Chapter — 34 [chromatic]

'Even dust turns gold flecks when they touch her skin.'

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Kim Yeri was more in a foul mood than the rest of her friends. To ease the disillusionment, to withstand the hatefulness and strain of remarks she is content to sit in silence to procure a distraction. A distraction that could deprive the heavy thought of not knocking off anyone's head. 

Envious gaze was restless, deep brown eyes were tempted over the certain pair of students whenever they'd catch a glimpse of any non-too-friendly gesture.

The breeze blows inside rattling the spread of note and winding thoroughly the side locks of dark hair.  A hand clutched the book she was holding while the other one flipped the pages.   

"Who's that?" 

Danny's voice was less quiet for the peaceful library restrictions tinted with amusement while she played with her pencil 

Seated next to her. "A classmate, Noah's friend," Seo answered, eyes still focused on her notepad. " And Jo's soon-to-be boyfriend, apparently." 

" So it's love at first compliment." 

"Right," 

They chuckled. 

Group studies were problematic. Mostly when you are the only one trying to focus, unlike getting curious about other people. She wanted nothing more than to get out of here, but to keep the majority in academics, she couldn't fritter essential time.

"Yeri, stop murdering that poor guy in your head,"  Seo remarks distinctly looking at Jo. 

Yeri grimaced. Murdering. She wasn't murdering anyone, she just couldn't help but wonder what made Park Soo-Ji smile so much. The pleasant peeks of fretting laughs ventured to the depths forming new shells of sentiments in her gut.

"Let her Seo, Kim Yeri is just jealous," 

Jealous. It was just a belief. She looked at the study table where Jo was sitting with the same guy she once saw at the talent event. She shouldn't have agreed with her friends when they chose to give Jo extra quality time. That Boy is taking her troublemaker away! 

"It's Park Soo Ji; remember, she is just messing with him," Seo said. " She will get bored eventually." 

"But they look happy," Enrik deadpans from the left side of Yeri. " Might start dating soon."  

"Rik!"  Danny hissed glaring at him. 

"My exact thoughts," Yeri muttered, breaking her blank stare as she glanced at her friends. This is all your fault. " Congrats." 

"Relax, both of your thoughts are gross," Seo rolled her eyes. The sharp tip of her pencil pointed at Enrik. " Aren't you supposed to be somewhere else?" 

"I was invited," Enrik blatantly said, his ocean eyes drifting from the small paperback to Yeri's side. " Can you find this book for me?" he handed a small note. 

"Why don't you do it by yourself?" 

"I'm helping." 

"With what?" 

"Quiet it." 

Commanding voice piercing gaze from the librarian's desk contained a veiled warning for the four of them as their voices were far from chatty to squabbling than the rest of the pupils. Mrs. Catherine kept her eyes firm on them, making sure the students got her point; she raised an eyebrow, and Seo apologized quietly. 

"Fine," Yeri sighed, taking the note from Enrik. She stood up from her seat. 

"Why does Ms. Catherine look so pissed?" 

"Husband complex maybe," 

Soft mummers and risibility of her group slowly fade while she rambles to the corner, wooden stacks finely lined up with new stocks of philosophy books seize her attention. No, not the one she was looking for. She looks down at the note, reading the name carefully, apathetic movements of hands, neatly trimmed fingers graze over amidst the rows of books sun rays dim upon. " Where is it?" she mumbles out.

"Up. Third shelf. Use the ladder." 

Halting her movement, she brought back her hands, averting her eyes from the book, she turned to the voice as Jo stared back at her. The girl smiled, a strong floral scent and progressive steps leisurely approach. 

Suppressing an eye roll Yeri restrains the bitterness of jealousy. "What're you doing here?" 

"Enrik said you need help so here is your obedient follower at your service," Jo proclaimed sweetly 

Obedient my ass. She sighed. " I don't. Go back," she didn't mean to sound demanding but the soft frown on Jo's face had made it obvious. Park Soo Ji will not leave.

"But I know where it is," Jo's presence came closer as one of her hands mentioned the row that was far to reach. " He told me." 

Heart thudded manically in Yeri's chest, flourishing her fast-paced nerves as the girl puckered her lips, eyes dreamily esteeming. " Are you angry?" 

"Nope," shaking her head, she moved toward the shelf to keep distance. " Why would I?" 

" Ummh 'cuz I sit with Lei Yuan," a playful gaze bore to hers as Jo took a step ahead.

"No," 

"Then why are you not looking at me?"  

"Stop fussing." Her quiet voice was acute. 

Uncertain gaze burned through her skin into her flesh. She wanted to look away before her soul melted, shaking the enlivened feeling off  before it soothed the ache of her heart, but couldn't, as Jo explains ."I didn't want to disturb you with my ramblings, that's why I sat with him, that's all. " 

Yeri let out a soft sigh. All those years she was never 'disturbed' by Jo and her wording. No matter what, whatever the topic was she'd always find herself investing in them. But, like always, Park Soo Ji never bothered to see it. 

"Let's get the book," she offered, displaying a small smile. "Unless my obedient follower changes her mind about helping me." She had to chew her inner cheeks not to smile how cute, her 'obedient follower' looked with glowing eyes.

