╰┈➤ ❝[I'll tell you the truth, but never goodbye]❞

TIME SEEMED TO STOP, as Ji-an could only stare at Su-ho. Hundreds of thoughts were rushing through her head while her heart felt like it was about to explode. She scanned his face, trying to find some sort of emotion or indicator of what he was thinking but she couldn't find anything as the boy stared blankly at her. Realizing Su-ho still had his hands wrapped around her waist, she stepped back, causing Su-ho's hands to fall back to his sides.

Su-ho who was caught by surprise by her sudden action also took a step back, still keeping his attention on her as Ji-an looked anywhere but him. A few moments later of awkward silence and unspoken tension Ji-an coughed, a small thanks leaving her mouth before gathering the courage to speak, "Uh- we should talk."

Su-ho averted his gaze, placing his hands in his pockets before looking back at her, "Talk about what?"

She heavily sighed, already dreading the conversation. "You already know."

"No, I don't." Su-ho lied, his expression the same as before while Ji-an rolled her eyes in annoyance.

"You don't get to act like this."

The boy turned around looking through the bookshelves making Ji-an walk closer to his side. "Like what?"

Although all she wanted was to amend her situation with the boy she was not about to let him step over her. "Like you are the innocent one. We were doing fine, we talked here and there, not a lot but it was something. Giving me hope that someday things could go back to the way they were. And then one day you suddenly ghosted me with no explanation."

"I was trying to be polite because I still care about you." He closed his eyes for a few seconds, a light sigh leaving his lips. "But then I realized I was wasting my time and yours too." Grabbing a book from one of the top shelves he turned towards her. "I never intended to give you hope."

"Did you ever even love me?" Ji-an asked, her eyes scanning his face.

"What kind of question is that? I would always care about you." His response made the Kim girl frown realizing he was avoiding her question.

Pushing a small strand of hair that had fallen out of her ponytail behind her ear, she spoke hoping this time the boy would actually answer her question. "Do you still feel something for me?" 

"I don't know." Su-ho admitted as he avoided eye contact with the petite girl. Since the moment he saw her his emotions and thoughts went out of place. He missed her a lot and it hurt him knowing he was the reason for her departure. He wished he could hug her and tell her how sorry he was for breaking her heart and that it wasn't his plan for things to go the way they went, but he couldn't.

He wouldn't.

Not when he completely believed he wasn't deserving of her love. Not when he kept blaming himself for his best friend's death and not when Seo-jun's words kept circling on his mind. The words that made him conclude that the best thing to do was to stay away from the girl he loved.

"Our best friend is dead because of you! What makes you think you won't end up killing Ji-an too?!"

Su-ho was snapped back into reality when
Ji-an spoke again, a dry chuckle leaving her rosy lips. "I'm glad we finally agree on something." Raising her eyebrows at the taller boy she said, "I guess if you see me with someone else you wouldn't care right?"

Ji-an could tell Su-ho was telling the truth. That in fact he was uncertain of what his heart wanted. Despite that, she couldn't help but ask, wanting to see how the boy would react.

Su-ho may be good at hiding what he was thinking with his blank eyes and emotionless face, but something he was not good at was controlling his body language. Someone who's known the boy for a small period of time wouldn't realize, but Ji-an has. It took her a while, but with time she was able to learn how to capture the signs.

And that's why when Su-ho responded with a simple no, his own body told a completely different story. His knuckles slowly started turning white from holding the book too tightly. A sign that her words had an influence on him and that he was in fact lying.

That was all Ji-an needed to see. Nodding with a small sigh she said, "I gotta go." With a last look at the boy she walked away leaving behind a frustrated Su-ho to stare at the place she used to stand. Her sweet perfume lingering in the air making Su-ho take a deep breath letting the scent fill his senses. A tiny smile took over his lips as he realized the girl still wore the same perfume as before. The one he once gifted her on her birthday.

↶*ೃ✧˚. ❃ ↷

The next day at school Ji-an felt light, like a massive weight was lifted off her shoulders. The constant feeling of anxiety and stress completely disappearing from her body. She guessed her talk with her ex-boyfriend went better than expected knowing things could've ended way worse. Now thanks to their small encounter she was completely certain Su-ho still felt something for her. Which made a sigh of content to leave her rosy lips.

