Day Out
Salient Love
I tiredly trudged into class and plopped down onto my seat.
Sooyoung wasn't in school and once again had asked me to cover up for her.
I kept asking her why she has been skipping school but she won't give me a straight answer.
Not like I care much, since I really just feel like moving away to mars right now.
Yesterday night, good news is, after endless jabbing of the laptop button and wiping as much beer away as I could, it finally .
After a yelp of joy, I quickly backed up everything important, including the project into thumbdrives so even if the laptop crashed again, at least I still had a copy.
Bad news is, I felt frustrated and angry throughout the whole night and couldn't really fall asleep. Plus, I didn't finish compiling Luhan's notes into the report since I took quite a while to 'fix' the laptop.
..He would understand, right?
I sighed and lay down on my desk.
He'll just have to deal with it.
______
When class was over, I felt nothing.
Actually, I felt nothing the whole day. I was just tired. I also forgot to give Luhan his daily paper bag. But, I really had no energy to worry about that.
I don't even care much about my dad's outburst last night, or that the laptop almost died before I saved the project.
My dad won't tell me what's going on and why he's that way anyway, since he was the kind that liked privacy and solved his own problems.
My dad and I are actually pretty close. A comforting part of me knows that, and assures me that after everything has passed, when Minhee's back, all will be well again.
It could be wishful thinking, but then again it could be reality. I don't know, but I choose to believe it's reality and to trust my dad.
With all that our family had been through, I know we'll get past this so there's no use in dwelling over it. I'll wait for time to pass.
I yawned and stood up, slowly packing my stuff.
I zipped my bag shut and opened my water bottle to drink some, when I felt a sharp nudge behind me.
My eyes widened and I choked. I quickly put my water bottle down, and started to pound my chest with my fist.
, I couldn't breathe.
When the water finally went down the right pipe, I covered my mouth as I coughed
Also turning around to see which idiot was just so clumsy to-
Junki.
He smirked at my red, suffocated expression.
"Oops, sorry." He smiled oh-so-sweetly.
I frowned and screwed my bottle shut before dumping it in my bag too. I decided to just ignore him, and started to leave the classroom.
Junki obviously wasn't pleased - like he always is - when someone decides to ignore him.
"Yah-" he grabbed my wrist again, causing me to stumble backwards.
I didn't even feel like yelling at him to let go. Yes, I was just that tired.
"Didn't I tell you not to ignore me, ?"
I nodded half-heartedly and started to walk away again, but he still held on.
Ugh irritating jerk. I tried to pull away again but he still wouldn't let go.
"Y-"
Before Junki could do anything, I felt another hand curl around my other wrist, as I was forcefully yanked away from Junki's disgusting grasp.
I turned around, surprised, to see Luhan's hand lightly around my wrist, pulling me behind him, away from Junki.
I saw Junki's involuntary step back as he glared at Luhan.
Seems like he was still sort of afraid of Luhan.
"We're supposed to work on the project today," Luhan said curtly, his icy and intimidating gaze never leaving Junki.
It took me a while to realise he was talking to me, and not Junki.
"Huh? O-oh yeah. Let's go to the library.." I muttered unsurely, as Luhan broke eye-contact and started to make his way out of the classroom.
Junki was sending daggers with his gaze towards Luhan, before he turned to me and sent swords, bullets and bombs my way too.
Obviously he didn't like it that not only was he ignored, but his little ego got stepped on again.
And all of it seemed to become my fault. Great.
With no energy to send him an evil glare back, I just rolled my eyes and went over to catch up with Luhan.
_______
When we settled down in the same table as before in the library, the silence turned slightly awkward.
"..I've finished the review," Luhan started and this also being the first time he initiated a conversation. "So we're left with the poster?"
I swallowed, suddenly feeling bad. He did his part but I didn't, and almost ruined the whole thing altogether.
"Uhm.. Not really.."
Would he be angry?
I thought of the earlier glare he shot at Junki, and I suddenly felt chills go down my spine.
I wouldn't want his gaze sent that way at me.
Luhan just tilted his head in question.
Should I just tell him everything?
"Uh.. Yesterday.. I accidentally spilt some b-water on my laptop.."
Luhan's face remained impassive, so I couldn't tell if I should continue.
"But.. I managed to salvage my laptop and the project in the end. However.. Uhm, after that I didn't have enough time to finish the report.."
I felt myself shrinking into my seat, as I stared at him, waiting for his reaction.