Every taste of bitterness has taken the place of new sweetness along with the fruity aroma. She stood to the side of the ladder just in case any misfortunes occurred because when it comes to Jo accidents precisely happen with tragic possibilities. 

Willingly nodding, Jo began to step onto the ladder, tiptoeing a hand sweep for the copy, grasping the hardbound book. " Got it," she held it out proudly.

"Careful," Yeri warned as she watched the girl looking at her omitting their steps 

"Don't worry I told ya I go—ah!" 

With one misplaced step the book fell from her hands, another one shot up to clutch Yeri's shoulder while delicate arms swung in potent grip to grasp around her back to prevent falling causing their face to lean closer, ragged breaths escaped, eyes slightly widened a peculiar sensation tickled her abdomen fluttering in serene rhythms freezing her struck body. 

Gripping the soft fabric beneath her fingertip she swallowed the lump stuck in her throat. Under the dim rays, her gaze endures on soft glorious lips as they parted to chant. "When will you ever stop being so clumsy," disbelief is stained with confusion in Yeri's tone. " Jo?"  

Her name whispers."Are you still angry?" being in an awkward position, holding onto her best friend for her dear life, she inquired, gaining no response. Unenlightened warmth tinged to her cheeks and neck, she went on. " Yeriberry if you keep being angry I will kiss that anger off,"  

A threat. Yeri rolled her eyes and pushed. " Kiss the ground first," 

Since half of the body weight was bending on Yeri's that littlest force caught her off guard and rattled against the bookcase effect the top shelf book to trip forward landing on Jo's head before it met the floor with a thud

"Ow, That hurts!" She groans in pain, a hand clutching her forehead in a futile attempt to contain the ache as she gets down from the ladder.

It would probably leave a bruise for a few days."Serve you right even the books didn't like your beliefs, Park," silvery voice, boisterous satirically smooth giggle repressed.

"But you can't deny my words made your heart flutter," Jo quipped again, still rubbing her forehead, eyes unable to look away from the sanguine sight of Kim Yeri's cheeks raptured with a darker color.

Biting her lips, she hid the wide grin. "What do you think? Mommy?" she whispers the last phrases only for the hearkening ears the zest atmosphere blossomed with unsung hymns.

They stared blankly anticipating breathing in the same air insouciant in the same space. 

"Seriously," Yeri sauntered. " Even after warnings you  never learn, will you?" She never wished to either; constantly, she'd muster up words and random teasing motives, but the dark, stoic stance on Kim Yeri's idealization drove her loss of thoughts, and they slacked away from her grasp regardless they became more intriguing.  It's mostly the voice that sounds more sugary when they torment her ears. "Do you know what I think?"

Jo felt her back gently being pressed against the bookcase. She gasped softly as Yeri held her chin up, looking deep, leaning forward. " I think you're having a nosebleed," 

Furrowing her eyebrows in confusion. "Huh?" she mumbled. 

A soft cloth pressed against her nostrils, without a word, Yeri takes the books from the floor and clasps her hands. Almost throwing it in front of Enrik, before Seo could form pieces of inquiries together, a declaration shut them all.

" She hit her head. We'll be at the nurse's office ." 

The trio, utterly puzzled, looked at the door as light taps of their steps stride out of the library. " Did Yeri smash her head ?" Danny found herself whispering.

"No clue," Seo murmured back. " But sure, her thoughts weren't pure. Jo always gets nosebleeds whenever she thinks of something…"

"Sexually arousing,"  Enrik shrugs off his attention and wanders to the window seat, where he waves his hand, showing the book to someone. 

Lifting an eyebrow, they turned to follow his gaze. Seeing the blonde girl walking to them, they shared a look.

Grasping the book Seyong bowed with an amiable smile. " Thanks," she said before going back to her seat 

" No, Prob." He mirrored it, seeing his own beloved sitting next to Seyong attentively paying attention to her. Asking her to help with the assignment wasn't that bad at all; however, there was a slight twist. Aihara Sana next to them was indeed a coincidence. Seyong, indeed, had to tutor everyone for the next few days. 

"I'm surprised Miss Guarded Queen hasn't arrived yet," Seo uttered, looking at Sana as her hands wrapped around Seyong's arms— 'a friend thing,' she could guess. 

" She doesn't know Sana is with them,"  Enrik said. Maybe his face didn't show a single emotion but he was as concerned as the rest of the girls. Ariana will not like this which could probably lead to a misunderstanding. Or worse. 

" Eventually she'll. Should we tell her first?" Danny asked in case they had to face hardship.

"I'll pretend I never saw anything," he said. 

"Blind eye, I like that." Seo smiled. Perhaps they were stressing for nothing. After all, Ariana knows Seyong likes her, so she won't get jealous. There's no need to. Noah is with them as well, so simply, it's a group study. They're just helping each other out. It's a normal friend thing; moreover, Seyong was getting along with them. 

" I don't have a good feeling about this."  Danny sighed. 

"Neither do I," both of her friends confessed in unison, giving one last glance to each other.