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━━━ " 📂  " ‍..⃗. ༉

𝘾 𝙍 𝙔   𝘽 𝘼 𝘽 𝙔

! chapter eighteen ─── ʚĭɞ

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There had been people crowding outside their classroom through the rest of lunch, after Seojun and Suho had been hauled off to the office and Jugyeong, Yeori, Soojin, Sooa and Taehoon returned to their class. The news got around quicker than Yeori could have ever expected and she had sat, uncomfortable beyond her wildest doubt, for some strange reason, as everyone chattered and gossiped about these two boys fighting over Jugyeong.

Jugyeong, like she had been in the cafeteria, was completely overwhelmed by the surrounding sight. Eyes wide, she looked completely bewildered as she was pestered continuously by questions and mentions of one particular rumour that had been heard; that Jugyeong had been asked out by both of the boys, and there seemed to be nothing that Jugyeong could say that would refute people's ideas of that.

And to add even move fuel to fire, as it were, Chorong and the group of boys who usually followed Seojun around appeared at the door demanding that Suho came with them. Seojun was nowhere to be seen, and although there seemed to be some kind of hesitation that was seen when Yeori asked them what they thought they were doing, some kind of left over respect for her that was present in any and all conversations she had with them, Suho went with them regardless.

Next thing she knew, Suho - for perhaps the first time in his life - had detention, as did Chorong and his friends and, to absolutely no surprises, Seojun did as well. They were to clean the gymnasium. Seojun had been forced to take the majority of the blame for the fight, despite all factors, and Chorong had told her when she was getting a drink from the vending machine before she left for dance.

It was a good session. A few others who regularly attended the same classes and workshops she did were there, and so they all grouped together to work for an hour or so in one of the main studios before they left to allow for a class to take place. They would meet up the day after, too, and again, then on Saturday afternoon everyone involved in the workshop would come back to perform to the instructor. Whoever was best, voted on by the level of support from the others who had taken part, would be featured on the studio's various social media and - Yeori's favourite part - would be treated to a drink or a meal.

And she was never going to turn down the ability to win free food or drink.

She had a ballet class in the evening, however came to realise that she had left her shoes at home and, on a whim, told her dad that she would pick Donghyun up from his football practise back at her school. The football team at his middle school had almost doubled in size that year and they needed a bigger pitch to practise on and so, it had been arranged for the middle school in the same district as Saebom High School could use their field.

It was more than useful, and often Yeori would stay nearby to collect him and walk home with him, treating to his own snack on the way. That was her plan for the time she had to kill before the ballet class, that and some homework when she got back before she had to leave again. It was all so busy, but Yeori would sacrifice any time of relaxation if it meant she could balance her dance and her school life.

She made her way along the front of the school, trying to avoid the eye of the teachers who were only just leaving - particularly the Dean, whom she had never quite liked - to the pitch, standing with her back to the gym hall and her arms crossed in the slight chill of the evening, watching as the practise slowly came to an end. 

"Hi." Seojun shoved his hands into his pockets as he came up behind her. Knowing how jumpy she could be when not paying attention, he announced his presence way before he usually would. Figured that perhaps it wouldn't be the best time to piss her off any more than needs be.

Yeori turned, look back at him, before returning to the the game. "Why do you always happen to be in every place that I am?" She sighed. 

"I could ask you the same question, but it looks like you've got a pretty good excuse going on there." Seojun managed to find Donghyun on the pitch. "He's way better than last time I saw him play." 

"Yeah, it's been a while." Yeori replied. "He trains a lot, wants to join the country's team when he's older, compete in the World Cup."

"Yeah?" Seojun nodded, slowly. "Detention. I've just finished detention."

"I thought so." Yeori replied. "You know he won't shut up about this when he sees you."

"Good. I've missed the guy." Seojun watched her warily. It was almost... almost awkward. The past day and they hadn't been bickering, and Yeori hadn't commented on anything, and it was odd. He wasn't used to it. Perhaps she had just resigned herself to the fact that everything he did might just piss her off, or she was just tired of it all. He didn't really blame her, and something in him was glad that they weren't arguing. But now they weren't, what did they have? 

It was confusing and complicated, and he found himself thinking that he would rather have the bickering and the swearing and everything else than just nothing. 

"Why did you have to fight Suho?" She asked. And there it was - Seojun didn't dare sigh a breath of relief - that edge of pure annoyance in her voice he was more than familiar with. She didn't even look at him, just watching as the referee blew the whistle and kids filed off the pitch to pick up their bags and coats and head home. 

"Because it's his fault." He replied, voice cold again, nothing like that slight warmness that had been there when talking about Donghyun. 

Yeori narrowed her eyes. She almost laughed. "That's so fucking stupid." She said, and walked away from him. "Bastard." She mumbled under her breath, and Seojun scoffed, before turning and walking away.