Hyunjin's Point of View
I approached her lone figure that was sitting on the sand. She was hugging her knees, staring into the horizon. Her once braided hair now fell into waves behind her. She did not bother fixing it, letting the wind brush it.
It was nearing midnight and the wind was blowing which complimented the calming waves of the ocean.
I placed my coat over her shoulders and kept quiet when I sat next to her. She spared me no glance. We sat there for a while, staring into nothingness. We ignored the distant sounds of the on-going party of her mother's wedding. With a sigh, she rested her head on my shoulder.
"Am I a bad daughter for ditching my mother's after party?" She asked softly.
My heart broke at her voice.
"No." I said firmly.
A sharp intake of breath and then the sleeves of my shirt began to dampen. She was crying. I pressed my eyes shut to repress the urge of looking at her. I knew for a fact that she rested her head over my shoulder since she did not want to be seen crying. I respected that, although I had to dig my hands onto the sand because it was simply too difficult.
I wanted nothing more but to wipe her tears away.
"Am I a bad person if I said that I was not happy with my mother getting married?" She asked, her voice smaller.
Fuck it.
I switched my position from sitting beside her to kneeling in front of her. I wasted no time in dusting my hands before cradling her face and wiping her tears. She looked up at me, her eyes filled with tears, looking so guilty.
"You have every right to feel whatever emotion you want. That will never make you a bad person." I looked right into her eyes. "You're allowed to feel, Miso." I said softly. "Your feelings are just as valid as everyone else's. Stop invalidating yourself." I added, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear.
Her lips quivered as her head fell, seeming to be ashamed. My heart fell with her tears.
I pulled her to my chest, hugging her. She sobbed quietly and I let her as I brushed her hair softly. I hated how she limited herself from everything.
"You're not alone, Miso." I murmured. "I'm always gonna be here."
She gripped on my shirt, dampening my shirt even more. When she mumbled something about ruining my shirt and began to move away, I pulled her closer.
I could not care less about the damn thing. I'd let her destroy all my clothes if it meant having her close.
When she had calmed down, I slowly pulled away to look at her. She kept her swollen eyes down on the sand, sniffing slightly. With a pout, she took several shuddering breaths. She looked more than a child than ever, I felt guilty for finding her adorable.
"I've been meaning to ask.." She started, her fingers slowly drawing random figures onto the sand. I bite back a smile when her already burning cheeks glowed even more. "Why do you like me?" She mumbled, avoiding my eyes. "I mean, when, I guess?" She added, unsure.
She wanted to change the subject.
I leaned back onto the sand with my arms propped up behind me as I kept my eyes on her.
Freshman Year
"Seungmin, I'm telling you if dad finds out you're already cutting classes on the first week, you're literally dead." Minho snarled at the phone in his hands.
I smirked at how the two brothers bickered. I blocked out the drawling of the older next to me and propped my arms on the railing of the upper deck, focusing on the mass of students that entered the school gates. From up there, you had a full view of the school's main entrance.
My eyes squinted involuntarily as I saw a crippled old lady from across the street who seemed to be shouting at a girl who wore our uniform. My head tilted to the side in confusion as the girl insisted on helping the lady cross the street. My brows jumped in surprise when the girl was pushed to the ground as the lady remained angry.
"What a bitch." Minho mumbled next to me who was also watching the scene unfold. I had not noticed that his phone call was over.
The girl immediately got up to her feet as the lady began crossing the street.
"That's not very nice, Minho." I said, my eyes not tearing from the girl.
"And so is she." Minho replied in a beat.
The lady crossed the street with the girl not far behind.
That went on for all year long up until one morning, I saw the girl leave flowers by the curb where she usually waited for the old lady.
Sophomore Year
With my hands tucked inside my pockets, I breezed my way through the hallways to go to the library. I had to borrow a Calculus book for dummies since Jeongin was a hopeless case.
I passed by the familiar bulletin board and hummed in wonder when I saw one of the posters missing.
"Good morning." I smiled at the librarian.
She smiled back. "Good morning."
"Did you finally find someone that could help out?" I asked, gesturing at the naked board with my thumb.
She sighed, seeming to be relieved. "Yes! Bless her. It's actually her first day today." She beamed.
I wasn't always in the library but at times that I do, it was always packed so I knew how hard it was for her to arrange all the books alone.
"Well, I pray you don't scare her away like the rest." I snickered to which she replied with a playful glare.
I chuckled before heading to one of the aisles to search for the book. I bowed respectfully when I passed by one of the repair man who was on top of a maintenance ladder, fixing a light bulb. I quickly scanned the shelves upon reaching the correct aisle although the buzzing in my pockets interrupted my streak.
"Hello?"
