Nari was inside the washroom cubicles, her head was buried in her hands. The anger was taking over her again. She hates Park Ye Jun, she hates Eunji, she hates everyone. A tear rolled down her eye because of the anger fuming inside her. If she got suspended, what reason would she give at home? She was afraid though she didn't show it at all. She was afraid she won't be able to get into her favourite college of performing arts. All the dreams seemed to end now. Taking her time when she felt everyone had left the school and no one was going to come, she came out and stood in front of the mirror.
She washed her hands, her eyes were red and her throat carried a lump. Her head ached. She came out and climbed the stairs to reach her classroom. She entered the empty class and took her bag. Walking she was going to descend the stairs when she heard someone yelling and a loud thump from the second floor. Little she got scared as the whole school was empty according to her. She hesitantly went upstairs. Two people seemed to be in an argument in the corner most of the class. She slowly approached them.
It seemed eerily silent for a second and as she peeked from the door into the class, it quite surprised her to see the two "best friends", arguing.
"Tell me!" Ye Jun was holding the collar of Eunji.
Eunji looked surprised and confused just as much as Nari.
"What's wrong with you?!" He jerked his hands off.
"Whatever happened that day, it has nothing to do with you!"
Nari was glued to the wall and kept listening without making much movement.
"IT HAS!" Ye Jun yelled, making his friend shiver.
"Why should I be the witness when I don't even know who is right and who is wrong?"
Nari's head slightly turned to the right where the door was. Park Ye Jun was trying to find the truth rather than complaining about her? She pondered over it.
"Why are you suddenly being rational? You have always taken my side, so why this time?
"Just tell me!" Eunji was pinned to the wall as Ye Jun held his collar.
Eunji scoffed.
"You don't trust me because of that bitch?"
He jerked his hands again as Ye Jun was lost at words.
He pushed Ye Jun away and added,
"I thought of you as my friend. Just go away, you are the same as them all. Bully and betrayer."
Ye Jun looked at him fiercely and picked his bag up.
"Help yourself and forget that I ever was going to be a witness." He approached the door. Nari was ready to sneak out too when a question from Eunji made both of them stop.
"Do you...love that bitch?
Hesitating a bit, Ye Jun looked over his shoulder and answered.
"I don't."
"Then? You pity her that much?" He questioned again.
Without hesitating Ye Jun nodded and hummed. Eunji scoffed.
Nari's heart ached in anger again. Another person who is helping her because she is pitiful? Another person who doesn't care whether she was right or wrong but wants to help her because she was pitiful? She clenched her fists, she hated being pitied. Hearing him approaching out she descended the stairs. On her way out she wondered what made Ye Jun change his mind.
She didn't want anyone to help her out of pity. Clenching the straps of her back she walked out of the school premises.
'So he pities me? Did I ever ask?' She thought.
'Just support your friend instead. Why must I be made feel small?'
"No, why?!" She yelled and looked up.
And sighing she continued to walk again.
~~~~~
Agreeing with what Eunji said did make Ye Jun feel uncomfortable. He didn't pity her, because he knew she was strong enough to handle everything. But at least for now, his feelings weren't that strong towards Nari to call it love. He wanted to help the right one, he didn't want anyone to feel wronged. He didn't want to be a part of injustice. It was just he was doing what his heart said.
Pondering over the conversation with Eunji, he exited the school and stepped on the footpath. As he walked, he unknowingly started to follow the girl walking lazily at a distance. She looked lonely and in pain. Ye Jun wanted to talk to her, but he knew she didn't like him much. And he hated to admit that he wanted to talk to her the more she avoided him. He had noticed her since the day he saw her in the principal cabin getting scolded.
~~~~
"Again?! Nari-yah! This is enough!" The principal was scolding her but she didn't seem scared at all.
while Eunji argued about how violent she was. She replied to the principal with full confidence,
"But sir, he is at fault too!"
Ye Jun scoffed a little. He knew his friend was being too dramatic over nothing and so, he was enjoying the show standing outside the cabin.
"Oh okay, then tell me what he did?" Principal asked.
She didn't reply and instead, she glared at Eunji. Ye Jun scoffed at her childish behaviour. She did seem too strong and confident but her lying skills were terrible. The girl whose back he could see and not the face, he had started to admire her since then. The way she was confident, the way she was so fearless, the way she seemed so cute when now and then she glared at Eunji, he admired everything. He had got only a glance of her side face until that day he saw her in the class getting scolded by the homeroom teacher along with other students. The instant he saw her, a smile made its way on his face.
'So, it was her?' He wondered.
And his doubts were cleared when she glared at him the same way she had glared at Eunji. He wanted to admire her more but unfortunately, he was dragged away with his friends.
Observing her every day since that day, he knew he was slowly falling for her. Her little actions and talks made her look cute in his eyes. Sitting on the window seat of the class, Park Ye Jun who used to look outside the window didn't know when his eyes stopped gazing outside and started to look at Nari with admiration. He didn't realise when his lips started to curl up whenever he saw her. Until the day he felt guilty for going against her, he knew somewhere a little he had developed feelings for her.
For others, it might seem unreasonable and illogical as to how suddenly he started to fall. And for Ye Jun too, it was unreasonable and illogical as to why he kept smiling when she was around. But he still loved this feeling.
~~~~~
Park Ye Jun went missing, the news was spread. Every alumnus was stunned by the news.
'Park Ye Jun? The guy who was such a good pianist? Where did he go? Maybe Nari knew?'
Every other person had the same assumptions and questions. But no one knew that Nari was as unaware of the reason as they were.
Nari had waited for him to come near their decided coffee shop. Two hours had passed, and she had called him multiple times. His phone was switched off and Nari wondered if he was okay. She even went to his house but nothing was there. Not even his neighbours knew where he was. Frustrated, worried and tired when she reached home her eyes fell on a sticky note glued to the main door of her house.
'I am fine. So, don't look for me or contact me.
- Ye Jun.'
Nari crushed the note with her hands, threw it away and slammed the door as she went inside. Park Ye Jun, betrayed her again. He didn't change at all, she had misunderstood him.
Sitting against the door her eyes flooded.
"Park Ye Jun, you betrayer..." She whispered as the tears slid down her cheeks.