Chapter 1

"Yah!" I called back to the person who ran past me. "Watch where you're going!"

I bent down and started piling my books and papers up. "The hall's way too big for these kinds of things. He could've at least avoided me. I'm not that short to not see and I'm not thin to be unnoticeable." I muttered.

I didn't notice the figure beside me until I heard a voice, I was startled, "I'm really... sorry." My head shot up to look at the owner of the voice. He was panting hard, sweat running down his face. His hair was a mess like he had been running for a long time.

My eyes found his big, round ones and I saw the sincerity of his apology. I looked down again, trying to avoid eye contact, to gather all of my things and said, "It's fine". I don't know why, but I felt something from the pit of my stomach when our eyes met.

I didn't even noticed that he reached down to help me. All I saw was his a pile of books and papers on my right. I took his pile and put it on mine when he said, "Uhm. Can I ask you something?"

Well, you're asking me now aren't you?

"Sure." I retorted.

"Do you know any good places to hide in?"

I looked at him with disbelief. A "are-you-kidding-me" kind of look.

"Nonononono... I'm not kidding." He said when he realized the meaning behind my look. "You see... There are people, a lot of them, who are chasing after me. I just need a place where I can stay and wait for them to pass by or give up on me." His words came out in a rush. He looked really disturbed about it.

"Come with me." I finally said, wanting to end all of this, so she could go back to studying.

"Where?" he asked. His looked funny and cute at the same time with his head tilted to the side. His eyebrows scrunched together and lips slightly pouting.

"In there." I pointed to the library's entrance. I tried to contain my laugh, but his face was just so epic that it was hard for me to hold it in. It came out as snort instead. It made him laugh. Then, his head turned to the left. He looked like he was straining to hear something.

"What? Did something ha-" As I turned my head, loud noises, feet scrambling, and people shouting. "I know that he didn't get that far away from us~ Come on!" I heard one of them say.

"Are they the ones who're chasing after you?"

"Unfortunately, yes." He looked at me. His face was pale.

"Come on then!" I grabbed his hand and pulled him inside the library. I didn't let go of his hand until we were at the very corner of the library, where a lot of books have already been forgotten. It was my favorite place.

I was about to let go of his hand, but his grip on mine became tighter. He's worried. I said to myself.

"It's fine. They won't go all the way back here."

"You don't know that. They might-" We both looked up and faced the direction of the aisle that was on our right side. We heard people talking. I looked back at him and his face turned even paler. This is not good at all.

"Unnie! He might be at the very end!" We heard one girl said.

His grip became even tighter, so I pulled him far away from the center aisle. I didn't want to step in, but at the same time, I didn't want to see him like that. So pale that he looked like he'd pass out any minute.

I tried to free my hand from his, but he won't let go. Such a kid.

"Let go." I whispered.

"No."

"I need to go."

"Where?" He looked like he started to panic. Uh-oh. I'm making this worse!

"Trust me."

"But!" He can be stubborn. Damn.

"Fine. Don't let go, but don't let yourself be seen."

We both walked to the aisle. I peeked out and saw a lot of girls looking in all of the aisles. I went out a little, making sure they don't see the hand I was holding. Then, I said, "Could you quiet down?"

All their heads snapped to my direction. Their faces turned sour, that they looked hateful. "Why? Do you work here? If not, you better just shut up and mind your own business." I recognize her voice. The one from the hall.

"Yeah, I work here. So, if you want, I will ask you more politely than the first one." I breathe in, trying not to stress myself too much. Breathe in. Breathe out.

"Could you please quiet down? Or you will have to leave." I tried to make my voice authoritative. I didn't think I did a good job.

Silence. Oh, silence, so nice of you to show up. Really?

"Tch." It broke the silence hanging around the air. "Come on. I doubt that he's even here." A girl stepped up from the pile and walked to the side of the other girl.

"But unnie, we haven't even checked the whole-"

"I said come on!" The other girl immediately fell silent and hesitated to follow the older girl. As one last gift of parting, she shot me with a nasty look then turned away to the other direction.

I felt the hand holding mine relaxed. He didn't let go, but I... I actually didn't mind him holding my hands anymore.