Go, August, Go! FS2 ENGLISH

thirteen: horror

I stood frozen on my spot as everyone's eyes pierced through me like sharp icicles. It got worse when their eyes darted down to the books on my chest. Yuna narrowed her eyes as she tried to decipher what the books were for. She leisurely stalked behind Hyoshin who was already standing in front of me.

"What are these…?" Hyoshin lifted his hand to reach for the books but I quickly shifted it away from his hold. His eyes darkened with threat but decided it was best to make fun of me instead. "Books for this party? Do you think bringing them here will make you look smarter? We're the only two people here who got lower than fifty."

Before I could step away, he draped his heavy arm over my shoulder and squeezed me against his chest. I had to grip the books so as not to let them fall on the ground with the pressure weighing my shoulders. I glared at him but had to look away at the close proximity.

"I couldn't be more grateful that you're here. I feel so alone in this crowd. What a grace you're here as my company!"

Gritting my teeth hard, I shrugged his shoulders off and left about three feet away from him. Yuna stepped in between us, facing me. She raised a questioning brow at the books.

"I did tell you this was a party, did I not? We're not here for group study." Her eyes traveled farther down to my dress. They shone with appreciation. I was dressed for a casual party. A teal elbow-length chiffon puff sleeves and high-waisted white skirt.

But behind her, the crowd bursted out laughing. It was joined by Hyoshin's deep laughter along with his friends that I didn't know were in higher ranks. I even saw the familiar faces of the two girls who were talking about August from the locker. Horrified, I almost ran out of the shop.

I glared at Yuna and the way she coldly said her rude words. She glanced at everyone over her shoulder and rolled her eyes at them, deliberately stopping their happiness until it was only Hyoshin who had the courage to chuckle.

"Seriously, Roxette?" he demanded between his laughter.

I gritted my teeth and rolled my eyes to nowhere. Yuna stepped to the side to block Hyoshin's view of me although he was too tall for Yuna and I. Perhaps, it was so I couldn't see his annoying face. She gently held my arm and pushed me on the side while the rest busied themselves with each other, the food, and the drinks.

I was still shocked to see them all here.

"You said you're not coming." Yuna took my attention back to her. She raised a brow at the books I put on the closest table. There were only a few today. The shop must have kept the rest of them to keep the inside spacious for everyone. About four tables were pushed together in the middle with a few chairs on the corners. There were also tall round tables where they stood while drinking their glasses of wine.

"This was not the place you sent me," I stated firmly.

Her lips parted a little as she regarded me. "Then why are you here? Don't tell me you're really here to study? You're serious about retaking the exam?"

"Why wouldn't I be?"

"You'll take it along with this semester—wait, you mean, you're not here to join us, but to study in this place alone?"

I blinked, dumbfounded. It was the reason I was terrified the moment I saw them all here.

"Why? Are you a regular here? I heard this is new. How—"

"I'm not a regular," I quickly said and raised my chin. Not yet. "I have nowhere else to go. It's true I'm not coming to your party. This is an accident. But why are you here? Why do you set the party here? This is a local shop. I thought it's in Kalli?"

She kept her skeptical eyes on me until she heard my last question. She shrugged nonchalantly. "We were there earlier but you see, Hyoshin always likes the spotlights on him." I followed his line of gaze only to see Hyoshin enjoying the crow. When he saw us watching him, he raised his glass of alcohol to the air.

My face was distorted. "Why is he in his uniform?"

"That's the problem." Yuna crossed her arms. "The Kalli Hotel was willing to accomodate us. Everything was prepared but the manager worried that he would start a fight."

"It's not like they would care," I absentmindedly muttered, knowing Hyoshin's connection with the Kalli Hotel.

"He doesn't want to take off his uniform. The hotel doesn't want to be responsible for the IHM's students. They decided to kick us out instead."

My eyes widened back at her. She blankly tilted her head to the side, not an ounce of irritation on her face.

