8 Chapter 7

Soojung's POV

{2 weeks later - at university}

After these past 2 weeks, Jieun and Taeyong's relationship still continues and in some way still hurts me seeing them together. Why? Why do I still feel this way? Am I still not over him or is it because he is with Jieun especially? My best friend of 11 years... I don't know what to do. I don't know how to move from this. I was planning to go to a cafe later and just calm down, think and probably do some work. The class was about to start and thank god I made it on time. I nearly didn't come today because I was sensing that something bad might happen but I just came - not wanting to miss any class now. I walked into class and everyone was already there, like literally everyone, Jaehyun, Johnny, Taehyung, Eun Na, Taeyong, and Jieun. I have weirded out that everyone was in class today. Usually, it's just some of us. Anyway, the teacher came right after. She puts her stuff away quickly to start the class and to tell us some exciting news, I guess.

"Okay, good morning everyone! Today is exciting because we have some great news and I hope everyone takes it as a great thing too," she said.

"What is it?" everyone asked.

"We have two exchange students with us today! Please welcome them with open arms!" she said.

"Exchange students?! Where exactly, ssaem?" a student asked.

"Well, why don't you guys ask for yourselves... Come on in guys!" she said.

All of us stared at the door to see who would walkthrough. When the door opens and reveals someone very unexpected to us. Everyone was shocked. Literally everyone. But more so for Jaehyun, Johnny, Eun Na, Taeyong, myself, and mostly Jieun. I looked at her and she was reaching to a point of tears already seeing that person walking in. They introduce themselves.

"Hi there everyone, my name is Mark Lee. I'm from Canada. It's nice to meet you all" he said. All of us stared at Jieun at this point. She was in tears for more reasons because he didn't come alone.

"Hi, I'm Nancy and I'm also from Canada. I'm actually Mark's finance. It's nice to meet you" she said.

He came back after all these years and had the audacity to bring his wife-to-be here too. I looked at Jieun and I could tell she was broken. This is probably the lowest she ever felt. The teacher asked them to take their seats but we were still shocked by their presence. Jieun kept eyeing them non-stop until she looked away to take a breather. She then raised her hand. Everyone looked at her.

"I'm sorry miss, but may I go to the restroom please?" she asked, slightly in tears. She got up and went out. I wanted so badly to go after her but we weren't friends anymore. So I couldn't bring myself to get up. Then Johnny got up.

"May I be an excuse too, miss?" he said.

"You too? Okay then" he stood up but before he left, he looked at Mark and said,

"I'll deal with YOU later!" pointing and glaring at Mark while rushing out of the classroom to probably check on Jieun.

The teacher was confused by the tense atmosphere. Everyone now was looking at Mark. Mark then looked at us. All of us were mad and disappointed. I looked at Taeyong. It looked like he was so mad that he could just beat the shit out of Mark right then and there. And it also seems as tho, Jaehyun was too. Kind of knew it, since I knew how he felt about Jieun before. I couldn't care less, all I care about is Jieun. Whether she's okay or not.

Jieun's POV

What's going on here? Why is he here? I walked out of the class and started hyperventilating. I felt like tears were going down my cheeks. I leaned against the nearest wall and just sat on the floor, trying to catch my breath.

"Jieun-ah" I looked up and saw Johnny oppa. He looked at me sadly and worried.

"Huh, What a life I have, right?" I scoff and put my head back down. Johnny then sat next to me while leaning on the wall too.

"Sometimes, life can be unfair to us. No matter how nice we are" he said.

"What am I going to do now?" I said to him.

"I don't know. That is up to you...but whatever you choose, I'm always here for you. No matter what happens" he said.

"Gomowa, oppa," I said, as I leaned my head on his shoulder. He held my hand and comforted me, better.

