[C] Time's Running Out || p.jm

8

I trudged back to my classroom, feeling utterly drained. My eyes landed on Suga's desk, where his diary lay unattended. Now that I thought about it, whenever I was busy or not paying attention to him, he would jot things down in that book. Curious, I glanced around to make sure no one was watching and picked up the diary, caressing the cover. It was well-worn, with a rugged charm that wasn't girly at all.

I opened it to find pages filled with dense writing, every inch of space covered in words. The sheer volume of text made my head spin, so I skipped to a page marked by a card that was slipping out. Slowly, I pulled it free and found a photo of two people.

On the right was Suga, looking as handsome as ever. Next to him was a girl with long hair, long eyelashes, a cute face, big shiny eyes (obviously because of lenses), and a great body. She was stunning, the kind of girl any guy would dream of. Not that I was jealous or anything.

At the bottom of the picture, it was inscribed: Suga ✖ Joy, along with a date: ✖/✖/2016. Just a few months ago. They made a perfect couple. If he still kept this picture, they must still be in love. I never imagined Suga was taken; he didn't give any signs of having a girlfriend.

Flipping the picture over, I noticed a drawing of a rose on the back. It was beautiful, blood-red and intricate. As I traced the lines with my fingers, I realized the ink was slightly sticky...

Before I could think further, the diary was snatched from my hands, along with the picture. My heart raced, not with the thrill of a movie-style romantic encounter, but with dread.

"He-!" I began, but my eyes widened in shock. Oh no... My heart pounded even faster. "S-Suga..."

Anger simmered in his eyes, clear and intense as he glared at me. "What were you doing?" he demanded, struggling to contain his fury.

"I was just... I-I know. No, I just... I was alone... and you weren't here and—"

"So that's your excuse for rummaging through someone's private things? My private things?" His words dripped with venom. "Do you... Do you think you can take me lightly and for granted? Don't you know how it feels when you invade my privacy? Is this the first time, or have you done this before?"

"No, I was—"

"STOP LYING!" Suga shouted like a clap of thunder. The classroom fell silent, all eyes on us. Some girls smirked, clearly enjoying my public scolding.

I looked around, my mouth opening and closing without sound. "I- I... I just... I'm sorry. This is all my fault. I'm really sorry. Just... sorry..." I stammered, backing away. Near the door, I turned and sprinted away, not knowing where I was headed.

Eventually, I found myself in a deserted hallway. I pushed open a door and discovered the rooftop. A gust of wind hit me as I made my way to the edge and sat down, looking out at the bustling city below.

The scene in the classroom replayed in my mind on an endless loop. The guilt gnawed at me. It was my fault. All of it. I had violated Suga's trust. I felt like I had betrayed a friend.

"You shouldn't be like this," said a voice beside me. I jumped, startled. It was one of the victims, a soul. She gazed out at the city before turning to me.

"Aren't you... dead?" I asked, feeling a strange mix of curiosity and fear.

She laughed. "Of course. You can see and talk to me because you are part of me," she explained. She wore the school uniform. "This is the place I go when I'm having a hard time."

"What?" I frowned, not understanding.

"You got a second chance at life. Hasn't anyone told you that you are practically half human and half dead?"

"What... No!"

"Well, you are. Anyway, I don't have much time. Long story short, you are on the right track. Keep it up."

"Really?"

She nodded. "This is the place—"

A loud announcement interrupted us. I hadn't realized there was a speaker on the rooftop.

"To the student named Choi Soeun, please come to the principal's office right now."

I sighed and turned back to the soul, but she was already gone. I stood up, brushing the dirt off my clothes. This place seemed like the perfect spot to make progress on my mission, though now I had to face the principal.

I stood before the principal's office, hesitating. The nameplate confirmed it. I knocked on the door.

"Come in," a voice called from inside.

I twisted the knob and entered, finding an older woman behind a large desk. She looked up at me with a stern expression. "Have a seat, Ms. Choi," she said. The wrinkles on her face deepened as she scrutinized me. I nodded and sat down, my heart pounding.

"Tell me, why did you skip class?" she asked, her tone sharp.

"I-I..." My voice trailed off. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Jung. It's all my fault, and I promise not to do it again," I said, trying to sound sincere.

She studied me for a moment before speaking. "I understand. I just wanted to say, since you're the only new student this year, please keep a secret about what's happening in this school." Her words surprised me; I expected a scolding, not a plea.

"What do you mean?" I asked, puzzled.

"You'll know soon," she said, looking me in the eye as if she knew more about me than I did. "You can go now, Soeun," she added with a wry smile.

"Okay," I said, standing up. As I reached the door, she called out to me.

"One more thing, don't skip class again," she said, smiling genuinely this time.

I nodded and exited the room, her words echoing in my mind.

- - - -

Dedicated to @KimHara21 . Thanks for voting and I hope you enjoy this book! ^_^

EDITED 13/7/2024