Before Seok Jun could say another word, Seung Jee sprinted off. Seok Jun watched him dash away like a madman and smiled faintly.
"When you still care," he murmured, then turned and walked back toward the classroom building. Meanwhile, Seung Jee tore through the halls, searching.
"Where are you?" he muttered, breathless. He checked the hallways, the path to the gymnastics building—nothing. Then he stopped short. The bleachers.
Bolting to the back of the school, he ran behind the bleachers.
There she was.
Eun Shin sat curled up on the ground, hugging her knees, her head resting on them. She looked small, tucked away like she didn't want the world to see her.
Seung Jee doubled over, gasping for breath, his chest heaving. The shock of seeing her there, real, present, and yet so hidden, knocked the wind out of him all over again.
She had come to school for days… just to disappear.
Tears welled in his eyes as he stepped closer. She stirred at the sound of his footsteps and slowly lifted her head.
Their eyes met.
Hers were already glassy.
She gasped softly, then turned away, burying her face again.
Why is he here? I…
Seung Jee slowly knelt beside her, facing her and smiling bitterly.
"I… I'm sorry. I'm sorry for being stupid," he softly said. Eun Shin broke into sobs, trembling as she tried to stay quiet. The sound of it shattered him like this was the first time he truly heard her pain. She looked up at him with teary, frustrated eyes, crawling to him. Her fist met his chest in a soft, helpless punch as she tried to catch her breath.
"You are stupid!" she shouted through her tears. Seung Jee smiled gently and wrapped his arms around her, holding her close.
Letting her cry, wanting to cry with her, but held back.
Letting her fall apart—safe in a new pair of arms.
As time went by and classes were over, Eun Shin lay on his lap, facing him with her teary eyes, sniffling to calm down. Seung Jee looked at her carefully and patted her shoulder softly, soothing her. She took a deep breath before looking up at him.
"Why have you come so late?" she asked curiously. He smiled bitterly as he slowly moved his hand to stroke her ear, then her hair.
"Let's just say… Seok Jun punched me in the face with his words," he teased. Eun Shin laughed. He stared at her, feeling her broken laugh as a stronger version of her. "I'm sorry for being upset."
She nodded and grabbed his sleeve, pulling it down to her cheek, steadying herself more. Seung Jee caressed her cheek.
"Did you tell him about it…?" she asked forcefully, gulping and fearing. Seung Jee sat up straight, putting his other hand on her head, leaning closer to her, practically hugging her.
"If I did, I would be considered an asshole…I won't tell anyone unless you're ready," he answered. Eun Shin stared at his eyes and cried happily. She moved closer to his stomach as he placed one hand under her head to cushion her head. She hugged him, appreciating that he was still the good person she thought he was. For the hand that cushioned her, he stroked her hair and smiled.
"I think it's time for us to head home…" he whispered. She burst into laughter, tears streaming down the corners of her eyes. He waited for her to respond, but enjoyed what he was seeing.
"I think so too…" she replied. Eun Shin wiped her tears and got up. Seung Jee got up after her, but she suddenly stumbled. He caught her with one arm. She was stunned with embarrassment as she looked at him. His face was close, and they were both blushing. However, Seung Jee leaned closer, wanting to kiss her, but held back. She turned away quickly, holding back as well, thinking logically that she was still dating Jae Vin.
"Are you okay?" Seung Jee asked awkwardly, scratching his neck. Eun Shin smiled, breaking through her awkward feeling.
"Thanks. I'm okay," she answered. They were still blushing. He could still feel the warmth of her so close. His heart was pounding, loud enough that he was sure she heard it too.
They walked back to the school entrance gate together, side by side, awkwardly with an inch of space between them. They avoided looking at each other, embarrassed. Seok Jun was sitting on the stair steps of the building, and he got up when he saw them together. He smiled warmly. Eun Shin saw him and smiled in return. She walked to him and hugged him, her emotional anchor.
"Let's go home," Seok Jun softly said. Eun Shin nodded. Seung Jee watched and realized how Eun Shin coped with Seok Jun without words. Seung Jee felt relieved that he had decided to walk past them. Seok Jun turned to him. "I can drop you off. Would you like to hop in?"
"No, thank you. I appreciate it," Seung Jee replied, smiling at them. Eun Shin gulped before turning to Seung Jee.
"Are the seats official?" she asked. Seung Jee paused, staring at her. With a gentle smile, he shook his head.
"No… But if you would like me to sit next to you, I'll be willing," he answered. Her eyes welled up warmly, and she nodded.
"Yes… Get home safely," she replied. Seung Jee nodded and walked out of the school gates. Seok Jun and Eun Shin got into the car and headed home.
When Eun Shin reached her home, she managed to courageously hug her father after a while. Yung Ji was proud of her and hugged her tightly, embracing his daughter. She cried in his arms, but she didn't say anything. She walked into her room afterwards and decided to send a message to Seung Jee, thanking him simply. Seung Jee looked at the message and smiled.
"If anyone should be thankful, it's me…" he whispered to himself.
As night fell, Eun Shin lay down on her bed, hoping that she wouldn't have another nightmare. Before she closed her eyes, Seung Jee sent a late night message. She looked at it.
Seung Jee: "I hope I could be the land you could close your eyes peacefully on. Goodnight, Eun Shin 🙂 sweet dreams"
Eun Shin cried upon reading this and smiled.
"Thank you. Sweet dreams," she said, closing her eyes, sleeping peacefully by thinking of Seung Jee as her land.
