xxv. ✓

                                    

                                          
𝒙𝒙𝒗.
Exhausted both physically and emotionally, I found myself back in the solitude of my dorm room, contemplating the idea of taking a break from school.
The weight of my responsibilities bore down on me heavily, but I couldn't escape the undeniable truth that I needed to graduate from high school.
Letting out a deep groan and burying my face into the pillow, I finally decided to go outside for some fresh air, hoping it would clear my mind.
Leaving my room, I wandered aimlessly, until I stumbled upon an intriguing place I had discovered during one of my previous wanderings—a dome-shaped greenhouse.
Curiosity tugged at my thoughts, urging me to visit once more. As I arrived, my eyes widened in surprise to find someone already there, seated at a round marble table in the center of the greenhouse.
The figure slowly turned around, and before I could fully comprehend what I was seeing, my feet froze in place, rooted to the ground.
"Seungcheol?" I uttered, disbelief lacing my words. I couldn't believe my own eyes, unable to process the presence of Seungcheol, someone I thought I would never see again.
The panic bubbled within me, and I frantically voiced my concerns, barely giving Seungcheol a chance to respond. But amidst my panicked screeching, I suddenly found myself enveloped in his strong arms.
My words faltered, my mind went blank, and I succumbed to the overwhelming sensations his touch evoked. His scent, reminiscent of musk and vanilla, overwhelmed my senses, stirring memories of a past encounter during Springfest.
I mentally scolded myself for such distracting thoughts, desperately pushing him away and regaining some semblance of composure.
Seungcheol complied, stepping back and giving me space to breathe.
"Seriously, what are you doing here all alone? It's dangerous. People could actually kill you, you know." I began to rant which Seungcheol only responded with a fond smile.
"I'm not on my own," Seungcheol said with a fond smile, dismissing my concern. "I have Seokmin and Seungkwan with me. They're waiting in the car."
My raised eyebrow silently questioned how he had known I would be here, a question that seemed to momentarily stump him. However, I saw through his hesitation.
"You told Seokmin and Seungkwan to keep an eye on me, didn't you? I saw their car near the Choi's residence a few weeks ago," I remarked, my tone tinged with amusement.
"Really? I thought I told them to be subtle..." Seungcheol's surprise betrayed his intentions, and I couldn't resist teasing him about his failed attempts at subtlety.
The thought of him spying on me after unceremoniously kicking me out of Sakura piqued my annoyance, and I voiced my frustration. "But really, how can you have the audacity to spy on me after you kick me out from Sakura yourself?"
Seungcheol bit his lip, and silence enveloped us as the weight of our complicated past settled between us.
My life had become a labyrinth of complexity since my encounter with Jangmi, unbeknownst to me at the time.
The storm that was brewing was entirely concealed, waiting to unleash its tempestuous force.
Seeing that the tension was becoming unbearable, I urged Seungcheol to cut to the chase and explain the reason behind his unexpected presence.
"Okay, let's cut to the chase. Why are you here?"
"It's Jihoon... and a bunch of other things." he answered and my face contorted with disdain at the mention of that troublemaker.