You're My Target

chapter 58

The next morning Troy was on the phone with Mou in the middle of a heated discussion."just, give it more time Mou!" troy shouted into the phone.

"We've exhausted all the resources we can on this subject. She isnt showing any positive results Troy. ive kept this going as long as i could because i trusted your word, but we cant any longer. we have to move on." Mou replied.

"we cant just move on we should at least.." troy tried to get a word in, but Mou cut him off -

"just admit you made a mistake Troy. She isnt what we're after." Mou yelled back at Troy.

"so what now then?" troy asked reluctantly.

"well have you been observing anyone else, or did you just kind of sit back and relax after thinking this girl was the sure thing?" Mou asked. Troy didnt answer right away and he didnt have to."Dont even answer Troy i already know. we need to find something soon." Mou continued.

"yea, i understand." Troy said trying to mask his frustration.

"this girl is turning out to be a waste and your lead about that girl named Areum isnt helping us either Troy. are you sure youre still up for this?" Mou asked him concerned.

"...I am." Troy tried to sound bold.

"alright. ill be in touch." Mou said before hanging up. Troy dropped the phone onto the floor. he leaned against his dresser and clenched his fists tightly. He took the crystal gift he had gotten Soyeon and placed it in his pocket. he then went into his closet and pulled out a small black bag. he put the bag into his backpack and head out the door to go to school. The cold crisp air soothed his face, and he took a deep breath. The air was clean, refreshing. Troy looked up at the grey sky. The snow had stopped falling. He threw his backpack on his shoulders and got on his moped. he slapped the helmet on his head and took off down the road.~~Troy sat in homeroom, the bell to start the period rang as Hwayoung swiftly ran inside and jumped in her seat. She turned to catch Troy staring at her. She winked at him playfully.

"youre late." He said quietly to her.

"i was inside at the bell. besides, a tiara is never late. She arrives precisely when she is meant to." Hwayoung replied sarcastically.

"Pffft" Troy blew air between his pouted lips at her. after the homeroom teacher took attendance, he made a quick announcement to the students.

"i have some news for you all" he started. "Fellow classmate Areum has been dealing with some medical issues and will be absent for sometime. lets all wish her a speedy recovery."

Troy squinted his eyes and rubbed his chin. the time was all too convenient.
"wish that terrorist a recovery? dont make me sick!" one brash student said. it was one of Jiyeons fanboys. Troy looked on as Jiyeon and some of her other fan club members seemed stunned by this one boys outburst. "she got what she deserves, what goes around comes around."

Hwayoung jumped to her feet. "How can you say that!?" Hwayoung shouted at him. "Areum isnt a terrorist!"

"shes one of them, she shouldnt even be here." the boy yelled back.

"shes just a teenage girl, shes not someone who attacked us. and she came here to get away from those people, she doesnt want to be associated with them." Hwayoung smacked her hand hard on her desk.

"so what, we dont want their cast-aways being associated with us!  isnt that right?" he asked the classmates. very few people responded. Troy looked around. most were looking awkwardly away from the scene. some murmurs and mumbles were heard.
"she better not have some disease that infects us all, just send her back home" he said making a twisted joke.

"i thought if a tiara befriended her, it would set an example for others. to show shes not any different than us." Hwayoung said, still visibly angry.

"oh, please. you were the only one who was really friends with her, jiyeon here and the others werent. and look at you, late to class, average grades and even an outcast in her own circle of friends. youre lucky to still be a tiara, youre like a 'bottom tier barely holding on' tiara." The cocky boy mocked Hwayoung. Troy sat there with his jaw hanging open. he felt the silence that fell over the room hit him as well.

"now wait just a minute!" Jiyeon spoke up. "youve gone too far! sure we didnt know about Areum when she first came, but after we got to know her thanks to Hwayoung, we realized she was a nice person. Hwayoung may have some different opinions but shes still my friend, a dear friend whom i consider a sister!"
the other guys around jiyeon slowly separated themselves taking baby steps away from the one who lashed out against Areum and Hwayoung, leaving him standing alone to defend himself.
"Hwayoung is a great person and cares about those around her, she doesnt judge people ignorantly like you!" Jiyeon shouted at him. "now apologize before i kick your head off your shoulders"

"there will be no kicking any heads off shoulders, class. lets calm down." The homeroom teacher finally tried to put a lid on the situation that overflowed way earlier.

"really? no ones gonna stand with me on this just because some pretty faces dont? but when they arent around you all are quick to agree with me." the boy asked the class. "youre all spineless." he shrugged and walked out on everyone. Jiyeon went over to Hwayoung, Troy watched as they spoke to each other. he couldnt hear what they were saying, but he really wasnt trying to listen either. after a brief exchange, Jiyeon stood back up.

"well is what he said true? do you all just agree with me, or any of us just because we are 'pretty faces'?" she announced to the class. Troy observed the remaining fanboys. a few shook their heads, 2-3 others just hung their heads ashamed. "well if it's true then you can just go join your other thick-headed jerk of a friend!" the class was silent and still. even the teacher was watching in disbelief. only one other of Jiyeons fanboys slowly retreated out the classroom door..
After homeroom Troy caught up to Hwayoung.

"hey, Hwayoung, wait up." he said approaching her from behind.

