"Renjun, eat up." Jeno nudged the person beside him. "You haven't eaten anything." He sighed and looked at the person who was looking at nowhere. "Is everything alright? You know, you can always talk to us if you have problems..."
Renjun sighed and shook his head, "It's nothing... I just kinda feel bothered about some things..."
"What things, hyung?" Jisung asked.
"Remember l.hj?" He asked and they all nodded. "I'm still wondering who she is... but it's kinda weird that she knows everything. I find her letters... weird." He sighed and picked up his chopsticks as he started eating.
"Weird in what sense?" Jaemin asked.
"She thanked me in a letter. Earlier, the letter I received was about her not getting to know me sooner..." He sighed. "I don't know..."
"Maybe she's someone you know, hyung..." Jisung shrugged. "I mean, who could write you those things if it isn't a person you know?" He said.
Renjun took a deep breath. "I don't want to think about it now. I've got a lot of things to think about." He said.
"Oh yeah, by the way. Congrats on the duet!" Donghyuck said.
Renjun glared at him. "Screw you all."
They laughed. "As if you didn't want to do it!" Jeno teased.
"I didn't!" Renjun looked away.
"Oh, what is this? Why are you looking away?" Donghyuck smirked. "Is there a certain someone you want to duet with?"
"Shut up, Haechan." Renjun glared at him.
💌
The bell rang.
HyeJin lazily placed her books inside ber bag. She yawned, suddenly remembering that she had lots of things to do. Heck, she was even thinking about watching her favorite movies.
She sighed and swung her bag around.
"Jin, let's go." Haerin patted her back.
HyeJin nodded.
"Wait!" The two turned their heads towards the person who talked.
"Oh, Yuri senior." HyeJin smiled. "What is it?"
There were only a few students who were born in 2002. That's why they got merged in the class higher than them. They could talk casually or informally to each other, but the case also depends on the people they talk to.
"Could I talk to HyeJin for a while?" Yuri asked Haerin and the girl just nodded.
The two sat on the chairs.
"What is it, senior? Is everything alright?" HyeJin asked when she noticed that Yuri was uneasy.
The older shook her head, "I'm sorry."
"Eh? Why are you apologizing?" She was completely puzzled when Yuri apologized.
"I know you want to do the duet with Renjun-oppa..." HyeJin got silent. It was still about the duet.
"Don't deny it!" Yuri said immediately when Ningning was about to say something. "We all know you like Renjun." The younger looked down.
"I have no intentions of getting Renjun away from you, I swear!" Yuri said. "I also have no intentions of winning, and I'm blaming Eunbi for everything." She sighed.
HyeJin smiled, "It's alright, senior. I'm already over that." But is she? "Besides, a lot of opportunities may come in the future." Will there be any?
Yuri sighed, "It's still a pity though... I really want you to be Renjun's partner." She held HyeJin's hand. "Don't worry, I'll do something." She smiled.
HyeJin laughed. "It's alright, it's fine." She smiled and stood up. "I have to go now, senior. Haerin is waiting for me." She did a light bow. "Bye bye~"
"What happened back there?" Haerin asked once HyeJin was outside.
"Hmmm... basically, she wants me to do the duet with Renjun. That's the sumamry. Oh, and she said she's sorry." She chuckled. "It's not like I'm mad at her though."
"Well, who doesn't ship RenJin?" Haerin asked.
"'Ren what?" HyeJin asked. Then, she suddenly realized what Haerin said. "Hey! Only our classmates know about my feelings for him." She laughed.
"Fine, whatever." Haerin rolled her eyes. "Go and place your letter, I'll be your lookout." She said, gesturing HyeJin to go inside the locker room.
HyeJin quickly went inside and slipped the paper inside.
Haerin immediately ran inside, panting. "Renjun-oppa is there... he's with Mark senior."
HyeJin's eyes widened as she went towards her locker faster than light. She opened it and placed her books that was inside her bag earlier.
Haerin was just standing beside her, not looking at the two guys who just entered.
Renjun immediately groaned upon seeing the folded piece of paper, and the girl who placed the letter heard it.
"Who is l.hj anyways?!" Renjun said and ripped the paper.
Haerin's eyes widened and looked at her friend who looked like she was almost crying.
She could clearly see HyeJin''s hands that were shaking, and she was trying hard not to cry. She took a step forward but HyeJin held her arm, stopping her in what she'll do. She knows that Haerin will do something.
Haerin looked at her friend with worry. The latter just smiled, while tears were streaming down her face.
🍨
"Eat up. You badly need it." Haerin said, placing a bowl of chocolate ice cream in front of HyeJin.
The other girl sighed and looked outside. She took the spoon that was resting on the table and started to eat it.
"Are you okay?" Haerin asked.
She knew that HyeJin wasn't, but she wasn't stupid enough to make sure she's okay.
HyeJin slowly nodded. "He doesn't know it's me anyways."
"I doubt that he'll do that if he knows that it's from you." Haerin said.
The bell that was attatched to the door of the ice cream parlor rang, signaling that there was a person, or maybe people, who entered the shop.
"It's Renjun-oppa." Haerin whispered, since her direction was facing the door. "She's with Chenle-oppa and Jisung. Oh wait, Taeyong-oppa is with them, too." She said.
HyeJin nodded and continued eating. "It's okay. Let them be." She smiled.
Renjun sighed while scanning the available ice cream flavors.
"Hyung, I'll just get chocolate." Renjun said, facing Taeyong.
The older nodded, "Alright, alright... find us seats then." He said, ordering Renjun.
Renjun nodded and turned his head around. He raised a brow when he saw a familiar figure seated on a table not far from where he was standing.
A smile immediately crept on his face when he realized who it was. "HyeJin...?" He approached.
HyeJin wanted to he happy that Renjun is the first one who's approaching him nowadays, but she can't forget the fact that he was the same man who ripped her letter into two. She can't blame him, though. He doesn't know that it was from her.
And you can't blame her for not putting her name on the letters she's sending him. She's just scared.
Scared of the fact that he might not have the same feelings as hers. Scared of rejection.
She was satisfied with what they have now.
But really, what do they have?
Are they even friends?
HyeJin slwoly turned her head towards Renjun and smiled, "Hi... Renjun-oppa."
The guy frowned upon hearing her formality.
"I told you to—" He stopped when he noticed that HyeJin is with someone else.
HyeJin looked down and continued eating, ignoring Renjun's presence.
Chenle and Jisung watched them from afar.
"Those two are hopeless..." Chenle whispered and Jisung just nodded, following the dejected Renjun.
—tbc