I didn’t know what possessed me in this very regular day but I managed to wake an hour earlier than usual. Couldn’t go back to sleep, I decided to have my routines might as well an hour in prior. It was such early in the morning that skipping breakfast was the best choice I could manage. Taking a carton of milk from the fridge to at least keep me filled, I wrote a note for my sister and father; they shouldn’t be worried. I left the house as soon as I was done and met the morning outside.

It wasn’t the typical good morning that one had usually imagined. Despite the brightly shone morning sunrays, the weather was presumably cold due to the breeze that softly blowing from the south. I fixed my hair behind my ears as it became such a burden. I walked on the not-so-busy road –a lot of elders were walking but it couldn’t be compared to how it was in working hour. Men in neat shirts and coffee in their hands, some college students reading their books, and also middle-aged women whom took a nice morning walk.

My bus came right as I halted at my stop. This was my first time riding it since usually dad sent us off. Luckily Nayeon taught me the way and it came in handy as for now. I took the seat at the front. Now I ought to enjoy the drive.

Not much people were present when I arrived at school, just exactly like what I thought. Few individuals already came, mostly those studying monsters that book always stuck under their noses. Thinking the class would be empty; I went to the field instead and sat on one of the tribunes. Having a sigh, I took the milk out of my pocket and had a sip.

My eyes scanned the green field before me. This school was in fact more beautiful than I thought (or was it because it was still early?). Slight fog was in the air, like in those cliché horror movies. It was really peaceful. I really enjoyed the calm and serene ambience; it calmed me in a way. I thought I might consider going here more often at the same time as today to take the pleasure.

The peace was soon interrupted as noises were heard behind me. I twisted around, looked up, and found the smiling senior who helped me walking along with Donghyuk. I couldn’t be certain if it was because both of them were joking with each other or it was just his nature but once again, the smile never left his face. I automatically smiled; it was contagious.

“They must be close,” I mumbled quietly. I then spent another minute or two before students started pouring in and it was my cue to leave.

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“I really don’t understand why you guys are insisting like this,” I confessed a little bit in frustration, trailing along behind the three boys.

It was lunch break already and right after Mr. Jun finished his history lecturer those three hurriedly asking me to keep my promise (it was actually only the two who came in rush while Junhoe was just lazily followed along). Now, here we were, walking together to the cafeteria. The boys gave no response for my question. I had quite bad feeling about this.

As we entered the hall where everyone happily enjoyed amazing hand-made thing called food, few people threw their glances at us but shortly they went back to their own business. Soon the boys slowed down and stopped at one particular and occupied table, the farthest one, the one right against the wall. I mentally frowned at this. I thought we only were going to have a table for four? Was it not?

They greeted the person(s) who already sat on the table cheerfully. “Hyung this is her,” Chanwoo introduced. What kind of introduction was that? Was I a thing to sell? After Chanwoo did his first words, the three parted and gave me a view of who was/were sitting.

I glared at Chanwoo who happily took his seat. He didn’t mention it beforehand that there were going to be other people. When I noticed who they were (yes, it was more than one person, four in fact), I really wanted to murder those three.

“Hello Sunbaenim,” I chose to greet, trying to sound as polite as I could despite my annoyance. As I realized the position I was in, I felt greatly embarrassed. I was standing in front of the table while there were seven persons having themselves comfortable, sitting, as they looked at me intently. I felt so conscious of myself and shy under their gazes. I could feel my heart pounded faster inside. This was very awkward, at least for me.

“It’s you!” one of them exclaimed which took my attention. “Take a seat,” he offered kindly after.

It was the smiling senior. I mumbled a thank you and smiled in gratitude. The table was rectangular, a combination of two tables, and 4 seats on two of the sides, which was good perfect number to fit us in. I sat on the vacant spot they left for me, which was in the middle. Donghyuk was on my left, and on my right was a senior I didn’t know yet and beside him was Junhoe. On the opposite sides, facing Donghyuk, was Chanwoo, then two other seniors and then smiling senior.

