— Get off my table.

— I was thinking, pretty Sinag... — The girl looked up, leaning her back on the chair she was sitting in, looking at the boy carefully.

—That doesn't seem to be good.

— Yah, thinking to make plans with you and thinking about exams occupy a different amount of energy in my head, they are called priorities...— He murmured, hearing the girl laugh before his attention focused on a conversation behind him .

In the end, Jukyeong had indeed gone out with that boy on the blind date, and he was sure that Suho had followed her, he could bet. —What a way to reject someone. How can you be rejected so quickly? — Seojun laughed after saying that, listening to the short-haired girl read the text messages that boy had sent to her friend, her laughter suddenly stopped when she felt a blow on Seojun's leg. she. — Oh, why?

Aera put her finger on his mouth, signaling silence, making him pout and obey. Aera didn't like those kinds of jokes, she didn't usually make those kinds of comments, she didn't like making fun of a girl like that.

Although she never experienced that type of teasing, she used to talk to the girls who did, so, putting herself in their place, she wouldn't like to be told something like that either.

The girl sighed before hearing the bell ring that started class, so she pushed Seojun out of his table, he stood up laughing, leaning down, squeezed the older girl's cheeks before running to his seat, walking away when He sat down, knowing that a blow awaited him. - Nice try.

***

— Aera... Do you want to stop please? I've been asking you for a while.

Aera stopped, she really didn't really want to talk to Suho, she didn't know the reason, she just felt a little uncomfortable even thinking about starting a conversation with the boy. Much more so after finding out that he had left the academy, that she had not taken her exam for which she canceled his departure. - Good. She - This she stopped to look at him, turning around, he almost collided with her body. —How did she do on the exam?

- Suddenly? - He asked, seeing the grimace on the girl's face, he swallowed. — Well, I turned out very well.

Lie, lie, what did you do last night?

— That's great, congratulations. —This she smiled, clenching her hands into fists at her side. — But now I have some things to do, can we talk later?

—No, what's wrong with you? We were fine yesterday and... - He stopped, denying, closing his eyes for a moment. —Can I just know since when you have become so close to Seojun? They even look like children running after each other is... Ridiculous. — He murmured the last thing, earning a serious look from Aera.

- What are you talking about? —This she asked, looking at him seriously. —We were close before.

— No, he was close to you, there is a slight difference between being close and someone getting very close to you. — Suho explained, approaching the girl, tilting his head in some annoyance.

- That makes no sense.

— Seojun liked you before he went abroad, that's why he was the one close to you, Aera. — The girl drank, she was aware of that, she always saw Seojun approach her with kindness, a smile on his face, he was the one who encouraged her to join his friends' outings, but he never tried anything with her, at least , not until the day he left.

— Suho, we talked about this before, they were friends, he did what I would do with my friends' boyfriends, be nice because I want a healthy relationship between everyone, okay?

— Please, you can't be so blind Aera... — Suho laughed with amusement, shaking his head. —Hasn't she told you why she came back?

Aera was upset, upset because she hadn't even complained to him in that way when she had seen him at a lunch, quite promising, with Jukyeong, she didn't do it when she saw him in the comic book store, almost kissing, Jubal, when she saw that photo that Seojun sent her of him with a girl in the park. She hadn't done it and she considered that she had the most right to be as annoying as he was being at that moment. - And you? Don't you have a meeting with Jukyeong on the rooftop today? Or do you come to make plans with me and then cancel at the last minute?

— We already talked about this, Aera, my exam...

—Stop lying for a moment, Suho. — Aera she asked with a grimace, she was frustrated, looking into his eyes, which had a strange shine in them. —What exam are you talking about? Your teacher called me asking if something had happened because you had left the room in the middle of the exam and you didn't even finish... — The girl approached him with eyes wide open in annoyance. —Where did you go Suho? Did Jukyeong call you so you could save her from her horrible date?

— Aera...

—Or you just went to spy on her and ruin her date, you were the reason it went wrong, right? —This one she smiled, knowing that she was right when he didn't answer her, although she felt her heart beating painfully in her chest, this one she nodded. - Good, see you.