Would he scold me..?
Luhan slowly nodded, - I involuntarily let out a sigh of relief -
then he finally looked at me.
"Don't make it sound like you were waiting for me to scold you."
My eyes widened. "What? Uh- no, I-"
Ugh, what's the point of explaining anyway? I really did thought he would be angry.
"I just thought you would be angry I didn't finish my part. And I felt bad since you did your part but I didn't."
Luhan just nodded slowly again.
"Go get me a bottle of mineral water from the canteen."
I paused.
What?
"Huh?" Did he ask me to get him water from the canteen?
"Take it as your apology for not finishing your work," Luhan said, without looking at me as he continued to edit his review for the project.
I sat frozen in my seat still.
Did he just- ugh never mind.
I grunted an 'okay' then stood up and trudged out of the library.
I don't know how to describe what just happened but basically I don't like the fact he can make me feel like a child being caught eating candy at night, then after ordering me to go to bed - can you understand that?
Like he can make me feel so small and order me around - but yet I can't argue back properly.
I blew a raspberry and went to buy water from the vending machine.
Irritating ice prince.
______
"Here." I placed the bottle beside him.
Luhan didn't look up from his papers and just nodded.
Sheesh, would a simple 'thanks' kill him?
I pouted and sat down again, and tried to turn my laptop on.
The screen remained black.
, my heart started to beat faster as I jabbed the power button again.
Wasn't it working fine yesterday?
"No.." I muttered, as I tried to turn it on again.
The screen remained blank.
Luhan finally looked up.
"What's wrong?"
"The laptop.." I replied, as I tried to reboot it again. "it isn't working again!"
"Ugh!" I scoffed and slapped the laptop shut.
It's obviously screwed now.
"The report's gone?" Luhan asked.
"No, I saved them in a thumbdrive. But now i need a new laptop.." I muttered, irritated.
"Can we meet tomorrow instead? I'll go to the mall now to buy a new laptop and compile the report later and then we do the poster tomorrow?" I asked.
He nodded and started to pack up when he paused.
"The mall?"
I raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, why?"
Why is Luhan interested in a mall?
"The mall here, are there a lot of shops?"
"Yeah, there are like 5 floors. Pretty large if you ask me," I replied curiously.
"I need to get something there."
"Okay, just let me get my dad's credit card from my house and we can go together... Or unless you want to go yourself?"
"I'll wait."
____
30 minutes later, I was with Luhan at the mall. He was there with his wallet, which I didn't see him bring before.
Pft. What am I thinking? Obviously he can't run home and back in 30 minutes when even taking the bus took 30 minutes too.
He looked around curiously, and seemed clueless about what shop is where.
But he was new here, so I guess he is clueless with the directions.
"So, what do you need to get?"
"Something for my brother," he answered and continued to look around, not specifying much.
"Oh, I didn't know you had siblings."
"Because I didn't tell you."
I rolled my eyes. Did he really have to answer like that? I was just trying to fill the silence.
"How many brothers do you have?" I tried again when the silence dragged on too long.
Luhan looked at me suddenly and stopped walking, like he was contemplating whether he should reply.
Finally when he opened his mouth,
he looked up accidentally and his mouth closed again, his eyes fixated on a shop on the upper floor.
"I'll be there. Find me after you bought it."
I blinked, and stepped away.
I gave him a small nod and shrugged, walking away from Luhan and towards the technology store.
Sometimes he really puzzles me.
_____
"Yeah i'll get this one," I smiled at the cashier.
"Okay," he gave a smile back, but like mine, it wasn't sincere and didn't touch his eyes.
He was just the cashier, and I was just a customer.
Though I couldn't help but notice he was sorta cute. And also sort of familiar but i couldn't put a finger on it.
He slipped the laptop into a case and place it in a plastic bag.
"Cash or credit card?"
"Credit," I replied, fumbling in my bag for my dad's card.
When my hands felt the cold, hard surface of the card, I whipped it out and handed it to the cashier. "It's my dad's."
He nodded absent-mindedly, as he carried the payment out.
"Uhm miss?"
I looked up from Sooyoung's message on my phone. "Yeah? What's wrong?"
"The card has been cashed out."
The cashier didn't bother putting on a fake smile anymore.
Wait, what?
"Can you check again?" I frowned, keeping my phone away. The error beep sounded again.
"Sorry it isn't working."
My frown deepened. "Really? Uh okay.."
