▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅

Daehwi stopped being friends with Jeongin. Hyunjin felt an ungodly amount of horrible about it because apparently it was his fault. He didn't say anything of do anything that scared the boy off from his younger step sibling, the simple fact that the two are related was enough for him. He remembered walking with the said brother out of the school to see him in such an upset mood before revealing what Daehwi did.

There had been mixed emotions that crashed over Hyunjin like a wave, not knowing exactly what he wanted to do. What he could do. He wanted to go over and punch Daehwi for cutting ties over something so stupid, he wanted him to apologize for being so close minded. But apart of Hyunjin was holding himself back, as he himself didn't know him that well. So why should he be all up in Jeongin's personal business.

Plus, the younger step sibling assured him that it was okay. He said that he was never close friends with Daehwi, but they hung around each other because they both knew Seungmin. Hyunjin did decide to lay off the matter at one point, it's just that the topic made him angry. He knew who he'd avoid for the rest of the year, as if Daehwi wasn't doing that himself already thought.

When he found out that Daehwi was the one who told Jeongin that Hyunjin was scary? He had to scoff at the thought. What made him think that? Sure he'd probably seem scary now to him after his stupid cut off from the step sibling. Before however he doesn't know what would give him a reason to believe he was "scary". People truly do love to spread some rumors don't they.

He should forget it all now though, it was in the past. It was the next day and he has more problems to worry about. Like that fact that Changbin and Felix were sitting right in front of him with expectant looks on their faces. "Well?" Changbin asked him, tapping his fingers on the desk. "Will you show us her or not? Just to have some proof you are actually falling for someone."

Hyunjin gulped, becoming sweaty and nervous in an instant. "Come on guys, that would be insensitive of me." He tried to counter, a sheepish smile on his face. "I mean we have different classes and she cared a lot about her work... I don't wanna disturb her you know." He looked up to the two boys in front of him cautiously, only to be greeted by their vicious stares glaring down at him.

He knew this day would come soon, the day where Hyunjin had to prove that he wasn't falling for the class president. He had always said there was another girl he liked, that he'd want absolutely nothing to do with the class president. But after him getting her number and visibly struggled on what he thought was appropriate to address her by, it only added up to the signs that were already showing that there was a curve in feelings.

"Doyeon, the Pretty Girl from Wonju." Changbin recalled, a smug look on his face as he leaned back in his chair. Hyunjin's face turned into a look of horror, frightened by the fact that he remembered that saying he used to always say. Hyunjin himself remembered calling the girl that as well, but he desperately hoped that his friends would forget all about that. "7th grade was a wild ride for you. Say, don't you have Doyeon's phone number?" He questioned him.

Hyunjin nodded his head in defeat, covering his face in embarrassment. "So just text her! Tell her to come here and hang out with us for awhile. I don't talk to her out of class so I'm not going to ask." Changbin stated as the boy continued to dig a hole for himself. Reluctantly taking his phone out and staring down his contacts as he went searching for the said girl's contact. This entire situation felt like someone forced him to swallow rocks, big ones, as a sinking feeling in his stomach arose.

He stopped at her contact finally, he opened up a chat with her. Hyunjin's breathing hitched when he realized he hadn't texted the girl in days, he had left her on read. He remember the exact scenario that made him leave the text on read, Jeongin dropping plates and hurting himself. The boy gave the two a look pleading of mercy, pulling out the puppy dog eyes. "Do I... have to do this right now?"

"Yes." Both boys said in unison, practically sitting on the edge of their seats. If Felix had a bag of popcorn, he'd be eating it like he has just gotten to the good part of a movie. His eyes never felt Hyunjin as he watched the boy began texting Doyeon. Changbin was sitting back comfortably, his arms crossed as he gave the boy a victorious smirk. Why was he friends with these two again.

ME
hey doyeon?? we haven't talked in
awhile but do you want to hang
out with me and friends?? we're
not really doing anything.
sent.

"See, look at that! That wasn't so hard was it?" Changbin exclaimed, getting out of his seat so he could go pat the boy his back. Hyunjin didn't respond, too busy trying to calm his spinning head after sending that to her. This felt like torture! What if she didn't want to hang out? What if she lost interest in him? What if she couldn't come? What if she—

"Responded." Felix spoke as a small ding went off on the boy's phone. They all looked down towards his notifications as they searched for Doyeon's text. "She actually responded to your text... dude you are so dead now. Should I plan your funeral now? What type of flowers do you want?" Hyunjin swatted his hand at the Aussie, unfortunately missing by just a hair. He returned back his phone and opened up the text to see what she had said

DOYEON
Sure why not! I'm actually
right down the hall
from your classroom.
Ironic right?