But soon the feeling of calmness left her body as something hit her shoulder snapping her out of her thoughts. Looking away from the green grass she saw Soo-ah turn around, "You're out!"

"What?"

"I said you're out of the game." She frowned, looking the girl up and down. "Are you okay? You've been acting weird all morning. Did something happen?" She had known Ji-an long enough to know when the girl was hiding something and right now her friend was acting strange.

Not wanting to tell Soo-ah about what happened, in the middle of the game where other people could hear their conversation
Ji-an said. "I'll tell you later." And with that she left the playing square moving her attention over to where the boys were playing.

Su-ho and Seo-jun were in opposite teams both throwing the ball harder than they should as they glared at each other. They kept going back and forth before Tae-hoon took the ball hitting Seo-jun on his back, making him be out of the game.

"Han Seo-jun, you're out!" Tae-hoon exclaimed, making Su-ho hide his smile of satisfaction. Seo-jun rolled his eyes and walked out of the playing field.

From the girls team someone threw the ball out of the playing square making Jug-yeong go after it before stopping in front of Seo-jun who had stopped the ball with his foot. "Hey."

Craning her neck up to look at the boy she asked. "Yes?"

"We've met before right?" Seo-jun's words made Ji-an frown in curiosity as she listened to the two talk across the field.

Jug-yeong nervously laughed, "I don't think so." She tried to remove the ball from underneath Seo-jun's foot but failed miserably.

"You ran away with my helmet. Didn't you?"

"Hey, watch out!" Jug-yeong warned, pointing at something behind Seo-jun's head.

"You already tried that last time but it didn't fool me-" Just as he finished his sentence a ball hit him right on the back of his head. Clearly upset Seo-jun removed the foot that was on top of the ball and turned around glaring at the group of boys, "Seriously?!"

Ji-an couldn't help but chuckle as she watched Hyun-gyu stammer. "I'm.. I'm sorry! T- the class president threw it!"

Jug-yeong took this opportunity to grab the ball and stand up to her feet. "I'm sorry I'll give it back to you tomorrow." As she turned around, she stumbled over her own feet ending up on her falling into the ground.

Ji-an facepalm, about to help the poor girl when she saw Su-ho walk in Jug-yeong's direction. For a moment she thought he was going to help her, but he soon proved her wrong as everyone gasped, watching Su-ho step over Jug-yeong, walking away as if she wasn't there.

↶*ೃ✧˚. ❃ ↷

"Why isn't your boyfriend eating?" Soo-jin asked.

"He needs to do his homework, so he told me he'll get something from the snack bar." From beside Ji-an, Soo-ah answered while the four of them walked down the stairs.

"Really? should we get him something?"
Jug-yeong asked, her kind offer getting rejected by Soo-ah.

"Whatever, I don't care if he starves."

"Yeah, right." Ji-an rolled her eyes as she took a sip of her iced coffee. Since moving to Miami the girl grew obsessed with it, liking the boost of energy it gave her.

Soo-jin nudged Ji-an's side, making the girl shrug in confusion. Dismissing Ji-an's sarcastic comment Soo-jin asked. "What's going on? Did you guys fight again?"

Soo-ah shook her head, a heavy sigh escaping her lips. "We didn't even have time to fight. Last night he ignored all my texts because he fell asleep early. I don't think he knows it's our 100th day anniversary. I'm so annoyed." She rested her head against Jug-yeong's shoulder making the taller girl rub her back comfortingly.

"He couldn't have forgotten that." Jug-yeong tried to reassure while Ji-an shook her head in disagreement.

"He probably did but I wouldn't blame him."
Ji-an frown. "Su-ho forgot when it was our 100th day anniversary. He ended up remembering days later thanks to me giving him the cold shoulder but he made it up to me. He felt so bad he kept apologizing even after I forgave him."

Soo-ah and Soo-jin shared a quick look, recalling how annoyed the girl was, and how she called them complaining about the boy. Jug-yeong on the other hand looked down with a thoughtful look on her face. Something that didn't go unnoticed by Ji-an.

