Chapter 5:

Hyeri and Jiyoung covered their mouths. Their eyes shifting back in forth between Suzy and Sehun. Suzy smiled playfully at the two “Is there something you need girls?”

Hyeri glared at Suzy before dragging Jiyoung towards the classroom door.

“Jiyoung and Taemin? Hmm, now that pairing sounds familiar. Doesn’t it? Especially with that topic.” Suzy called after the two.

Jiyoung broke her arm free of Hyeri’s grasp and turned around to face Suzy “You know nothing. Stop acting like you have us all figured out”.

Suzy twirled a strand of her hair “I don’t? Well I’m pretty sure that I wasn’t the one that was a little too friendly with my best friend’s boyfriend”.

It was Hyeri who retorted back “No, you’ve done far worse Suzy. Don’t act like you’re so perfect when you caused Sulli to be like that now!”

Suzy faltered. It was my fault.

Hyeri pulled Jiyoung in the classroom and Sehun followed after. Shaking off the feeling, Suzy was about to step in when a shove to her shoulder made her fall.

“How’s the ground feeling now?” Krystal smirked stepping to the side of Suzy.

Suzy gritted her teeth Blood will be shed and it won’t be mine. A hand appeared in front of her and without thinking Suzy took it and hauled herself up. “Thank y-- Kai” Suzy pulled her hand away.

“Suzy ah” Jongin called out to her. He didn’t like being called Kai by Suzy, it was his nickname but Suzy always called him Jongin.

She glanced back at him “Don’t worry about me Kai shi, but if you don’t move quickly your ‘girlfriend’ will bite”. Suzy walked back to her seat in the middle of the class. Jongin looked at Krystal and she mouthed ‘We will talk later’. He was in for it.

Just as Jongin sat down, Teacher Yoon walked in “Hello class! I hope you’ve all seen who you will be partnered with! You will be performing for the class Friday, I know its Tuesday but I have faith in you all that it will be hmmm should I say musical?” Blank stares answered her “okay maybe not, but I am looking forward to it, don’t let me down! Now, where did we leave off?”

After class ended Krystal grabbed hold onto Jongin’s arm and pulled him into an abandoned room.

“You need to stop. I am your girlfriend now. I can’t have Sehun still be like that towards her and now you…” Krystal trailed off voice cracking. Only around Jongin will she act like this

“Shhh shhh I’m here. I’m not leaving you. Shh Shh I’m sorry.” Jongin kissed Krystal’s forehead.

“I promised you, didn’t I? I won’t leave you.” Krystal nodded her head and hugged him. They could feel the other’s heartbeat, one beating fast, the other’s steady.

Flashback (contains slight violence)

“Tell me again why you chose me to help pick out a gift for Suzy?” Krystal questioned

It was starting to get late, like seven, and she needed to get home and finish her homework.

“I told you, you know her best! It’s our anniversary, I need the perfect gift” Jongin explained, he was really nervous though. This was his and Suzy’s one year anniversary together and he wanted it to be special.

“Alright alright. What do you have in mind?” The quicker they found a gift the quicker she can go home. Did she mention she was hungry too?

Jongin was silent “Don’t tell me you don’t even have a clue!” Krystal pulled out her hair

“She hasn’t given me any hints of what she wanted! I mean, we don’t even really hang out much outside of school and sometimes in her house. It’s just….hard so I want to make this…”

Krystal nodded. “Okay let’s just walk around and if I see something she would like I’ll let you know”

It was already nine and they hadn’t found anything that screamed Suzy. They were still walking around but their legs ached.

“Can we call it a night? I’ll help you out tomorrow or something” Krystal reasoned. “I mean we’ve been looking and found –“ Krystal gestured to the stores around them but her movements stopped when a necklace caught her eye. Leaving Jongin, Krystal ran up to the store and picked up the necklace

The store owner came over “Very nice choice miss, it’s a ‘Never Forget October Birthstone Necklace’ is your birthday in October?” When she was about to answer ‘yes’ Jongin showed up

“October?! Suzy’s birthday is in October! Krystal ah do you like it?” Krystal nodded, her eyes never leaving the necklace. It’s perfect! She thought.

“Sir! I’ll take it! It’s going to be my girlfriend’s anniversary gift!” Jongin smiled explaining to the man how they were searching all over town for the perfect gift for his girlfriend Suzy

Krystal’s hand tighten around the necklace “Wha-what?”

“Thank you so much Krystal ah! You found Suzy’s present” His eyes were shining. She couldn’t say that she wanted it for herself so she let go of the necklace and gave it to Jongin.

“Yeah” she gave a weak smile “Look Kai, I’m hungry so I want to grab some Tteokbokki I saw down the street. I’m going to go make my stomach happy okay?”

Jongin said he’d meet her there after paying for the gift.

Krystal made her way to the Tteokbokki stand that was past a small alley on her side. She was aware of how few people were out on the street and how dark it became Ehh nothing will happen to me, I need some comfort food anyways. When she was close to the stand an arm came out from the alley and grabbed her, dragging her into the alley. Her back was pressed to the wall and she could smell the alcohol on the man’s breath. He looked about thirty and clearly drunk.

“Let go of me!” She mentally patted herself on the back for her voice coming out strong even though she was scared like hell.

“Hmm feisty, that’s okay I like them like that” He released one of her wrists, that was grazing the wall,to slowly run a finger down her face. Krystal squirmed.

“I said let go!” She tried to kick him but failed and settled for head butting him. Though it made him loosen his grip on her, he still had her trapped. Now she had an angry alcoholic.

“You !” He slapped Krystal hard which made her fall to the ground clutching her cheek, her eyes tearing. When the man was about to kick her she saw the man hit the ground- knocked out.

Jongin was standing there with a piece of wood in his hand along with a bag. “Krystal!” He threw the wood to the ground and ran to her. “Come on we gotta get out of here quick”

Krystal was still shaken about the whole thing that she clutched to Jongin’s shirt, burying her face as he led her out of the alley.

“Is…Is he dead?”

“No. Just knocked out”

Jongin rubbed her back as they walked, hoping to have her calm down.

“I’m so sorry I left you alone” He said while Krystal’s sobs were muffled in his shirt.

“Shh Shh. I won’t let that happen again. I won’t leave you, I promise. I’m here okay?” Jongin lifted Krystal’s face up and smiled.

Krystal returned the smile. “Did you *sniff* uhh get Suzy her gift?” Jongin lifted up the bag that held the necklace.