Within These Shadows || Park Chanyeol/Do Kyungsoo || Book 1

5

"You can return the notebook to me on Thursday. That's when the next Econ class is." Chanyeol said.

"Okay. Thanks, once again, for the notebook" Mae smiled.

"Don't mention it! I'm glad I could help!" Chanyeol smiled.

The pair had reached the front door of the building in the midst of all the conversations. Mae felt grateful towards Chanyeol; not only for the notebook but also because his constant excitement had kept her distracted for a while.

On reaching the staircase outside, Chanyeol stopped and turned to face Mae, "Do you live in the dorms?"

"Yes. You?" Mae turned to face him.

"Yeah me too. Are you heading there right now?"

"Yeah. I gotta go and check on my roommate." Mae looked down at the ground, tucking a few strands of loose hair behind her ear. Thinking about Jay suddenly made her experience a pang of guilt.

"Oh. I'll be heading to the library. I guess I'll see you on Thursday then?"

Mae remained quiet; she was still facing the ground, thoughts about Jay filling her head. Was she okay? When was she going to come back? Where was she? Back in their teenage days, Mae's cousin, Aiden, had known about all the escape places of Jay. But he never told anyone about them, not even Mae. He had said that, if Jay needed an escape, they should respect her privacy and not let anyone intrude. He was right in a way, but then again, knowing about them may have reduced some of the tension that she felt.

Mae's eyebrows were furrowed very deep, worry clear on her face. Chanyeol knew what that look meant; he had seen that look on her face earlier in the class that day. She was lost in thoughts, again.

"Are you okay?" Chanyeol poked Mae on the shoulder, causing her to break out of her bubble.

"Yeah? Did you say something?" Mae looked dazed.

"Yeah. I asked if you were okay."

"Yeah, yeah! I am. I am...I guess." Mae smiled weakly. "Are you heading to the dorms?" Mae asked, looking at Chanyeol first, then at the bottom of the stairs.

"No, I'm going to the library," Chanyeol replied, but his words had, yet again, failed to reach Mae; for her eyes were glued to something at the bottom of the stairs.

Chanyeol followed Mae's gaze and saw that she was looking at a girl standing all the way down the stairs, leaning against the railing. The girl wore a baggy white jersey, black bermuda pants, had her hair pulled in a top knot bun, white converse and hands shoved in the pockets of her pants. The girl, too, was looking at Mae.

"Is that a friend?" Chanyeol asked.

"It's my roommate. She's back," Mae smiled, a thousand emotions running through her: relief, happiness, confusion, gratitude, curiosity- but mostly, relief. "I'll see you on Thursday, Chanyeol!" With that, she ran down the stairs as fast as her legs could carry her.

"Mae, slow down!"

Mae wasn't sure where those words were coming from; from Jay, who was standing at the bottom of the stairs, or from Chanyeol, who was standing at the top. But it didn't matter; Jay was back. She was okay.

Jay felt the full force of her best friend's weight when Mae jumped down from the last step and crashed into her for a hug. She wrapped her arms tightly around Jay, while Jay wrapped hers around Mae's torso, trying to balance and prevent both of them from falling.

"Mae, you're gonna kill me with your powerful hugs one day." Jay groaned.

"I thought you wouldn't return any time soon." Mae said, panting a little, eyes shut tight.