✓ | starboy, nishimura riki

STARBOY | 05

IT WAS THE NEXT DAY AND MISO SAT MISERABLY WITH HER BROTHER AND HIS FRIENDS AROUND THE SCHOOLS LUNCH TABLE.

She remained silent, watching as her brother conversed about hanging out at the Football field after school with his other Soc friends, Choi Yeonjun, Choi Soobin, and Kang Taehyun.

Her eyes danced over his features with furrowed brows. Beomgyu and his friends were covered in bruises — similar to how Sunoo was last night and the few other times she'd seen him. She adverted her attention from the dark circle on his right brow, to the cut on his bottom lip. It was a peculiar sight seeing him so contused when usually he was always on the giving end of the beating. Now, she couldn't help but wonder who caused such damage to the Choi boy and his friends.

"Beomgyu," Miso called out, causing everyone at the table to look over. "How did you get the bruises?" She wondered, curiosity consuming her to the point where she couldn't be content with her own answers.

The boy shared a few glances between his friends, before he rested his hand on Jia (who was busy sitting on his lap, rubbing the bruise on his eyebrow)'s thigh.

"We went to the Football field last night —"

"To do some late night practicing for coach." Yeonjun finished off the younger boys sentence, nodding his head as if he was trying to convince himself.

"Yeah," Taehyun agreed, sitting up straight on his chair and readjusting his red letterman jacket. "And some of those outcasts jumped us on our way home."

"And they managed to beat you black and blue?" Miso asked in disbelief. There was no way. She knew her brother, and she knew that he was never the one leaving a fight with a mark on his body.

"You know how those skuzzs are, Miso." Soobin tsked, shaking his head. "They roam in groups. This time we were outnumbered."

Then, the sound of Beomgyu scoffing captured Miso's attention, causing her to look away from Soobin and over at what had gotten her brother so annoyed. 

Walking into the cafeteria confidently, was Niki and his six other Greaser friends. They all either had a cancer stick between their lips or behind their ear, and they were clad in a mix of leather and denim. Though, as Miso looked at the seven boys, she couldn't help but notice the new purple marks scattering Sunoo's face and the few cuts dotted around. He was stood close to Jay — almost hiding behind him like a scared puppy — whose jaw was clenched as he eyed the Socs.

As Miso moved from one Greaser to the next, she finally found Niki, who had a similar cut to Beomgyu on his lip. The expression he had on his face was harsh and cold, and it made Miso instantly look away from him. She knew her brother and his friends definitely had something to do with the injuries.

Once the group of boys had found their place in the canteen and started up with the joking around, Miso could no longer focus on the conversation that was happening at her table. No. She was busy observing Sunoo, and his constant fidgeting and the few glances he'd take at Beomgyu — he was afraid.

However, her attention was captured by the Nishimura boy, who stood up and walked away from the group, making Miso curious once again. She wondered where he was going and why he was leaving his friend group. Though, she quickly dismissed him and looked back at Sunoo, who was now wincing in pain as he touched his cheek; Miso's heart aching at the sight.

Quietly sighing to herself, Miso stood up from her chair, dismissing herself from her brother and his friends, stating she had to speak to a teacher before she left the cafeteria.

Choi Miso couldn't believe what she was doing.

She was following after Niki, the Greaser that tattooed her and does nothing boy aggravate her. Niki, who makes her feel intimidated whenever he's around. Niki, who makes her nervous.

"Niki!" She softly yelled, seeing as the boy was about to leave the school building. He stopped dead in his tracks, immediately recognizing who the voice belonged to and he let out a huff, before turning around with a stern look on his face.

"What do you want?" He questioned as Miso approached him, her hands clutching her handbag tightly as her heart pounded against her chest.

"Is your friend okay?" Miso wondered, looking up at him nervously. She knew it was a stupid question and that Sunoo obviously wasn't, but she didn't know what to say.

A scoff passed the boys plump lips and he looked the short girl up and down. "What do you think?" He spat, his voice laced with attitude and anger.

Sighing, Miso opened up her handbag and began searching for the crème that she usually kept for Beomgyu if he were to ever get hurt (like now), but after seeing what he had done to Sunoo, she wanted nothing more than to give it to him instead.

"Give this to your friend," Miso kindly stated, holding out the white tube for Niki to take. "It's an ointment for injuries. It's meant to be used for my brother, but I have more at home anyway." She explained after noticing a glimpse of confusion wash of the boys face.

Niki looked away from the crème and back to Miso and shook his head disapprovingly. "We don't need no charity — especially not from you."

All the Choi girl could do was roll her eyes as she began to grow impatient. "Just take it, Niki. I'm trying to help." She huffed. "His injuries look like they could become infected." Miso finished and shoved the ointment into Niki's chest, making him take it into his grip unwillingly.

The boy made a tutting sound with his teeth as he brought out a cancer stick from his back pocket and placed it between his lips whilst shoving the crème into his leather jacket's pocket.

Not another word was shared between the two, as a smile tugged at Miso's lips and all the older boy could do was scoff before turning back around and exiting the school, leaving a rather content Miso alone in the middle of the schools corridor.

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