"If it turns out he forgot, I'm going to break up with him. He's the only guy I've dated for this long." Soo-ah pout, while Ji-an and Soo-jin secretly smile, knowing the girl's words were true.

Moments later, the three reached the classroom, Soo-ah being the first one to enter. On the floor there was a pathway made of petals while the walls were decorated with balloons and hearts. Ji-an, Soo-jin and Jug-yeong move to the side, letting a very flustered Sooah to take the spotlight.

In the middle of the classroom, stood Taehoon with a notebook in his hand.

Soo-ah, to me, you're prettier than Suzy

Until we both grow old and have wrinkles...

I will love you.

Ji-an couldn't help but laugh at Soo-jin's expression of disgust. Nudging the girl on her arm she said, "It may be a little corny, but it's still cute. So don't be a mood killer."

Nervously Tae-hoon flipped to the last page, making the class erupt into screams as the last page had an image of a couple kissing.

Then Tae-hoon started singing following with a choreography making the class cheer even louder. Ji-an and Jug-yeong moved closer as they watched Tae-hoon finish with a very cheesy line and an, I love you.

"Kiss! Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!" Everyone started chanting encouraging Tae-hoon and Soo-ah to lean in before a very annoyed Hyun-gyu spoke, "You guys are so corny! I really can't take it anymore!" Bringing the cake up, about to throw it at the couple the two dodged it, the cake crashing on Jug-yeong's face.

The impact of the cake hitting Jug-yeong made her lose her balance, causing her to stubble a couple of steps back, ending in her crashing onto Ji-an and making her iced coffee spill all over her white shirt.

"Jug-yeong! My gosh!"

"Give me some tissues!"

"What's the matter with you?!"

Everything went into chaos. Everyone was so focused on Jug-yeong that they failed to notice Ji-an's stained shirt, which had now become see-through. Ignoring everyone's voices, she wrapped her arms across her chest, quickly sneaking out of the classroom before anyone could see her.

As she was basically running through the halls trying to find the nearest bathroom she collided with Su-ho. At first the boy didn't understand why she was in such a rush before he noticed the stain on her shirt. Slightly blushing he removed his jacket, about to put it on the girl before a sudden commotion caught his attention.

Ji-an, thankful the boy was going to help her, went to reach for the jacket before Su-ho moved it out of her reach. Confused, she watched him walk away and to the crowd that had formed not too far away. From where she was standing she saw Su-ho stop in the middle of the crowd, putting his jacket over
Jug-yeong's head.

Tears of shame and anger gathered in her eyes as she couldn't believe what she was witnessing but before she could comprehend what was happening, someone stepped in front of her, gently putting their jacket on her front, hiding away the ugly stained shirt.

Looking up at her knight in shining armor, her eyes met Seo-jun's sharp ones. He was staring down at her with a look Ji-an couldn't figure out and a clenched jaw. The two stayed like that for a couple of seconds before Seo-jun asked, "Do you have some spare clothes?"

The girl could only shake her head, not trusting her voice at the moment. With a sigh, Seo-jun grabbed her arm, dragging her further away from the students. Not having the strength to fight back, Ji-an allowed him to drag her as she tried to wrap her mind around what was happening.

Did Su-ho just leave her to go and help
Jug-yeong?

Her vision was getting blurrier by each second thanks to the tears in her eyes. If it wasn't for Seo-jun's hand tightly gripping her arm, she would've already collided with a wall. She tried her best to not let the tears fall as she didn't want to cry in front of Seo-jun. But still her attempt in hiding her tears was in vain because when the two finally reached Seo-jun's locker the boy said, "Don't cry."

"I'm not crying." Her voice sounded choked up making it obvious she was trying not to cry.

Seo-jun ignored her, not wanting to argue with her at the moment. He opened his locker, grabbing a spare shirt and a grey and white hoodie before closing it again. With a pointed look he threw the pieces of clothing at the girl, "You better return them."

Wiping her teary eyes, Ji-an looked down at the pieces of clothing, "Why the hoodie?"

Seo-jun rolled his eyes, snatching the hoodie from her smaller hands. "If you don't want it, then I take it back."

