Hanahaki Strings • seventeen jihancheol

Chapter 54: Of Temporary Escape

Seungcheol

Jeonghan:

Cheol. We're gonna order ice cream and play in your room. What flavor do you want?

Me:

In my room?

Jeonghan:

Yeah. Why? Can't we go there?

Me:

No, it's fine. It's just that, I'm not there right now.

Jeonghan:

Where are you then?

Me:

Our math teacher made me run some errands so I won't be able to join you guys.

Jeonghan:

Alright, then.

Me:

Enjoy playing.

I hid my phone without waiting for any response, then I took a deep breath as I continued walking to the Library to read some books and let some time pass by.

I wasn't lying when I said our math teacher made me run some errands, but I lied when I said I couldn't join them because of it. I just finished what she ordered me to do and I can join them right now, but I chose not to. I decided to just spend some time in the Library.

Not that I'm avoiding Joshua because of what happened yesterday. I just don't want to hear his response when he snaps from all their teasing and questions. I'm not yet ready for another heartache. It's enough that he told us about it, but hearing him confess in front of Seokmin would definitely hurt me more than I think.

I just need some time alone to cool off my head, and to rest my heart.

When I reached the Library, my brows furrowed when I saw some guy standing like a statue in front of the window of the Library, as if he's peering at someone.

I stopped on my track to look at what it was that he's peering at.

The guy seemed to notice that someone was staring at him though, as he tilted his head in my direction. His expression was blank but when he seemed to realize who was staring at him, his eyes widened.

Hyungwon...?

Why is he so surprised?

And what is he doing in front of the window?

I'm not one to gossip, but it's unusual for him to stand right in front of the window without moving at all

Not long after, when our eyes met, his shocked expression turned into a glare. It made me crease my forehead into confusion.

I know we're on bad terms, but what's with his expressions?

He didn't say anything. He just stormed away after a few seconds of having a glaring contest.

Okay?

Still confused, I just shrugged it off and entered the Library. Why am I so bothered about that? Geez.

Just like what I planned, I stayed at the Library for about two hours. I just decided to leave when dinner time came and my stomach started to grumble.

After putting back the book on its shelf, I hurriedly left the Library and went straight to the cafeteria.

There's only a few students outside. Some of them were heading to the cafeteria while some just seemed to finish eating as they went out of the cafeteria.