Chapter 33

Two days later...

Yiyeon stretched her arms as she placed her pen down. She looked around and noticed that some of her classmates looked distressed.

I would be acting worse if I hadn't studied.

"Yiyeon-ah!" She turned around and noticed her classmate, Somin, approaching her. She looked like she was about to cry, and it startled her. "M-May I know what your answer was in Test 2, number one? The question with the building diagrams?"

"Oh, the angle of depression question?" Yiyeon asked, and she nodded. Then, Yiyeon took her scratch paper and looked for her solution on the said item. "Uhm, my answer was 22.0911."

Somin's eyes widened, "Some of our classmates have answered the same as you, but some of us have answered 54.2033."

Yiyeon laughed awkwardly because honestly, why the fuck would she care about others' answers? "O-Oh, um, I'm not sure about my answer, though... maybe your answer's correct."

The girl smiled and went to another person.

"What the fuck is with Somin?" Daewon whispered. "Did she asked for your answer, too?"

Yiyeon nodded, "Yeah, and honestly, is she threatened that the rest of us might get higher scores than her?" She scoffed. "I just did what was discussed, and I don't give a damn if it's wrong, as long as I had an answer."

"Right?" Daewon chuckled. "What's funny is that my answer to that question was 1,429.11, and I don't know how the fuck I got it."

"What the hell, Daewon?" She laughed. "Yejin's probably suffering because of the same question. While Yangyang's having the time of his life while answering math problems."

The bell rang, signaling that midterm examinations are over. Yiyeon and Daewon passed their papers, and they could only sigh upon leaving the classroom. The weight of having to take their midterm examination was finally lifted off of their shoulders.

"I can finally practice without worrying about anything," Daewon said, relief drawn all over his face. "By the way, it's almost Yangyang's birthday. Should we do a surprise?"

She shook her head, "He hates surprises, remember?" Yiyeon chuckled. "Besides, he always throws parties at their house, so doing a surprise would be a waste."

"You're right," Daewon nodded. "Speak of the devil," He looked at the people approaching them. They just came out of their classroom. "Yejin! Yangyang!"

"Let's all eat outside!" Yejin skipped towards them, leaving Yangyang behind, "I know that you guys have your club activities in the afternoon. Jeongmin and I are the only ones who don't have club activities."

"Shall we go and eat outside, then?" Yiyeon suggested. "Then we can go stroll at the mall after, then the four of us could go back to school, while Yejin and Jeongmin could stay or go home."

"I'm down," Yangyang shrugged.

"Let's wait for Sungchan and Jeongmin, then," Yejin said as they went down the stairs.

Sungchan's class was still taking the test when they passed by their room. Yiyeon could have sworn he saw the younger muttering (probably cursing) under his breath. Then, they pass by Jeongmin's class, where they saw her sleeping.

"Yup, typical Jeongmin," Yejin laughed.

***

"At this point, I don't even care if I fail the exams," Jeongmin said as they made their way into the mall. "I wasn't even able to answer some questions. If I fail, I fail. I'll just beg for my mother's forgiveness for having a daughter like me," she said as she faked a cry.

Yangyang snorted, "Let's not talk about the exams, okay?" He sighed as he looked around. "I'm craving steak. Shall we go to the steakhouse?" He asked.

Yiyeon furrowed her eyebrows, "Wow, we're not that rich compared to you," she rolled her eyes. "I only have 17,000 won with me."

"I don't even have money with me. I don't know how I got dragged into this," Sungchan snorted.

Yangyang rolled his eyes, "Fine, my treat."

The rest cheered as they skipped their way to the steakhouse. But, much to their dismay, the restaurant was full-packed, and the queue outside looked like a queue for a blockbuster film. Yangyang, although dismayed, led the pack as they went to eat pizza at a well-known pizza place on the second floor.

"Why in the world are you sulking?" Yiyeon asked Yangyang as they placed their bags down on their table. "Is this because of the steak craving you have?" She chuckled.

