Mirae’s POV

“Don’t you think it’s strange?” Mi Song asked while we walked to our lockers.

“What is?” I asked, opening my locker and put in all my books.

“Jongin oppa and I have been going out for a month now and everybody knows that, right?”

I nodded, “I guess.”

“And that means that Luhan should also know about it. And considering all that happened when he started at our school, you might believe he’s interested in it. I mean, I don’t want him to be but it seemed like he really wanted to press on Jongin’s nerves... I just think it’s strange that he hasn’t been in school for the last month and not bothered us at all.” I frowned. Yes, that was strange. “Oh! Did I tell you that it’s exactly a month that Jongin oppa and I got together today? It’s awesome!” I smiled widely and hugged her.

“I’m really happy for you. Are you doing something special today then?”

“Yes. We’re going to go to the movies after school.”

“How fun!”

“Aha. But... Mirae? Are you really okay with this?” I looked at her with a wondering look. She tilted her head. “I mean... This basically means that your sole rescue kind of disappeared. Although, Luhan hasn’t been in school, so maybe they’ve changed their minds and gone back to China or something? I mean, wouldn’t he at least keep an eye on you? Not that you’d run away but there’s always a chance and shouldn’t he try to get to know you? If you’re going to live the rest of your lives together... He owe you that, in my opinion. But Mirae, I’d keep an eye on him, if I were you. If he goes behind your back then he’ll have control over you.” Mi Song took my hand, squeezing it. “I don’t want you to get hurt.”

I thought about what she’d said, though I smiled at her, not wanting to worry her. “I know. I won’t. I’ll be careful.” I let go of her hand. “I need to go talk to one of my teachers. There’s an assignment that I don’t get. Might see you later or tomorrow, okay?”

“All right,” Mi Song replied and went the other way while I half-ran to the cafeteria. Mi Song had really got me thinking. If Luhan wasn’t at school then what was he doing? Could he have refused to go through this and suddenly vanished out of everyone’s sight? I stopped in the middle of the cafeteria, looking for a special table. Everyone that used to sit at that table were gone. I walked up to one of the older girl students who was in the same choir class as me.

“Excuse me, Sang-Hee? Do you know why that table is empty?” I wondered, pointing towards the table. Sang-Hee looked over her shoulder.

“Oh. No idea. They haven’t been here for weeks. Why are you wondering? You should stay away from them, Mirae,” she warned.

“Of course. I am. Thank you for the help.”

“No problem.”

“What the hell is going on?” I asked myself, staring at the ‘cool’ guys’ table. I picked up my phone, dialling my brother. He’d know if Luhan had been seen. “Have you seen Luhan at all this last month?” I asked the second he answered.

“What? Oh. No, he’s not here, Mirae. Why are you wondering? Is-” I didn’t let him finish his sentence and broke the phone call. I could feel that something was really wrong. I run out of the cafeteria, building up anxiousness on the way. What kind of game was Luhan playing? Where was he? What was he doing? Not knowing his whereabouts suddenly made me on edge. I hadn’t thought about it before Mi Song mentioned it, but now? I couldn’t even imagine why he’d suddenly disappeared and that worried me. Yet going to the place where he probably held himself hidden scared me more than anything. I needed to know, but how could I know without actually putting myself right in his trap, assuming that he had a trap. The conversations between my mother and his mother were more frequent than ever and they got more intense each time they spoke. They’d decided everything for the wedding and this entire marriage and it was more than four months left, unless they’d lied to me. I was on the verge of breaking apart and I didn’t know what to do about it. Could I – with a voice in my head who told me to be careful – walk to Luhan’s house, knock on his door and wait until he had answered all of my questions? Did he really have a secret motive or was he bored of school? Was he a bad boy? Of course he is. He has to be.

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