his first attempt at communicating with sooa again was at school - arguably the easiest place to start.

every time the eleven would be walking with each other, intak's strides would increase the slightest bit to catch up to ella.

every time he would do this - ella would race to walk between two of their friends, usually jiung and minjeong.

intak would sigh, every time.

its no use.

the second try was no different. intak sat beside the girl, casual as if there'd never been any tension between the two. she thought it was taeyang, showing him something on her phone, "yangie, do you think inta-" her breath hitched in her throat when she saw the hwang boy sitting beside her instead of theo. "oh. sorry." she quickly said, standing from the table and hurrying out of the courtyard they always sat in.

stephen swore he saw tears welling in the younger's eyes, jaw clenching as he looked down at the table. he let out a frustrated huff.

"she'll come around to it. just keep trying,"

will she?

( 结束 )