Yangyang slowly nodded as he leaned his head on the wall. "It's okay, though. At least I won't be spending lots of money today," he chuckled. "I remembered that we still have training later."

"Good that you know," the girl chuckled. "Should we order already?" 

"Let's wait for the four people who went to the restroom, even if they don't feel like peeing," Yangyang snorted. "Bold of them to assume that we haven't sorted everything out between us."

Yiyeon nodded, "So that's what it was?" She chuckled. "Jeongmin looked like she wanted to go, though. Even Yejin."

"I'm just not sure about Sungchan and Daewon," Yangyang chuckled. "Let's just wait for them. It wouldn't hurt, right?" 

The girl nodded.

The bell rang, signaling that a customer entered. Yangyang, although feeling a bit sleepy, felt a rush of adrenaline upon seeing who just entered.

"Oh, fuck," he said as he slowly sat up. "S-Should we go somewhere else?" He noticed that Yiyeon was looking at them, too. But much to his surprise, she shook her head. 

"It's fine. Besides, Yejin and the others would be confused if they don't get to see us here," Yiyeon said, smiling at Yangyang.

"Aren't you feeling uncomfortable seeing Jeno?" Yangyang asked while looking at Jeno, who looked like he was texting someone. 

"A bit uncomfortable, yes," Yiyeon sighed. "But he's not the reason why I'm here. I'm with you guys, and that's way better than being with him." She smiled.

The bell rang once again, and as expected, Jeno's friends entered.

"Yiyeon-ah! Yangyang!" Jaemin greeted as he waved his hands for the two to see.

Yiyeon, although a bit startled and embarrassed, smiled and waved back. Yangyang waved his hands back as he laughed.

Jeno looked up from his phone and looked surprised upon seeing Yangyang and Yiyeon seated together.

"Yiyeon-noona!" Jisung called as he went to where Yangyang and Yiyeon were. "Is Sungchan, by chance, with you guys?" He asked.

Yangyang nodded, "Yeah, the four of them just went to the restroom for a bit." He explained. "Why'd you ask?"

"I just wanted to tell him that I won't be able to attend today's soccer practice," Jisung sighed. "I have a lot of articles to write, and Jaemin-hyung's not letting me have an excuse." He pouted.

"That's what you get for getting into a lot of clubs," Yiyeon chuckled. "But okay, we'll tell Sungchan." She smiled.

Jisung stood up and bowed, excusing himself, "Thank you, noona and Yangyang-hyung!" He said as he rushed to where Jeno and the others are.

"Oh, Mark-hyung is with them, too. That's new," Yangyang chuckled.

"Do you want to go to them, too?" Yiyeon asked. "I mean, you're also good friends with them..."

"And leave you guys alone? Heck, no," Yangyang said as he flicked her forehead.

A couple of minutes later, Daewon, Sungchan, Jeongmin, and Yejin finally arrived. Yangyang stood up and went to the counter to order their meals, while the rest stayed behind and decided to talk about some things.

"Oh, Jeno-oppa and the others are here?" Jeongmin exclaimed while looking at the boys' table, who looked like they were having the time of their lives. 

Yiyeon nodded, "Yeah, Jaemin and Jisung even greeted us earlier." She said.

"What about Jeno?" Yejin asked.

"What do you mean about Jeno?" Yiyeon raised a brow. "It's not like he's obliged to greet either me every time we see each other." She rolled her eyes. "Besides, why would he even dare?"

Yejin, Jeongmin, Daewon, and Sungchan looked at each other and sighed.

"Oh my gosh, you guys. Stop sighing. I was the one who was in a relationship with him, not y'all," she chuckled.

***

"Oh my gosh, Jeno, stop pining for Yiyeon," Mark sighed as he snapped his fingers in front of Jeno's eyes. "It's obvious that you have a lot to tell her, so why not just talk to her? I mean, you also haven't told her the reason for that night, right?"

Jeno blinked his eyes a couple of times as he nodded, "I'm fine, I'm fine."

