Those days - txtzy

part 1: 四

"Yeji is so whipped," Ryujin announced as Jisu shoved another useless encyclopedia back into its place on the dusty shelf. "Uh, why are you so loud?" Jisu hissed, a reminder that they were in the library. "There's no one in a ten feet radius, it's fine," Ryujin insisted, plucking a random book and fanning through it, stopping to smirk at crudely drawn pictures and mock terrible grammar. Jisu sighed, still frowning at the rows of hard-cover books. "If she's happy, that's all that matters," Jisu carefully said, worry sticking to her words like honey.

Ryujin waved away her concern, "Yeonjun's pretty cute. And really sweet. I think she really likes him. Gosh, you should see how red she gets when I pointed him out in front of her. I just hope no one snatches him before our girl can."

Subconsciously, Jisu snorted, even though she had just chided Ryujin for being loud, and reminded, "Yeonjun, I heard, does that to anyone he meets. You know, be nice and sweet and all that sugar and spice. Anyways, Yeji will have competition. You know Mira, from Chaeryeong's class? She has a major crush on Yeonjun. Apparently, Yeonjun picked up a pen for her, and ever since she's been looking out for him in like, any crowd."

"Ugh," Ryujin wrinkled her nose, then suddenly paused and asked, "Do you know where Yeji is? She's supposed to have met us an hour ago."

Perking up, Jisu then frowned and nodded, "That's true. I think someone wanted to talk to her, I saw her go towards the field just now."

"Huh," Was all Ryujin managed, an uneasy feeling settling in her stomach.

-

Yeji was supposed to meet Ryujin and Jisu at the library for the afternoon, but much to her surprise, she was slipped a note before the bell rung from Park Shinjae, who insisted he had something to tell her, and that he would meet her at the spectator's stand after class. To say the least, she was confused, because her only interaction with Shinjae was when she, to much embarrassment, confessed to the boy a year ago, which took pretty much a week of hiding under her blanket unable to meet anyone and a box of chocolates along with a pep talk from her friends for her to overcome. Ever since Shinjae has always been less-than-fond of her.

Why would he want to talk to her?

She got her answer pretty soon.

Once the bell rang, she collected her things and hurried to the spec stand. The sky was overcast and gloomy, making her dread the walk home.

But nevermind that.

Park Shinjae stood at the top of the stands, leaning against a short wall that led to a staircase winding downwards. He seemed to be anxious, his eyes darting from left to right, and his eyebrows heavily creased.

Her soft footsteps were all he needed to realise she had arrived, and Shinjae immediately straightened and managed a smile. A dashing smile that once made her swoon. But Yeji knew what kind of guy Shinjae was, and she was determined to remember that.

"You had something to say to me?" Yeji asked nonetheless, wishing that her stiff clammy hands would just relax.

A short pause.

"I like you," Shinjae said cooly, too calm and composed for a normal person confessing their love to their supposed crush. Yeji could see through him right away. "Really?" She asked, thanking the gods that her voice did not break from the emotion. A giggle could be heard from behind the wall, followed by the sound of a light smack. Shinjae anticipated her answer with a smug grin. Yeji smiled, uncrossed her arms and sent her hand slapping hard against the man's cheek. As he reeled from the pain and gasps of shock sounded from behind the wall, Yeji spat out, "You and your crew behind that wall are incredibly inconspicuous. Thanks for trying, but I won't be humiliated by an asshole like you."

She stalked off, holding her breath as she tried to get away, then once she reached her safe place under the stairwell, she broke down, slipping down against the wall and held herself in a butterfly hug. Chest heaving, she clasped her hand over her mouth to try and muffle the sobs, while the same painful thought hissed in her ear.

I am still not enough.

And the rain poured down.

Yeonjun sat on a flight above the stairwell, hearing Yeji's desperate attempts to stop those heavy tears, an iron fist around his heart.