IZ*ONE University [THE REWRITE]

Chapter 22: As if I was waiting for someone

Kim Minju's POV

"To clarify, Yujin and Wonyoung traveled abroad, but to different countries?"

"Yes," Yeji nodded. "Yujin decided to study in New York and Wonyoung is now in Switzerland."

"How do you know any of this anyway?" I asked bitterly. As their unnie, I was frustrated that they hadn't informed me that they had broken up and moved to different countries without saying goodbye. What irked me more was that I had to find out from Yeji, who was technically my academic rival.

"Wonyoung's supposed to marry my brother, and I heard it all from Yuna since she never forgets her unnie."

I scoffed at her, and she just gave me a playful smirk before hopping back to her squad, which was also present because we had just finished a basketball match against their school. Yujin and Wonyoung were abroad, along with Chaewon and Hyewon unnie. Soon, the unnies would be graduating, leaving us on our own. Why is the world so cruel? Why must something so wonderful end so quickly?

"Ow," I exclaimed, holding the spot where a book hit me.

"Stop frowning, Minju-ya."

I turned around to see Chaeyeon unnie and Kkura unnie giving me a parental smile.

"I know, I know," I said shyly, rubbing my elbow and looking away. "I'm just not used to us being so far apart."

Chaeyeon unnie has a knack for saying just the right thing.

"Great!"

We were startled when Kkura unnie clapped her hands loudly.

"Since we're done with this sappy conversation, can you drop me off at the PC Bang now?"

"Yes, baby~," Chaeyeon unnie teased.

I laughed at how Kkura unnie was pouting.

"You wanna go grocery shopping with me after I drop her off, Minju?"

I shook my head. Chaeyeon unnie gave me a worried look before they left to do their errands.

To be honest, I was used to being alone before I met them. When I did, my world transformed from the usual white to various colors. I just didn't know those colors would fade back to plain too soon.

I skipped down the hallway until I heard someone sobbing loudly. I peeked around the corner and saw a huge man pulling a girl's hair. My whole body froze as I watched them.

The girl looked oddly familiar. She resembled a Pomeranian and a little like Tzuyu unnie. I squinted a few times and finally recognized her—Wang Yiren, Yena unnie's ex-girlfriend. But what was that guy doing? I wanted to help, but my body wouldn't move. Everyone was right; I was just a pretty face and a coward. NO. I could step up for her. The moment I moved forward, Yiren looked at me with wide eyes as if she was warning me. The man pulling her hair glanced at me and smirked.

"Ms. Kim?" he said uncertainly. "As I recall, you're currently acting in a drama that Choi Entertainment is producing, right?"

"Ye-yeah..."

I kept glancing at how tightly he was pulling Yiren's hair. He seemed to notice my attention, so he released her. Yiren fell to the ground but quickly stood up and looked away from me.

"I look forward to working with you soon, Kim Minju."

He smiled at me, then scoffed at Yiren.

"Let's go, Yiren."

Yiren nodded and walked away with him without looking back at me. Who the hell was that man, and why was he hurting Yiren? Why was Yiren even here? How would we be working together soon? Was he in the entertainment industry too? That's impossible; I would have recognized him immediately. Who exactly was he?