IU continued walking to her class. Kikwang words kept echoing in her head.

“And something might happen to you too,”

It did make her frightened but it didn’t stop her from retreating from the plan. Kikwang also said about changing the plan, wholly changed it and it started today. Well, she hoped it worked and Kikwang father was not able to disturb the plan anymore. He treated human life as toys and she hated that kind of people. She never even knew that kind of person existed.

When she entered the class, she saw Suzy was sitting on her usual seat, while her fingers kept playing with her brown leather wristlet as her eyes stared at it. That wristlet looked new yet it looked so familiar. She smiled as she remembered when she saw it before. It was when she was in Jeju Island with Kikwang as he bought that on their last day. She also remembered that he wore it on his wrist and now it was with Suzy.

IU slowly made her way to the seat beside Suzy and Suzy noticed her as she turned to IU with her puffy eyes. It showed how much she had cried yesterday.

“Hi,” IU greeted. She was trying to be careful, not wanting to hurt her after what she had been through.

“Hi,” Suzy simply replied, with a small weak smile.

“How are you?” IU asked, trying to reply the smile sincerely. It became harder than she thought, most probably because she felt guilty. It was her fault from the start. First, because she accepted the plan. Second, she followed Kikwang sudden plan to go to the Jeju Island.

Suzy just stared at her with her blank expression. It made IU felt miserably guilty. IU bit her lower lips softly. She could feel the bulge of tears trying to burst out but she held it.

“I’m okay. Thanks for asking,” Suzy finally replied, turning away from IU.

Instantly, the tears fell. Suzy acted differently. Was it sarcastic reply? Was Suzy still mad with her? Of course she was. IU took her boyfriend, and within few hours, her parents passed away.

“I’m sorry,” IU softly spoke, also looking away.

Their classmates stared at them, most probably knowing what was happening between them. It was obvious after all. IU took Suzy boyfriend on the day and Suzy parents were killed on the night. It was a disaster to Suzy. She was now alone. That was what would they thought. They were whispering, whispers that could be heard, about the miserable life of Suzy and the non-hearted IU.  

The class went on as usual when the lecturer entered the class. After few classes, the lunch hour started.

“Hrmm… Suzy,” IU called while Suzy was still in her own world. But she did respond as she turned to IU.

“Lunch?” IU asked simply, not wanting to talk in long sentence. She just wanted the awkwardness between them quickly disappeared.

“Sure,” Suzy replied simply and IU smiled sweetly, glad. “But that is because he ask me to not skip any meal,” Suzy continued with her monotone voice.

IU smile instantly faded away. But she still walked together with Suzy to the café. Suzy was different. She was not the usual her who would smile when she met others. She didn’t smile at all. Her face was frozen like a statue. She also didn’t apologize when she collided with others which she did a lots of times. They ignored her, probably knowing her situation. While IU was the one who apologized to the people she collided with.

They reached the café, the busiest place when it was lunch hour. Most of the students gathered to have their lunch here.

IU looked around, searching for a place for them to sit before they went to the food counter. However, Suzy had started wondering around by herself.

Pang!

The sound of the fallen metal tray surprised almost everyone in the café. IU turned around and noticed that Suzy was not beside her. Instantly, she went to the source of the sound. People had gathered around and they blocked the sight of the incident. IU squeezed in desperately. She was worried that it was Suzy. She hoped it was not her but her instinct told her that it was Suzy.

Her instinct was right. There she was, sitting on the floor, drenched with foods which were most probably stew and pasta. Some of the foods were spreading on the floor together with two paper cups of unknown drinks.

“Are you okay?” IU quickly approached her bestfriend-used-to-be.

Suzy turned to her with her blank look. “I’m okay,” she replied. “Thanks for the foods,” she continued, still in her stone look and blunt voice.

IU gulped her saliva, trying to hold her tears. She didn’t sound sane at all. She was not Suzy, not the same Suzy she knew.

“Is she crazy or what?” an unknown guy asked when he heard Suzy words. Others started to question almost similar question.

“She is not!” IU shouted, her eyes filled with tears. “She is just…” she paused, not knowing what to say.

Unexpectedly, someone pulled Suzy upward, making her stood up. A surprise to every eyes, that person kissed her, long and obviously passionate.

IU was shocked with what she saw. Kikwang! She thought, recognizing the person. Unknowingly, a hand pulled her out of the gathered crowds, making her ran with her unready legs. But, it was not long until she could keep up with his pace.

This feeling. I have faced this before. IU thought as she kept running.

They arrived somewhere private, in an empty class.

Yoseob! She finally noticed.

Yoseob was sweating, wetting his smooth silky bangs. He was panting, breathing fast and heavy result of the sudden run.

IU was doing the same, slowly trying to recover to her normal breath.

“Are you okay?” Yoseob finally able to speak as his breath became slower.

IU nodded her head, smiled although her eyes became teary again as she remembered what had happened to Suzy. She gulped and took a deep breath, trying to control her tears from falling. She almost succeeded but it instantly failed when Yoseob pulled her in his hold.

“About Kikwang,” Yoseob stated softly as he patted IU’s head gently. His other hand was holding her back. “I’m sorry,” he continued.

IU was resting her chin on Yoseob shoulder, crying badly as her hands were moving to Yoseob shoulder, holding it tightly. She didn’t care about Yoseob words. She hoped she could reply that it was not Kikwang. She was not crying because of him. It was Suzy. Suzy was not the same person anymore. She changed and it was all her fault.

They stayed in that position for some times.

IU stepped back as she released her hold from Yoseob’s shoulder. Yoseob gently let his hold loose.

“Feel better?” Yoseob asked, concerned as his thumb gently wiped the tears under IU’s eyes.

IU smiled, nodded weakly. She was surprised a little when Yoseob touched her face but she was happy he did that.

“Thanks,” she said with her husky voice. It was most probably because of too much crying. Then, IU walked away from him, towards the door.

“Where are you going?” Yoseob asked instantly, still worried.

“Just to the ladies,” IU replied and walked out of the classroom.

Thanks for reading. :)