Eighteen

T

ears were still evident in my eyes when I finally found the strength to wash my face and go to class. I felt like something had been taken from me; the empty spot where I felt like my heart was ripped from ached. I had been so hopeful and confident, yet of course the truth was never what I hoped for. It hurt, but I knew that this was a lesson. Love doesn't come easy, and it hurts. I was never falling for it again.

"Soohyun!" I barely had time to recognize the voice when a pair of arms wrapped around my waist from behind, enveloping me in the suddenly familiar scent.

"I was so scared that you were hurt..."

Eunwoo?

I turned my head to look up at him. The warmth of his eyes was overwhelmingly comforting. I swallowed hard to keep from crying again.

"Wait." His hands tightened on my shoulders and pulled me around till I was standing facing him. I looked down shamefully, not wanting him to see my tears even though he'd seen them so many times.

"That bastard." I barely heard the words that he whispered between his teeth, but I saw him clenching his fists, his knuckles white.

"Eunwoo.." I looked up, wanting to explain to him how everything went wrong, and that I was okay- even if that was a lie.But before I could say a word he turned around and started to walk away quickly. I ran after him,

"Eunwoo! Wait!"

He paid no attention to me, turning the corner past rooms 2-9, 3-0, 3-1. I tried to catch up to him, tears pooling in my eyes. I should have told him about it, explained better. Why was he mad at me? Was it because he'd offered to help me for a lost cause? Maybe he was mad because I hadn't returned his necklace yet. I tried to quicken my pace.

Suddenly he turned into a classroom, slamming open the door. I caught up and stood in the doorway, watching as he walked right over to the desk in the front.

Park Minhyuk.

It only took one swing of his fist and Minhyuk was on the ground. I gasped.A few girls screamed and the teacher swung around from where she had been writing on the board. Looking up in shock, Minhyuk's lip was bleeding.

"What the heck Eunwoo!?" He looked from me, to the teacher, then back to Eunwoo who was visibly trembling in anger. I stepped inside the room and took his arm, trying to pull him away. This was so embarrassing, they had been getting along so well... why were they fighting now? But Eunwoo just pulled away from me, refusing.

"How could you, Minhyuk?!" He yelled , "You just have to keep causing pain for everyone, why?!"

Minhyuk blinked up at the other boy, clearly confused. He struggled to his feet, wiping the blood from his face with the back of his hand.

"What are you talking about?"

"Stop it now! Office! Both of you!" The teacher finally seemed to come to her senses, the rest of the class watching in wide eyed confusion. Eunwoo opened his mouth to say more but shut it right after,

"Never mind, it isn't worth it. Try and do something again Park Minhyuk and I won't let you get away with it."

"Eunwoo! Stop, please." I tried dragging him from the room but he turned and stalked out himself. I looked over at Minhyuk, then the class, then the angry teacher.

"I'm sorry." I bowed quickly and turned, racing out of the class after Eunwoo.

"Eunwoo!" I spotted him heading the roof, running faster. What was wrong with him?I stopped him at the stairs, grabbing his arm and pulling him around till he was facing me.

"What the heck is wrong with you Cha Eunwoo?! Why did you do that?"

His hand rested on my hand that was on his arm and gently pushed it off.

"He deserves it." His voice was cold, but there was a hint of sadness in it. I sighed over-dramatically, forcing myself to keep calm.

"I can't believe you. I thought you two made up!" My voice was desperate as I tried to understand him. He looked away sadly,

"I thought so too, but I guess not." He tried to walk away but I stepped in front of him, stopping him once again.

"Why? Tell me why you did it."

He avoided my eyes, speaking in evident defeat,

"He hurt you." His eyes flickered up to meet mine, a serious look in them. I froze, finally understanding.

"I can't forgive him if he hurt you." He suddenly put his arms around me and pulled me close to him, his hand holding my head to his chest. I felt my heart jump in excitement, my ears burning and my breath catching.

"I'm sorry.." his voice was choked and I could tell the tears that had wanted to fall were finally free.

"This is my fault, isn't it?"

I shook my head firmly, stepping back and holding his hand, stroking it with my thumb. He looked so sad and pitiful with his watering brown eyes and pouting lips. I smiled at him,

"It's not. It's not your fault Eunwoo."

It's mine.

——————

Lunch was more awkward than I had guessed it would be. MJ and Sanha kept swapping looks while Baeksoon and Moonbin looked completely lost. Everyone had heard about how Eunwoo had caused ruckus in class 3-2 and hit Minhyuk. Both were currently in the office, leaving me with my friends who were all confused and curious. All that is except for Jinwoo who was happily eating and humming to the music in his earphones. I pushed back my food and stood up,

"I'm going to the gym. Anyone coming?" I figured it would just be best to check up on my brother.

