She Belongs To Him

Chapter 3 : Piggy Back Ride

A Few Days Later

There are numbers and letters on the board. The teacher's talking but I don't understand anything.

And I also feel like my head's about to explode from how behind i am with the lessons. I tangle my fingers around my hair, tugging to release the tension built up from the minutes spent cooped up in this subject.

Suddenly the idea of dying doesn't seem so bad.

"Class' dismissed." Echoes of chairs screeching and students leaving soon follow the teacher's words.

As as I pull my chair back and stand, I begin dumping my books inside my bag before swinging it over my shoulder. School time's boring without my closest friend.

The sky today promises good weather when it's time to return home.

It's been a couple of days since the suprise party happened. Unfortunately, my best friend Callyx and his parents weren't able to push through with their trip of going to Jeju.

And when i was informed it was because of a sudden cold he had caught, guilt flooded my veins.

It's probably because of what you did on his birthday. If only i hadn't dumped a bucket of cold water at him, then he'd be currently enjoying his time. i really ruined this for him. Me and Matt.

I let out a sigh as you exit the classroom only to be met by the noisy hallway. It's boring when my usual circle of friends isn't around. I understand why Callyx isn't here, but what reason does Matt and Josh, and the rest of my friends have for skipping school?

I wonder how Callyx's doing.

It's not like I haven't tried visiting him or anything, because I have. But it just so happens that whenever I'd go to his house, I'd either be met with silence or with a blond Josh giving me weird excuses. I figured that perhaps, he just didn't want me to see the sick guy.

"He has a monkey pox, and it's dangerous." He had told me when I had tried visiting Callyx again, to which i had just given him a weird stare in exchange. After that day, I pretty much got the message that they wanted to hog Callyx up for themselves. So I stopped visiting.

But I did try calling him on the phone and even texted to ask how he was. He never replied though.

I shake my head to disperse the thought. I've got way too many things to be concerned about than my friends' weird behaviors. Like the pop quiz tomorrow. Just the thought of it rips a groan from my throat. The subject teacher got so annoyed at this one student and thought it would be be a good idea to torture the whole class for it.

So much for getting some sleep this afternoon. And to to top it all off, his subject just had to be physics.

I continue to stride across the hallway, lazy, exhausted eyes looking forward. Funny how I feel like a zombie right now. Then again, I did not exactly get enough sleep last night. I blame your favorite drama for that. And my brother too.

If he was home, then he'd have made sure I got to bed in time. But these days, he barely even shows up at home.

I reach my locker and begin stuffing books I won't be using for the next hour. It's better to have a light bag when you walk around this building after all. It doesn't help at all that I have to climb up five flights of stairs for my next class.

I roll your eyes up to heaven.

More reason to sleep later on. But you know I can't. If I want to graduate, I have to do well in my academics. My parents' expecting you to do well too and I can't let them down.

As I mumble complaints under my breath, my ears pick up a bunch of familiar voices.

Voices I haven't heard for a while now. And they're not far away.

When I turn to find the source of the voice, the brown bush of my brother's hair the first thing I notice.

And he's not alone. My other missing friend's walking beside him, seemingly engaged in a conversation.

When nt brother eventually looks up and notices ne staring, the smile across his face fades like lightning only to be replaced by a look of nervousness and guilt.

And shock.

I send him a warning glare. As if to tell him that he better stay put.

They can't run away now that they know I saw them. Right after the party, they disappeared without a trace and my brother never returned home ever since.

I want to talk to him about it.

When he sees the firm expression on my face, Hyungwon knows for a fact that he's in for a long talk.

I watch as his adam's apple bob when he gulps a lump down. I slam my locker shut and begin making my way towards them.

What I didn't expect was for him to start running.

"Hey!" I shout, semi surprised since I really didn't expect them to take off. I mean, Im not that scary when I'm angry. So why run?

But now that they're running for their life, Im assured that they're definitely hiding something. And now im determined to find out what it is exactly that's got these boys on high alert.

They're fast.

Really fast.

Then again, they're tall, and as much as id hate to admit it, my height's nowhere as close to there's. At this rate, ill have to corner them some other time since i next class' bound to start in the next five minutes.

I halt in your steps, watching the bodies of my brother Hyungwon and Josh disappear in the corner. Groaning, i then turn my heel and begin making my way to my next class.

"After school." I mumble to yourself, clenching the strap of my bag tightly.

They won't be able to escape me then.

A Couple Of Hours Later

The orange gold stretches far and wide, the colour of fire hearths and tangerines. It is but the reflection of the dawn, the promise of the rising sun that comes after the velvety night has had its say and the land has rested once more.

I were right about the weather looking good.

Now that class's finally over, I race for the school gate and hope with all your heart that my brother hasn't left yet. If I happen to miss him, then there's no saying when you'll be able to see him again.

I need answers to my questions. He disappeared the same time the guys did. So in a hundred percent sure he's been with them all this time. If he happens to deny it, however, ill bite his finger off.

Much to my surprise, Hyungwon's standing by the gate together with Josh. It looks like they're waiting for someone though.

I ignore the eye smile and cute wave of Josh, passing him to grab the earlobe of Hyungwon instead. He hasn't been home since forever so he deserves the pain. And much more. Does he think It's a good idea to leave a minor on their own at night in a house fit enough for four people? I still get frightened by the darkness of my closet for goodness sake.

"E-eira, wait. I can explain. Let go-ah! " He winces, trying to pry my pinching fingers off. Lucky for him, I don't want to make a scene. At least not here at school.

