The boy next door

Chapter 36

"Come on", I mumbled annoyed to myself as I looked into the mirror and saw how puffy my eyes were after the crying yesterday.

But there was nothing I could do about them. So I just got ready for school, swallowed a bit of my breakfast and left the house.

I threw a quick glance at the house next door and sighed. Maybe I judged too soon. Maybe he really has changed and something urgent came up.

I decided to check if he was there and we could walk to school together. Then we could talk it out and he could explain what happened. I rang the door bell and waited nervously bobbing on my heels.

But no one opened up.

I gulped. Everything was so suspicious. What is going on?

I pushed my thoughts away and made my way to school. I needed to concentrate more on school and my upcoming exams in December. With all the drama that has been going on, I lagged in every subject.

But it was hard to concentrate when your best friend doesn't show up to school, your almost boyfriend also isn't present and the only guy you could always rely on is on the ropes.

I was constantly sighing during class and drifting off with my thoughts so I forgot to take notes of the lesson.

When school was over I came to a decision. I had to see Soojung, I needed to know what was going on.

Her house was a little further away from school than mine but I was okay with walking the extra mile there. She was there for me when I needed her and whatever was going on in her life I needed to be there too. Maybe she also needed a friend right now.

I arrived in front of her house and rang the doorbell. She opened up and she was a complete mess. She had dark circles under her eyes, her hair was messy and unwashed and she was wearing sweatpants and a wide shirt.

"Y/N?", she gasped widening her eyes, "what are you doing here?"

"God, Soo", I said relieved and hugged her, "I was so worried. You didn't pick up your phone, didn't reply to my texts and weren't at school. What's going on?"

"I'm sorry", she sniffles, "I messed up."

"What? What did you mess up?", I asked wiping her tears gently with my thumb, "tell me all about it. I'm here for you."

"Come on in", she said worn down and stepped aside looking at the ground.

She got us both a glass of water before we went upstairs, sat down on her bed and she began talking. Or rather sobbing. At some point it was hard to follow her because her voice was shaking so much from crying that I couldn't understand her words.

But I understood what happened.

"See, I-I don't want to lose him", she sobbed and I rubbed her back, "he's everything to me. So... I rejected him."

She was talking about Taehyung as I already figured because of the way he acted at my party and in school.

"You did what?", I asked shocked, "why would you do that? You both like each other, it's obvious."

"Because he might l-like me now, but what i-if we break up? W-What if he never wants to see me again o-or talk to me again?", she asked desperately, "I can't live with that."

"Soo", I said her name quietly, "you know you broke his heart with that, don't you?"

"Yea, I-I know", she sniffled.

"It doesn't make sense. You should be together, I know you two can do it. You can work on anything-"

"No, Y/N, you don't understand", she said determined, "I can't lose him. Ever. I want to grow old with him, but we're so young. It won't work out. It never does with me."

She breathed to calm down and then continued talking.

"He'll get over his crush on me. But I will never get over him leaving me", she tried to explain wiping her tears.

"No, Soo. As your friend I need to support you, but in this case I can't. You're ruining something good", I tried talking sense into her, "you're hurting both of you. You need to stop."

"I'm sorry, it's too late. I already screwed up", she said and the look in her eyes gave away that there was more about it than she told me, "I'll do this my way. It hurts, yes, but it's the only right way in the long term."

I sighed and looked away. I knew I couldn't change her mind and I couldn't pressure to tell me the whole truth. I felt bad for Taehyung and her. They were made for each other and I think if anyone could make it's them. But something is holding her back.

"Okay, sweetie", I said looking back at her, "I'm here for you, you know. You shouldn't have left the party, you should've told me right away."

"I'm sorry", she whispered tears filling her eyes again.

"Don't blame yourself", I said.

"No, I mean, I'm sorry", she insistent.

"It's okay now", I reassured her and pulled her into a hug until she completely calmed down.

"Anyways, do you know anything about Jungkook? He wasn't at school today either", I told her pulling away from the hug.

"No, I don't", she said avoiding eye contact.

"Hm, okay", I said getting up, "if you're okay now, I'd head home. I missed half of all lessons today because I was mentally absent and I need to catch up on them."

"Yea, yea I'm good now. It'll get better", she said giving me a small smile, "I can ask my Dad to drive you home if you want."

"No, thanks. I'll walk", I said as we went downstairs.

"Thanks again, Y/N", she said after I put on my shoes.

"Of course. I'll see you tomorrow?", I asked stepping outside and she nodded. "See you", she said and I waved at her.

I sighed and made my way home. When I was five minutes away from my house my phone rang. It was deep down in my school bag so I had to search for it first.

"Hello?", I quickly picked up before the caller hung up.

"Ready for our date?", Jimin's voice sounded on the other side of the line.

"Jimin?", I asked confused, "w-what date?"