After a solid 5 minutes, I've calmed down. "I think we should get back before we get into trouble," he said, as he got up. He put out his hand to help get me up and we went back to class, as he held my hand. We went back into class and everyone was staring at us. Johnny still held my hand, to make sure everything was okay. Mark was staring at me too and then he looked at the hand Johnny was holding. We sat back at our seats and Taeyong oppa came to make sure I was okay. I assured him I was. I looked back at Mark and he was still looking at me, with a sorry look. I then looked at Soojung unnie and I could see she was worried so I just slightly smiled at her and went back to class.

"Of course, we have to do tradition. So, Mark and Nancy could you perform in front of the whole class?" the teacher said.

"I'm sorry?" Mark replied.

"It's a tradition here that every new student comes, they must perform and showcase their talent in front of the whole class. Would you mind showing us something?" she said.

Mark is hesitant to get up but then, "I'll go first then, miss" Nancy replied, as she squeezed Mark's hand while getting up.

"Great!"

[ https://youtu.be/sfqZImSCqLI ]

I watched her performance and she's amazing. 'Of course, she has a beautiful voice too.' I thought. I took a glance at Mark and I saw him slightly smiling at her. I got sad about seeing them. I mean they're happy together but - seeing your ex-boyfriend that you love so much, it hurts... a lot. Johnny saw how upset I got and held my hand. Looked back at Johnny and slightly smiled at him, reassuring him that I was ok... when I'm clearly was not.

*end of performance*

"That was amazing, Nancy. A very beautiful voice from a very beautiful girl. You may take a seat" the teacher commented. Everyone applauded her.

"Okay, now... Mark?"

"Ok," he replied. He went to the front and I got nervous.

[ https://youtu.be/VshtvMxqx54 ]

I sighed watching his performance. He has always liked dancing and he has always been amazing at it. I can see his emotion through his dancing and that he feels happy doing it.

*end of performance*

"Great work, Mark. Did you choreograph that yourself?" the teacher asked.

"Yes, actually," he said.

"Amazing work. Keep it up and you might join the competition with our Jieun" the teacher said.

I quickly looked up at the teacher, in shock. I saw Mark and he was surprised as well. Now, everyone was staring.

"I'm sorry, what did you just say, miss?" I said, still in shock.

"Yeah, why not? Would you mind, Jieun?" she asked.

"Ummm..." I said, couldn't bring any other word out of my mouth. Everyone was staring at me including Mark.

Johnny was about to say something but I held him back, "No, miss. I don't mind it" I said. All my "friends", Johnny and Taeyong oppa were surprised by my decision.

"Great. You may go back to your seat now, Mark" she said. He went back to his seat next to Nancy. I have no more courage to glance back at him.

I could feel Taeyong oppa was glaring at Mark intensely. "Are you sure about that Jieun-ah? Could you handle it?" he said, whispering at me.

I sighed before answering him, "I don't know, oppa. I don't know anything at this point. All I know is that he's a great dancer, and not having him in the competition would be a big regret", I said while looking at him.

"Fine... just be careful ok?" he said. "I know"

After an hour passed, the class ended. I got up, about to get out of the class with Johnny and Taeyong oppa with me because it's already lunchtime - when, all of a sudden,

"Jieun-ah..." I turned around and saw it was Mark.

"Hey..." I said.

"How have you been?" he asked.

"Good, I guess," I said back.

"That's great then," he said, as Nancy came beside him.

"Oh, I forgot. Where are my manners? This is my fiance,..."

"Nancy" I cut him off.

"Yeah, I heard. It's nice to meet you. I'm Jieun, an old friend of Mark's" I said to her with a smile.

"Oh, it's nice to meet you too," she said.

"Johnny! Jieun's BEST FRIEND" Johnny suddenly said, in a stern way.

"I'm Taeyong"

"Well, it's nice to finally meet Mark's friends," she said.

"Likewise, it's great to finally meet you too. Hope we could talk again" I said while pulling both Johnny and Taeyong oppa away from Mark before they kill him.

I pulled both of them to the cafeteria. They both got food while I was at the table - lost in my thoughts, trying to process what just happened. I put my head on the table as it felt heavy, all of the sudden.

