I took a step back, doubt hitting me. "Wait, why are you suddenly being nice?"

He scratched his forehead and smiled.

"Play along," he whispered low, but husky enough for me to feel odd. "And you'll know why."

I was fiddling with the necklace when it hit me, "Isn't this a gemstone with power?"

"Yes. Maybe you can consider your acting dreams coming true soon."

"H-How....?" I gasped, loud. "You better not be stalking me! My own mother has no idea about that wish!"

He opened his mouth to say something when there was a roar of victory. I turned to see Ethan's team winning the game. He signaled Dave and winked.

"Go and bring me the ingredients. Let me practice here for a while. I hadn't played this in ages." He said looking at Ethan who was nearing us.

"Please I'm starving and it's almost lunch hour. I won't be coming down before I'm done eating." 

"Hey! Can't you just listen to him?" Ethan looked annoyed and who was he to speak so casually? I don't even know him. 

These E-Commerce guys are so vexatious. 

"Noo. See ya!"

----------

I hurried upstairs towards my classroom but a loud riot on the first floor stopped me in my tracks. I entered the corridor to check and it was now near, coming from the infirmary. 

All our boys seemed to be there; circling someone sitting on the bed. 

It was...

Tristan!

What's happening?

"You shitheads! You call yourselves friends?" Aaron looked furious. I'd never seen him so heated up before. 

"Stop it! You nearly killed him today! Given the force you put onto that ball, he could've fucking died if it knocked his chest!" Mathew shouted at the top of his lungs and Tristan sighed. 

"Oh really? Funny you're so worked up about a slight bruise when this abrasion," Kevin fired back and Alex folded Aaron's pants to reveal a really severe one. "Needs treatment right now!" 

"What? I'm sure Tristan didn't do this..." Nate, Mathew's spoon mumbled adjusting his specs.

Nate was right. Tristan.....couldn't have done that. 

Andrew and Samuel stood speechless, though they could've said something. 

HOW LOYAL FRIENDS HAVE YOU GOT TRISTAN!

Mathew, I think was now having second thoughts as he stepped towards the bed and looked at Tristan sharply.

"Why are you not saying anything?" 

The silence made Mathew shake his head in disbelief and storm out of the room followed by Nate. 

Unfortunately, Alex saw me as I neared and waved at me, "When did you get here?" 

Everyone had their eyes on me now. Even Tristan, but I didn't look at him. "Well, uh I heard the commotion and-

He didn't let me finish as he excitedly neared me, followed by Aaron and Mike. "Aren't you hungry? Let's go grab something. Mike will call the others." 

I found Kevin was still in the room. He grabbed his backpack before smirking and holding his middle finger to Tristan!

WAIT WHAT. SO THAT WAS...?

"Aaron." I neared him so that it was just us hearing me. "It wasn't him who hurt you, right?"

Before he could even open his mouth, Kevin dragged him after sending me a death glare. 

And they left, leaving me and just him...awkward with the unspoken words hanging in the air...

OKAY VERA. YOU CAN DO THIS.

I just needed to check up on him and leave right? I clenched my fists and neared the threshold. But before I could take a single step, a hand clamped on my shoulder. Firm.

"So you were here," his words dripped in coldness. "And I thought you were starving?" 

I could not respond Dave. My eyes were glued to Tristan's face that was etched with hurt and maybe a speck of.....jealousy?

I don't know why.....but my chest tightened seeing how hurtful he looked. Being satisfied like Dave said was a far cry.

"Whoa there," Dave whispered, his voice laced with a hint of amusement.  And this time, his chuckle made me turn to him. "Looks like your knight needs rescuing." 

"He's not my knight, Dave." 

"Exactly," Dave said, a smug smile spreading across his face. "If you got that right, stop standing where you don't belong." 

In the next moment, I was moving away, not on my own accord; but because he intertwined our hands together and was almost dragging me from the room. 

A part of me longed to be there, to offer comfort the way I used to. But I knew boundaries had been drawn, and this wasn't my place anymore.

Tristan had seen me wanting to come to him. Did a part of him want me there too? 

"Dave. My hand-"

He was still holding me making me remind him.

"Why," he stopped and turned facing me, his voice dripping with a mockery I hadn't noticed before.

"Are you afraid he might see our locked hands?" 

The silence was too loud. It was suffocating me... to the extent that I wanted Dave out of my sight.

"I have heard you're hopeless, but I had no idea it was this grave." He blurted out without any emotions and I could just scoff in disbelief.

I bristled, "Hopeless? You've got to be kidding me right now."

"You've had the balls to face me after you shoved your face onto mine that day! Worse, you have not the slightest care stealing it while I just.." I trailed off, pain choking me and my throat altogether. 

"Will you still say I'm the hopeless one here?"

His usually jovial eyes turned cold and empty, as though drained out of all the light. 

The silence stretched, heavy and suffocating. He looked down avoiding my gaze. Just a stoic mask that offered no clues to what was going on behind his eyes.

His head then snapped up, his gaze locking onto mine. The intensity of it stole my breath. Maybe it meant something, maybe he was drown in guilt. 

But then, the moment passed. He looked away, a muscle in his jaw clenching for a brief second.

He turned and walked away, leaving my burst outs echoing in the hallway. So he was a nutjob after all.. A nutjob afraid of acknowledging the kiss he tainted so apathetically.

He wasn't gone too far when he suddenly stopped on his tracks, turning sideways.

"Don't expect me to say sorry." 

WHAT ON EARTH-

"You're unbelievable..."  I echoed, frustration and aversion bubbling up inside me.

But what he uttered next, made me rethink my words, sending a shiver through me I hadn't experienced in ages..

"BECAUSE IT WAS MY FIRST TOO..."

----------------------------------------------------

A/N:

This much for today. Don't mind, lol. I'm sleepy~

don't forget to say what you feel! you're appreciated here.

till then,

love,

juyeonie<3