"She's what?!" Hyunjin yelled, standing up out of his seat in shock. No, this is bad. This is very, very bad. She's so close to them, she'll be at his classroom in a matter of seconds! Why did she have to be free right now. Doyeon was supposed to be studying or something or have other plans with people. She was supposed to be doing anything that would prevent her from coming here.

Felix let out a childish laugh, jumping out of his seat and racing to the door. Changbin followed behind, glancing through the doorway in search of Doyeon. Hyunjin scrambled after them, grabbing their shirt collars and trying to pull them away from the doors. The three constantly yelled at each other with giggles in the mix. He was almost positive that they were being stared at, but Hyunjin's life was on the line!

"Look, look! There she is!" Felix yelled just as Hyunjin yanked him back into the classroom. He peeked his head out of the doorway in search for the girl and his heart nearly stopped. There was a girl in the middle of the hallway, walking and peering into each classroom she walked past to make sure she was going to right one. Then she caught sight of Changbin and Hyunjin, a smile growing on her face as she waved to them.

Changbin waved back of course, the smug look on his face never disappearing. Hyunjin only gave her a sheepish smile before running into the classroom and wishing that there was a place to hide. He didn't need this confrontation. He didn't want this confrontation. While to Doyeon it would seem like harmless hanging out, Hyunjin knew it was his friends trying to prove a point.

He sat down in his chair, practically swearing his pants off as the three soon joined him. Changbin took his original place in front of him, causing Felix to sit beside Hyunjin while Doyeon sat exactly in front of him. He cautiously met the girl's eyes, trying to calm the panic in him as his eyes practically did a security check of her. That's when he realized that she and the class president looked so... different

Not different in a bad way of course, but just different. He could recall the class president's appearance almost immediately, short black hair and soft features in the face despite having a somewhat cold look all the time. Her eyes? They'd be friendly when they'd want to be, and that's the best part about her. Hyunjin practically melted into a puddle every time he saw her eyes light with interest.

Doyeon? Her brown hair was definitely past shoulder length. Her face? It looked like whatever gods that were out there took their sweet time on her, making sure every aspect of her face was perfect. He should know, people said that about him all the time. If Hyunjin didn't believe it about himself, who else would fit the description better than Doyeon?

Hyunjin was practically lost in his own thoughts, unable to join in the conversation as he tried to sort out his feelings silently. However his thoughts were broken when Felix's voice rang clear through his ears. "Doyeon? Truth or dare?" He asked, a simple question that everyone knows. It was harmless, it held no weight to the world around them. But Hyunjin felt like it was stabbing him straight through the heart.

He knew what Felix was trying to do, and he didn't like it. Doyeon sat there for a second, thinking about what her answer would be. "Hm... truth. Ask whatever you want." She explained, giving Felix as much freedom as possible. Hyunjin's heart sunk to the bottom of his stomach as the Aussie rubbed his hands together with glee.

"Out of the three of us, who would you date and why?" He asked, kicking his feet around like he was little school girl. That blinding smile of his was hiding the boy's ulterior motives. "Oh and when telling us why, try and make our hearts flutter like in those dramas I see every day." Felix specified.

Doyeon sat there for a good minute, her eyes darting from all three of the boys as if her life depended on this one decision. "You all seem like very nice boyfriends, but I'd probably choose Hyunjin." She explained, though it was predictable on who she'd choose. Changbin and Felix didn't care though, erupting into fits of laughter and cooing at the both of them.

Hyunjin was practically forced to look at Doyeon again, whose eyes were glued onto him. "It's probably lame, picking the guy that almost every girl falls for when they first see each other." She continued, ignoring the presence of Changbin and Felix. "But... it's hard not to fall for a guy who is so radiant and vibrant all the time right? It's not easy getting yourself out of that state of attraction with someone so who is so charming."

... Why didn't that work? Why wasn't Hyunjin's heart fluttering? Why shouldn't he feel his chest tighten at the words that just came out of Doyeon's mouth? They sounded so sincere and genuine, so why wasn't it affecting him. "Was that a confession, Doyeon?" Changbin asked out of pure curiosity.

This time she was hesitant. She leaned up against her hand as she took a glance towards Changbin. "I think it might be." Doyeon stated, her eyes landing right back on Hyunjin. The friendliness that was there earlier was gone now, replaced with emotions that were all too familiar to the boy. She just confessed to him... and he felt nothing at all.

So Changbin and Felix were right after all. Maybe deep down inside of him... he knew the same thing as they did. He was just using Doyeon as a distraction for his own feelings. He never really liked her like that, she was just someone he was infatuated with at the time. And now he wasn't. "You might be attracted to me," Hyunjin began, a guilty feeling rising up in him,"but I don't think that feeling is reciprocated anymore."

▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