"What happened between you and Taehyun?" Beomgyu badgers me as soon as the class is over.
I left the room as soon as the bell rang but Beomgyu was in tow, following me with every step.
"I don't want to talk about it. I mean it" I say and keep my head calm and face straight as I move through the crowd.
"Stop walking away and talk to me. What happened?" he holds my elbow to stop me from walking away.
"Why don't you go ask Taehyun? He'll be happy to tell you" I snap at him.
I know he is not at fault or even responsible for Taehyun's behavior but I just can't get rid of the bitter taste that his words left in my mouth. And I also blame him for San's injury.
I blame all of them.
"I apologize for whatever Taehyun told to offend you. Trust me he is not that bad. He means good at the end of the day" Beomgyu defends and I have have it.
I stop in my tracks and whip around so I am facing him. I make sure he can see me clearly.
"You don't get to defend him. He is not a petulant little child. He chooses what he has to say and do and he is solely responsible for that. You don't get to apologize to him. You however are responsible. You sit and let him hurt someone for his pleasure. That is on you"
"What are you talking about?" he seemed perplexed with my rant.
"San told me that Taehyun was responsible for his injury last year" I admit and realization slowly draws upon him.
"Yuri that - that was a prank gone wrong. That was harmless"
"Yeah. To you. San was hospitalized and he was out of competition for the entire season. He always told me that it was an accident but I recently came to know that Taehyun was behind that accident" I snap at him.
I am angry.
I am angry at San. I am angry at Taehyun. I am angry at myself. And Beomgyu is in front of me. He is my scapegoat.
"I understand you're angry about it but that happened over a year ago. What Taehyun did was wrong. That's water under the bridge. Why are you getting so worked up about it now?" he seems frustrated with my reaction.
"Gee, I don't know because it was wrong? Who is he to come and comment on me and what I do or who I hang out with? Not to mention I met Soobin because you told me to talk to him in the first place." I point at him.
"I have tried giving you guys a chance. No matter how apprehensive I get, I always end up giving you guys a chance because I know rumors are just that - rumors.
"Some of you have actually helped me or been partially good to me and that makes me want to give you the benefit of the doubt but all of that for what? I even fought with my childhood friend." I know I am loud and there are students stopping in their tracks to watch our encounter.
"I wanted to give you all the benefit of the doubt but all for what? So that your friends can call me a gold digger? I don't want anything to do with you guys anymore. Any of you. So please, just leave me alone"
I don't wait for his reply. He stands there stunned into silence and I take that as my queue to leave.
I am sure if I stand here long enough Beomgyu will come up with a logical explanation that will make me believe that Taehyun didn't mean what he said but there was no other way he could have put it.
The only other, more obvious way was if he spelled it out.
I ignore the looks of surprise and scrutiny from the other students. I feel like I am under a microscope and I hate it. I want to cry but I stop myself enough to enter a bathroom and lock myself in a cubicle
I let myself finally cry.
I don't understand why I am so emotional. The Royals were not my friends. I didn't even want to get close to any of them.
So why was Taehyun's voice running on repeat through my head?
"Yuri? Are you here?" I hear Saehi's voice call out and I try to keep the sobs down. I don't want her to know I am here. I don't want her to see me like this.
"Beomgyu told me what happened and he sent me to check up on you," she says and I hear footsteps approaching slowly towards my stall.
Beomgyu's mention makes me cry harder and get angrier all at once.
I feel pathetic.
I took out my anger on Beomgyu when he didn't deserve it. I know he knew about the rift between Taehyuna and San and sided with San. He didn't deny when I blamed Taehyun for San's injury.
I should be angry at him.
But he was the first person in this damn school who was actually nice to me. I even thought I had made friends. And for whatever reason, Beomgyu was never rude to me. In fact, he has helped me. Included me.
I feel pathetic.
I took out all my frustration on him when he didn't deserve half of it.
And I go around behaving like the people who gossip about Royals and make assumptions are bad but that's what I did and I just called myself out in front of him. He must think I am pathetic.
Yet, he sent Saehi to check up on me.
I hear a ping on my phone and as I go to put it on silent, I see a message from Beomgyu.
I know you are angry. You have every right to be angry and lash out. I want to apologize on behalf of Taehyun. I am not defending him but since I am his friend I want to say that I feel bad that you had to hear those words.
I have talked with Taehyun and he promised me he will talk to you about the matter. All I ask is, at least give him a chance to explain. Nothing justifies what he said but at least let him apologize to you properly. He owes you that.
I know you don't want to talk to me right now and I understand that but I didn't want you to be alone. I explained everything to Saehi and asked her to check up on you. At least please talk to her.
And I am here when or if you want to talk to me.
I let out another sob, a loud one, once I was done reading his message.
I really have been a shitty friend and I don't even recognize myself. What is happening to me?
There is a light knock on the door and I stop sobbing.
"Hey, I know you're hurt. Taehyun is an ass. Don't let his words get to you. Don't let anyone's words get to you."
Saehi's voice comforts me but it's not much.
I try my best to get some semblance.
"I'm fine. You don't have to worry Saehi. You should go otherwise you'll be late for class" I hope I sound more convincing than I am.
"I know you're fine. I just wanted to be here."
I think after that she'll leave but I don't hear any footsteps and I know she'll stick around till I come out of the stall.
I wipe my face the best I can and hope that I don't look like a car wreck.
I open the door and come out to find Saehi leaning against the mirrors.
She has a look of relief on her face when she sees me and immediately pushes off the wall to come and envelope me in a bear hug.
I am too shocked to react at first but I finally speak.
"Saehi I am fine. It's okay. You don't have to worry" Again I hope I sound more convincing than I feel.
"I know. I have had a really terrible day today and I really wanted a hug" She squeezes me, still hugging me.
I finally put my arms around her and squeezed her back. I didn't know how much I really needed a hug.
"I am going to break Taehyun's nose for making you cry. Or better yet, I'll let his Tesla that he is so fond of" she threatens and I let out an involuntary laugh.
"Thank you"
"That's what friends are for"
A/n: sorry I kind of dropped off the face of the earth. My birthday week had been hectic and then I got swamped with work and honestly, my mental health wasn't at its high. All this combined led to delay in the update because I wasn't writing at all but I feel Bette tand I am writing again. These characters mean too much to me to not write about them.
Enough said. Hope you enjoyed this chapter.
All all those who read it, vote for it and comment on the chapters, I want to say I am sending you virtual hugs and ðª cookies. I love you all.