Third Person POV

"And why are you having this party?" Kevin asks, Jinsoul leaning over him to look at Heiji.

"No reason," Heiji shrugs. "I never get the house to myself for a weekend. Why not make the most of it?"

She didn't exactly know why she was having the party either, she just felt like it. She enjoyed her friends' company, and besides - if she was left alone for the weekend with nothing to do or no company, her thoughts might spiral back to him. And that couldn't happen, not now. She was doing so well. 

"Well you know I'll be there," Jinsoul laughs, shutting over her notebook as the clock struck two o'clock. "Lia's party was a good time. It's rare we get to have parties."

That was true. Sure, their Saturday nights in the bar were great, but having a gathering in a house where they were free to let go a bit more than usual was always better.

The girl didn't know where her sudden change of attitude came from. Truthfully, Sunwoo's words rang in her ears; "do you ever have fun, Heiji?" Yes, now that you're not here, I am having fun, or at least I'm trying.

Heiji felt as though she was trying to prove something to herself, but also to him, even though there was no way he could see it for himself. But she had to erase those thoughts quickly, or she'd end up far too immersed in them. 

"Lia's party was great until she spewed in my shoe," Kevin points at the girls. "Or until she fell down the toilet because some guy left the lid up and I had to pull her out and ask Mia to help me change her clothes."

"Well," Heiji sighs. "Hopefully we'll have a repeat."

"No, not hopefully! And if it does, you're the one who is gonna be drying toilet water off her ass."

"I'll just give her a change of clothes," Heiji shrugs, as the three leave the classroom. "And I won't cry about it because I love her and she's my friend."

The boy slaps the girls arm playfully. "And I don't love her?"

"You love her?" Heiji turns to face the boy, he almost slaps his hands against his face in realisation as to what he just said. He did love her, he had told her that but it wasn't common knowledge amongst the group of friends. "I don't even know why I seemed shocked."

"I was gonna say that," Jinsoul laughed. "Kevin you'd be a stupid boy if you didn't love that girl."

"Good thing I'm as smart as they come," Kevin nods, chuffed at his words. "So you're party is this weekend, definitely?"

"Definitely," Heiji nods as the group reaches the gates. "Come at whatever time you want, my mothers away on the Friday morning."

"Great," Kevin smiles, although his eyes drift past the girl and almost bulge out of his head at the sight. Why was he here? How was he here? "Uh, Heiji?"

"Yes?" The girl noticed the look in his eyes, followed by an awkward shuffle and glance Jinsoul was giving in the same direction. 

She turns, to see a familiar face as he walked out of the corridor doors casually, as though he had never been gone. Her heart beats loudly in her chest. She wanted to turn around and pretend it never happened, but as he caught her glance - it was game over. 

"God, I feel sick," Heiji mutters quietly, her eyes still watching the boy. "Why is he here?"

"I'm not sure," Jinsoul answers. "I thought he was gone."

"Me too," Heiji sighs, before turning quickly as the boy refuses to break the stare. "Let's just go."

Seoho too felt his heartbeat quicken when he seen the girl, but for a completely different reason than she felt the thumping in her chest. Her hair had changed, she looked thinner, he wondered if she had been taking care of herself - or the complete opposite. Even the girls posture was different, she exerted a new kind of confidence. 

He was happy to see her like that. He knew what happened would have destroyed the girl, and when one of the boys from the soccer team told him Sunwoo was gone - he knew she would have felt much worse. 

Sunwoo leaving the team and dropping out was reason enough for Seoho to come back after his time away. However, he wanted to keep everything on the down low. That included not talking to his old friends, such as Hyunjae. He knew they knew everything, and he needed to start a fresh with some new friends. He couldn't risk telling his parents he had done the same thing to another girl, especially at his grown age of twenty one. 

"I didn't think he'd ever come back," Kevin sighed. "He hasn't spoken to Hyunjae in months. He's been worried sick about him."

