February 9, 2015

"Don't forget about the song and please send your assignment on time. I don't want anyone to come to me and beg again. I'll still deduct that 10 marks no matter how hard you plan to grovel. And please Mr. Seo don't try to bribe me with concert tickets anymore." Mr Lee said and the students snickered. Eunkwang grinned and did a salute. Mr Lee rolled his eyes.

"Alright, that's all for today. I'll see you next week, after the convocation day." He left the class and the students started to disperse.

"Are you okay?" Lisa peeked from under her hair to see a concerned Angel. She sat up and stretched a bit, squeezing her eyes close before opening it again.

"Yeah, just... sleepy."

"Go home, I'll lend you my notes later." Angel said. Lisa chuckled.

"I'm fine really."

"Hey..."

A voice from behind them cut their conversation short. Angel smiled warmly at the girl as Lisa turned around, grinning widely.

"Jieun-ssi, I'm glad you're here. Lisa don't look well, so can you do me a favour and send her home?"

Lisa scowled. "Which part of 'I'm fine' did you not understand?"

Angel rolled her eyes and said to Jieun, "Either she follow you or you drag her home, it's her choice really, but make sure she goes home, okay?" She grabbed her bag and her books, shot Lisa a wink and successfully dodged a smack from the annoyed girl.

"See you tomorrow bae, bye Jieun!" She giggled and sauntered out the door.

"Ugh that girl." Lisa groaned and buried her face into her bag that became her makeshift pillow since the class started. Jieun laughed and sat beside her.

"Are you unwell?"

"No, I'm fine. Don't mind Angel." Lisa answered, her voice was muffled by her bag.

"Well, I guess I have to drag you then." Jieun said, trying hard not to laugh.

Lisa gasped and she sat up. "Don't you dare teaming up against me! I thought you're my best friend."

Jieun shrugged. "It's for your own sake."

"Lisa... can I talk to you?"

Jieun tensed as she darted her eyes to the table behind Lisa. Lisa noticed and she sighed. She stood up and gathered her things, completely ignoring the person who just talked to her.

"Jieun, let's go." She said and Jieun looked up at her in surprise.

"Come." She urged and pulled Jieun's hand.

She thought she could get away as she passed by Shownu. But her hopes were crushed when Jieun halted to stop. She turned around to see that he had a grip on Jieun's wrist and pulled her next to him. Jieun's face was red and Lisa pushed the jealousy from seeping out. She did not deserve to be jealous. She released Jieun's hand, but Shownu kept his hold.

"Jieun, can I have a few moment with Lisa?'

Jieun glanced at Lisa and nodded. No matter how much she despised the idea of letting her best friend and the guy she loved alone, she could not just ignore it when Shownu had personally asked her to.

She walked to the door, shooting Lisa a strained smile.

"Jieun..."

"I'll wait for you outside." And she closed the door behind her.

"Why did you come here?"

Lisa tried so hard not to break when she saw Shownu's dishevelled self. His hair was unruly, yet he looked hot. He looked tired, like he did not sleep well for days. She bit her tongue, she had caused this.

"Lisa I..." He took a step forward and she took a step back.

"Stay where you are." Lisa snapped but Shownu ignored her little demand and kept closing their distance in fast pace until there was nothing left between them. He buried his face into her hair, as he pulled her impossibly close.

"I missed you." He whispered.

"L-let me go." Her mind was spinning. She could not think, not with him close. She tried pushing him away, but he would not budge.

"Let me hug you for a while." He said and she let her hands fell limply on her sides. Supposedly a mere hug would not hurt right? She could not ignore the torn look on his face, and the vulnerability in his voice.

When he pulled away he kept his hands on her shoulders. "Why did you avoid me?"

She stared straight to his chest, not trusting herself to keep the strong façade if she look to his face.

"Were... were you mad because of what I said before?" There it was again, the pain in his voice. She wanted to hold him and tell him that she was not mad anymore, or that it was not his fault but she could not.

She stopped herself before the words jumped out from her mouth.

"No."

"Then why?" He tilted her chin up. "You're killing me."

Too close. She thought. She stepped back and his hand dropped. He sighed harshly.

"Lisa." He bit out.

"Stop. Stay away from me, Shownu. I'm not good for you."

"What?"

"I mean it." She said. She had willed her voice to come out louder but it betrayed her. The tears that she tried so hard to contain finally poured down in a fast pace. Before she know it, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her to him, crushing her with a hug. It was harder than before and tighter.

This time she let go. She clung on his shirt as she sobbed into his chest, releasing the grief that she sustained for so long.

"I'm sorry. I should have gone after you." He cooed, running a hand through her hair.

They stayed like that for some time before Lisa pulled away. Her eyes were puffy and her nose was runny. She had developed small hiccups and he chuckled softly when he heard them. She glared at him with her puffy eyes and huffed. He quickly acted by planting a chaste kiss on her forehead.

"I'm sorry baby, I won't laugh anymore."

"I should go, Jieun's probably waiting for me." She spoke, just as her phone dinged. She took it out from her jeans pocket and stared at it.

From Jieun

Lisa, I'm going first. I forgot that I have to meet Mark. Ask Shownu to send you home if you're still not feeling well.

The uneasiness tugged on her heart. Jieun did not hear everything they said, right?

February 14, 2015

"Why didn't I see you at class?"

Jieun poured some more milk into her cereal and stirred it with her spoon.

"I didn't feel like coming to class."

"If I didn't know better, I'd say you're trying to avoid that little friend of yours again."

She stopped chewing. "Nope, why would I?"

"I don't know. Speaking of which, she asked for you earlier. I had to lie that you're having your monthly female problem. You're welcome."

This time she sputtered the cereal that she was chewing on the table. "What the hell Mark? Why would you say that?" She could feel the heat creeping on her cheeks as he rumbled in laughter.

"Well should've told me why you didn't come to class."

"Ugh I can't believe why I even bothered with you."

"You know you can't resist me." He said cockily and she rolled her eyes. "Hey I have to go. Tina Young is here."

"Good luck hitting on her." She said mockingly and he grumbled. A while later the line went dead. He was annoyed and she smiled smugly.

xxxxx

Her phone rang and without looking away from her laptop screen, she received the call. She propped the phone between her cheek and shoulder.

"Hello?"

There were soft sniffles and she sat straighter, now using her hand to hold her phone. "Hello?

"Ji-jieun?"

Her eyes widened. "Lisa?"

"Jieun... c- could you come to Shownu's performance tonight? He needs you."

Her heart dropped. "Why?" Her voice was nothing more than a whisper.

"I broke up with him." Lisa said and Jieun's mouth fell.

"You what?"

"Please, Jieun? For me? I won't ask for more. He needs comfort, he might not show it, but he does." Lisa trailed off and Jieun could have sworn she heard the girl sob softly.

"Okay, I promise I will be there."