"No!" Ji-an shouted, quickly taking the hoodie back. Frowning, she looked up at the taller boy. "Why are you doing this?" Her words were barely audible, but the boy still registered them. He stayed silent, shifting his gaze away from her as he tried to come up with a response.

Seo-jun had seen everything. From the moment she ran out of the classroom to when Su-ho left her to go help Jug-yeong. But he would not let the girl know. He knew she had a big pride and her being aware of him knowing everything would just make her freak out.

So looking back at her he said, "Did you want me to leave you there for all of them to see once their attention finally moved away from Jug-yeong?"

The Kim girl stared at the floor in annoyance knowing he was right. She was about to thank him for the kind gesture before the next words that left his mouth turned her look of appreciation into a glare.

"Plus, you looked like a puppy that had been just kicked and left to die." He shook his head, an arrogant grin making its way into his lips. "Not a good look for someone like you."

The girl squinted her eyes, "Are you insinuating I am some sort of charity work to you?"

Seo-jun shrugged, placing his hands in his pockets. Still with the annoying smile on his face he turned around, taking a few steps forward before realizing Ji-an wasn't moving from her spot. "Come on!" With a swift roll of eyes he grabbed her wrist, dragging her in the bathroom's direction.

They spent the rest of the way in silence, both walking next to each other with Seo-jun's hand still holding onto her wrist as if he was afraid she would run away. Ji-an looked down at the jacket covering her front and then to the clothes in her hands. She hated to admit how thankful she was for the boy's help. If it wasn't for him she probably would've made a fool of herself.

Ironically, this brought her memories of the time she met Seo-jun. As unbelievably as it sounded there was a time where both teenagers got along.

A time where they were friends.

A time where Jian would go to his house and spend time watching movies with him and his sister. A time where they would comfort each other when needed to and laugh until their stomach hurt.

But then everything changed, Seo-jun became distant and indifferent towards the girl. Ji-an, not understanding his sudden change of personality, did the same, and from that moment they created a barrier between them, leaving them arguing and bickering over the stupidest things.

As it was easier to fight him than to admit how much losing him as a friend, and his betrayal hurt. The words he had said to her in the past weren't something she could ever forget. They stung and changed her ability to trust people easily.

Suddenly, Seo-jun abruptly stopped, his entire demeanor changing. Following his line of sight, Ji-an saw Su-ho staring at the two of them, his eyes moving over to the hand Seo-jun had wrapped around her wrist and over to the clothes she was holding. The sight of the two made Su-ho clenched his fists, jealousy coursing through his veins.

Seeing the two boys were focused on glaring at each other, Ji-an moved over to the bathroom door, about to open it when Su-ho stepped in front of her making a barrier between her and the door.

"Let me in." Ji-an didn't have the time or energy to play along with Su-ho's games. She just wanted to get out of the uncomfortable and sticky shirt. "What the hell is your problem?" She tried to move past him but he wouldn't budge. His expression in it's usual emotionless state.

"I think she told you to let her in." Ji-an heard Seo-jun say behind her, his voice lower than usual making goosebumps form on her skin. His sentence sounded more like a warning instead of a statement.

Slowly, Su-ho's attention moved away from
Ji-an and over to the taller boy. The girl looked between the two, knowing at any moment a fight could break loose. If it were different circumstances, she would've stopped them but right now she couldn't care less. So taking this chance, with all her strength Ji-an pushed Su-ho to the side, opening the bathroom door with a sigh of relief.

The sound of the door opening and closing went unnoticed by Jug-yeong who was currently washing her face. Ji-an sighed in disappointment, she had hoped she could get some alone time but apparently she guessed wrong.

Finally, her presence was noticed by Jug-yeong the girl shrieking in complete horror and her face growing significantly paler. At first Ji-an didn't register the reason for Jug-yeong's dramatic reaction but as she analyzed the girl's appearance she realized Jug-yeong wasn't wearing any makeup.

Still confused over Jug-yeong's reaction, she asked, "Are you okay?"

Practically on the verge of tears, Jug-yeong avoided eye contact, "Please! I beg you. Don't tell anyone about this. I won't blame you if you don't want to talk to me anymore but please don't tell the others. They'll hate me if they find out."

Ji-an shook her head. "What are you talking about? Is this because you aren't wearing makeup?"