Aera could not take a step when she felt her body being pushed, the girl could not hear the scream, nor see the face of the person who had pushed her because a strong pain spread throughout her wrist and a strong burning in her back. hand made her distract herself from those details.

— Ah. "This one," she cursed in pain, taking her hand between her fingers, squeezing it to stop the pain that was beginning to tingle in her wrist.

—Aera? — Fast footsteps stopped next to her and made her look up, seeing Seojun look at her with concern as he saw her holding her wrist in pain. - You got hurt? Come, get up, I'll take you to the infirmary.

—Aera... — Suho released Jukyeong, whom he was holding by the waist to prevent her from falling to the ground next to Aera, walking towards the girl as well, who was being picked up by Seojun. - Let me--

- I'll take it.

—Do you think you have more rights than me? I'm her boyfriend, who are you?

— Suho... — Aera said, stopping him when she heard his words and how Seojun clenched his jaw upon hearing that. Sighing, she let go of Seojun's grip, taking a few steps away from them. — I'll go to the infirmary alone and if anyone follows me... I'll hit them... You've been warned.

Seojun watched as Aera walked, as always, as if nothing had happened, posture straight, head held high, and despite the pain, she moved her arms elegantly with each step. —Stay away, I'm not going to repeat it to you again.

The taller one looked at Suho, who was standing next to him, his eyes passed to Jukyeong, who was looking at the scene with big and scared eyes, he pushed Suho away to walk towards her, she backed away, trembling, however, Seojun simply took He yanked his keys, almost hurting the girl's hands. It's not like he meant to hurt her either. — Stop being so distracted, your actions are hurting others, because this is not the first time you don't look around you before taking a step. — Seojun turned around, looking at Suho again, his jaw clenched as she looked at him seriously. —And you, you should follow the advice you gave your father, Suho. Make up your mind.

With that the boy walked away, walking the same path Aera took, of course he was going to go to the infirmary, anyway, he was a head bigger than her.

Her threats weren't going to make him stop doing something, much less if that something was worrying about his well-being.

***

—Don't you go to those study groups too? I thought you were a declared brainiac.

— Yah, I don't want to run into Suho or Jukyeong.

— Or rather to Suho and Jukyeong, I'm sure he's there. — The girl's gaze made Seojun close his mouth as she looked at the horizon.

They were both in a park near the girl's house, after her hand had been bandaged and Seojun had earned some good beatings for following her, he took her to his house, and neither of them had much to do, so They had gone out for a walk, where Seojun's friends called, so now they were watching as Chorong wanted to get on the slide and the other kids wouldn't let him because he no longer fit in the small tunnel that it was and it could get stuck. in there. - It does not bother you?

— ¿uhm?

—What's happening with Suho, doesn't it bother you knowing that somehow he does everything possible to be close to another girl and yet... He's still after you? — Aera thought a lot about that answer, of course she did, of course she felt like an idiot for still being with the boy, but for her, the mere fact that it was over scared her, even more so because, really, she believed that Suho was the only person he had in his life, at least, present in it.

— It does... Yes, it bothers me, but no... It's not something I can change

— Yes, in fact, you can just say goodbye and find another guy, many would like to date Jang Aera. —This one he said, shrugging his shoulders as he looked at her, leaning his back on the bench he was sitting on.

— It's not as easy to do as it is to say it... — She mentioned, playing with her fingers.

— ¿No?

— Even though I know this is going to end somehow, I still love Suho... And it's not something I can change overnight, maybe... I... I don't know, I just don't want to think. on him right now.

Seojun swallowed hard, it really bothered him to think that the girl didn't have enough willpower to put an end to something dead, but it wasn't something he could force, life had taught him that nothing turned out good if it was forced. .

That was why, when he saw Aera again, when he felt his heart pound again when he saw those beautiful eyes, he knew that he had to fight again, but he would not force it, if destiny wanted them together, he would let it. be.