NEXT MORNING
Eun Shin walked to school, and Seung Jee waited for her by the corner that they usually separated after school. He tapped his heel on the ground patiently. Eun Shin saw this and smiled.
Don't cry. Just… smile. She walked up to him with a big smile.
"Good morning!" she said. Seung Jee smiled at her and nodded.
"Good morning. Did you have a good sleep?" he asked. Eun Shin blushed a little.
"I did. Thank you… for that late night message…" she paused. "It really helped."
Seung Jee sighed in relief.
"I'm glad. Let's head inside," he replied. Eun Shin nodded happily as she walked beside him. Seok Jun and Min Ying were just behind them. Min Ying caught a glimpse of Eun Shin and quickly ran to her, hugging her from behind.
"Eunnie! I missed you!" Min Ying shouted. Seok Jun was surprised and smiled at them. Eun Shin nervously chuckled.
"I missed you, too," Eun Shin replied. Min Ying pouted.
"If you did, then why didn't you come to school?" Min Ying asked. Eun Shin avoided looking at her. Seung Jee noticed that Eun Shin was getting nervous. He softly patted her back, snapping her back to the present.
"She was just sick for the past few days," Seung Jee lied. Eun Shin smiled bitterly, understanding that he was protecting her in his way, appreciating it. Seok Jun walked closer.
"Yeah. I had to drop off school homework at her place because she was missing out on a lot," Seok Jun added. Eun Shin felt better and nudged onto Seung Jew's shoulder, thanking him. Min Ying frowned, feeling guilty.
"I see. I'm glad you're back… I really missed you," she said to Eun Shin. Jae Vin walked by suddenly and saw how close Seung Jee and Eun Shin were. His blood boiled. He smirked and walked up to Eun Shin, placing his arm around her neck.
"Hey, babe! My mother asked to see you today. Are you free?" Jae Vin asked. Eun Shin immediately froze, trembling as she couldn't breathe around him. Seung Jee clenched his fists, wishing to push Jae Vin's hand away, but he knew better. If he did, then that would explain that Jae Vin definitely did something horrible to her. Seok Jun watched and reached, but he was interrupted. Min Ying quickly grabbed Jae Vin's hand away and pulled Eun Shin towards her.
"But you promised to visit me today! We had plans," she pouted innocently. Eun Shin felt steady, but confused.
"Plans?" Eun Shin whispered.
"Yeah! Remember? You asked me to bring my aunt about my fashion!" Min Ying said bubbly, smiling at her. Jae Vin awkwardly laughed.
"Oh, I didn't know. I'm sorry. I'll let my mother know that you can't make it," Jae Vin said, turning away. After Jae Vin disappeared into the building, Min Ying stuck her tongue out and blerghed.
"Annoying prick!" she snapped. Eun Shin, Seung Jee, and Seok Jun stared at Min Ying, speechless. Eun Shin broke out in a laugh, breaking Min Ying into the present. She turned around and looked at everyone. Everyone was staring at me?!
"Wow…" Seung Jee said. Min Ying then looked at Seok Jun again. His eyes were wide open, and he was in disbelief. She immediately blushed and turned away.
"I didn't know you had that in you," Eun Shin teased. Min Ying closed her eyes and stormed inside.
"See you guys later!" she shouted, embarrassed. Seok Jun slowly smiled as Min Ying disappeared inside. Eun Shin and Seung Jee chuckled as they looked at each other. Eun Shin then turned to Seok Jun and smiled.
"Good luck," she said gently. Seok Jun shook his head and stared at her.
"On?"
"I think she'll say yes!" Eun Shin replied with a fist as support. Then she walked inside with Seung Jee. Seok Jun chuckled as he realized what she meant. He walked inside, rehearsing what he would be saying after.
As class went on, lunchtime arrived. Seok Jun ended up in line behind Min Ying. She kept peeking over students' shoulders, preplanning which dishes she wanted to grab. When she turned around, she nearly dropped her tray because he was smiling at her. Her hands flew up to cover her face, cheeks instantly turning red. Without a word, she darted away. But then, he grabbed her wrist.
Gasps echoed across the cafeteria.
"Is that Oh Seok Jun?"
"Oh my gosh! He's holding her hand?!"
"I thought he liked Eun Shin!"
"Who's that girl?"
"She's so lucky!"
Min Ying tried to cover her face with her tray, but Seok Jun pulled her to a table where no one was sitting. He sat down and dragged her to sit next to him. She whimpered beside him, holding her spoon close to her lips.
"Yes?" she asked. Seok Jun let out a small chuckle.
"Why are you hiding? I just wanted to eat with you today," he said. Min Ying closed her eyes and tightened her grip on the spoon.
"Because… I feel awkward…" she replied. Seok Jun smiled warmly.
"Well, I hope you won't in the future. I thought you were very cute earlier," he said. Min Ying turned red. Completely red.
"Don't say that!" she said, feeling her heart beat faster. My heart is going to explode. His smile is too cute! She covered her face with her hands, lips biting onto the spoon.
"Min Ying…" he said, then paused. Min Ying waited. Slowly, she peeked over her fingers to look at him. He was staring right at her.
"Will you be my girlfriend?" he asked. Seok Jun started blushing, then looked away shyly. Min Ying dropped her spoon with a loud clatter, and the whole cafeteria turned to stare at them.
Eun Shin and Seung Jee watched from a distance, smiling at the romantic scene unfolding.
"...What?"