"Can you help me reserve the laptop? I'll be back tomorrow or the day after."
The cashier nodded.
I mumbled a thanks and left hurriedly after taking the card back. I would have felt embarrassed of some sort, but the puzzlement over weighed everything.
Why is there no money at all in the card? Shouldn't my dad have some money in his account? I frowned. This is weird. Or is the card spoilt or did he change cards without telling me? I'll have to ask him later.
I decided to push that worry down for later, and I went to find Luhan. I realised I wasn't paying attention when he pointed to the shop before so I went back to the place we separated and then looked up from where he stood before.
It was a gift shop.
____
I entered the shop. It had many tacky gifts on sale, those that tourists would love to spend all their money on but not locals.
Like a I LOVE KOREA mug, KPOP<3 pencil case. I went to the cashier.
She was re-applying her make up, and the powder from her foundation was falling all over the plastic bags. Ew.
"Yes?" She answers dreamily like she's in her own world, after splatting on like 80 layers of make up.
"Did you see a blonde guy come in here?" I asked.
Her eyes snapped back from her dreamworld, as she glared at me.
"Yeah. He's still here," she spat annoyingly.
I frowned. Wow sudden change of attitude much?
"Well thanks," I snapped back.
And then I realised why she was acting this way. She found Luhan attractive and thus the crazy layers of makeup, and now she must think i'm his girlfriend or something.
I almost laughed out loud.
I hid my smile, and went off the find Luhan in the shop, her glare boring holes in my head.
I found him looking at some glass figurines.
They were about the height of his hand out stretched. He seemed to be looking for something but he doesn't see it anywhere.
"Lu-"
"Hello! What are you looking for?" A chirpy voice cut me off.
Luhan turned and looked at me for a second before turning his attention to the crazy cashier who followed me here.
She shot me a smug look. I rolled my eyes.
Luhan noticed that but didn't say anything. "Do you have a figurine of a rose?"
The cashier plastered on a giant smile that must have hurt her face.
"Sorry, we don't have that," he face then did a 180 degree change as she gave Luhan a 'genuine' sad and sorry face.
He nodded and gestured with his head towards the door that he wants to leave.
The cashier's face dropped.
I turned but then bumped right into Luhan's back.
"ow? Can you not stop so suddenly?" I hissed as I rubbed my forehead. His back was really hard. (And sturdy)
"Sorry, but wait."
He suddenly walked back, - the cashier brightening up so much it was embarassing- , and looked at the figurines on sale once more.
"I'll take this one," he says, pointing to a figurine.. Of a wolf. It was howling and perched on a glass rock.
The cashier nodded enthusiastically. "Sure! I'll go wrap it up for you!"
As she wrapped the present up, Luhan was patiently waiting behind the counter looking around the shop as I went to look at the keychains.
"May I know who is this pretty figurine for?" She smile sultrily. I paused and stood up straight, listening.
"Someone special," and he turned to look at me.
I felt my whole face heat up.
What?
The cashier's face literally turned black.
She passed the bag to Luhan absent-mindedly, her glare fixated on me.
I was still in a state of bewilderment.
"Come on, let's go." Luhan said to me, dragging me out of the store, away from the cashier.
Once we were out, I couldn't help but ask. "Why did you say that to the cashier?"
"Say what?"
I didn't miss the amusement in his eyes.
he wants me to repeat what he said.
"T-the special thing.." I mumbled.
"I wasn't referring to you. I just made her assume that."
I blinked. Once. Twice. What? I still didn't get it.
"She thought you were my girlfriend so I decided to just let her think that way. Besides, didn't I tell you before that it was for my brother? "
Oh.
Okay, so let me get this straight.. He knew she was acting all smug, trying to get his attention away from me, so he tried to make me feel good about myself by letting me 'win' this girly game by being the one who got his attention.
That was so egoistic of him. Who the hell wants his attention?
Uhm besides the cashier.
I scoffed. Egoistic jerk.
Yet, I felt this small sting of disappointment when he said it wasn't referring to me.
Just a teensy one - tiny enough to brush off easily.
____
Hello ! I'm back after a long break hahah.
Sorry for not updating in so long ,_, after my exams ended, I sorta didn't want to write or type anything for a long time and heh.
So as a sorry to my readers, here's a double update !
AND EXO IS HAVING A COMEBACK *screams* their new concept is little elves prancing around wOw
3 comebacks since June and they make me sit like a potato from their debut till wolf ugh.
Comments