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Jung Miyoung POVWe remained rivals for quite some time. Throughout middle school we manged to maintain an ardent mutual hatred for once another.
High school rolled along, and as the date for senior finals drew nearer, I isolated myself completely from nearly any form of social interaction. My best friend Eunmi was used to it, so she didn't question my behaviour. I was locked up in my room right after school, studying furiously, often staying up until past 2
It was 2:45 am when I received a text, out of the blue, from Hyungwon.
Frog
You're so pretty
Me
Are you drunk?
Frog
Probably
I rolled my eyes. Hyungwon hated getting drunk because he hated having hindered perception. Why on earth was he doing it now?
Me
Get your ass back to your house and study something instead of attending frivolous parties, you amphibian
Frog
Live a little
Me
Which party are you at?
Frog
Yunho's
Me
I'm coming to get you
Frog
That' unnecessary
Me
You're drunk, and I'm assuming all your friends too
Frog
Why would you trouble yourself by coming here?
Me
I'm preventing drunk driving accidents
20 minutes later, Hyungwon and six of his friends were crammed into my mom's tiny Hyundai and I was weaving in and out of the neighbourhood, trying to send them home
"Jung Miyoung?" Changkyun called "Is that you? Damn, from the back you're kind of hot!"
"You control your hormones, Changkyun" Jooheon chided "That's the bitchy student council president"
I kept repeating to myself that these idiots were drunk and senseless, but it was still annoying whenever they called me.
"Hey, don't call her a bitch. She'll kill you" Kihyun said
"Don't call anyone a bitch, it's impolite" Shownu, the father of the group, lectured
Minhyuk was already snoring away in the back, and Hyungwon was sulking in the front, with me
"You didn't have to do this, mom" he said under his breath
I gripped my steering wheel, turning a corner
"Sure I did, I just saved a bunch of lives"
I let the six of them out on the same street, because they live in the same street, because they all live literally beside each other. Only Hyungwon lived elsewhere
We drove in near silence towards his house. Hyungwon leaned back against the seat, his tousled hair flopping backwards. His eyes were closed
"I don't wanna go home"
I pulled into his driveway and turned off my engine
"You don't have a choice. Run along"
Hyungwon didn't look at me as he slammed the car door behind him. I watched as he dug his keys in his pant pocket and unlocked the front door. He paused and took a breath. He seemed uncharacteristically reluctant to enter.
But he did. He disappeared inside his darkened house and I started my engine. I tried not to think of him as I drove home alone in the inky night. He was no important. He never was. He never will
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"Move!"
The result of finals were finally up, and I was certain that this time, I had beaten Jooheon. I pushed past they labyrinth of eager seniors hoping to find their names ranked within the top ten
My eye fell immediately on first place. They widened and I let out a shriek
It was me. For the first time in my life, I had placed first. I had beaten Jooheon, who was second. My brows furrowed in confusion as I searched for Hyungwon. He wasn't third, nor fourth
"Sixth?" someone said "Chae Hyungwon placed sixth?"
I turned to face the crowd of people, and instantly, I found him
He was so pale, paler than usual. His eyes flickered in disbelief, but quickly became impassive. He was shaking. Just as I took a step toward him, he bolted down the hall, away from everyone
He ran so fast, I could barely keep up.
"Hyungwon!" I called
He either didn't hear me, or he disregarded me
I found him in a deserted stairwell. He was leaning against a wall, hyperventilating and shaking and sweating
Panic attack. He was having one, but why? Because he didn't place first like usual?
"Hyungwon, what the heck?" I sputtered
Of course he didn't answer. His hands were gripping his air and his eyes were wild. I though of the first time he had panic attack in my presence, in the forest, in third grade. It was much less intense that the one he was having now
Whatever triggered his attack was much darker than entomophobia.
I watched helplessly as Hyungwon completely lost himself, right before my eyes.
There was nothing I could do to help him.
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sᴀᴠᴇ ᴍᴇ 〢 ᴄʜᴀᴇ ʜʏᴜɴɢᴡᴏɴ 〢
Short Storyᴛʜᴀɴᴋ ʏᴏᴜ ꜰᴏʀ ꜱᴀᴠɪɴɢ ᴍᴇ ᴇᴠᴇɴ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜ ᴡᴇ'ʀᴇ ʀɪᴠᴀʟ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ "My psychiatrist said that I'm improving" he says We are seated on a couch at my house, watching a documentary about fishes "Yes! Finally. If your recover fully then you can compete with me...