"what is it Troy?" She asked in a hurry.

"just wanted to say.. something." He admitted.

"well then say it." She looked over to him.

"well i dont know what to say but i feel like i should say something." he said scratching his head. "you okay?"

"im fine Troy." She said quickly. Troy believed her. if it was one thing Troy knew, it was that Hwayoung wasnt shy about voicing her thoughts and defending them."i knew you werent gona say anything. i knew youd wait til after. but, in a way, doesnt that make you a coward, just like the one boy who slinked out of the room like a weasel after Jiyeon confronted him about his true feelings?" Hwayoung stopped in her tracks and leered at Troy.

"what? no! i was just in shock like just about everyone else in there." Troy blurted out.

"yea im sure, Troy. i know you have your doubts about Areum as well." She said and then continued to walk ahead of Troy.

"im not a coward!" Troy shouted to her as she walked away. Hwayoung just waved her hand at him, without turning to face him.
The day continued on. there was a slight buzz throughout the hallways due to the drama during homeroom. Troy walked with his hands in his pockets through the lively hallways. he fiddled with the box containing his gift for soyeon. he thought if it was too late to give it to her, but knew he had to take the chance. He was going to surprise her with it before the start of the next class. When he arrived however, she was outside her classroom with Jun. He paused for a minute, frozen. He forced himself to snap out of it, and walked over toward her. As he got closer, Soyeon saw him coming. She smiled and waved at him. Jun turned his head and looked out of the corner of his thin eyes.

"hi Troy." She said to him as he stopped next to her.

"didn't mean to interupt...but i kinda did" he said trading glances sarcastically with both of them. "i just wanted to talk to you real quick." he said to soyeon.

"well, we're busy so go away." Jun said sternly, with an unpleasant scowl on his face.

"Jun, stop. it's fine." Soyeon said playfully trying to keep the peace.

"you know what Soyeon. its fine. i can wait. i understand Jun needs extra time when it comes to expressing himself because he's special." Troy emphasized the special with a smirk.

"Troy..!" Soyeon whispered angrily.

"relax just a friendly guy joke between us sweaty sport jocks." Troy let out a forced awkward laugh. he nudged Jun with his elbow.

"dont touch me." Jun said pushing him away.

"oh, sorry." Troy apologized, staying heavy on the sarcastic tone. "i remember the last time i touched you things got a little too physical. but dont worry little Jun, i am not going to hurt you again." Troy reached to the top of Juns head and patted it like he was a child. Jun shoved troys hand away hard.

 "i said get your hands off me you freak!" he said with a beast like growl.

"i said i wasnt gona hurt you. besides you know you're not gona do anything without your little friends here to back you up." Troy continued to mock jun boldly.

"Troy, why are you acting like this?" Soyeon asked him. she looked very concerned and surprised.

"we're done now Soyeon, you can go inside the room now because i dont want you to see what im gona do to this little pest." Jun said releasing a deep frustrated breath.

"this was easier than i thought." Troy smirked at Jun. "and hopefully you put up more of a fight than last time."

"oh, please dont tell me this is really happening." Soyeon whined as she watched Troy and Jun rush at each other head on like a pair of rams. Troy and Jun lowered their heads and slammed their shoulders into each other. Troys hockey experience allowed him to get in a check-like shoulder-butt into Jun, but Juns football background ultimately saw him absorb most of Troys blow, and eventually tackle Troy to the hard floor. Jun tried to use his size to hold troy down and mount him, but Troy was quick and scrambled around. a crowd gathered around, and started chanting 'fight fight fight!' but the 2 just mostly wrestled and scrambled for position and control over each other, but their differences didnt allow one or the other to gain an advantage.

"come on new kid, snap his arm again!" someone shouted.

"kick the new kids ass!" another one called out.

"you're both idiots!" Soyeon shireked. finally a teacher came over to break it up.

"thats enough you 2" he said forcing himself between the 2 and prying them apart. Troy pulled himself free of Juns grip, and he fixed his scuffled and disheveled uniform.

"hey" Troy said. he turned back to Jun, whom had turned away and didnt see Troy coming. "hey Jun.." he called to him again. Jun turned, and troy stuck out his hand for a hand shake. "im sorry." Troy said. Jun looked at troy confused, and a bit condescendingly.

"youre a real piece of work." Jun said shaking his head. "i dont know..." he paused to think about Troys offer

"just shake and stop being jerks!" soyeon yelled at them. Jun shrugged and went to reach for Troys hand. as his hand got closer, Troy looked at Soyeon with a sad look. he moved his lips, but no words came out. he made sure to move them slowly so she could read them.. they said "im sorry" Soyeons look of relief turned to slight horror. Juns hand grasped Troys and before one shake could come of it, Troy threw a sneaky punch that hit Jun square in the left side of his face, causing him to fall to one knee. the teacher quickly restrained troy and pulled him away.

"that was low even for you new guy." Jun said holding his cheek.

"Troy!" Soyeon gasped. Troy was able to pull the box from his pocket as the teacher dragged him away. he tossed it over towards Soyeon. The box fell and slid to Soyeons feet. she bent over to pick it up. that was the last thing Troy saw as the teacher hauled him back into the crowd of surrounding students.