Chenle snorted, "Hyung, nobody was asking if you're fine?"

"H-Huh? What were you saying then, Mark-hyung?" Jeno asked Mark, who was seated in front of him. 

Mark shook his head as he clicked his tongue, "You weren't even listening," he sighed. "I think you need to talk to her."

"H-Huh, why should I do that?" Jeno asked.

"Are you seriously asking that right now, dude?" Renjun raised a brow. "You also need a proper closure between the two of you."

"But she wouldn't listen..."

"Wow, are you seriously okay with talking to her? The last time I checked, you kept on refusing," Jaemin snickered.

Jeno sighed, "You guys know what I did. With that, do you think that she would still talk to me?" He asked. "She asked to meet up, I ditched her, left her under the rain, and she waited for—I don't know, more than half a day?"

"Oh my gosh, self-pity doesn't suit you," Renjun rolled his eyes.

"Stop that, Renjun. Jeno might cry," the tanned male, seated beside Mark, said as he laughed.

"Screw you, Dongyuck!" Jeno rolled his eyes as he tried to kick the other guy under the table.

"It's nice that you're aware of what you did," Mark started. "But like what I have said earlier, you should at least tell her everything that happened that night."

"I have tried, hyung. She wouldn't listen." Jeno sighed.

"Yiyeon isn't the type of person who would not listen to someone," Renjun said. "I have been with her for quite a long time since she started helping us a long time ago, even if she wasn't a part of the club. You say that she won't listen, but have you considered your timing?" He raised a brow.

Jaemin snapped his fingers and nodded, "Maybe she had a lot of things on her mind when you talked to her. You should know her the best, Jeno. I mean, you guys dated each other."

Jeno pressed his lips into a thin line.

"You guys... do you think I should still fight for her?" He asked, his voice quiet.

The buzzer that Jisung was holding suddenly vibrated, signaling that their orders were ready to be picked up. Jisung and Mark stood up as they headed towards the counter.

"None of our opinions matter in this case, Jeno-yah," Donghyuck said as he crossed his arms. "I mean, sure, we're your friends and we should help you, but I think that you know the answer yourself. Otherwise, you won't look too bothered right now," he shrugged.

Jeno suddenly remembers what Doyoung told him.

"If you're over her—or if you don't love her anymore, to put it properly, then why are you acting this way?" 

"I don't think that Yiyeon would be in the wrong if she chooses to move on and love someone new."

"If she's slowly moving on, and you can see that she's already happy, I think it's better to let go."

Would it be better to let go?

"Before you bury yourself with self-loathe, eat," Mark said as he carefully placed the chicken bucket in front of him. "It was a joke, okay? Don't even think about burying yourself with self-loathe."

Jeno doesn't respond.

"Yah, is everything alright?" Donghyuck said as he snapped his fingers in front of Jeno.

The guy just nodded.

"But hyung... I think she's already dating someone..."

"Huh?!" Chenle exclaimed.

"Who?!" Jaemin exclaimed. He was trying hard not to look at Yiyeon's table at the moment. He doesn't remember Yiyeon telling him that she was seeing someone new.

And although Jaemin and the other club members kept on cheering her up, he wouldn't want her to date somebody else besides Jeno. Not that he would oppose her if she dates someone else, though.

"The guy you and Renjun saw..." Jeno said, his voice almost a whisper.

Jeno and Renjun looked at each other before shaking their heads, "Jeno, if she decides to meet some friends out of the blue, it wouldn't mean that she's dating them. Besides, they were with another girl that time, and I would even think that the guy and the girl she met were dating each other," Jaemin snorted.

"You idiot," Renjun scoffed. "Just eat and stop overthinking."

Jeno smiled, "Thank you for the meal!"

- tbc.
HELLOOOOOO, I'M BACK!

Yes, I have also recovered from Dengue! I have also taken enough rest, and now I'm back <3 Jaems, please drink plenty of water and also apply mosquito repellent! Stay indoors and always pray.

Take care!