Stuck in Between

25. Karma

Tao's POV

I had been observing my seatmate whole day and seemed like she's not in herself.

She was zoned out many times during class that I need to whisper her the answer when teachers call her attention.

While walking to the gym after class, I saw her sitting alone in a bench.

What is with this girl?

Was she still thinking about what I said days ago?

But...

She did not even felt awkward to me the next day.

How could she not be affected by my words? I almost confessed to her!

I sat beside her but she seemed like she didn't notice me.

"Chinguya!" I said poking her side.

"Argh! Kapjagi! (Suddenly!)" she freaked out facing me. "Omona! Tao-sshi."

"Didn't we talk that we'll talk informally?"

"Ow! Mian. I forgot. Chinguya!" she smiled but it doesn't seem sincere.

Why is she like this?

"Do you have a problem?"

She shook her head.

I don't believe her. But I cannot force her to tell me.

"Don't you have to go to you part-time job?"

She nodded weakly. "I'm just waiting for Eunji and Na Eun."

"Ya! Weakling!"

She gasped and immediately stood seeing him.

Kris walked towards us. He smirked at me. I smirked at him back.

But my attention is on Chorong.

"Weakling, just come with me to the store. Noona said she needs to leave early today so you need to come earlier."

He held Chorong's hand to pull her, but Chorong pulled out.

"I'll take the bus." She said.

"No. You'll go with me." Pulling her arm again.

She tried to pull out but can't get out of his grip.

I'm feeling heat going up to my head.

Then I found myself...

"I'll take Chorong there."

Saying that, holding Chorong's hand, and looking at her wishing for her to agree.

There was a second of silence before she answered. "I'll go with Tao."

I saw disappointment on Kris's face as he loosened his grip to her arm.

She pulled her arm out of his grip. "Let's go, chingu!"

And I found myself again smiling of happiness...

not because Kris was rejected.

But because she chose me.

I dropped her in front of the store.

"Gomapda, Chinguya!" She bowed to me smiling after getting out of the car.

"No problemo, chinguya!" I waved at her goodbye.

She went inside the store. I saw how Kris's Noona is so delighted seeing her.

"Ahjusshi, let's go." I told my driver.

As the car moves, my thoughts are also busy moving.

What was she thinking about the whole day?

She was so spaced out the whole trip and I couldn't find my strength to ask her again.

Why was she like that earlier?

When she heard Kris... why did ahe act like that?

Why were her eyes different when she saw him? why does she seem like she is about to cry?

Too good I did not ask her again.

I fear I might not like her answer.

A sudden pain struck my chest like a knife was stabbed on it.

If I go black, I should go black all out.

But I think this was my karma.

I fell for her.

FLASHBACK

"I think I found a way to distract Kris." I told my teammates.

"How?" asked Henry hyung in English. "What are we gonna do?"

I smiled at them. "Simply. I'll woo the girl he likes."

"Mwo?!" Baekhyun hyung reacted. "How us that supposed to distract him?"

"If he learns that the girl she likes is in danger of liking another guy instead of him, he won't be silent. He would be really busy finding ways to get the girl back and make her fall for him. He won't have time for practice anymore."

"How did you know he likes the girl? He was never serious to anyone before." Kyungsoo hyung asked.

"Trust me. I've never seen him like this before. He is totally in love with that girl." I smiled proudly again.

"You mean the girl we saw yesterday he...?" Zelo and his innocent facial expression. He then gave me a high five. "I think that's a good plan, Tao."

Minseok hyung put his arms over my shoulders, "I don't know about that plan but.. you should take care." Then he pointed on my left chest.

PRESENT

I even think that I was the first one to know Kris's feelings for Chorong.

Even before he realized it, I already know he likes her.

I saw him passing by our classroom many times. We are in the second floor. Their room is in the fourth. What is that supposed to mean?

He doesn't need to spy me either. He knows perfectly how I play and I am not playing in the classroom for pete's sake.

Then one day, I saw him entering the cafeteria. This is my fourth year in this school since middle school and it is the first time after a long time that I've seen them in the cafeteria at lunch.

Him bullying her caught my attention. I wasn't planning to help her that time, I just got curious of how would he react if I save her.

Then while I was inside my car going home, I accidentally saw him driving his motorcycle following a bus. I decided to follow him as well and I realized he was following Chorong.

Honestly, I didn't need Chorong to give me her address in Kakao coz I already know about it when I followed Kris there.

I laughed hard watching Kris and his lovey dovey feeling for her, and pretending to bully her in school.

That urge me to make a very immature and stupid plan...

and I am caught in the middle.

I should have not played over this.

I'm really sorry, Chorong.

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