's heart was beating erratically out of her chest. she is not going to tell wheein, hyejin decided. it is irrational and irresponsible and—the teacher looked at hyejin "hwasa. please pay attention," his voice was itchy, as if a cough was dying to come out but refused. it sounded like it left the man in total discomfort. "i am," hyejin smiled coyly.

they both know she wasn't.

byulyi looked at the girl in confusion. why's she acting so weird now? byul thought

"you're a little distracted aren't you?" the teacher questioned. "'m, not quite," she was partially lying. she wasn't distracted, that was the last thing she was. hyejin was planning out what to do and honestly picking between total embarrassment and history was an easy choice.

"principal's office," hyejin slid her books off the desk and got up. a small sliver of hatred slid in the back of her throat. hairy prick hyejin thought. the walk towards the office was quiet, her footsteps were light. it was always so quiet. hyejin never realized how silent everything always was. her fingertips pressed onto the cold doorknob.

"ahn hwasa?" the principal questioned the girl as her body slid through the door. "it's been so long since i've seen you," the principal chuckled. "yeah it has," hyejin smiled as she placed her body on the plush chair.

"what is the problem this time?" hyejin fidgeted with her ring. "i dunno," hyejin shrugged her shoulders. "listen hwasa, i can't keep backing you up like this. i'm trying to prove to the board you are worth it," hyejin looked at the woman in complete confusion.

"what exactly are you trying to prove to them?" a pool of anger puddled inside of hyejin "that you're are able to go to college and have a successful life. that's the reason you're still here. i believe in you, young lady," the principal smiled at the girl like her own.

hyejin should really feel so thankful for the woman, but she's an adolescent who is—at the moment—a science project.

"now, is the tutoring helping you?" hyejin thought. she can always back out of it and leave wheein behind her. she wouldn't need to always hold her breath anymore. she wouldn't have her heart broken.

"yeah it is," what's the point? if hyejin did back out, wheein would still want to be friends with her either way. "good, good," the principal shoved a file in the drawer. "i'm glad you're helping yourself," she smiled sweetly.

the hair on hyejin's back started to rise on instinct. "am i able to leave now?" "not exactly." hyejin slumped in the chair. "you never served out your detention and now you have an extra one," hyejin rolled her eyes. "can i do them both today?" the principal nodded. "you'll stay till' late though," "it's fine,"

hyejin picked up her books and got up from the chair.

"i hope i won't see you in a long time," the principal winked at hyejin. "i hope so too,"

~

the end of the day started to near and hyejin was beyond exhausted. she had to attend detention, but having no sleep and so much homework; hyejin didn't think she'd make it. "hiya," wheein laid a hand on hyejin's shoulder. small electric bolts came quickly and left just as they came.

the lion started to tense. "yah! you scared me," hyejin swatted wheein's hand away. "we can't tutor today," a small frown laid on wheein's lips. "oh, why not?" the girl walked beside the other. "i have to serve out my detention, and trust me they are very long," hyejin sighed dramatically. at least doing it all today is better than doing it twice a week.

"how about i pick you up? it's a thank you for saving me," wheein offered. if hyejin could watch herself through a screen, she'd scream don't do it! or you'll get hurt or even she'll kill you don't trust her!

but wheein wasn't like that. hyejin didn't need a rocket scientist to know she was falling for the girl. she just didn't anticipate how hard she'd fall. "yeah sure," the feeling of hitting the icy cold water of jung wheein was exciting.

it was electrifying.

but maybe when she finally drowns herself in wheein it won't be how much she anticipated. geez why am i being so poetic? hyejin thought. wheein linked arms with hyejin. "text me when you leave, okay?" hyejin nodded and walked towards her small locker, taking the books she would use for her very long detention.

"can they even keep you there for a long time," "if it's mandatory," "is it?" "sadly yes," wheein is inexperienced in detentions. hyejin chuckled at the thought. "if you're making fun of me in your head, stop that!" wheein pinched the girl. "yah!" "don't pout," wheein was pouting herself. "i can never escape from you can i?"

the question kept hyejin going. can she actually run away from wheein?

"no you can't,"

~

tiredness hit hyejin like a truck. she was so tired. the girl pulled her phone out and dialed wheein. "hello?" "wheein-ah can you bring me home?" "yeah sure, hold up," hyejin sighed as she kept her phone near her ear. "...are you asleep?" hyejin had completely missed wheein's conversation. "hm? no," the girl managed to speak a little bit.

her eyes were extra heavy today, and somehow her brain was shutting off.

