At the end of lunch I hurriedly try to escape before Riley can see me and just as I am shuffling behind the big, oak tree to hide from him, his eyes spot me and I immediately know that it's done for for me.
I try to paint a welcoming smile on my face, but the menacing glare on his face makes the smile turn into something indescribable. No, it actually is. It is the sort of smile you get when you really want to take a shit, but you can't because there's nowhere to take a shit and so you pinch your face into this weird smile to try and express to everyone around you that you don't want to take a shit while inadvertently looking like you want to take a shit? That's the kind of smile that I'm stretching onto my face for him.
When he storms towards me with an angry expression covering his face, I almost have half the mind to run away.
I won't though.
I don't have a death wish.
Once he's stood in front of me, I just keep quiet and wait for him to speak first. A weird silence stretches on between us and I reveal my teeth to him in an awkward grin.
"I've been looking for you," he states and then sardonically, he adds, "What, did you not get my text or are you ignoring me after you completely ruined any chance I had of mending my relationship with Christian?"
"What? How are you blaming me for what happened? That is not even the reason why you broke up with each other in the first place," I respond defensively.
"No, but it is the reason why he keeps ignoring and avoiding me now," he angrily growls and fearfully, I back away from him. Seeing my reaction to his outburst, he expels a loud exhale and then buries his face in his palms as if to calm himself. Then looking back up at me, he calmly says, "You need to fix this."
"Fix what? I thought you were broken up. Why do you still want to have a relationship with him? Do you still have feelings for him?"
"Again, none of your business. And also before Christian and I were dating we were friends, like really close friends. And I don't want to lose him over something stupid like this so," unwillingly, he murmurs, "please help me fix things between us before it's too late. I am literally begging you."
I consider his request for a moment and then shake my head. "Riley, I cannot just make him talk to you if he doesn't want to. That is entirely up to him."
"Please, Seong Jin. If there was another way to get through to him, I would have done that instead. You are quite literally the only one who can get through to him."
When I stare into his eyes and see the desperation swimming in those blue pools of his, I release a groan of irritation and unwittingly give in to his pleading. While crossing my arms over my chest, I ask him what he needs me to do.
"I just need you to get him to talk to me. That is it."
While glancing at him ponderously, I suddenly get an idea on what I can get out of him for this favour. With a Cheshire smile curling onto my lips, I propose to him, "Okay, I'll help you get a chance to talk with Christian if you promise to do something for me in return."
"What do you need me to do?"
"I might need your help to get into the photography department," when I say that, his brows furrow in bemusement. "Are you aware who's in charge of that department?"
For a moment, he looks away in thought until realisation enters his eyes and they widen in surprise. "You need me to talk to Savannah for you."
With a look of satisfaction, I nod.
With a sigh, he replies, "You get me the time I need with Christian and I can see what I can do with Savannah. I may be able to convince her."
"You've got yourself a deal then."
As the final class of the day comes to a close, the sound of the bell reverberates through the room, breaking the silence and signaling the end of the school day. I quickly gather my books and slide them into my bag, taking care not to damage any of them. The weight of the bag feels heavier than usual as I hoist it onto my shoulder, but I am glad to be done with classes for the day and eager to head home.
As I'm walking down the hallways, I hear someone hollering my name and I throw my heard over my shoulder to curiously search for the person in the throngs of people. Then I see a lone hand waving for my attention and that's when I catch my two friends steadily making their way over to me. In her hands, Taylor is holding a bouquet of roses. They are probably from Edward who is walking alongside her. Once they have caught up, I spot the unmistaken mischievous grin on her face and I cannot help the wave of worry gripping me. What does she have in store for me?
Playfully, I muse, "What are you two lovebirds up to?"
Edward throws his arm over her shoulder and answers, "We're off on a date to a restaurant."
"M'kay, fancy." I nod with a look of approval as we make our way down the corridor towards the exit of the school building.
