third pov :: baek eunju
It was summer, meaning the yellow sun was supposed to be shining and giving everyone tans. People were supposed to be spending their time in shorts and short sleeved tops and applying sun cream every now and then — The sun wasn't meant to be hiding behind the grey clouds and reflecting Baek Eunju's emotions.
However, it was, and a pitiful huff escaped the girls lips as the cold water droplets rained down onto her skin — Soaking her school uniform.
Of course it had to rain. The day her mood seemed to feel lower than ever. The day her menstrual cycle happened to come about. The day Min Heejin rubbed in the fact she and Sunghoon were no longer together the most.
A shaky breath escaped Eunju's lips as she took a step forward to begin her journey home — Yet, before she could get far, the rain that was once splashing heavily down onto her head, disappeared.
Confusion caused her brows to furrow and she looked up from the floor and up at the sky; puzzled as to why she could no longer feel the rain.
Her questions were answered once she saw the black umbrella hovering above her head.
A source of hope sprouted in Eunju's chest, as a small smile appeared on her pink lips whilst her eyes moved away from the umbrella and over to the person that had saved her from getting any more wet.
Instantly, she felt her breathing hitch with shock as her eyes met a pair of brown ones.
Did he not have Basketball practice?
Why was he outside in the rain, risking his health?
"Heeseung...?" Eunju said just above a whisper and the taller boy beside her sent her a proud smile. "What're you doing? Why are you outside? What if you catch a cold? You won't be able to play in the game on Saturday."
Heeseung chuckled at the girls questions and he stuffed a hand in his pocket and shrugged.
"Practice finished early." He answered. "And I saw you out here getting soaked and I thought you could do with an umbrella." Heeseung explained and Eunju tightened her grip on her backpack as a shiver ran through her body.
"Oh..." She softly spoke and looked away from him slightly, as she began to get back to reality, and realize that she more than likely, looked like a drowned rat — especially with her fringe that was beginning to cling to her forehead. "Well, thank you. I appreciate it."
Heeseung shrugged yet again. "I'll walk you home — Can't risk you getting ill." He chuckled and the two soon began walking in silence once Eunju nodded in agreement.
The silence was like no ever. It was a mix between awkward and comfortable. Eunju felt like she had to say something in order for the situation to not be awkward; though, the problem was, was that Baek Eunju had no idea what to say. She'd not often felt this way or found herself in a situation like this. Though, she found it surprisingly easy to start a conversation with Sunghoon — and her other friends of course, but when it was a one-on-one situation with Lee Heeseung (her ex crush), she couldn't help but feel the want to break out into a sprint and run away from him.
"How's practice going?" She almost stuttered when asking, and Heeseung turned his head to look at her and nod.
"It's going good." He formed his lips into a line as a way of smiling. "Coach is being tough on us, but that's expected."
Eunju bobbed her head in understanding, and once again, the silence took over.
She wanted to ask about Park Sunghoon. She wanted to see how he was doing, see if he spoke about her, even though she'd told him she never wanted to speak to him again — but she didn't meant it.
Of course she didn't. She was in love with the boy, she couldn't (wouldn't) just shut him out of her life like that, despite him having hurt her deeply. Eunju knew that she'd get answers one day from Sunghoon, but not at the moment.
"You can ask." Heeseung laughed softly and shook his head.
"What?" She asked in confusion, looking away from the wet floor and up at him.
"I know you want to ask about Sunghoon..." He explained.
"Oh..."
"He's not the same anymore." Heeseung sighed, shaking his head slowly. "He just seems moody all the time — He's not how he used to be when you guys were dating."
"He's not?" Eunju wondered.
"No... He's gone back to his old ways." Heeseung sucked in a breath. "He's showing up late to practice again — barely saying a word. It's annoying Coach, but what can he do? It's not like he can kick him off of the team. Sunghoon's our best Point Guard."
Eunju nodded slowly. To say she felt guilty would be an understatement.
She was the cause of Sunghoon's behavior, right? She told him that she never wanted to speak to him again — perhaps that was taking an effect on him... Though, he only had himself to blame. He kissed Min Heejin. What did he expect her to do? Marry him on the spot and say 'thank you'? No.
However, as Eunju thought, she couldn't help but remember the fact that she and Park Sunghoon weren't even actually dating... He had every right to kiss her if he wanted to...