"I'll come along." Baeksoon stood up, eyeing me with a worried look. Moonbin jumped up,

"'Me too!" He smiled shyly when both of us gave him a questioning look,

"I want to see Jangmin play.."

"Sure." Baeksoon grinned and grabbed his hand. I felt my heart hurt at the small action. If only it had been that easy with Rocky... I spotted Minji sitting alone at a table. She looked upset, her head hung as she stared at her food. I felt kind of upset at myself for getting in the way of her relationship. Clearly the two loved each other. I should have given him up the first time I saw him...

"Aren't you coming?" Baeksoon's hand touched my shoulder briefly and I turned back to her.

"Oh...yeah..."

Jangmin was resting on the bleachers, sitting by himself while his team chatted. He looked lonely and I wondered if he was okay.

"Jangmin!" As soon as I spoke he jerked his head up, his eyes lighting up happily at the sight of us. He slid over on the bleacher seat for us to sit.

"Hi! Did you finish lunch?"

"Moonbin finished most of mine." Baeksoon said with a laugh and Moonbin smiled bashfully. I gave Jangmin a nod and he looked happier to believe I was eating, even though it was a straight out lie.

"Did you just finish playing?" Moonbin asked hesitantly. Jangmin shook his head with a heavy shrug of his shoulders,

"We'll do one more round. Do you enjoy basketball Moonbin?"

Moonbin nodded and pulled his legs up to sit cross legged. His big eyes were sparkling with interest as he watched the players dispersing on the court and dribbling the ball. Jangmin gave me a smile that seemed half hearted. He finished wrapping the sweat strips around his wrists before running after his teammates.

I watched in a sullen silence. My mind and heart were in conflict. It was strange to watch the game and not see Minhyuk playing alongside the others. It was hard not to see him, but it was even harder to see him. Every time I saw those brown eyes and red lips I felt pain in my heart. I hated the fact that I still thought about him. I hated that I believed anything in the first place. I hated that I'd met him at all.

"Soohyun." Someone sat down next to me, who I immediately recognized as Eunwoo. I didn't spare him a glance. In all honesty, I was still angry at him for making such a big deal about Minhyuk. I was also embarrassed for being so stupid and senseless, for dragging him into my childish fantasies of ever being with the number one in the high school. I had fallen for the most obvious trap. Eunwoo didn't say anything else and I supposed he was thinking over his mistakes, hopefully deciding never to help me again. Because I screwed it up too badly.

"Jangmin!" Baeksoon jumped up in alarm suddenly, startling me. Looking up, I saw Jangmin on the ground clutching his arm with his team surrounding him. Fear shot like wildfire through my body and I jumped from the bleachers to run to him. His face was twisted with pain when he looked up at me,

"It's broken I think..."

I kneeled down, taking his wrist in my hand. Gently I pressed on it, causing him to gasp in pain. The bones felt didn't feel broken but maybe it was strained... I took the sweat strip and began to unwrap his already swollen wrist. Suddenly I felt him pull away sharply and Eunwoo pushed my hand away.

"Hey! Don't worry about it, I'll take him to the nurse." He hastily wrapped the strip back around my brother's wrist, guiding it away from me and helping him to his feet. I stood up slowly, looking from Eunwoo to Jangmin who were both avoiding my eyes.

What the heck?

—————

The nurse set Jangmin's wrist in a sling, saying it was sprained and would take some time to heal. As Jangmin and I walked home together I found myself kicking up stones again, trying not to feel too upset. The feelings inside of me were bottled up, caged away where I didn't want to feel them. Instead, it felt like I was being constantly crushed by so much weight.

Plus midterm exams were in only a days time.

"I can't believe this. What about basketball? What about the game?" Jangmin's whining voice brought me back to reality, once again. He was staring at his wrist in dismay.

"You're good enough at it that it won't matter." I said. He huffed,

"Thanks Soohyun, but I don't think I'm good enough to dunk a ball with my left wrist." He held up the sprained wrist, graphically explaining his tragic situation.

"Why not?" I teased him further which caused him to mess up my hair with his one hand,

"I'm right handed, silly" he said laughing. I jumped away from him, fixing my hair and glaring back at him. He stuck his tongue out at me.

"Kids." I looked up as we reached the gate to the house, pausing as I spotted a short, sharply dressed man next to our uncle in the front yard. He held a suitcase and his dark hair was combed neatly. His features weren't menacing or overly friendly, but rather simple and curious. I swapped glances with Jangmin, both of us knowing instantly who this man was.

Father's here.