I roll my eyes for god known how much today as I let go. Hyungwon releases colorful words from his lips, rubbing the portion of his ear. He fixes his posture and glares at Josh whose stifling a laugh.

"Where were you?" I ask him with no time to lose. There's a firm expression contouring my face and I expect Hyungwon to be aware of the situation. "Why didn't you come home? Do you know how many excuses I had to come up with just to tell mom and dad why you're not home?"

Hyungwon's eyes widen like saucers. "You didn't tell them I skipped school right?"

He asks, hoping you really didn't tell them. I run my fingers across my hair in a frustrated manner as I close my eyes and take a deep breath. Although I may be scary at times, I'm not really that bad.

Josh clears his throat and subtly nudges Hyunwon the elbow. I catch on to that but don't question why It's like my brother's being reminded of something.

I watch them exchange knowing glances.

"Eira, can you come with us?" Hyunwon eventually says after fixing his posture.

"Where?" I ask, semi annoyed. He hasn't even answered my question yet here he is asking me one.

"You see." He trails off and I lift an eyebrow. Hyunwon rubs the back of his neck and looks at his surroundings like he's finding for words to say next.

"Callyx wants to see you."

"His fever is gone now, and he really wants to see you"

Josh adds for him, sending me a smile that's not as bright as the usual smiles he'd normally give me.

That's it?

I almost want to laugh at how ridiculous they just sound. They're acting nervous all because Callyx wants to see me?

"About time." I murmur under my breath, clenching the strap of my bag as I begin walking towards the direction of Callyx's house.

Josh stops me by suddenly grabbing my wrist. I turn to him with a raised eyebrow.

He points towards a path that eventually leads to a forest close to the city. I can't exactly see it from here, but it's there after a few minutes of walking.

"Now before you begin saying weird things, they have a little hide out-" Hyungwon starts only to be stopped by me.

"And why didn't I know about this?"

Im their friend. Shouldn't I at least be aware of this? Then again, that hide out's probably the only place they can hang out. Like a boys' escape place. Now that I think about it, it doesn't matter anymore.

"Can we go now? I don't think Callyx can wait any longer. "Josh says, glancing at his watch. It's weird how he almost sounds desperate and scared?

Although I told yourself that it doesn't matter that they hid about the existent of their hide-out, im a little hurt. I'll blame my school for this feeling. The lectures made me stress and that's probably why im feeling so sensitive right now.

"No, if Callyx wants to see me, then tell him to show his butt in front of my house." I tell them. "I'm going home."

I turn my heel and start making my way home. I heard them releasing a sigh before catching up to me. Halfway to my house, you decided to speak up since it seemed like they were in deep thoughts.

And believe it or not, the silence was killing me.

"Hyungwon." My brother lifts his head at my call.

"Yeah?"

"Carry me"

"No thank you." He blanches and stirs his gaze elsewhere.

"But I'm tired." And in not lying. The usual time span to get to school from my house would take about an hour on foot. Normally, id get a ride from your brother. But he hasn't been home for a while now, you had no choice but to walk.

Why don't I public transportation though?

There's a reason for that too.

Since me brother doesn't trust me enough when it comes to money - worried ill waste all me allowance on useless things such as merchandise and junk food - he held on to tlowance and only gives me a certain amount. Of course, he doesn't use the rest of ne allowance for his own. He actually sets them aside and swears he'll give them all to you once he thinks ive matured enough.

I wonder how long that'll take.

Our mother and father run the fourth most richest company in the country while Callyx parents take third place.

So the reason why I didn't take transportation is that he forgot to lend me some money.

"Please?" I pinch my lips into a pout.

"I can give you a piggyback ride if you wa-" Josh gets cut off when I suddenly jump on his back.

Perks of having guys as friends. If my brother isn't kind enough to give ne back rides, then trust at least one of them to do it.

I wrap my arms around his neck and place my chin on his shoulder.

"I didn't know you work out." I comment, enticed by the feeling of his muscles.

Josh smirks smirks, glancing behind him. "Now you know." He secures his arms under my legs before proceeding with his tracks.

A few minutes later, his phone starts ringing and he picks it up.

The guy manages to still carry me with one arm, much to ny surprise. But just in case I fall, I make sure to lean against him and hug him tighter. I don't want to fall.

And since he's giving me a piggy back ride, I can hear the person from the other side of the line.

"Hello?"

" Where are you? " It was Mark. And judging by the sound of his voice, he sounds frustrated for some reason. "You were supposed to bring Eir-"

Josh cuts him off with a loud laugh." We decided to stop by Eira's place for a while."

Josh notices I was slightly slipping so he jumps a little to bring me back up, releasing a grunt in the process.

It catches the attention of someone.

"What was that? Where's Eira?" Mark asks.

"I'm here. You all better have a good explanation why you guys didn't show up for school this past few days." Sitting in the classroom with no one to bother really sucks. I almost died from boredom.

"Is the phone on loud speaker?"

Josh looks hesitant to respond." Aumm.. No, I'm giving her a piggyback ride but it seems like little missy here doesn't clearly understand what privacy means."

"A piggy back ride?" Mark says.

Another voice can be heard on the other side of the line.

"Who's giving a piggy ride to who?"

Mark sighs. "It's nothing Callyx, Josh just gave Eira a piggyb-"

"You're joking. " It surprises me how Callyx sounded angry just now. "Tell her to put her down now or I swea-"

Josh ends up ending the call before I can hear anything else. Much to my dismay. He shoves his phone back into pocket and silently proceeds to walk the the road.

I on the other wonder why Callyx said what he said.

And how he somehow almost sounded so possessive?