It was fate that brought them together again anyway, maybe it can have something more in store for them.

He saw how Aera intertwined her fingers, an act she did when she was nervous or anxious, so he decided to change the subject. Sighing, he thought of something that could get the idiot she had as a boyfriend out of the girl's mind. —Do you like karaoke?

***

—When you said karaoke I didn't think you were going to leave the kids in the park.

— Believe me, you don't want to come to karaoke with that pack of crying babies. — Seojun said, opening the door of the place to let her in before following her inside. - I have a room reserved.

- That? You come often?

— No, but I had this plan for a long time.

—Coming to karaoke?

— To come with you to karaoke, come on, they charge me extra if I check in and I'm not in the room. — The boy said, pushing her by her head to make her walk towards the room he had paid for.

Half an hour passed, Aera never thought that going out with Seojun to a place like that would be so much fun, they had never done it, at least, not alone. She was clear that she knew that the boy sang incredibly, but maybe it was the excitement of the night or she just wanted to make her laugh, but all those out of tune notes he let out were the icing on the cake that night.

When both boys got tired of dancing and singing, they threw themselves on the couch, laughing, Seojun put an arm around the girl's shoulder while she was holding the iPad that controlled the song selection. —Do you want something quieter?

— A ballad.

— I'm not good at that genre... Recommendation?

— Just press random. —Seojun said, leaning over her a little, touching the shuffle button on the iPad screen that she had in her hands, once he did, the room turned a greenish blue color.

When the melody began to play, Aera swallowed hard, feeling Seojun tense next to her, when she was going to stop the song, Seojun stopped her, grabbing the microphone that was on the table in front of them, two seconds of silence made Aera You look to your side, seeing Seojun blink rapidly before starting to sing the lyrics of the sad song.

Song that Aera had composed with Seyeon for her debut.

The girl's eyes could not leave Seojun's profile, her eyes traveled every inch of him, including the expression he took when the chorus of the song came, Aera's hand went up as if in an act of impulse when she noticed the small tear. wanting to stain the boy's cheek.

The girl's thin finger passed over his skin, making him open his eyes and stare at her. At that point, the song had been left in the background, Aera's hand was now on the boy's cheek, which, without To know when, it began to turn pink and a little hot, Seojun's eyes immediately looked for the girl's, the hand he had on her shoulders moved to be able to remove the lock of hair that fell over her left eye.

The moment felt so calm, as if nothing happening around them mattered, as if they knew nothing but the two of them in that moment. It felt so good, so much so that it was so wrong, but at that moment neither of them seemed to care about that, they were so blinded by the tension they felt in their bodies and the tension generated by their gazes that they simply forgot their roles in each other's lives.

Seojun's body leaned a little over the girl's, he went straight to her lips, he had no doubt, he wanted to do it, he wanted to kiss her, and he was going to do it, but he couldn't do it.

The moment was interrupted by the sound of the big screen, the scoreboard was currently being displayed, which made both boys blink and move, moving away from the other, trying not to feel uncomfortable, processing what had just happened. pass. - I think we should go... It's a little late and you have to go home.

Aera stood up, leaving the iPad on the table, Seojun took a few more seconds before doing the same, turning off the screen and taking his helmet in his hand, opening the door for Aera, who left the place without saying another word.

The duo left the establishment after the boy paid, stopping in their place when they saw how Jukyeong was in front of the taller man's motorcycle, pretending to be kicking the transport. Aera looked at her strangely, not because of her action, but because I was on site, I had sworn I heard something about him being in the study club.

— Yah! What are you doing? — Seojun's annoying voice made her look back at the scene in front of her, Aera walked a little towards the duo, being noticed by Jukyeong.

— Oh... Aera... You... Did you come together? — This she asked with wide eyes, pointing at the two boys, Seojun didn't answer, looking at her motorcycle inspecting it to make sure she hadn't done anything to it.

- What are you doing here? I thought I heard you were going to study.

Aera didn't get a response, instead, the brunette took her and Seojun's hands, pulling them to the side and pushing them near an alley, avoiding being seen by Suho, who, conveniently, was in a conviviality shop next to the karaoke .

