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━━━ " 📂  " ‍..⃗. ༉

𝘾 𝙍 𝙔   𝘽 𝘼 𝘽 𝙔

! chapter ten ─── ʚĭɞ

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Han Seojun being back in school was a distraction, Yeori concluded as she continued away from her classroom to try and help Jugyeong recover from the cake-throwing incident. She already spent too much time thinking about him during the day and to allow herself to ruin precious moments of potentially being a good friend to the new girl only proved this further.

She didn't need to talk to him, and if all he was going to do as a form of communication with her was to ask about her gloves back, then she didn't have any reason to bother about him. It was so, so hypocritical of her because something within her wanted to talk to him, but there was too much drama and too much remaining anger from when things ended for her. Yeori knew she was by far not the type of person to be able to let it all go, but she would try her best to.

For now, though, she had to find Jugyeong. That was more important than any of her feelings and certainly far more important than Han Seojun. There was the considerably loud sound of Sooa calling after her friend for her to follow, as well as that of Hyunkyu apologising profoundly for his mistake and the added noise of Soojin and Taehoon following them. Turning the corner once more she found herself facing a crowd of people. 

"Why did you have to do that?" Sooa turned to Hyunkyu with exasperation and accusation in her tone. "Apologise to her now!" She demanded.

"Seriously," Soojin added with the usual coolness. "Apologise to her, now." 

Before them, Jugyeong was still. She was visibly frozen with an overwhelming anxiety from the crowd enclosed around her, and Yeori found herself pushing people out of the way in an attempt to get closer to be able to return the compact. 

"Let's wipe that off." Soaa turned around to face the poor girl, in her own panic to be a good friend not recognising Jugeyong's own reaction to the upset. She clutched a makeup wipe in her hand. "Look, I'll help you."

"Sooa-" 

"Don't touch me." Jugyeong insisted, holding her pouch up to shield her.

The crowd surrounding had begun to form a hubbub, people from other forms joining the fray and asking what exactly was going on. Underneath the cake, and despite the new rumours of a pretty girl at Saebom High, Jugyeong wasn't as recognisable as usual, and quickly comments began to be made that only fuelled the poor girl's anxiety with the situation. Everything was quickly becoming quite overwhelming for Yeori as she watched it play out, so she couldn't even imagine what it was like for Jugyeong. 

All of a sudden, it seemed, Suho appeared from behind the crowds and pushed through, his blazer pulled over Jugyeong's head to protect her from the stares. The students were scared enough of his stoic nature to fall silent as he guided Jugyeong past them and the murmurs continued. 

Yeori was the first to begin after him, although she could hear the others following and ultimately coming to a stop as the Dean of Students appeared as if from nowhere to berate them for their behaviour. Whilst she did admit to acting in her best interests to continue away from the man, it would only help Jugyeong if she followed her and Suho, the compact clutched tightly in her hand.

"Ah, Lee Suho, you're so dramatic," Yeori called after him, feet pattering against the school floors as she hurried to keep up. "You don't have to cover her like she's about to drown in the rain, just escort her to an empty bathroom, come on." 

"Yeori." Suho shot a glare back at her, something which the girl only returned with far more fire behind it. "Let her be."

"Lee Suho!"  Yeori's face was set. "I'm only trying to help. And what about when you get to the bathroom huh? You expect to go in, pervert?" She accused, and waved the compact around, turning to see Seojun standing at the side of the corridor. "You-" She pointed. "Help me give Jugyeong her compact."

"What, you too slow?" Seojun teased. "Too short? Legs can't keep up."

"I am average height, thank you!" Yeori snapped. "Come on, you usually can't get away quick enough when you see me walking towards you, so it's time to help."

"It seems like you're dragging me more than anything-" Seojun began to complain, but it was too late and Yeori had seized his arm. "Hey - Kwon Yeori! I have places to be." 

"Shush and be useful for once." She said. 

Her plan worked, and in no time at all she was stood in front of the bathroom Suho was guiding, and Seojun took a step back. "Lee Suho." Yeori crossed her arms across her chest and subconsciously tried to look taller. "Let me in."

"No. Jugyeong doesn't want anyone in there with her."

"So you know her every thought now, do you?" Yeori blinked. "Hey, stop trying to be the perfect gentleman without all the facts. I'm trying to help her." She waved the compact around as if it was a free pass and managed to bypass her friend. 

The girl knocked on the door gently. "Hey, Jugyeong. I have your compact, it fell from your case." She began. "I can come in to help if you want, but if you're embarrassed from all the cream I can just hand it to you. I'll have words with Hyunkyu, don't worry." 

There was a beat, and the door opened a fraction, a hand appearing through the gap. "Thank you, Yeori." Jugyeong said, her tone dripping with pure gratitude before the door quickly closed again. 

Yeori could only smile as it closed; she had managed to fulfil her role and so, turned back around to return to class. However, there seemed to be other plans. She remained silent as she watched Seojun stand in front of Suho, their faces blank with twitches of anger shining through.

"Am I the reason you came back to school?" Suho asked.

Seojun stared for a moment. "What?"

"You seem interested in what I do." The Lee continued, his head tilted slightly. 

"Cut the nonsense."

"Just mind your own business," Suho said, words firm, "and stop so blatantly sticking your nose in mine."

"And how about we stop the crazy accusations, huh?" Yeori shook her head as she stepped between them. "Honestly. you're like children." And she left them be, glad to not be entirely caught in the crossfire.