Heiji felt bad for the boy, he lost his best friend, and she felt like it was her fault. "Hopefully he'll speak to him. Should we tell him we seen him today?"

"I don't think that would be good," Jinsoul shakes her head. "I think Hyunjae would be hurt, there must be a reason why Seoho hasn't spoken to him in so long. It's best to leave it to them."

The pair nod, she was right, news like that would destroy the boy. 

On the journey home, all Heiji could think about was how her heart skipped a beat when Kevin's eyes widened at the sight behind her. Although it wasn't his eyes she turned to see, within the split second, the small trigger in her brain which told her she was looking at something familiar - gave her false hope that Sunwoo would be the one standing there before her. She hated how that made her feel. 

"Hey, Jacob?" Heiji asks the boy standing beside her at the cashier tills. 

"Yeah?" He says politely, so politely that Heiji wondered if she should even be asking the boy in the first place. 

She coughs slightly, feeling a little awkward, she hadn't spoken to the boy much on anything more than a workmate, colleague level. "I'm having a party this weekend, I was going to ask Eric and Sangyeon too, you're more than welcome to join."

"A party?" Jacob blinks, his soft voice sounded shocked. "I'm sorry, I just haven't been to many parties, and any party I have been to - the person hosting has been nothing like you."

"Thanks, I guess?" She didn't quite know what to make of that, anyone could have parties, surely? "Well, my address is in the workbook. You're more than welcome."

"Did I hear the word 'party'?" A loud voice makes the two of their heads snap round to see Eric leaning over the counter. 

"Yes, you did Eric," Heiji almost rolls her eyes. He reminded her of an annoying little brother, except they weren't close enough for him to even consider him as that, he just fit the role perfectly. "And you're invited."

"Awesome," he smiles, nodding his head.  "Luckily, I can now legally buy alcohol and consume it, so I'll be there. My first legal drink."

"You've drank illegally?" Jacob asks, almost too innocently, as Eric looks at the girl and snickers a little. 

"You haven't?" Eric laughs.

"No."

Eric's eyes drift to Heiji, who was looking between the two almost in disbelief at their little conversation. An awkward, quiet atmosphere takes over until Sangyeon opens the staff door, looking through a folder. He eyes the three of them. "Your shift finished ten minutes ago Eric, you're usually gone ten minutes before you're shift is even finished. Shoo."

"I'm on my way," Eric puts his hands up, before pointing at the three of them. "I'll see you all on Saturday."

"It's Friday, please don't show up on Saturday." Heiji corrects the boy as he throws her a thumbs up before leaving. 

"A party?" Sangyeon looks at Heiji before laughing. "I leave you guys alone for ten minutes and you're organising a party, is work really that boring?"

"Yes." Jacob blurts, before his face turns red at his sudden outburst. It was rare to hear him say stuff like this, his innocence made it all the more funnier. Heiji and Sangyeon burst into a fit of laughter, Jacob shuffles, looking around awkwardly before giving the two the lightest laugh he could muster. 

"I'm having a party on Friday."

"Why?" Sangyeon tilts his head, looking at the girl confused. Just months ago she had a sicknote for her mental health, now she was throwing parties. It was undeniably a nice change to see in her, but he couldn't say that - it wouldn't be deemed professional. 

"No reason," she shrugs, fixing the items that were on display from behind the counter. "You're invited, if you would like to come."

Sangyeon laughs, shaking his head lightly. "No offence, but I'm your manager, I shouldn't be attending your parties. But you'll have a great time, I'm sure of it."

"You're barely older than us," Heiji motions between her and Jacob. "Like what, two years older?" The man nods, "I don't see any issue with that. However, I won't force you. You can easily find out my address and appear if you wish."

"Thanks," the man nods, he was actually considering it. "I'll think about it. In the meantime, less chat about parties and more work being done!"

Heiji and Jacob laugh, before letting out a sigh of boredom as the man walked back into the office. Now they were anticipating a party, the week was sure as hell going to drag in.