With tears falling down her cheeks Jug-yeong timidly nodded. Sighing, Ji-an walked closer to the girl, only stopping a few steps away, not wanting to invade Jug-yeong's personal space. Ji-an brushed a hand through her hair as she tried to come up with a way to reassure the poor girl.

"If you don't want me to tell anyone, then I won't." At her words Jug-yeong visibly relaxed, her puffy eyes moving away from the floor and over to her.

"I know, we aren't that close and this coming from me probably won't mean anything to you, but I want you to know that with makeup or no makeup you're still the same Jug-yeong everyone loves. It changes nothing. You're gorgeous inside and out. What anyone says or thinks does not matter."

"And like I told you before, just keep being yourself, don't change the person you are just to fit in with others. Soo-ah and Soo-jin won't care if you wear makeup or not. They're not like that."

Jug-yeong sniffed, rapidly wiping away her tears, "Thank you."

With a small awkward smile Ji-an gestured down to the clothes in her hand, "I'm going to change." Entering one of the bathroom stalls she closed her eyes for a few seconds, wondering when everything went downhill.

After changing out of the sticky shirt, and putting on Seo-jun's shirt. She threw the white stained shirt in the garbage bin, before walking out of the stall. Walking over to Jug-yeong who was busy fixing her makeup. Ji-an grabbed a paper towel wetting it with some water before trying to wipe off the sticky layer that covered her chest.

Clearing her throat, Jug-yeong gestured down to Ji-an's shirt, "What happened?"

"When you got hit with the cake you lost your balance, stumbling back into me. Which ended up with my iced coffee spilling all over my white shirt." Ji-an explained as she finished cleaning her chest.

"Oh, I'm so sorry." Jug-yeong apologized, as she applied her mascara. "Is there a way I can make it up to you?"

Ji-an's eyes widened, Jug-yeong's kindness leaving her in disbelief. Here the girl was, trying to make it up to her even though it wasn't her fault. "No, no, it's okay, if someone should make it up to us it should be Hyun-gyu."

Jug-yeong laughed, nodding in agreement before completely changing the subject. "Uh, are you and Han Seo-jun close?"

Ji-an cleared her throat, trying to find a way to answer the question. "Well, we used to, we've known each other for a long time. I actually met him first and thanks to him, I met Suho." Ji-an explained, putting on Seo-jun's hoodie while doing so.

"I'm asking because I accidentally took his helmet, and I was wondering if you could return it and save me from the stress of confronting him." Jug-yeong explained as she finished applying her mascara.

Ji-an acted surprised, as if she hadn't heard the girl's previous conversation with Seo-jun. "Oh, really? I can do It."

Jug-yeong smiled widely, her face completely brightening, "Thank you!" She placed everything back inside her bag.

The two girls kept talking, completely unaware of the conversation happening outside the bathroom. "Enjoying the spotlight are you?" Seo-jun asked Su-ho, the two standing outside the bathroom doors.

Su-ho ignored the boy's question, "Am I the reason you came back to school?"

Seo-jun scoffed, disbelief covering his handsome features. "What?"

"You seem interested in what I do." Su-ho placed his hands in the pocket of his pants. Watching as Seo-jun clenched his jaw in anger.

"Cut the nonsense."

"Just mind your own business and stay away from Ji-an." Su-ho warned, revealing his jealousy.

If looks could kill, Su-ho would've already been six feet under, "Who the hell are you to tell me what to do?" Seo-jun shook his head. "You were the one that left Ji-an to go help some other girl. I was just doing what you failed to do."

——————— ↶*ೃ✧˚. ❃ ↷ ˊ——————

——Joy speaks

Well, well, well....

What do you guys think?

This chapter has been the longest so far and a lot of things were revealed. I'm actually liking the turn this story is taking. It was actually not planed. But I'm loving it.

Her talk with Su-ho was going to go on a very different route but then after giving it some thought (which is the reason why it took me so long to update) I decided to stick to my original plan.

So there you have it. You now know the reason why Su-ho broke up with Ji-an and also that Seo-jun and Ji-an met first and used to be friends.

But what you don't know is why Seo-jun change 👀

Any guesses? 😏