Glaring at him, she snapped, "What? Who's dumping who?"
Seojin bent sideways, laughing awkwardly while clutching his ribs. "What? I was gonna say I'm sane enough to never break up with you... Why is your fist so heavy?"
Seolhyo snatched her mirror back and leaned sideways against him again, continuing to fix her bangs like nothing happened.
The others watched the two flirt right in front of them without shame.
Daegyu muttered flatly, "This guy seriously needs to learn how to read the room."
Park Dong grimaced in disgust. "This is not the time for you two. We're trying to have a group therapy session here, not watch a live romance drama."
Irina squinted at them suspiciously. "Do you two ever get tired of acting like this in public?"
Seolhyo glanced at them but stayed silent.
Inseop sniffled, glaring bitterly at the couple in front of him. "I just got dumped, and you guys are showing off your relationship right in my face…"
Seojin glanced down at Seolhyo, who was still quietly munching on a mashiju candy.
"What's that?" he asked.
She looked up at him. "Candy. Want one?"
He nodded.
Seolhyo unwrapped another piece and held it toward his mouth.
Seojin leaned closer and took it between his lips without hesitation.
Irina rolled her eyes at the two of them. "These two seriously don't know how to stop, huh?"
Deciding to ignore them before she developed diabetes just from watching, she turned back to Inseop.
"Anyway, shouldn't you at least try to win her back?"
Daegyu nodded. "Sometimes when people say 'let's break up,' they don't really mean it. You should at least try everything you can first."
Inseop stared blankly ahead and answered in a dull, exhausted voice.
"I think I called her like… thirty times. And maybe sent fifty texts… but she won't respond."
"…Maybe I'm not being sincere enough?"
Irina stared at him, creeped out.
Park Dong gawking. "Stop it, you crazy bastard! You're freaking me out!!"
"Ah," Seolhyo muttered. "So that's why you were lying down all day."
Suwon blinked. "You were lying down? Damn… it must've hit you hard."
Seojin clicked his tongue. "Pull yourself together, man. It's not the end of the world."
"Yeah," Jinkyung added. "Cheer up. I'm sure there are good girls at our school too."
Inseop slowly looked up at them with the deadest eyes they had ever seen.
"In our school? Every girl there's basically part of Seojin's fan club."
Park Dong snorted. "Then I'll set you up on a blind date at another school."
Irina nodded. "Yeah. We'll try looking around for someone for you too. You're not even ugly, you know?"
Suwon shrugged. "You were pretty popular in middle school too. There's probably someone out there who likes you."
Inseop suddenly glanced at him.
"…Yeah. There's even someone who likes you. You think I wouldn't have anyone?"
Suwon froze instantly, a faint blush creeping across his face.
"W-what are you saying all of a sudden!? It's not like that, seriously!"
Irina's eyes widened in disbelief. "Huh!? What are you talking about!? There's someone who likes Ji Suwon!? No way!!"
Park Dong shrugged casually. "Ahh… it's not confirmed yet."
Seolhyo turned toward Suwon with a teasing smile.
"There's someone who likes our little chestnut, huh?"
Beside her, Seojin wiped an imaginary tear from his eye while looking proudly at Suwon.
"Yeah… time flies so fast. Our chestnut's finally all grown up."
Suwon groaned in frustration. "It's seriously not like that…"
"What do you mean?" Inseop replied flatly. "I could tell just by her face. That white-glasses girl? I got a vibe."
Suwon immediately shot to his feet, glaring down at him.
"Shut up!! That doesn't mean she likes me! We just talked a little!"
Inseop calmly looked up at him.
"You've never gotten a look of affection before, so you didn't even notice, dumbass."
Then his mood darkened again.
Tears slowly gathered in his eyes as he stared off into space.
"…That warm, sincere gaze without even a hint of malice…"
He sniffled.
"…Yeah… just like Hyewon's eyes…"
Suwon stared at him blankly.
…He's completely lost it.
Jinkyung chuckled. "Ji Suwon's a popular guy now."
Irina shook her head dramatically. "The world's gone crazy."
Seolhyo looked amused. "Who is she? Why don't you introduce her to us, chestnut?"
Suwon grabbed his hair in frustration.
"SERIOUSLY, IT'S NOT LIKE THAT!!"
-
Time passed, and before they knew it, it was time to head home.
Daegyu split off first since his route was in the opposite direction, so the rest of them walked together until they reached the bus stop, sending off Suwon and Inseop.
Inside the bus, sitting by the window, Suwon waved at the five outside. "Alright, see you guys tomorrow."
Inseop, beside him, gave a small wave too.
Park Dong smirked and raised a middle finger at them.
Irina grinned. "See you at school, ultra handsome guy!!"
Jinkyung, Seolhyo, and Seojin waved normally. "Get home safe."
They watched as the bus pulled away.
The five of them stayed behind, waiting for their own bus.
Irina crossed her arms and looked at Park Dong. "How'd you know she likes Suwon?"
Park Dong shoved both hands into his pockets. "There's no proof, but it really felt like that kind of vibe."
Seojin nodded. "If you were there, you could tell too. I'm familiar with that look."
He shrugged lazily. "I'm kinda used to girls looking at me that way."
Irina chuckled. "Oho, if Seojin says so, it's probably true. He's had like a hundred girls look at him like that."
"Even back in middle school, you could usually tell right away if someone liked you, right?" she added with a laugh.
Jinkyung only smiled bitterly.
She had absolutely no experience with that.
Beside Seojin, Seolhyo tightened her grip around his arm. "You seem happy about it, huh?"
Seojin slipped his arm free, only to loop it around her shoulders instead, pulling her closer against him.
"Happy?"
He glanced down at her. "It's kinda annoying, actually."
Then his voice softened.
"And I only look at one girl that way."
Seolhyo immediately turned her head away, hiding the blush blooming across her face as she muttered, "That's so cheesy..."
Irina sighed dramatically. "Feels like I've been raising a kid. Our dummy finally has a girl who likes him now."
Park Dong snorted. "Ugh. If I had a kid like that, I'd be worried for their future."
Jinkyung laughed. "HAHA, worry about yourself. Ji Suwon's super nice."
Park Dong scoffed. "If you're comparing me to Ji Suwon, I'm challenging you to a fight."
Jinkyung slowly raised an arm and flexed her fist, showing off a surprisingly terrifying muscle a girl shouldn't normally have.
Park Dong picking his nose. "...I forfeit."
Soon, Seolhyo and Seojin's bus arrived and stopped by the curb.
Irina waved both hands. "Later, lovebirds! Don't flirt too much on the bus!"
Park Dong raised both hands too except both middle fingers were up. "Careful on your way, suckers!"
Seolhyo laughed softly and waved as she stepped inside.
Right before the doors closed, Seojin looked back at them with a grin.
"See you tomorrow, losers!"
The doors shut.
Inside the bus, there were barely any passengers left at this hour.
The lights overhead glowed softly as the bus rolled through the dark streets.