LOGINCHOI JIYEON:“So while I was looking for them, they were spending their precious time in the abandoned art room? To think that I ignored Sam when he suggested I look for them there! Man, I feel like an idiot.” An openly irritated Jiyeon hissed through her clenched teeth, her eyes bulging with anger at the pictures on the blue screen of her phone.They were the pictures of David and Travis getting intimately close in the art room. Her face twisted with fury as her fingers scrolled through all thirty pictures. “My plan is going to waste!” She spat immediately after putting her phone away into the pocket of her denim jacket.She abruptly took in a deep breath and absent-mindedly sipped her cappuccino. Her fingers impatiently tapped on the table as if calculating all possibilities – in fact, she was. Just when she was about to take another sip, Kevin showed up out of nowhere and threw himself on a vacant chair opposite Jiyeon. His face was decorated by the usual grin, mocking anyone who l
[THE FOLLOWING DAY AT SCHOOL DURING LUNCH BREAK]…“No way. He seems happy to see me and to be with me. I…won’t ask him about anything. We are both happy. If I ask, it might ruin it.” A slightly agitated Travis thought to himself, his eyes wandering across the portrait of a flower he had just finished sketching. His right foot nervously danced as he thought of the pros and cons and a way forward.He was waiting for David to come with their lunch. A depressed sigh escaped from his red lips that he had been biting ever since David had gone to buy food for their lunch break.His eyes stared impatiently at the portrait whilst listening to his heart as it slowly drowned deep into misery and melancholy. “We will be fine. We are fine. He would tell me if it came to…that. No, there is nothing to tell, we are fine, really.” He murmured with uncertainty, as his fingers, that were holding a pencil, suddenly began trembling when an unwanted image flashed across his head, making his whole body con
BACK TO SCHOOLMorning came hastily without warning, but that alone was enough for Travis, whose heart could not stop jingling with mirth. Today, the schools were reopening, and for the first time in his life, he was happy to go back. There, he knew he would be free, no watchful eyes on him, and most importantly, he was finally going to see his boyfriend after so many days without contact.“He must have his reasons. Afterall, his mother is sick and needs his attention now and then.” Pacifying his heart before it went wild, Travis thought whilst getting himself dressed in his school uniform. Looking at himself in the mirror, he paused to smell the sweet scent on his blazer, and his mind quickly recalled David’s smile.He knew he had to hurry and leave; there was nothing left for him to do in the house.All thoughts of the disconnection between them flew out of his head as he rushed downstairs quietly, to be sure the owner of the house did not see or hear him.“Travis.” A familiar grave
Nothing.Absolutely nothing happened. No questions were asked. Life happened, and moved on like nothing had taken place in the Park Mansion. The days slipped away, and soon only one remained before the school reopened again. Poor Travis’s heart ached with restless longing. He could almost feel the warmth of his boyfriend’s arms, imagine the comfort of his embrace, and picture the joy of finally showering him with love once more.With mirth, his heart jingled in the center of his chest, ready to pop out anytime. However, something else overtook his senses, and that was the emotion he loathed the most, anxiety. It surfaced at the back of his throat, ready to clutter his system with venom.“He still hasn’t called or replied to my texts. It feels like I am forcing him…to love me, be in a relationship with me.” Travis silently said as he looked up at the ceiling, his smile dwindling while thoughts swam in every direction in his head. “What if…no! No what-ifs. He would have told me if he di
Later that night:A finger rhythmically tapped on the table, filling the whole room with ominous air. Arthur sat in a chair opposite his grandmother, whose head was leaning back on the chair, looking up, lost in thought.Her eyes were closed while her chest heaved, releasing the heaviness from her lungs. Right there, Arthur’s eyes were glued to the tongues of the fire, which were vigorously crashing into each other in the fireplace, not far from where he sat. From the fire, he shifted his glance to his grandmother, whose figure was slightly buried in the dark.He watched as the brightness of the fire illuminated her fairly wrinkled face, her pursed lips that were painted by a deep crimson lipstick, and a forehead that was decorated by the wrinkles of deep thought. “Just what are you thinking?” Arthur silently asked, whilst his eyes glided down on his grandmother’s figure, reading and following all her steady, yet anxious movements as she swayed in the chair.His eyes dilated as he beg
Air at last!Breathing heavily, Travis expressed through his clenched teeth, his eyes closing tightly as soon as the sun touched his face. Tears stung his eyes, making his vision blurry as soon as he opened them. He unconsciously lifted his head at the azure sky and allowed the wind to carelessly leave traces of kisses on his blushing skin.The heart? Well, it was flattering violently with long, suppressed happiness. Eyelids trembled as he tried to fight his tears, and in the end, he won. This…is freedom. This is the taste of freedom. This is where he could breathe.Freedom, the most important thing his heart has been yearning for, and finally, it could embrace it as if it let go, life would not make sense. Of course, it would not. “This!” He whispered to himself, his lips quivering into a smile while his fingers slowly balled into a pressure-free fist. “This is what it feels like to breathe!” He thought, a chuckle flying out of his trembling lips.There, his figure began to quake; a