"They kicked you out?!"

"You heard me." She watched Hyoshin again. Her eyes squinted at him. "I expected him to do all the stupid things to stop the party. I had to resort for a last minute plan and heard of this shop somewhere… Look, how he's faking to be enjoying this."

I nodded in agreement. "I can see that. It looks like he's mocking your game again… What's with the two of you, huh? You clearly don't like each other but you still play along with your games."

"I don't like him?" Her brows arched. I blinked with innocence, wondering if it was a statement sounding interrogative or plainly declarative. Her vacant face gave me no answer. She was patiently waiting for my reply.

"Huh?" was all I could say, utterly clueless of her answer. All I knew was she didn't like him romantically. And Hyoshin felt the same towards her. I didn't know how close they were before the engagement but I think it had only been a year since that announcement.

They were like this before that, so I couldn't see the difference. One thing was for sure: they were both apathetic individuals that fitted each other. But there were no sparks in their eyes… which made me assume it was only the engagement that was tying them together. No romantic relationship involved. That happened in this world anyway.

I quickly shook my head as I remembered my Mom's opinion about my engagement. She had gotten the idea from her colleagues. I hoped Dad wouldn't get the same impression about the wedding or my life would totally be doomed.

"Why don't we make a toast for Roxette, too?" Hyoshin's voice resonated in the shop as he handed two glasses of wine to Yuna and I. I glanced at the counter to find Lauren and Wax peeking at us with curiosity. I sighed and reluctantly accepted the glass. He got back to the table to get his drink and motioned for us to approach the crowd.

"For the lowest rankings in this room, everyone cheers for me and Roxette Go for being part of the smartest asses of IHM!"

I closed my eyes with irritation. Everyone lifted their glasses to the air. Yuna joined them. Taking a deep breath, I lifted my hand and cheered with them. Hyoshin's scream of delight initiated everyone's applause.

I glared at him as I took my sip on the drink. I couldn't believe him!

"Get this over with quickly," I muttered to Yuna through gritted teeth.

She was not one to easily read, but somehow, I could see that she wanted this to be over, too, but didn't want to be the one to announce that. Of course, she planned this. But clearly, Hyoshin's enjoyment was not hers. Hyoshin shouldn't be enjoying something that should be an insult to him. I even got insulted even though this was not my party! Yuna's celebration didn't go as planned.

She should have called it over after the incident in the hotel but she didn't want to give that satisfaction to Hyoshin. Now he seemed to be getting the upper hand again.

"The shop will close at ten. We'll be done before that, so," was her simple answer with a shrug before our attention was caught by the presence getting inside the shop.

I heard audible gasps as they all witnessed August enter the room with oozing confidence. His hair was wild, probably because of his helmet, which was not with him as he walked in. He pulled the zipper of his jacket down on his way to the counter but halted after noticing everyone's eyes on him. But for some matter, his eyes landed on mine.

Series of startled gasps after gasps were evident in the room. From the corner of my eyes, I even noticed Yuna shifted on her feet as she witnessed August's dazzling blue eyes.

It was when August's face hardened that I remembered the dread of seeing my schoolmates here—in this shop, where he worked.

"Wait," someone broke the silence from behind us. I had a feeling she was one who got starstruck by August's presence but immediately recovered with realization. "He looks familiar." It was the girl on the locker, d*mn it!

My lips parted with growing fear.

"Right," a guy said. "You're the man from the news report. The one who molested an innocent schoolgirl."

It was a punch in the stomach. It definitely could make me faint with pain as I felt the judgment cut through my bones. Yuna and Hyoshin looked clueless, which was a good thing. But if these people here convinced them of the wrong accusations against August, it would be a nightmare.

As if this wasn't yet a nightmare?! Huh, Roxette?

A huge stone was in my throat at the horror shining through August's eyes. He was caught off guard, utterly startled. Even Lauren and Wax stiffened on their places, clearly knowing what the accusation meant.