5 MONTHS AGO:-

The soul-sucking mid-terms are finally over!

No more cramming, no more deadlines, and no more brooding over incomplete syllabus.

Thinking of what I would do once I got home while I was packing my bag, I didn't even notice Phoebe calling me.

"I told them you'd be joining the prose club. Why aren't you there already?" I paused and stared at her like a total dumb ass for some seconds, and then it hit me!

It was what I earnestly awaited for months and suddenly, I didn't feel like going. At all. Of all the freaking goddamn holidays, it had to be today! I simply wanted a short power nap I was deprived of weeks.

Was it too much to ask?

"I'll be there. You should hurry too." I told her while cluttering out of the door to the hallway. I wonder if he'd be there. I don't anticipate him coming to something like this, though.

But the heart wants what it wants, doesn't it?

He is Tristan... with a stone-cold heart only I was capable of melting. They're all gone now. Us, our common friends, and all the scenarios I've been weaving with him beside me...

As I entered the room, I could see no sign of him, which was...expected. He already went home I see. So he won't even see me just once before the vacation?

I hate it when they say time fixes everything. The shit has never worked for me. To hell with time and healing!

Our class president, Rosalyn, the best pupil of Kent-Wood High, and a few more students were present in the allotted room. As I was looking through the unknown faces, someone called me, "Hey, you must be Vera."

I turned to respond and- WAIT isn't he  Aidan? The volleyball heartthrob of the tenth and eleventh graders? 

He sure has gentle and brown eyes from close just as they'd said. I smiled and those brown orbs were directly staring at mine now. When I stared back, they were slightly breathless.

"I'll be dividing the tasks to all, make sure to update me about what you'd prefer to do. I'm Aidan, from Liberal Arts." I was amazed to see how professional he was.

"Sure, thank you. I look forward to working with all of you."

Okay.

So there are people who don't smile often and still manage to look breathtaking. Aidan was undoubtedly a one.

Just as I was about to ask him about the write-up themes, Rosalyn hurriedly held his arm and dragged him to god knows where. I am not sure of what I saw but, did he just click his tongue in annoyance?

What's her problem, anyway? She makes it too obvious; the fact that she can't stand me at all costs. I am so damn done with her! If it wasn't for her, Tristan and I would've been marking our 456th day today!

Aidan returned and asked everyone to take their seats. He said he'd let the high scorer of Kent-wood High, Sean explain the assignments. Phoebe and Riley were sitting together at the back and asked me to join them. I didn't, thinking it would be too funny three sitting on such a small bench. 

I moved to the only vacant seat ahead of them and sat. Someone was already sitting there, not like I paid any attention though. He was masked anyway. 

In the middle of the discussion, I swear I saw the guy sitting beside me scrolling his phone and staring at me once. He never once looked up even when Sean kept calling him. 

He now kept his phone on the table and slid it towards my side as if to show me something. When I looked at him questioningly, he simply tapped the screen and smiled all the same at it. 

"Is that you, Madam?" 

What I found on the phone was a live group chat of boys talking of no one else but- ME! 

'Damn, is that Vera in the room right now?'

'I never saw her inside school before. She's soo fuckin fine!!'

'Snap out of it dickhead you've got a fuckin girlf!'

"How do they even know me? Like they're all eleventh graders if I'm not wrong?" 

He chuckled seeing me so shocked. For the first time, I got to see his face as he removed his mask. 

He dyed his hair hot pink, which was too exquisite to go unnoticed.

"Wouldn't you like to be recognized, Vera?"

Wait...

The way he asked that- I mean more like said that, he seemed to be stating a fact about me rather than asking a question...

"Gladly. But that'll not be the case. As you see, I'm an outcast." I laughed it off.

"No." He grinned while looking down. "It's just there's nothing we can do about jealous people."

WHOA. HE IS IMPOSSIBLE.

Every word he said seems to be inflicting on me....like they're arrows pointed towards me, for me..

I don't remember seeing him anywhere before. That's strange. His clothing, though practical, bears subtle details that speak of opulence, probably.

"Sorry, but what was your name again?" I tried to be polite because he seemed a little...I don't know. 

"Dave Sullivan, E-Commerce. I'm irregular so it's only likely to not know me." 

Oh. So that was it. 

"How did you know I was the one they were talking about?"

Just then, a notification popped up on the screen and his smile dropped. He quickly put his phone back. I assumed they were talking about me, again.

"Because nobody in the room stood out as you." He clarified still typing on his phone.

W-What?

"It's alright, they're losers as always. I asked them to stop this bullshit."

 He turned to me and handed me a handbook. "This will help you if you face trouble while correcting typos or if you run out of inspiration." He continued pointing to the handbook.

"My, thank you so much, I truly mean it. But won't you be needing this too?" He was so friendly, for someone meeting the very first time!

He simply shook his head and smiled, again. It flashed across his face like a fleeting shadow, enigmatic and fleeting. 

Is it genuine amusement, a hint of mischief, or something more....deeper?

Whatever, I must be losing it, big time. Just because I am knack at noticing people and their moves, I shouldn't be doing it with everyone I come across! That's insane.

"Oh yeah, Vera. We're having a match against Dansel School tonight. Would you like to come?" There goes flying my beauty sleep, again. 

I was about to refuse and apologize when I was suddenly interrupted by a certain voice across the corridor of the room. 

This voice is airy and clear, like a gentle breeze or sparkling water, not the velvety and rich I was talking to just now. It was one voice that I of all people couldn't have missed.

It can't be...

"C'mon, Trist! Don't tell me you ain't coming this time too."

I quickly turned hearing his name and there he was in the hallway along with Samuel and Andrew! So he was inside the school after all. But why?

As is customary, my heart is at a marathon yet again. The mere sight of him triggers a burst of excitement and anticipation about what might happen next. It's every freaking time. My brain struggles to keep up with the emotional roller coaster, leading to difficulty forming words.

I wonder if the same happens to him...

"I-I think I'll go. When is it?" By the time I said that; three of them already entered the room. I'm not sure if they heard me, or maybe they did because Tristan turned to Andrew, "What was the time again?"

"Around 5:30." 

"It's at 5:30 Vera. So now you coming?" Both Andrew and Dave overlapped as they said.  

"Yes." I let out a breath.

As I turned, I found Tristan locking his eyes with me while he spoke to Andrew,

"Fine. Just this once."

Blood rushed to my face, causing a visible blush. I didn't even realize that a shy smile formed on my lips involuntarily. I had no idea what I was doing until the students got up from their seats and started to leave the classroom.

Finally, I packed my bag and got up. The room was empty except for Sean and he called Tristan. 

As I walked out, I dropped a pen on the threshold and when I bent down to pick it up, I swear I saw Tristan about to light up his cigarette but gradually turned to me and smiled.

HOLY HEAVENS.

Where is my heart?

Shoot. It dropped.....

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A/N:

Vera's ex-boyfriend is non other than Seo in guk!! Stay on line to know how the story unfolds.

a gentle reminder to vote:")

till then,

@limjuyeon <333