"Here!" Johnny gave his tray of food to me.

"I'm fine. I'm not hungry" I said to him. Then, Taeyong came.

"Jieun... please eat something..." he said with pleading eyes.

I ignored them and just replied, "I'm not hungry". As I said, I turned my head and saw both Mark and Nancy being cute together in the cafeteria. I couldn't take it anymore.

"I lost my appetite," I said, while still looking at them. I got out of my seat and walked out of the cafeteria - to the only place I could be right now.

Taeyong's POV

I saw Jieun walking out of the cafeteria - to god knows where. I then looked at where she was looking and put the pieces together. Johnny saw too. He looked so mad that it seems like he could Mark right now. But I could think of only Jieun. Of where she might be. Then, I just went straight out to the cafeteria. I head straight to the rooftop. Then, there I saw her. In tears - while looking at the scenery. I instantly hugged her. Making sure that she's okay and safe. All I could hear was her sniffling in tears.

"It's going to be ok. I'm here" all that I could say.

"Really? Why does it feel like everything is falling apart for me?" she said, still crying.

"I don't know why but I will not let it hurt you again," I said.

We stayed like that until the bell rang. She got the courage to go back to class despite my contradiction. I stayed with her throughout the whole day, so she would be hurt anymore.

Johnny's POV

After seeing Jieun went out of the cafeteria - in what seems like in tears. I looked in the direction she was looking at and saw that it was Mark with Nancy. I couldn't hold it anymore. I saw that Taeyong went to Jieun - knowing that she is in safe hands, I went to approach Mark. I wasn't hesitating any further and grabbed Mark's collar.

"Why did you do it? Why do that to her and shamelessly come back?" I yelled at him, grabbing everyone's attention in the cafeteria.

"Wait, hyung... can't we talk calmly, here?" Mark said back.

"Get your hands off of my fiance," Nancy said.

"I have been patient, because of her. But when you broke her heart just like that - without any reasoning or even calling her back. She had to find out through the fucking NEWS. The number of times she cried because of you" I said back at him.

"Hyung, -" I cut him.

"No, you lost the obligation to call me that a long time ago," I said, about to beat the living shit out of him. Until Jaehyun pulled me away.

"Johnny! Stop it! Everyone is looking!" Jaehyun said.

"He deserves it after what he did to her" I yelled back.

"Yes, but this is not what she wants. She doesn't want you to make a scene about this. Just go, Johnny. Make sure she's okay" Jaehyun said.

"Fine, but I don't want you near her again. Do it, you know what happens. You've lost my trust" I said back before leaving.

Jaehyun's POV

I pulled Johnny away because he was making a scene about the situation - which I know something Jieun hates. I told Johnny to cool off before he murders Mark on the school's grounds. Johnny then left.

"Thanks, Jaehyun hyung" Mark then said.

"No. Like what Johnny said, you lose the obligation to call me that after what you did to Jieun," I told him.

"I trusted you too. I trusted you to take care of her. To not hurt her. I gave up my feelings of her for you, Mark, to make her happy - but instead, you hurt her" I said back.

"I may have helped you just now from Johnny but the next time it happens, I'm not going to be there to help you," I said while going back to my table and leaving him there, speechless.

Eun Na's POV

Everything got so intense in the cafeteria, thanks to Johnny oppa. I felt so bad for Jieun unnie. She didn't deserve that. However, the thing with Taeyong oppa and Jieun unnie still questions me. They seem more comfortable, closer, and protective of one another. 'Like is this actually real? Are they really together?' I thought to myself.

But again, I thought to myself again - no matter how much I love them, I really need to focus more on my academics. I don't want to sound like a mean or inconsiderate friend but I have to think of my own future - plus the problems going on need to be solved on their own, which I don't need to include myself in. I need to exclude myself from my friends for now - until everything subsides. I just hope everything will be back to normal soon.