“Hi, I’m Jinhwan,” the guy beside me spoke, offering his hand for a shake. I smiled a bit, and nodded my head and took his hand.

He smiled at me warmly. “I’m Han Yeonjoo,” I replied.

“It’s Jiwon!” the one that sat across Jinhwan exclaimed, a little bit too vigorously. His eyes suddenly lost as he grinned widely. I repeated my introduction and also shook his hands. Then the rest two people introduced themselves followed after. I figured out that the one in front of me was named Hanbin and at the opposite end, the smiling senior, addressing himself as Yunhyeong. Again, I introduced my name each time.

“You are kind of…-“ Hanbin trailed off. It seemed he still hadn’t found the right words yet. “Different from what I thought?” he added, a slight interrogative tone at the end. I didn’t know whether he made a statement or a question.

“I heard that a lot Sunbaenim,” I decided to reply.

He flustered and quickly clarified, “Not negatively I mean. It’s positive.”

I only smiled at him, didn’t know what response I should give. “You are more charming than what I thought you’d be,” added Hanbin kindly. A blush, as I could feel, crept into my cheeks. I just hoped it went unnoticed.

“Thank you Sunbaenim.”

Just then Yunhyeong spoke, “Anyway, drop the ‘sunbaenim’ word. Just call us by name. Make yourself comfortable, Yeonjoo.” I looked at Yunhyeong and nodded my head slightly.

“True. Forget we are one year above you,” Jiwon said in agreement.

“Wait, we call you ‘Hyung’!” Chanwoo bent a bit to look at Yunhyeong and Jiwon in protest. Scoffing, Hanbin commented, “She’s different. You can’t object to that.” Chanwoo then shook his head disapprovingly but said nothing afterwards.

A moment later, Hanbin suddenly leaned forward, and rested his chin after propping his elbow on the table. “Tell us about you,” he said, smiling. I jerked backward a bit, gulping, at the sudden action. I heard the others were snickering around me. My heart pounded again and I tried myself to soothe it.

“I..I-” I started with stutter and my next words rebelled to come out. “Mmm.. Nothing interesting about me. I’m just..”I’m just Han Yeonjoo.” Hanbin’s eyes were on me the entire time and it sent shiver down to my spine. I tried to look elsewhere but him.

He hummed in response and straightened his back. “What do you want to eat?” he asked instead, dropping the previous subject since I wasn’t being really responsive. I refused his offer politely, saying I was just full but Hanbin wasn’t convinced. “Donghyuk told me he saw you were in the field and presented so early this morning. I don’t believe you came with your stomach filled with breakfast,” Yunhyeong countered.

“It’s okay Yeonjoo. Say what you want. Hanbin will get it for you,” Jinhwan said as I could feel a pat on my hair.

I then answered that I’d get it myself and got up but Hanbin stopped me. “I want to get it for you, name it!” he demanded.

Hanbin looked at me expectantly, waiting for my reply. Giving up, I told him I wanted a sandwich and with that he dashed off, Chanwoo tagged along. My eyes were following him until Jinhwan tugged on my sleeve, telling me to sit back down.

“Why don’t you say something Junhoe? She’s finally here!” Jiwon said after a moment. His words caught my interest as I looked at Junhoe. What did it mean? Was he really expecting me? Junhoe glared at the elder as response. Since I still had my eyes on him, Junhoe turned to me, asking a ‘what?’ with his facial expression. I sneered at him and went to Jiwon instead for explanation.

Jiwon laughed a bit before informed me, “He was mad yesterday at how you refused to come. But now when you’re here, he says and acts nothing.” Jiwon looked at Junhoe mockingly. I turned again to the said boy, raising my brows.

“You know it isn’t like that Hyung!” he objected. He opened his mouth to say something but quickly close it and waved the subject off, saying it wasn’t worth any explanation for.

