Chapter 18 Not interested

"W-what?" Joon-Woo was speechless, his heart racing. 'What did she say?!'

She stood up. "Introduce me to Tae Yang Lee from your class!"

'Is she serious? She doesn't know we don't get along?' Still smiling she asked "Hehe... Aren't you guys close?" Joon-Woo made a bug-eyed face, still not being able to comprehend her favor. 'She...' His expression changed, piercing Yuri Lee with his eyes, having a hint of a red glow to them. 'She's talking about old history. Is she taunting me?'

"What's up with his eyes?" her friend asked. "It's like he is about to pierce us with them..."

"Haha, he always had such eyes."

Joon-Woo wasn't sure, avoided eye contact. 'What is her purpose? Did Tae Yang put her up to it? Like an "embarrassing dare"?'

"Um.. I'm sorry but... I don't necessarily have the ability or way to introduce you to Tae Yang Lee."

'Whether she is playing or being serious...'

He looked at her, "To start with, why are you asking me? Tae Yang has other friends!"

'I can't.'

Gazing at him she thought about it for a second. "Hmm..." once again, she smiled brightly, "Just because I trust you!"

He was breaking down mentally. 'Hmm... I was being too wary.. She must innocently think I am close to Tae Yang.'

Leaning forward he clenched his teeth, "But I'm just..."

'I have to tell her... That I'm a loner.'

Yuri Lee unexpectedly put her hands on his face, squeezing his cheeks. Looking at him with a kind face she asked him "Hey Joo-Woo! You'll do it right?"

"Oh..."

It was his first ever female touch.

"Of course!! It's nothing!!" he quickly answered, turning red. Using his weakness was super effective as it turns out.

'I can't! How can I tell her that I'm a loser on my own?!'

"Thank you! Then I'll see you later at independent study!"

"Oh... Ok! See you later", his head was spinning. 'What did I just say?!' Crap!' He watched her walk away with her friend. 'What should I do?! I'm just someone who gets bullied!' He buried his face in his hands. 'Joon-Woo Choi you dumb motherfucker!'

Pause. '...' He realized something, his eyes shimmering red as he spread his fingers across his face, making a despairing expression. 'Wait... Was I just played?'

'Yeah.. There's no way a girl like that would ever talk to me. Her tone of voice is too nice. Why would she be friendly with me?'

In his head, he imagined everyone he knew, everyone from Seung Ah to Tae Yang, in a black and red silhouette, laughing at him. 'Are they screwing around with me? Because I'm an easy target? Is it some kind of prank?'

Madness.

Ha Min and Boram Lee were behind them, Ha Min having a lolly in her mouth. She sighed when she saw Jong Hwa who turned to stone and Joon-Woo who was busy burrying his face.

'"I'm sorry Boram, but go ahead to class." Still sitting there, falling into darkness he glanced over to Ha Min as she began to speak, being next to him. "Why are you so depressed? Are you sick?"

'??' He raised his head again.

"You always did look sick... But today you look somehow sicker. Something wrong?" She sat next to him.

'Ha Min?!'

Sweating, frightened and with glowy red eyes he looked at her. "Oh.. Ha Min..."

'Why is she suddenly here next to me at this moment?!'

His expression tightened. 'Now that I think about it. You're weird too! Why is a girl like you kind to me?! Aren't you embarrassed of being next to me too?!!'

His gaze went over to the kids on the field, doing whatever. 'Everyone is laughing at me.' Joon-Woo saw all of them staring at him in an evil way, making fun of him.

"Talk! Speak your mind! Why did you stop talking?" Ha Min was obviously worried about him, while losing her nerves too.

Not even looking at her he said "S... Sorry... Wait" and gave her a sign with his hand. 'No! I'm overreacting! Stop being so paranoid!' She said something but Joon-Woo was currently blind to everything. 'No. I think it's true...'

Black figures were all over his mind. "You're so awkward!"

"You make everyone feel uncomfortable."

"Be grateful that we hang out with you."

His mind went blank.

'I can't carry a conversation.'

'Honestly, I feel uncomfortable around other people. What should I do?'

'Is this all because of Tae Yang?'

'No, it's because of me.'

"Hey!" He gasped. "Get a grip! Tell me what's wrong!" She put her hand on his shoulder. 'Ha Min...'

He backed off a bit. "You think... I'm pathetic...?"

'No.. You shouldn't get close to me...'

His gaze was wandering around again.

This time, Ha Min got louder. "Stop looking around!!"

"Idiot! People don't care that much about you!"

With her purple eyes she looked at him. "What's wrong all of a sudden? Is it because of that kid Tae Yang again?"

'Get a grip... Yeah not everybody can be against me...' He was back. "Oh, sorry...! I was just daydreaming..."

'Being suspicious of Ha Min... Yuri also helped me before.'

"Forget it! Tell me, why are you having a meltdown?"

'I'm really pathetic.'

Joon-Woo avoided eye contact. "Oh... That... Just that I indigestion. Lunch didn't feel right today."

'I can't talk about it. I agreed to it, so I have to take responsibility for it.'

"Hmmm..." She looked at him, side-eying. Standing up she walkee away "Ok, fine. If you say so."

'I can't talk about Yuri Lee's private life.'

"You know what though", she didn't turn around while talking, "You looked stressed out. Just like the last time. You often look too deep in thought. You can harm yourself by thinking too much. You try to take care of everything on your own."

Joon-Woo looked at her with hope.

"You'll take all the responsibility alone. It's so obvious that you make others worry."

'She knows me well...'

"Anyhow, stop being a fool. I'm off, bye!"

'Right... This is nothing compared to before. This time it's no big deal... It's simple. I just need to get the two of them to meet up.'

Classes continued.

'I know Tae Yang's schedule better than anyone. He's sleeping now... This jerk always goes to the deli to buy bread before independent study. I don't have to introduce them to each other directly. I can have them meet indirectly.'

After class he walked through the hallway.

'Besides, I don't go to independent study. I'll just tell her to meet him at the deli.' He fixed his hair. 'I'll tell her to keep it a secret I'm the one who introduced her to him.'

"Junu! Junu! Where are you going? To the deli?" He looked up. It was Yuri Lee. "Did you talk to him about me? What did he say? Hehe."

'Oh! Nice timing.'

"Oh... About that. I was looking for you. To get you to meet Tae Yang.'

'Whatever... I just have to tell her to go to the deli before independent study.'

"Later, before independent study, he'll probably be at the deli so go and talk to him there. Don't tell him I told you, though."

'Act natural... Don't act like a loser so she won't be suspicious.'

"Oh, really? But if I keep it a secret..."

"When did I say I'm going to the deli?"

From the corner of his eye Joon-Woo saw Tae Yang behind him. Yuri Lee was surprised to meet him here.

Glaring at the not budging Joon-Woo he said "When did I ever say something like that to you? Fucker?"

~Chapter 18, end.

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