your option

「eight」

"Ugh!" A piercing wham of the locker door being slammed was followed after an irritated bawl. Jisoo's cheeks were flushing red. Remembering the scene earlier made her winced in disgust. No other man dared to hit on her like that. That guy was full of himself. He had his vain grin and ambience all over. If she had to compare him to Taeyong, he looked nicer and less arrogant. 

After hearing her friend grumble in pique, Nayeon appeared, her hands in each pocket of the blazer, while leaning against the locker. "Did he annoy you?" Asking that question made her grimace more. 

She hastily turned to face Nayeon with a frown patent on her face. "Don't even start." Word by word was said with sharpness that had confounded the damsel. "I don't even want to talk about him! Tch."

Perplexed of her sudden reaction, she asked whom Jisoo was alluding to. She had never seen her this annoyed over a petty thing. Having to know what type of person she was, Nayeon was intrigued for she would usually get furious because of one thing. 

"Like seriously. The way he acts is just too... obnoxious." She bickered as a vivid memory of what had occurred unknowingly flashed in her mind.

"I'm Jinyoung," he beamed and offered a hand. "Prepare to be in love." Unmindful of what he had said, she awkwardly smiled back and responded to his kind gesture. Turned about and acted as if she was paying no heed to any more deeds of the gentleman.

His once jocular shoulders sagged. Yet the smile did not fade and was kept smothered after being tuned out. 'Some other day, you won't be ignoring me.' He thought.

A group of jocks, perhaps a soccer varsity player, approached the table. The place seemed to be a lot more loud since these men had showed up. Pairs of eyes watched the rowdy scene. Girls were looking surrounding them, determined to see them up close. They actually came along to have a word with Jinyoung, who's also a part of the soccer team. 

"Look what we got here." A certain guy spoke with enthusiasm evident in his voice. 

"She's really beautiful like what they all say." Another commented, gawking. The other men behind started to engage in gossips. 

One even risked to introduce himself. "Hi, I'm Doojoon."

"Can I have your number?"

"Do you play football?"

"Are you dating someone?"

Jinyoung must've noticed of her being uncomfortable with his fellows. Without a doubt, he abruptly wrapped his arm over her shoulders. "I'm sorry to say, but she's seeing someone already." 

"Me."  A single word had caused almost all of them to drop their jaws in surprise. 

Bemused when realization hit her head, Jisoo instantly shoved off his arms and threw a sharp glare.

Pulled away from her deep thoughts, she sighed in defeat. "When will my life be quiet for once?" Jisoo asked, pinning her hopes on Nayeon's answer, but she stood hushed. "I'd live my entire year with rumors and issues. That guy named Jinyoung made things even worse! If only he hadn't acted haughty and cocky, my name wouldn't be smudged with more dirt! I'll get even with h-"

"Oh, Jinyoung-ssi!" Nayeon delightfully shouted and put her hands up, waving them. The approaching footsteps rang out down the the tiled hallway. Each pace became heavy as her body gelled on the spot when an overweening voice replied behind.

She wouldn't want to further knock down her tolerance. Seeing him again could enrage her system. 

Doubtlessly, she sprinted through hordes along the broad hall. To look back was one thing she shouldn't do. Finally noticing that she had gone farther, she halted and quickly gasped for air. Eyes of people along the hallway darted directly at her as though she had somewhat a huge dirt on her face.

The continuous vibration of her phone under the thick polyester cloth of her blazer called her attention. Disregarding censorious stares, she pulled herself into a dimmed corner at the staircase. Her petite figure slanted against the white painted walls, gnawing on her lower lip. 

All her emotions sank when her father's digits were displayed on the screen. Shoulders were slumped and her mouth was set in semi pout. 

From : Dad

I will not be home tonight until tomorrow afternoon.

Have already prepared dinner! Dad will miss his li'l piggy.

Be good.

The message seemed brusque and mocking, but it was sweet and amiable nonetheless. Her father was a "I guess, I'll have to be alone at home." She murmured, eyes cast down in mournful gaze.

For the last time, she took a quick check on the inbox, but discerned nothing new. A day wouldn't end without receiving any. It somehow became a routine for her. 

Just when she took a step upstairs, a tall body frame came into sight and towered over her. Her eyes unconsciously met his which were mesmerizing deep, earthy brown orbs. He had them intensely sloped to hers in a serious expression. His lips were pressed in a straight line. 

She briskly averted her gaze and hesitantly plodded upstairs. The same warmth as before enfolded around her wrist, tightening his grip. Gulping nervously, she looked toward his eyes that told of his rancor. 

Slowly his grasp loosened, and he turned aside. He subsequently faced and fixed his eyes with hers once again. It grew more tense that he wasn't trying to hide. Jisoo backed away whilst he trod closer and closer until she could no longer perceive another step to take. Her frame was lightly pressed on the wall, head lowered down.

No attempts of uttering a word were created as both never dared to. His arm was stretched, palm pinned at the right side of her head.

The moment of silence was ceased when one spoke. "Who are you?"

She flinched at the unforeseen question the young man had asked. Before her stood the guy whom she met last night but didn't get to know his name. They were strangers who had left strong impressions to each other. 

Unaware of the swift movement of his hand, he was able to snatch her phone out of her unsecured hold, which she hadn't known it was still there. "A-ah... Yah! G-give it back!" 

She'd tiptoe and extend her arms higher in order to reach it. The fact that they had a huge difference in height proved it was tough come what may. Besides he'd also uplift it the more she tries to retrieve it.

His sudden halt made her pause. As if on cue, she hurriedly took hold of the phone from his hands. Taking a glance, there were no any trace of emotions, not in his now cold eyes. His body seemed still as statue. He looked lost at the moment.

A little while, he regained his consciousness and walked away without hesitant. Jisoo was left a surging confusion as she wore a puzzled expression. 

--

Note from chi,

Apologies for the late late update. I was busy with a pile of paperwork I was tasked to finish as soon as possible. I didn't have the time to revise this chapter, so you might have encountered a lot of errors. 

Hope you all understand.

The story gets 'cringier' and 'cringier', right? I'm not a pro, ya know? Drop your opinions.