"Where are you? The quiz starts in exactly 24 hours!" Jeongin's frantic voice made me wince.
"That's more than enough time, Jeongin." I chuckled, finding his distress amusing.
"Not for idiots like me."
"Excuse me?" A voice chimed making me spin from where I was standing. It was the girl from last year. "You're not allowed to take phone calls inside." She said flatly with the cart of books in her hands. She must be the new staff. I haven't got the chance to fully look at her up until now. She was short. She had long dark brown hair and she was sporting a blank look but her big eyes had a glint of warmth in them. Her lips were pressed in a tight line that soon turned into a scowl. I grew embarrassed when I realised that I had been staring. "No phone calls." She said sternly.
"Hyunjin!"
I blinked several times to bring the reality back in. "R-right. Sorry." I mumbled before quickly ending the call.
She frowned before walking away, dragging the cart with her. I ran my hand through my black hair, slightly tugging at the roots in embarrassment. I sighed in frustration before plucking the book out of its place. I don't know how long I stood there, comforting myself into thinking that she would forget about me in two days tops.
"Hey, watch out!"
Crash.
I dashed out off the aisle in a rush upon hearing the commotion. The cart was on its side and the books littered the floor. I immediately went to the repair man's side who was also on the ground. I helped him sit up.
He groaned in pain just as his eyes quickly went wide. "Hey, you! Are you nuts?"
I then only noticed the ladder which was not upright but wasn't on the floor either. Craning my neck, I saw the girl's back. The ladder had hit her back! She quickly fixed it before turning to the freshman in front of her. "Are you hurt?" I heard her ask the younger.
The younger only shook her head, seeming to be in shock still before running away. The girl turned back to the maintenance man. "Are you okay, sir?"
The man next to me stood up with a huff. "Of course I am! Watch where you're going would you?" He spat, glaring.
The girl meekly nodded, muttering an apology and began to pick up the books.
Being friends with the principal's sons had its perks. And one of them was getting access to the security cameras.
That was the last day of the repair man in our school.
Junior Year
Chan and I stood near the main gates since we were both the class president of our classes, we were tasked to be the ones to ensure that the students are wearing the proper uniform. We were stationed up until 8:00 AM.
"Most catches owes the other tteokbokki, deal?" Chan smirked devilishly.
"Deal."
Our morning consisted of nitpicking at our fellow students who wore earrings or makeup and those who had incomplete uniform. If we catch someone neglecting the rules, they will lose points that will reflect on the final grades. Fortunately, Chan and I were well known and was friends with almost everyone so there was no hard feelings. If anything, they were glad we paid them attention.
It was 7:58 AM.
"11 to 10. Prepare your lunch money." I smirked.
Chan pouted next to me but his face literally lit up in the next second. "No! It's a tie!" He stuck his tongue out, looking at something behind me. "Thank you, Miso!" He cheered silently.
I followed his line of view and saw the girl sprinting as she frantically put a hoodie over her to probably hide the fact that her blazer was missing.
"You know her?" I asked, surprised.
"Yeah. She's my classmate, why?" Chan replied giddily, preparing to stop her. Before Chan could call her out when she was within earshot, I stopped him by putting a hand over his shoulder.
"Let this one pass. I'll buy the tteokbokki."
That afternoon, when we went to buy the rice cakes, I saw a beggar clad in one of our school's blazer with the name Park Miso embroidered on the side.
Senior Year
"Seriously, Hyunjin. You've been simping over this girl for years and you still haven't got the balls to talk to her?" Jisung asked incredulously.
I glared at him as I nudged his ribs not so gently when I saw her enter the building. She looked tired.
"Your hair's literally turning white from all the years that have passed." He mumbled, taking a bite of the brownie Felix had baked.
I subconsciously ran a hand through my hair. "It's not even platinum blonde." I said, lamely. "Leave me alone. I just want to make an impression." I added in a low voice as she passed us to climb the stairs.
"I can help with that." Jisung snickered mischievously.
Before I could comprehend what he meant, it was already too late to stop him and all hell had broken loose.
I don't know how long I sat on the floor laughing. My jaw was undoubtedly in pain but I couldn't seem to stop.
"What the hell happened?" Felix appeared slack-jawed, with more brownies.
"The girl punched him. It's about time he let his existence be known." Jisung did not bother to help me up and instead went straight to the desserts.
"Oh." Felix nodded in understanding. "You think she hit his head too hard?" He asked, nonchalantly handing the plate to Jisung before crossing his arms.
Jisung merely shrugged. "He said he wanted to make an impression not a good impression."
I didn't know if I should thank Jisung or not.
I spent the rest of senior year making up for the lost years of liking her from afar. I went as far as pretending to be dumb when in reality I had mastered the subject even before I stepped into high school to making up excuses so I could spend more time with her to asking Seungmin to require the school trip.
