at me, making me look at her.

but then

she disappeared.