You're My Target

Chapter 42

The next day troy was a little on edge at School. after his little scuffle with Jun, he felt somewhat awkward and was half-expecting some sort of retaliation. Without a moped to lightning rod Juns anger, Troy figured it would be something more personal. He was also expecting some sort of disciplinary action from the school administration. Troy sat in the cafeteria quietly as Hank and Pryor talked about comic books or video games. he really wasn't in the mood to listen. he circled his plastic spork in his school made lunch. the bland, brown color and brain like texture of the mystery meat was rather crude today. Hank and pryor slowly stopped talking. troy moved his eyes to them. they looked over, behind troy pointing delicately. He cocked an eyebrow at them.

"guess who!" a unmistakingly charming voice said, as a pair of soft hands covered his eyes.

"cute voice, soft hands. cutting class to visit me at lunch... it has to be Boram" troy said.

"hey im edgy. i cut class sometimes too." soyeon said revealing herself pushing troys head.

"you pride yourself on being an excellent student. nice try." troy laughed. "but thats good.... thats admirable. i really like that quality."

"he's sinking fast." hank chimed in.

"burying himself alive!" pryor added.

"you 2, dont start." troy waved his hand at them. his attention stayed with Soyeon. "so what brings you here?"

"i made you lunch again." soyeon pointed to the bag on the seat next to troy. "i didnt see you at all today so i had to bring it to you now."

"woah, thank you so much." he smiled brightly taking the bag.

"of course." she replied with a smile of her own.

"so cute." hank said pretending to be touched.

"precious." pryor copied   Soyeon and troy just glared at them from the corner of their eyes.

"wait. this isnt poisoned is it?" troy said sniffing it. "you know.. i .."

"went to Eunjungs yesterday?" soyeon cut him off. "didnt boram tell you i said it was alright?"

"well. yea but...." troy was stunned.

"well yea" soyeon said mimicking troys tone "then eat your food i made you!"

"i.. i will thanks."

"youre very welcome." she blew him a kiss and walked away.

"its poisoned." troy said quietly as soyeon left the cafeteria.

"obviously." hank and pryor said together. Troy opened the bag and pulled out the food.

 "i dont think im gona get used to the food out here, not ever." he sighed. "i mean sure its better than the slop served at school but.."

"well good, because its poisoned! you know after you do something your girlfriend asks you not to do and shes wayyyyyyyyyy too nice afterward? thats a sure sign she is full of wrath!" pryor exclaimed.

"she said she was cool with it." troy shrugged, though he did feel skeptical as well.

"they say they are cool with it, but they arent. don't you know anything about girls?" hank said hitting the table with his hand.

"poison." troy said. the others nodded. they sat quietly looking at the noodles, as if something was going to crawl out of it or start growing.

"seriously though, if you ain't gona eat that, can i have it?" hank asked. Pryor and Troy shifted their eyes to stared at Hank.

"i think she made it because of what happened yesterday. maybe she feels bad." troy thought out loud.

"oh you mean when you almost kicked Juns butt again! im mad i missed it." pryor was giddy.

"doesnt she still talk to him?" hank asked. pryor slowly turned his head and looked at troy, troy just sat quietly.

"well. not really. i dont think they have talked in awhile. well not really talk...." troy thought about it.

"so she talks to her Ex and doesnt let you get a word in edge wise during this confrontation, but she flips out when you talk to one of her best friends who was dating your team captain? thats hypocritical isnt it?" hank asked.

"haaank" pryor hissed hitting Hank with his elbow.

"yes i think the whole eunjung thing is silly, im not gona deny that. but. . . . but i really dont think she talks to Jun anymore." troy wasn't sure if he was trying to convince Hank, or himself.

"listen, im happy for you. dating a tiara. id be lying if i said i wasnt envious as well. im just saying, tiara or not, don't let her play games with you man." hank insisted.

"come on hank, does she really seem like one who would play games?" pryor remarked.

"again, just because shes a tiara doesnt mean shes perfect. shes a high school girl." hank answered. Troy just shrugged acknowledging Hanks words but unable to come to his own conclusion.

"youre ruining your chances with Qri you know." pryor leaned and whispered in hanks ear.

"its fine" troy said. they turned and looked at him. "the food is fine." troy took another bite.

"see?" pryor said to hank. "anyway, lets talk about something else."

"you wanna play some street hockey with us after school?" hank suggested.

"cant. agriculture club today." troy continued to eat.

"oh come on. dont tell me you have fun there. not with Hyomin around. Shes always throwing you bad vibes." Pryor complained.

"i really dont interact with her much anymore. shes usually helping Sunny, doing their own little thing. so its not a big deal really."

"whatever." they were disappointed in troys rejection.

 Later, after school Troy rushed to Agriculture club. he didnt want to be late. it had felt like forever since he last attended. he whizzed in the door, where his club members were waiting.

"Youre on time. impressive." Narsha smiled looking at the clock on the wall behind him.

"when are you coming to scrub the stain you left on my carpet?" troy whispered to her.

"hey watch it freshman! im still youre senior! ill have you digging all night!" narsha yelled.

"TROY! get over here and help us carry this stuff out to our field!" sunny shouted to him from the exit door at the back of the room. she was struggling to push a wheelbarrow. troy ran to help her, taking the handles from her. Sunny opened the door for him as he pushed it outside. it didnt hit him until they were out to the field...

"hey, wheres Hyomin?" troy asked looking around.

"why do you care?" sunny asked him.

"just wondering. you guys are always together." troy shrugged, he slammed the shovel down into the dirt.

"yea. when shes not with her other friends." sunny answered.

"so does Hyomin ever talk about me?" troy asked her.

"not really. why? are things not working out between our schools most unlikely couple?"

"things are fine." troy replied with a bit of a defensive tone.

"i think Hyomin thought you were interested in her. but you ended up with soyeon. so. you know." sunny explained waving her hand in a circular motion.

"like i used hyomin to get to soyeon or something?" Troy stopped shoveling and stood with his hand on his waist.

"just a stepping stone in the big city playboys plot." sunny shrugged.

"i didnt even know they knew each other! and while yes, i did click with hyomin briefly, Soyeon had my attention first. and.. as it turns out befriending hyomin did sort of help me get to know soyeon... i would have eventually anyway. i mean i have been friends with Boram since i like, first came to this school!" troy fumed.

"but you did click with hyomin, and you enjoyed it. you wanted her attention." sunny suggested.

"dont start with that. im not a 'playboy'. i dont care if girls like me. ... except if its Soyeon." troy quickly saved himself. "and i mean look at me. im average looking at best. far from man-candy"

"it's not only looks. a smooth talker can go a long way."

"hey you 2. this isnt time to gossip. its time to work." narsha shouted at them as she snuck up from behind. "and troy isnt a smooth talker or that good looking. nothing like his handsome friend from back home. tell him i said hi, by the way."

"okay" troy replied sarcastically. sunny and troy went back to shoveling as narsha went to check on the others.

"anyway. Hyomin went with her friends to practice for a karaoke competition. you didnt know?" sunny questioned him when narsha was far enough away.

"no. i didnt." troy huffed as he tired from the shoveling."i just figured soyeon would have said something..."
Troy stopped as he heard Sunny's words.
"you sure everything is ok between you 2?" she seemed concerned.

"yea." troy shrugged it off unconvincingly, and resumed shoveling with Sunny...