~
"Yeah. I'm on my way." I said into the phone as I swung my bag that had my swimwear and extra clothes inside.
"I can't believe Jeongin and Jisung left you." Seungmin laughed.
"I can't believe I didn't when I met them in kindergarten." I rolled my eyes, glancing at my reflection by the window one last time.
There was some rustling and I already moved my phone further from my ear. "Hey it's not our fault you overslept!" Jisung screeched into the phone.
"Whatever." I ended the call.
Seungmin decided to spontaneously throw a pool party and since I had already studied for the upcoming exams and had nothing better to do, I figured why not? Maybe I could drown Jisung in the process for the shit he pulled the other day.
The thought of seeing him choke for air made me smile but it quickly dispersed into nothingness when I saw Miso walking wobbly across the school yard. She looked tired again. I move closer to the window to catch a better view. I bit back a smile when she tripped over nothing. I wasn't able to hold back the laugh when she faked tying her shoe laces and awkwardly patted her hair down while looking for any witnesses before brisk walking away into the library's building.
That's right. It was Saturday. It was her shift at the library. I shot a look at the clock and decided that I still had some time to kill. I shrugged the bag off before making my way towards the building.
That didn't go the way that I planned. What was supposed to be an hour of tedious and pointless calculus session turned into a trip to Itaewon. And I'm certainly not complaining. Not to mention, -even if she denied it- it was extremely satisfying to see her reaction with my dancing skills.
I almost felt sorry for missing Seungmin's party but his brother, Minho, just had to show up and sabotage me. In the end, I found myself slumping down in one of Seungmin's sun lounger by the pool.
"Took you long enough." Jisung swam to my direction, propping his arms on the tiles. I ignored his comment and focused on my detailed text about how I was going to murder Minho for saying that I had a girlfriend in front of Miso.
Jeongin followed suit with a pout. "You ditched us for a date but why does your expression say we're the ones in the wrong?" He joined his hands together and squirted water in my face.
I growled in annoyance before wiping my cheek. "Quit it."
Seungmin, who was lying comfortably on a yellow floater laughed loudly. "What got your panties in a twist?"
I frowned, running my hands through my hair. And so I filled them in on what happened and much to my dismay, but oddly expected, my so called 'friends' only laughed.
"Why didn't you explain?"
"She left with him before I could get the chance." I sighed.
"Maybe they are in a relationship. My brother's a catch, it's not impossible." Seungmin shrugged nonchalantly.
"Did you just call your brother hot?" Felix who was playing floatie race with Chan, teased.
Seungmin glared in return. "I'm going to drown you."
Brothers!
I sat upright when I realised that Seungmin was the principal's son. I can't believe I forgot. "Say, Seungmin. Is it possible for you to ask your dad to require the school trip?" I asked.
He scoffed. "Of course I can but I won't." He looked at me incredulously. "I'm not even going. What if I get a broken leg or something." His lips curled.
"Do it or I'll tell your father you cut class more than you attend."
At that, he fell from the floater. He rose to the surface with a huff, obviously taken aback. "What? Why?" He exclaimed.
I shrugged nonchalantly. "Minho happened."
Seungmin's jaw fell. "Why am I the one paying?"
"Blood runs deep."
~
Kind of pathetic, really. Although, in my defence, I didn't want to overwhelm her by exposing my feelings, when to her, we had only met.
Initially, I only found her selflessness interesting. I wondered how someone could be so kind but as the years passed, the interest grew into something more.
It was our final year and I was desperate to get close to her and to be frank, it was definitely not easy. I could tell that it was difficult for her to open up but I was patient and more than willing to stay. And I'm glad that I did. Everything I perceived her to be turned out to be true and even better.
"Hyunjin?" Her voice brought me back to reality. She blinked at me innocently.
A chuckle escaped as I ran my fingers through my hair. "I guess I fell in love with your Pororo shorts." I shrugged.
She clicked her tongue in annoyance, raised her small fist as an attempt of threatening me. Instead, I laughed at how embarrassed she seemed. "I hate you." She glared.
I took her hands in mine, playing with her fingers. "No, you don't."
"Yeah, I do." She pried her hand away, looking away.
I smirked. With a finger, I tilted her face back to my direction and placed a long peck on her lips. She was obviously surprised. I slightly pulled away meeting her eyes. She was blushing even harder. I gave her lips a short peck before planning to fully pull away. "How can you hate your own boyfriend?" I teased, about to move away.
My brows raised in surprise when her hands found their way behind my neck, preventing me from pulling away. She tugged on my hair slightly as she stared right into my eyes.
"Yeah. How can I?"
Then she finally kissed me.
~ e n d.
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