─────── 𝐂 𝐇 𝐀 𝐏 𝐓 𝐄 𝐑    𝟑𝟑 ───────

[11 | 04 | 23 , 7:47am]

1 month later.

And a lot changed.

Spring exams were over and just the other day they announced the new rankings.

Kang Yesol was back in her top spot.

Whilst everyone else moved down one rank again.

Heeseung was furious to say the least. He was just less than 2 marks away from keeping his position.

Jiu was in 13th place again, not that she really cared.

Oh and Riki vanished. Completely disappeared with no news or word heard from him for a month.

But Jake and Aera knew exactly where he was. Who he was with.

But they didn't say anything, because they felt betrayed that Riki didn't say goodbye. And what difference would it even make if they told the rest? Would Riki just come back?

Ahyeun too was missing, hidden in the comfort of her own bedroom. She only came out looking half dead to drink one cup of water and occasionally a meal and then went straight back to sobbing in her room.

She felt disgusted at herself, ashamed.

Safe to say she was missing out on a lot of school work, but that was the last thing on her mind.

Things are very different now. With the coming of a summer round the corner, just came more dullness and distortion in Pendulin.

Nothing felt the same anymore.

"I'm telling you we have to look into Yesol more," Jungwon said to his friends who listened to him half-heartedly.

Even Yeram who was so keen on solving this 'mystery' seemed to be done with it.

"How exactly?" Heeseung snapped. "We can't do anything... not after last time. We all have too much on our plates right now Jungwon. Can't you see?!? Everything is hopeless, the more we try to achieve 'perfect' the worse the future becomes. We've tried! We've really tried, haven't we?? And look where that got us- back to fucking square one."

Jungwon looked at Heeseung blankly. And Heeseung, who's guilt quickly hit him, sat back down.

"Hm, yeah. I guess," Jungwon shrugged. He grabbed his bag, "Well, have fun then."

"Jungwon-" Jongseong tried stopping him but he pushed past, walking to and out of the door.

[11:11am]

Aera left school early, making up the excuse that she had a dentist appointment and was going home.

Instead she went up to The Hills, her favorite place in the world.

There she sat on the bench that overlooked the city, and got out a notepad from her bag and a pen.

She began by looking around a bit, taking in the scenery and breath of fresh air. Everything felt lighter up here. And then she started scribbling.

She really was pouring her heart out onto this piece of paper.

Well, actually, it was a letter for Riki. One that he might not ever receive.

Aera wrote him a letter every single day since he left. Most were just how her day went and small talk, but some were lengthy notes.

Of grief, regret, mistakes and confessions.

She wrote these letters keeping in mind that she'll never have the guts to send it out to him. But nonetheless, she still took her time to make one every single day.

Aera finished today's one, ending it with a 'love always; your aera' in her beautiful, cursive handwriting.

Putting her hand inside her bag, she took out a vintage biscuit tin. She carefully ripped out the paper she was writing on, folded it and placed it on top of many other similar looking folded letters.

Aera closed up the tin, placing it back inside her bag. After zipping her bag, she looked ahead again, taking in the view of sky-high buildings and busy streets.

[7:54pm]

Hari sat on her balcony, resting her chin on her knees.

She stared ahead at the orange hues of the sky, the painted marshmallow clouds and the flying birds.

A tear slipped down her cheeks and she watched the sun set before her.

*flashback*

A hazed Hari rushed inside- slamming her back onto a nearby locker and squeezing her eyes shut.

She clenched her fists, stopping her cries from escaping. Wiping the tears from her eyes, she took out her phone  with her shaking hand.

She opened up the message she got less than 15 minutes ago, opening it with pure sorrow.

remember i told you i'm going to make the sunset prettier for you one day
and today is that day
i hope to see u in our next life
your eternal soulmate, becca 

Hari dropped her phone, using her free hands to cover her mouth.

*end of flashback*

Memories like these will forever haunt and remain, something Hari most definitely has learned to accept. From now on she's only trying to be a better person, for Becca's sake.

Exhaling sharply, she got up. And with a determined face, she walked out of her room and went downstairs.

Her mother and father- who was going to leave in a week's time on a trip- were sitting in the living room. Hari watched the back of their heads, trying to muster the courage.

And then she did. She strode forwards- stopping in front of them.

"Hari what are you-"

"Mom, dad," Hari interrupted her father. "I have something to tell you."

Mrs. Shin sat up, turning off the TV.

"What is it, my daughter?" Mr. Shin frowned, also straightening his posture.

Hari for a split second really did reconsider telling them, but the flashbacks of the past with Becca running rounds in her head, stopped her from heading that direction.

She inhaled, closing her eyes before opening them with a new determination glistening in them.

"Mom, dad... I'm gay."

Both her parent's faces widened, in shock. Well, disappointment in Hari's perspective.

But before they could say anything, she began speaking again. "And I have been, for the longest time. Remember, Choi Becca dad? Your sponsor's daughter? Well, guess what? I loved her, I dated her. And because of my selfishness, she died. And I guess I still am that selfish because it took me all that to be able to stand in front of you today to say this. I'm gay.. And.. and I'm not getting married to that guy you set me up with at your party dad, because I don't like him. He's ugly, hideous even. And lowkey gives fruity vibes, but then again who am I to judge ahaha, because that would make him the same as me. And you know what? I do not care what you think about me now that you know. I do not care! If you want to kick me out of the house, go ahead. Do that. Just please make it as painless as you can, please."

Hari gulped, breathing heavily.

Her parents didn't say anything and the silence scared her more than anything. Mrs. Shin stood up, at first with a cold look on her face. But when she reached out to caress Hari's cheek, her face softened.

"Oh, my sweet daughter. It-it's my fault, isn't it? I made you feel like you couldn't come out because I would judge you?"

Hari held back her tears, grasping her mom's hand that was on her cheek. She shook her head, "No, no mama. This... isn't your fault at all. It's my, my stupidity-"

She felt another cold hand on her head, making her stoop. Her eyes trailed up, seeing her teary-eyed father.

"It's ok my sweetheart, you don't have to explain yourself. We understand."

Hari began letting out the emotions she had been holding since forever. In her parent's loving embrace, she broke and she healed.

[8:23pm]

Jongseong stared at the text he received. Betrayal bubbled inside him.

well dna papers prove that little jihyun really isnt ur child
aww, well at least yk now
dont go after chunhee, i did convince the poor girl to lie
thats my fault lol
but it is a bit shameful
it took the fear of ur father for u to treat a girl right
jongseong-ah, i only hope u take this as a lesson

Jongseong threw his phone at his wall, slamming his fists on his mattress.

Soon his anger turned to self-pity.

Something inside his brain clicked.

[8:32pm]

Later in the night, Jungwon found himself sneaking around the school halls.

He was carrying a small torchlight that he used to guide him around since all the power in school had been turned off since 7pm.

His eyes landed on the label on the wall that read '101-123', Yesol's locker range.

Jungwon looked around, fingers grazing through multiple lockers and he examined everyone.

He stopped on 118, "Bingo."

Fishing inside his pocket, he took out a small safety pin which he stuck inside the keyhole on the locker and began moving. He struggled around a bit, grunting softly as he tried pushing the pin around it in all directions trying to find the right point to latch onto.

Suddenly, he felt a warm drift on his shoulder.

Jungwon stopped, his breathing picking up.

His eyes moved to the corner of their socket in fear, the white part taking up most space.

Less than a second later, he was submerged in darkness- his scream encased in the cloth covering his head.

———

we are nearing to the end guysss😓

how many chapters left do we think🤔