"hey there," a boy around her age came up towards her. "hi?" the girl looked at the guy. "are you by yourself?" hyejin shook her head. "look—i don't need you to drive me home, my friend is already on her way," her blunt statement caught the boy off guard "you look really tired. how about i just take you home," the boy grabbed hyejin's arm.

if hyejin had a full night's sleep, she would've knocked this guy out by now. but her brain was mushy and her bones followed suite. "hey stop that," her voice was hoarse, as if all the liquid was drained out. "yah! get off her before i run you over," the familiar voice rang in hyejin's ear.

"oh it's you!" the boy turned to the small girl sitting in the car "jung wheein the nerd, huh? how about you let me take her home," "you know i have the upper hand right? i can easily run you over," wheein started the engine, clearly scaring the boy. the boy—in whatever emotion he was feeling—froze. if he had to choose between talking to a cute girl or getting run over—well he treasures himself a little more than her.

"fine. whatever, i didn't even want you anyway," a small glare was sent his way.

hyejin walked quickly towards wheein vehicle. "you should be more careful!" the scolding began. "and you—" hyejin couldn't stand it anymore. everything was to loud. "thank you," a small silence came from wheein. "you're welcome," hyejin was met with silence once more.

hyejin can barely function at the moment and she wanted to say so many things. but the words felt like it was stuck in her throat. "wheein-ah," "yes?" hyejin clutched her hand, playing with her ring. the words got caught in her throat again, she wanted to scream. oh god—she wanted to scream so loud.

"have i mentioned how much i'm thankful you know how to drive?" the lie slipped out of hyejin's mouth before her confession could. wheein chuckled at that. "nope, you never have," the girl cutely spoke.

hyejin wanted to ball her eyes out. "is this where you live?" hyejin nodded. "thanks wheein," "you've never thanked me so much in one day. this must be a dream," hyejin wanted this to be a dream. she'd never met wheein, all these feelings aren't real.

"you're lucky i'm tired," wheein chuckled and said her goodbyes before leaving the house. as hyejin stepped in the house, the familiar ruckus began. "...i'm leaving!" she can hear her mother screaming "fine do it!" her father challenged.

hyejin was way too tired for this and ended up walking in her room and plugging the earbuds into her ear. the soft musical noise led her to a wonderful dream.

hyejin woke up to a small buzzing of her phone.

i did it. i confessed

i don't know who to blame you or me?

she rejected me hyejin.

i shouldn't have done this

byul i'm so sorry

did you tell glasses

i'm sorry it never got to that

you're kidding right?

byul i'm sorry

read 4:57 a.m

guilt started to build up in hyejin. she shouldn't have promised byul that she'd tell wheein. hyejin didn't want anything to happen to the girl.

byul meet me at the park

read 5:00 a.m.

hyejin felt so bad. her shoes dug into the sand and her grip on the swing's handles tightened. what was she thinking, byul wouldn't have come either way. hyejin sighed as she got up from the swing. "yah, are you gonna leave?" the familiar voice rang towards hyejin.

small pieces of happiness came crashing at hyejin. "you came," a small smile landed on hyejin's face. as the girl turned her head, she can see the tear stains on byul's face. "byul-ah," hyejin came over to hug the girl. "i'm so sorry,"

hyejin frowned as she embraced the girl. "i'll let you know that yong is missing out," a small chuckle came from the older girl. "are you sure about that?" "very," "she just—" byul hesitated. "you don't have to tell me," byul sighed. "i want too," byul took the girl off of her. the older girl guided the younger towards the swings.

"she told me we're better off as friends. yong said she's straight," byul glared at the sand. hyejin didn't want to be the one that crushed byul world, she should tell byul about wheein and yong. but it wasn't her place to.

"y'now i was very close to saying it to wheein. i just thought that it was way to early to say anything." byul nodded at that. "you've known for what? six months?" "yeah, maybe even eight." a small smile was placed on the lions lips.

"it's almost the end of this year, and after that senior year," byul shuddered. "ew we're growing up," "remember freshman year?" the two started to laugh. "you were so weird!" byul started to hold her stomach from the laughing.

"nuh—uh! i just liked different things than other people did," a small blush formed on her cheeks.

"must be why you like wheein," hyejin shoved byul. "yah! she isn't weird." "wasn't sayin she was," hyejin glared at the cheeky girl. "well i dunno how i'm gonna face yong tomorrow," hyejin looked at the sky.

today was filled with many stars unlike yesterday, hyejin observed. "you will. don't worry," "and how do you know that?"

"i just do," byul chuckled. "what are we gonna do about glasses," hyejin shrugged. "you have to tell her you know," hyejin sighed and her shoulders fell. "i know, but she just—she thinks of me as her best friend. if anything she'd choose yongsun over me anyway," the girl whispered the last part to herself.

"there must be a little bit of feelings there, i see the way she stares at you," "yeah her friendly stare," there was a short pause from byul. "how about I help you with confessing,"

"alright,"