"Eunju?" Heeseung called out her name softly with furrowed brows.
By now, as Eunju got distracted with her thoughts, the two had stopped on a path, close by a row of houses, and Heeseung looked down at her with confusion.
"Huh?" The girl asked, breaking away from her mind and looking up at the Lee boy.
"Are you okay?" He wondered. "You stopped in the middle of the path randomly."
"Oh... um, it's nothing." Eunju shook her head. "My house is by there — Thanks for walking me and the umbrella — Bye, Heeseung." She quickly spoke, as she swiftly hurried over to her house, holding her backpack above her head after waving goodbye.
"Eunju—" Heeseung went to call out, though he stopped himself once witnessing the girl enter her home.
★
Night had fallen and Eunju laid on her bed, tossing and turning in a fetus position due to the excruciating pain of her period cramps that filled her body.
The agony she was experiencing was something she'd never experienced before. Her time of the month was never usually this bad, so why was it suddenly so painful this time?
Eunju sat up in her bed, growing fed up of the pain. She had to do something about it herself, because she knew no one else would.
Sighing, the Baek girl tiredly headed down to the kitchen to search for medication and once it was found in the back of a cupboard, the only two pills that were left were gone.
Just when Eunju thought her night could get any worse; the annoying craving feeling in the pit of her stomach grew stronger and suddenly, she was in desperate need for something sweet.
She didn't want to snack on anything this late due to her diet, and the warning stories she'd heard about why you shouldn't eat past a certain time — but surely one time wouldn't hurt, right?
☆
Of course this Tuesday just had to get worse.
There wasn't one thing within the kitchen that was going to fulfill the girls cravings, and so, she ventured to the last resort, which was going out at 9:34pm to the convenience store.
The wind blew the girls hair as she approached the lit up shop, and without another thought, she entered, the bell above the door ringing out loudly.
Immediately, her exhausted eyes landed on the boy that had quickly stood from his chair behind the front counter and she felt her heartbeat pound against her ribcage.
How could she of been so stupid? Of course Park Sunghoon worked here — he told her that ages ago, when they first got close and she just so happened to let it slip her mind.
Mentally groaning, Eunju quickly adverted her eyes away from Sunghoon's eyes, and made her way to the aisle of sweets.
Her heart was still beating rapidly as she tried to decided whether she wanted Strawberry Gummies or Gummy Bears. She felt her ears burn as she eventually decided and picked up the Strawberry sweets, and she slowly began to head for the til.
In her mind, she was busy preparing conversation starters she'd use when she came face to face with the boy and she couldn't help but bite down on her bottom lip once arriving in front of him.
Silently, she placed the sweets down and Sunghoon picked them up; scanning them quietly.
Eunju reached into her pocket to retrieve her money, and glanced up at the boy whilst doing so — their eyes connecting almost instantly.
The action caused Eunju's cheeks to burn red, and just as she got her money out, her shaky hands failed her, making her drop her coins and for them to scatter on the floor.
Embarrassment took over Baek Eunju's body as she kneeled down to pick up her money. All she wanted to do was leave. Forget the gummies, she no longer cared for them.
"Don't worry about it, Eunju." Sunghoon shook his head and pulled out his own two pound coins, before putting them into the til.
Eunju's breath hitched as her brain processed what her just done, and once her money was off the floor and in her sweaty palm, she opened her mouth to finally speak.
"Are you sure? You don't have to. I can pay for them myself." She explained and Sunghoon couldn't help but smile at her flustered state.
"It's okay," He sighed. "It's the least I could do." The Park boy gently pushed the packeted item over to her, and she slowly picked it up, sending him a small smile.
Eunju sighed as she turned on her heel to exit the shop. She wanted to stay. Stay to talk to Sunghoon. Be in his presence and just laugh at his jokes that'd he'd only feel comfortable telling her. She wanted to stay, and talk to him. Tell him everything that was going on with her life and then listen to his news — yet, she knew she couldn't and that pained her.
"I'm sorry, Eunju." Sunghoon called out, just as her hand touched the handle of the door.
She stopped her movements and swallowed thickly as the memories flooded her head.
"I really am..." Sunghoon softly stated and Eunju slowly bobbed her head; the feeling of tears forming in her eyes.
She missed him so much.
"Enjoy your sweets, Pretty girl."
☆★