cult.

FOUR: one

the next day, he impatiently waited for school to get out. he collected from their avoidance that his friend group didn't want anything to do with him. renjun was sort of okay with this, mainly because he didn't like being around people that he knew didn't want him around. he was also still mad at donghyuck for what he said to him. despite all of that, he still felt a bit uneasy not being able to find chenle. he debated whether or not to even ask anyone where he was.

he was eager to confront the people that had hurt mark. and he wanted to see for himself if mark was telling the truth. after all, he claimed to have been hiding this secret from the rest of the group. there was no way of telling if Mark was being truthful to him. at this point, renjun didn't know what to believe.

"hey, are you doing okay now?"

he turned to his left to see the same girl from yesterday sitting in the desk next to him. his guess that she might be a sophomore must have been wrong since she was in his english class. he wondered why he's never noticed her until now. but then again, the only thing he ever paid attention to in english was the lesson and mark. now, mark is gone...

"yeah, uh..." he stammered over his words, but kept his voice at a whisper so the substitute wouldn't scold them. "i'm fine..."

she faintly smiled.
"good..." she hesitantly turned back to her work, but soon turned herself to him again. "i know we don't really talk, but... if you, like, need to talk to someone--"

"oh, uh--"

"only if you want to, though--"

"n-no it's fine--"

"really, only if you want--"

"sorry, uh," renjun cleared his throat. "i'm trying to say thank you."

"anytime. I just know that it must be a hard week for you, y'know?" he nodded his head and heaved a long sigh.

"yeah. it has been pretty hard..." especially when your so-called friends don't even care, renjun thought. "what's your name again?"

"oh, it's jisoo."

he smiled for a brief moment, mainly because he was thankful that at least someone cared-- even if they were a stranger.

"renjun." he said in return.