beaming | keith kogane

XXII | normal

☀

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THINGS WENT BACK TO NORMAL, my mom and Kosmo were said to be deployed again just before Christmas break. I was mad at her at first, but I realized that it was just part of their schedule. Besides, I should be more grateful that she was able to come home for Thanksgiving. Everyone was heading back to school with a depressed aura.

No one wanted to be back and it took me until now to realize that Y/n and I hadn't done anything on our project whatsoever. I slid open the classroom door, dropping my backpack into the chair. Perla walked with me today, but she stayed behind to catch up with Lance who she caught lingering in the hallway. Hopefully she doesn't talk about me.

I looked around, blinking for a bit as I searched for another familiar face. "Where the Hell is she?" I muttered, staring for a few more minutes as my brows furrowed in frustration. I brought out my pencil and paper, distracting myself briefly by preparing for class. Sighing, I chewed on the inside of my cheek, still searching.

I tapped my pencil on the desk anxiously making Hunk glance at me, "Hey, where's Y/n? She usually comes in with you." I shrugged and let another sigh slip past my lips, still tapping the pencil against the desk. "I don't know, I didn't see her this morning and she still hasn't responded to my text." Where the Hell are you, Y/n?

Hunk bobbed his head, sighing quietly. "Hopefully she's just sick or something. Winter's on its way, so it makes sense." I sighed, glancing over at the windows. There was a light layer of frost covering them, but it was nearly invisible. Hunk and I talked a bit more before the bell rang and there was still no sign of the h/c haired girl.

After about thirty minutes of boredly sitting there with no motivation to learn whatsoever, the classroom doors slid open. Everyone turned around to look at the new arrival. It was Y/n, bandages wrapped around her forearms and Haneul next to her. Haneul seemed more tired, eye bags visible under his eyes. Was it possible for a sprite to even be tired?

I shook the thought away, lazily waving at Y/n. She just replied with a small smile, taking a seat as Haneul handed a yellow slip to the teacher. Yellow slips were only given when the absence or tardy was excused, but what was her reason? Maybe she really was sick. I studied her more, staring. She looks like it. "Sick?" Hunk asked before I could, glancing at her.

Instead of taking her usual seat, she sat behind us. I wonder why, but it wasn't really my place. She nodded again, staying quiet. "You could say that," Y/n smiled, taking in a deep breath as Haneul returned to her side. He sat right beside her, watching the classroom with careful eyes. He usually wasn't this present, so it made me a bit uncomfortable to see him.

"Everyone, start on the first activity on page forty-two. Keith, Y/n, come here for a minute," Mrs. Guinevere set her hands on her desk, gesturing to the board behind her before pointing to us. We walked towards her. I was beyond confused as to why she called us up, but I suspected that it was over the damn project. Curse my ignorance.

"Since you two were properly excused, you can have an extension to the project. You have until next week, alright?" We looked at each other wordlessly before nodding. Y/n glanced over at me, "Is it okay if I come over to work on the project?" I blinked at her as we headed back to our seats, sliding into mine before turning to look at her. "Uh, yeah, sure. Kosmo's still there,"

I remember how she mentioned dogs, knowing that she liked them. A small smile tugged at her lips and Haneul jabbed her lightly, whispering in her ear about something before she shook her head. Hunk glanced at me, as if expecting me to suddenly eavesdrop and 'sip the tea'. I shrugged, looking at him with an equally curious gaze.

I usually didn't like involving myself in things that didn't concern me, but this was way too confusing. Both of them look to be in even more worse shape than before and they were both excused; although Haneul doesn't really count as a student. I turned back around, occasionally jotting down notes. 

The day went by fast and soon enough, I was on my way home. Haneul lingered a few feet ahead, his bandages unraveling slightly as they billowed in the air. "What's with Haneul?" Y/n's head tilted up instantly at my question as I looked at the white cloth that flew from his arms. "Why are his bandages open?" I blinked.

She cleared her throat briefly, looking away. She tried to muster the strength to answer, but I stopped in my tracks once I saw Haneul look over at me. He had the deadliest look in his eyes, his bandages loosening further. From what I could see, I didn't see any marks, but from the way he looked at me, they both had something to hide.

I didn't say anything. I have no idea how he heard me from there, but I wasn't about to test that. It's not that I feared him, but I know Haneul wants the best for Y/n; whatever he was telling me not to pester about was obviously something personal. "Never mind, I was just curious," I shook my head, a breath of relief leaving her lips.

I bet she didn't think I heard that, but my senses are a bit heightened. Sorry, Y/n. She nodded gratefully before following me home, puffs of air leaving her lips and creating white clouds in the area in front of her. The girl childishly smiled. Haneul trailed behind us now and I could feel his eyes boring into my back like a hawk.

If it weren't for his good intentions, I would've exploded like a bomb by now. Under the streetlight, I watched her eyes glimmer as she let out another breath, as if testing how big she could make the white cloud of her own air. "You're cute," It slipped out of my lips before I could stop it and I swear my heart skipped a beat when her eyes lit up.