Lingering Emotions

With disrupted attention, Neo stared at the board as the rest of the lessons continued with him barely catching on to whatever the teacher was saying. Though he was staring directly at Mrs. Kim, the words were just flying over his ears with the thoughts of Irianda dominating his mind. Where could she be? What's she up to? These and more questions left him hanging in his world of confusion.

After about 45mins, the bell rang– bringing the lesson to an end. With some courtesy from the students, Mrs. Kim remaindered them about their assignment submission and strolled out of the class. Instantly, the class flew into rumpus as students broke into witty chatters with some moving from their seats to join their friends while others just remained seated. Neo, as if on an impulse– called out to Ji Soo who was by then chatting with the student whose desk was before hers.

The latter deftly allowed her gaze to travel to him with a smile on her face due to whatever conversation she was having with her friend.

"Did Irianda by chance tell you about her absence today?" He inquired, staring expectantly at Ji Soo. Intuitively, the latter shook her head and turned back to what she was doing. The former on the other hand returned his gaze to his desk only to meet Shin Woo's quizzical gaze on him.

"Since when did you start caring so much about someone." He asked the moment their eyes met. " You really are acting weird today." He pointed out but the former paid no attention. Without warning, he shrugged to his feet, stilled troubled by Irianda's absence.

"Hey, where are you going?" Shin Woo questioned as he watch Neo head to the entrance.

"That's none of your business." He answered over his shoulders; not sparing his curious friend a glance. At that time, Dae Hyung and Park Ki-young joined Shin Woo at his desks while their gaze followed Neo whose back disappeared into the hallway.

"Where is he off to?" Dae Hyung muttered skeptically as they stared back at the former. He instinctively shrugged in turn, changing the topic at hand as he had the slightest idea what was going on in Neo's mind.

**********

Scampering into the half-empty hallway, Neo heard hurrying footsteps– followed by a familiar voice that called out to him. As if in sync, he turned in the direction of the voice to see Elsa closing up on him in quick steps with a smile pasted on her face. From her breath, one could tell she had been running.

As she neared him, she ringed her arm around his– dragging him along while they walked side by side.

"Here," Elsa stretched out a box of milk to Neo as she traveled her gaze to him. "I heard you skipped breakfast– you should have this." She tilted it towards him. The former stared quizzically at her for some seconds, hesitating for a bit. With a scoff, he took it– knowing well how dramatic she could be.

"Go-ma-wo.(Thanks)" He answered, briefly staring at the box with a faint smile lingering on his lips. A sigh intuitively escaped Elsa's lips on the other hand as she stared ahead.

"Did she ask you to do it?" She heard Neo say.

"Not really," Elsa answered, not looking at him. He briefly glanced at her and shook his head– still wearing that faint smile as he allowed his gaze to move from her. A short silence fell between the two as they strolled through the hallway, making the first turn. At that moment, Elsa spoke up after what seemed like a while of thinking.

"Don't you think it's time you start talking to your mother?" She threw him a glance. A scoff instantly escaped Neo's lips while his brows creased, not sure why that question but then, he wasn't interested in any talks that involves his mother or his stepfather. As if on an impulse, he halted in his steps– fully turning to face Elsa who came to an abrupt halt with his sudden pause.

"Can we not talk about this?" He uttered with a stern look.

"But Neo–"

"Jaebal– (Please)" He blunted, holding up his anger. "Can you cut me some slack?" He added. Elsa stared at his face, knowing those looks in his eyes but before she could say anything, he stepped off. She curled up her lips while she watched him leave then raced after him– suddenly feeling guilty. Catching up with him, she hung on his arm with an apologetic gaze.

"Mianhae (Sorry)" She said, batting her eyes like a puppy. Neo stared at her for some seconds and poked her forehead as a smile swept his face. Seeing those smiles, she knew without being told that she was forgiven. So she took it as a chance to ask where he was headed ~taken the fact that she literally had no idea despite tagging along.

"Where are you off to if I may ask." She inquired.

"To the staff common room." He answered. Elsa's brows intuitively furrowed, still not clear why he was going there.

"Were you invited by any of the teachers?" She went on to ask as she stared anxiously at him but then, wasn't expecting the answer she got.

"To ask about Irianda." Neo replied. By then, they had gotten to the entrance of the common room. With that said, he strolled in while the latter watched him go. Anger was a bitter taste in her mouth; while her chest went hot with feelings as Irianda's name sounded in her mind once again. She had noticed Neo's sudden interest in her and there was no way she was going to allow just anybody take her place.

After few minutes of waiting, Neo finally staggered out of the common room but said nothing much to Elsa who trekked by his side back to the class like it was her job to guard him. The rest of school hours passed with no special happenings except the usual activities and lessons. But in it all, Neo was left clueless with Irianda's whereabout which literally had a torn on his concentration.

It was around 4 pm when the bell ranged through the entire hallways, announcing the closure of school.

*******

Feeling bored after spending almost the whole day at home due to her mother's fears, Irianda scampered from the room into the yard– climbing onto her bicycle. With a short call to the former, she paddled into the driveway; heading to the main streets to get some groceries.

After about 20mins, she pulled up in front of the shop, throwing the hat of her pink hoddie over her head while she hurried into the shop. With brisk steps, she shuffled among the shelves– directly to the ones which held the things she needed and picked them out into her basket; trying her possible best to avoid people's gaze.

In no time, she scampered out of the shop with justice done to the list of items in her hand. Just as quick as she could be, she climbed on her bicycle once again~ hanging the poly bag of groceries around the hand. On about to hitting the road, she felt a strong force held on to her bike– bringing her to an abrupt halt before she could even paddle.

Mandy on the other hand, was busy on her desktop– covering some important and exclusive documentation of her research when she the bell rang. For a moment, she thought it was Irianda but then why would she ring the bell when she could just walk in? She inquired upon a second thought.

Shrugging to her full length, she called out to Leticia who was up in her room– asking if she was expecting anyone but then, the latter wasn't sure herself. Without hesitation, she hurried to the door. Pulling it opened, a young man about the age of her daughter or a bit older than her ~ stood at the entrance. Staring into her eyes, his iris turned blue and a smile intuitively swept his face.