𝗦𝗨𝗡 & 𝗠𝗢𝗢𝗡 | ᴬᶰ ˢᵒᵒᴴᵒ 『English Version』

Chapter 18

Hyeori started packing her bag quite early that morning. It was 3 AM when she decided to take a bath, then she sat on her bed for maybe half an hour, her eyes fixed on the jacket hanging next to her uniform.

The red, black, and white colors added a splash of vibrancy to the white wall behind her. Sooho's jacket, the jacket she loved so much and said brought him luck because she had given it to him for his fifteenth birthday, even though it had been quite big on him back then.

But he wore it with pride and cherished it with all his being, not even letting her wash it with the rest of the clothes because he said it might lose its color or get stained. And even when he wasn't around, Hyeori would put that garment in the washing machine by herself.

"When he wakes up, he might ask for it."

Her thoughts suddenly stopped, as if reminding her that she had something to do, so without further ado, she got ready, put on her neatly ironed and tidy uniform, and slung her perfectly organized backpack over her shoulder.

Sooho had always liked how organized she was.

"Today..." Hyeori checked her notes, wondering if she had anything special that day or just nothing. "Doctor's appointment..." she muttered, cursing under her breath knowing her mother would scold her if she didn't go. "3:30... Uhm, after school..."

The girl walked out of the room and stopped in front of the mirror near the entrance, looking at herself one last time, observing the small photo of her and Sooho that was stuck in a corner of it. Her smile trembled a little, but still, she touched the photo paper, right where the boy was laughing heartily at something.

"Uhm, see you later, wish me luck, love," she murmured, letting her fingernail caress the young man's image. When she heard her alarm, she looked away, stopping the sound, and walked towards the exit, putting on her shoes.

With a sigh, she left the apartment, jumping when she saw Seungje standing there, leaning against the railing in front of her door, his hands playing with his phone until he heard her open the door.

"Oh, Seungje-ah, what are you doing here?" she asked, earning a smile from him as he handed her a small white bag. "Huh?" Her eyes landed on a small apple and oat cookie, a banana milk, and some mint candies.

"I figured you didn't have breakfast," he said, starting to walk beside her. "You have a habit of going to school very early."

Hyeori tensed up. Of course, she had that habit. She used to arrive early to wake Sooho up so they could eat together a little before classes, or simply to make sure he was okay.

"They used to drop me off at school very early," she shrugged. "But thank you very much, I'll eat it all," she nodded with a smile, earning one back from the boy. "You, why so early? You're usually late."

"Ah..." he sighed, stretching his arms as if remembering his tiredness. "It's a new year, means a new me." The girl chuckled softly, shaking her head, causing him to laugh too and look at her with a touch of offense. "What's so funny?"

"I bet you'll be late again tomorrow."

Seungje narrowed his eyes, running his tongue over his cheek. "How would you know?"

"Uhm... I know everything," she shrugged, relieved that the bus was just arriving as they reached the stop.

She wanted to lie down at her desk for a while, maybe she could sleep a little.

The bus dropped them off right at the stop where they said goodbye. It had been a routine for almost a year, although he always found her on her way home. Sometimes he would go to her apartment to wait for her like that morning, although she didn't understand why he always had poor attendance.