— Yah, what's your problem? Aera has sensitive knees, you're going to make her hurt. — Seojun complained, releasing himself from the girl's grip and moving his hands away from Aera's, making sure the older girl didn't get hurt by the trash cans that were a few steps away from them.

— Sorry, just... Did you know that breathing fresh air at night is good for your lungs?

Aera looked at her strangely, she had never noticed the inconsistencies that the girl was saying until now that she was observing her in more detail and that she felt annoyed. Seojun looked at her too, watching as she looked around the corner of the alley, as if she were watching someone, or hoping someone wasn't watching them, and that made him smile, he knew what it meant.

—It's Suho, right?

That caught the attention of both girls in the room, Seojun sighed in disappointment, shaking his head, as he shook his hands at his sides, pushing away the tingling of fury that was beginning to rise through his body. —He really doesn't understand. — This muttered with an annoyed smile, Aera swallowed hard, looking back at Jukyeong, who looked quite nervous and avoided seeing Aera as much as possible.

Of course, Suho is also here, with her.

— It's... We're in a study group together and SooAh suggested coming to karaoke, he just followed us, we're not alone, there's Taehoo too and Soojin...

Aera believed him, of course she believed that the others were there, but she knew that that didn't make the matter any less painful for her, what hurt her was that Suho was there.

Because many times she had asked Suho to go to karaoke with the boys and he had rejected it every time, the fact that Suho said yes to the first time when, coincidentally, Jukyeong would go, made her nervous. —Then go, possibly he's looking for you.

— Ah, I... — Seojun waved her hand, telling her to leave before the situation worsened. She looked at Aera, who had turned around and had her head looking towards the building that could be seen ahead. In the distance, Jukyeong saw her for the last time as well before turning around after bowing behind her and leaving the place, leaving Seojun and Aera alone in that alley.

Aera was going to say something before her eyes caught that group of boys she had seen the day she met Seojun again, the ones who had beaten him. —Seojun...

— Come on, I'll take you to eat... Oh, God... — He said when he saw the group stop when they saw them there, he had not planned to see them that day.

—Oh, Han Seojun! — The boy, who Aera identified as the leader of the group, smiled as he said that, getting closer to them, Seojun took Aera's hand, putting it behind him when he noticed the malicious gaze of everyone present, on her. — Wow, now you see girls in dark alleys? - The brunette asked with a chuckle. —How low you fell, Seojun.

Aera pulled Seojun towards her, holding his arm tightly, not wanting trouble or for him to get hurt, when she saw how the boy was approaching, but when the group of boys seemed not to notice that, she decided to take him with her to run and get away. Of them, the brunette's expression made her a little scared if she was honest and she didn't want something to happen to Seojun if she left him there, so, although she didn't like doing it, running away was the best option.

The boys' fingers intertwined as they ran in an unknown direction, listening to the screams and calls of the group behind them. They were so determined not to get caught that none of them noticed the group outside the karaoke, who saw the scene with their own eyes. open.

— Aren't those Aera and Seojun? — Everyone saw Suho at the moment when he dropped the juice he had in his hand before running off to chase the group, he wasn't doing it for Seojun, he was doing it because Aera was also running away and getting hurt was something that wasn't something was going to be allowed.

The duo of teenagers reached an alley even darker than the previous one in which Aera managed to see an opening in one of the walls of the same alley, having an idea, she pulled Seojun, he tripped over some baskets that were blocking the way, throwing them. to the ground, not giving any importance to that, the boy followed Aera, both were grateful that they were thin enough to be able to enter that minimal opening without so much problem.

The boy placed his hand under the girl's head, preventing her from hitting her skull against the cold wall behind her, both remained silent and tense, trying to control their breathing when they heard the group running past and muttering curses, When the last pair of footsteps were heard, Aera sighed, leaning her head on the boy's chest, feeling her heart pounding due to the great run she did, and maybe something else.

- Are you OK? — Seojun asked, earning a nod from