Hanahaki Strings • seventeen jihancheol

Chapter 17: Surprise

"He has the guts to even show himself?"

"He's so shameless."

"I wonder why they're still hanging out with him."

"They shouldn't have trusted him in the first place."

"Look what happened to that goody guy."

Jeonghan immediately shot a warning glare at the students who's gossiping at Seungcheol who's walking beside him and Jihoon. They looked down and walk away as soon as they saw Jeonghan's glare.

When Jeonghan turned to look at Seungcheol, the older was looking down, his fist clenched tightly at his side

"Cheol... don't mind them. It's not your fault." Jeonghan said to Seungcheol, looking at him worriedly.

"The rumor that had spread was definitely nonsense. Don't let it get into you, hyung." Jihoon added.

Seungcheol didn't said anything. He remained looking down.

The incident of what happened to Joshua spread like wildfire. But it wasn't Baekho who was the center of the hates. They knew Baekho was the one who did it to Joshua, but Seungcheol was blamed.

They said if Seungcheol just didn't befriend the kind and innocent Joshua, he won't be dragged to his messed up life. That Joshua became the target of his enemies he made before. If it weren't for Seungcheol who keeps on fighting with Baekho, Joshua wouldn't experience this harsh incident.

It was absurd for Seungcheol's friends when they found out the truth and heard the other's hate comments because Seungcheol wasn't the one who did that to Joshua. But for Seungcheol, what they said was right. It's his fault.

Baekho found out he has weakness now which makes them target it since they can't beat Seungcheol .

Although his friends had assured him countless of times already, he still thinks it's his fault.

It has been a week eversince the winter trip had ended yet Joshua still haven't come back. He haven't even texted any of his friends. Although he's fine already according to the teachers, he's just resting at their house.

His friends found out he experienced stage three hypothermia. Since he was exposed to the cold atmosphere for almost two hours knowing he gets cold instantly, his temperature goes down. The bruises in his face healed quickly but he still had to rest.

Joshua's parents filed a case to Baekho for that. His mother was beyond furious that he even went to the school to see Baekho. The latter's parents keep on apologizing and begging for her to have mercy on their child but Joshua's mother was too furious to even listen to them.

In the end, Baekho was sent to the police and was kicked out of the school.

But it was Seungcheol who suffered from the hates of the students. Good thing his friends didn't get mad at him. They knew why he acted harsh to Joshua and understood it. So they stayed by Seungcheol's side.

However, Seungcheol received a one day punishment for beating up Baekho. He was tasked to clean up all the restrooms of all the buildings including the girl's restroom. Seungcheol didn't mind it. He thinks he deserved it, even more than that. Fortunately, Baekho's parents didn't file a case at Seungcheol.

The classes resume with Seungcheol's mind drifting away as time passed by. He didn't even notice that the classes ended. He just saw Jeonghan and Jihoon by the door of their room. He stood up and silently approach them.