"I would have settled for McDonald's but he insisted," Taylor relays to me and I do not miss the unimpressed look on her face. She really does not like being spoiled which makes them such a comedic pair on this particular day because Edward loves buying her gifts for Valentine's.
"Good on him. Imagine eating Maccies on Valentine's Day."
"That's what I said."
Taylor glares at me for taking his side instead of hers. "There is nothing wrong with Maccies on Valentine's. I don't understand why you guys like to act as if you're the richest people when we are all in the same broke and barely surviving boat."
"Speak for yourself, I'm balling." Edward inserts and we both look at him with an unconvinced look.
"No, you're not..."
We make it outside in the car park and the sound of chatter grows more quiet now that we are outside.
"Oh, Eddie, I forgot that I need to speak to Seong Jin about something really quickly. Something about needing his notes to study for a test. Meet you in the car, okay?"
For a second he glances at her face searchingly with his brows furrowed in immense confusion and then he then nods slowly. After winking at me in gesture of farewell, he spins on his heels and starts to make his way to his car.
"What's up?" I muse curiously, wondering why she shooed her boyfriend away. I draw my bag off my back to unzip it so that I can get whatever notes she needs.
"How's it going with Kai?"
I halt in my movements and my face drops in irritation. Then I shrug my bag back over my shoulder, letting the strap hang loosely off my other other. Why did I think she was being serious? "I'm guessing you do not need my notes for a test."
Se scoffs at me. "As if I would intentionally study for a test. I have much better things to dedicate my time to."
I sigh at her while shaking my head in disapproval. "I wonder how you get passing grades, Taylor."
"Anyway, that's not important. Tell me how our plan to help you get over Dominic is coming along? Are you two getting on well? Has Kai clarified what he meant when he told you that he liked you too?"
I blink up at her flatly.
"Seong Jin, come on," she pleads desperately shaking me back and forth. "At least try and make an effort with him."
"I don't know what you expect from me, Taylor."
As soon as I catch her eye, I see my own reflection in hers only her expression is tinged with annoyance. She quickly averts her gaze, lost in thought. I can almost hear the cogs turning in her mind as she mulls over something. I cannot help but feel a sense of trepidation as I wait for her to reveal her idea. Then her eyes light up with inspiration as if she has just had a eureka moment.
"What if you asked him out for Valentine's?"
My eyes widen in surprise and I immediately shake my head adamantly, my cheeks involuntarily flushing red. "I knew you were going to come up with some outrageous suggestion. I am not doing that."
"Why not?"
"Because Taylor, what if he just sees me as a friend and we got this whole assumption about him having feelings for me mixed up? I don't want to ruin our friendship over this. I genuinely like talking to him."
As if not hearing my concerns, she rolls her eyes. "That is exactly why you need to ask him out. This is the only way you are going to find out if he likes you just as friends or something a bit more than that."
"Or I could just ask him."
"You're too bitch-made for that," she says dismissively without even any hesitation.
I glower at her but it does not cause her to retract her statement.
"Do not look at me like that. You have had ample time to ask him if he likes you more than just as friends and all you have done is pussyfoot around the conversation."
"Honestly you're such a prick sometimes."
"I'm just being honest," she corrects me, crossing her arms over her chest. "With how cowardly you are, would this not be the perfect way to confirm it?"
I chew on my lip nervously. "I don't know, Taylor."
"Well, I genuinely think he likes you. I don't know what it is, I can just feel it in my nipples. And let me tell you something, my nipples have never let me down. They tell no lies."
"Excuse me, if I don't bet much of my chips based on the feeling you get in your nipples."
"Okay, Seong Jin, I won't pressure you into anything. Just think about it. And just so you know, it is kind of depressing to watch you being a lonely, miserable sod who is pining over someone who does not even like them, mate."
Then after smiling at me reassuringly, she turns around and jogs over to Edward's car, leaving me with the train of thought that has started in my mind.