[CONTENTID1] Unrequited Love [/CONTENTID1]

[CONTENTID2] "I have not broken your heart- you have broken it; and in breaking it, you have broken mine."― Emily Brontë, Wuthering Heights [/CONTENTID2]

[CONTENTID3] Suji closed the giant book that was War and Peace. She itched to speak about it with someone, but it occurred to her that Sehun did not exist in her list of contacts. She had the urge to ask for his number, but the thought of asking Jieun gnawed at her dignity. Besides, Sehun was still the reason that she became the cynosure of the campus.

            Suji twisted around in her bed, as she reimagined Sehun jumping from the bridge. Except, in her mind, she truly watched him fly. She saw the smile on his face as he glided across the ruffling waves, as free as he wanted. Then again, she wondered what it was that drew him towards flight—a phenomena that would never exist in humans.

            On the Sunday, the sink was clogged to the brim, and Taeyeon freaked out because she invited guests later on in the week, much to Suji’s displeasure. With that imminent storm of people she had no intention of serving, she swallowed down her regret as she used the money that she saved up for Taeyeon’s doctor appointment. Besides, after she finished with Baekhyun’s magazine, he promised her a good reward.

            That day, she worked in the convenience shop, and once her shift ended in the late afternoon, Suji took a trip down to the library. She sat in a lonely corner, and continued her journey through War and Peace, devouring each sentence and word with fervour, and a daft longing of living in the world within the book than her own.

            “Yikes, we keep bumping into one another.”

She glanced up with a startled jitter. She knew before she saw, as Sehun took the spot beside her. He appeared ecstatic as he pointed at the book.

            “You like it?”

Suji found her heartbeat quickening. “It’s pretty good.”

            “What part are you on?”

“Just finished the part where Pierre finally confessed to Natasha. “ Suji tapped her fingers on the book. “I’m a bit disappointed in what she did. I mean, she betrayed a very good man and threw her chances of joining with a respected family.”

            Sehun snorted. “Wait, you think Andrei’s a good man? That’s interesting. I hated his character.”

            She sniffled. “But he’s well learned, wise and he’s got a good head on his shoulders.”

“Does he?” Sehun titled his head slightly with a challenging smirk. “I think he was seriously depressed. Even at war, he felt nothing. Now Pierre—he’s amazing.”

            “Pierre’s an idiot.”

“Only an Andrei fangirl would say that.” He chuckled. “Anyways, I started off liking Andrei too. Thought he was cool, deep and all, but towards the end, I really liked Pierre. He took on things differently, you know? Andrei had a chance to gain my sympathy with Natasha, but he tested her patience despite the fact that she was younger than him, and willing to marry a man who was widowed and had a son. But don’t let my opinion shadow your judgement. Oh, before I go.” Sehun reached into his bag and removed a folder. “I rewrote one of my short stories for you to read.”

            She reached for the folder. “That was quick.”

“The main character’s Lay. I hope you won’t compare him to Andrei, ‘cause he’s nothing like him.” Sehun saluted her. “I guess that’s my cue to leave.”

            She nodded, and he joined Jongdae who busied himself with photography books. The foxy-faced boy sent her a devious smile and then disappeared among the many bookshelves. Suji stared at the folder. It beckoned her, but she wanted to savour Sehun’s story. She slid the folder into her satchel.

                                                *

At the end of the week, Suji discovered that Krystal was out sick. She never joined her for the study they promised to do together. Yoomi continued to frustrate her with her never-ending pessimism, and Jieun grew further and further away as she chased Baekhyun around campus.

            Once Friday evening arrived, Suji retraced her footsteps to the Hamilton building. The sun shone in a crepuscular sky, but a chilly breeze caused her to shiver and pull her trench coat tighter around her. She found the Neverland club’s room, which to her surprise, was empty, save for Baekhyun.

            She stood at the door, and Baekhyu