Then the remaining boys discussed matters I didn’t know. I was silent the whole time as I listened to their conversation. Hanbin, who brought my sandwich, and Chanwoo, who got the other’s lunches, came for interruption and distributed them. Hanbin put the sandwich and banana milk in front of me. Wait, how did he?

I looked up to him in confusion as he went back to his seat. He sent me a warm smile. I tried to look for an answer for my unspoken inquiry but I found nothing. Noticing my bewilderment, Hanbin scratched the back of his head and said, “I’ve got you double since I figured out you’d be really hungry.”

My attention turned to the sandwich and now that he mentioned it, I realized it was served double. No, the sandwich wasn’t the problem. The banana milk was. How did he know? I swear I didn’t say anything other than sandwich. Thanking him, I took a bite of my sandwich and munched it slowly, trying to figure out how knew about my favorite drink.

“Hey, I heard you came from Daegu. I came from there too. My parents live there,” Yunhyeong said. I stopped eating and looked at him in amusement.

“Really?”

He nodded. “How come you came from Daegu? I mean Nayeon lives in Seoul all along.” he asked me. The others nodded their heads and expected an answer.

These boys were kind so far but I didn’t think I trusted them yet that I could share personal matters. I pressed my lips together and took a breath.

I opened my mouth to give answer that most likely avoid the question but Jinhwan cut me off, “I think it’s somewhat personal and she’s not comfortable sharing that fact with us yet.”

I looked at the senior beside me and smiled in gratefulness. He turned to me and one corner of his lips tugged up slightly.

Since I just got to know them, again, I was left behind their conversation. I couldn’t join in and I was glad for that. Knowing the topic and forced to blend in was kind of hard for me. Jinhwan actually tried to include me in the conversation by asking my opinion on things but I ended up answered short and still couldn’t join until the end. But I enjoyed seeing these boys.  I smiled mentally at their interaction. Though there was , but they looked more like brothers. I and Nayeon, who blood-related siblings, didn’t even communicate the way they did.

Not long after the bell rang and we ought to be back to class. “See you again Yeonjoo,” Jiwon waved at me happily as us eight parted in the corridor. I waved back with a smile.  Jinhwan smiled sincerely and Yunhyeong was giving his signature smile while Hanbin just nodded coolly.

---

The rest of the class went considerably fast. My classmates were all leaving already, I was all alone. My eyes went back and forth from my book and to the whiteboard. Just when I had undivided focus, someone made noisy entrance. I turned to see the distraction and it was Gaeun.

“Why did you do that?” she exclaimed with no warning, standing beside my table. “What did I do?” I protested, not taking my attention from my note. Gaeun was sounded really accusing and I couldn’t accept that fact when I’d done nothing wrong, not to her at least.

Gaeun sighed.” Why were you with those boys?” she cleared up.

This time, I turned to her. “Them?” Gaeun nodded eagerly. “What’s with them?” I continued, back to jotting down my notes.

“They are bad people Yeonjoo. Why are you being friends with them?”

I said no reply and decided to finish my notes. I was almost done. Gaeun patiently waited and said nothing. She understood that I need to take end this soon. Finally, I closed my book with a relief sigh. I packed my pencils, pens, and eraser back to my pencil case and shoved my books and the case inside. When I got it done, I twisted my body and face Gaeun.

I shook my head at her, “They aren’t bad Gaeun. Why would you think that?”

Gaeun rolled her eyes, she seemed annoyed. “There are rumors about them. Very bad.” Chuckled, I asked her how bad it was.

“People said they’re really bad people. They deal with drugs, they drink, they smoke, and they play girls!” As much as Gaeun was seriously saying this, it couldn’t help but sounded ridiculous to my ear. Was she being sane? Hearing no response from me, she chided again, “The worst one is that it said they sleep with Ahjummas to get money.”

My mouth gaped at her in amusement. Were those even real? How could she fell for that kind of rumors? “This school has too much rumors Gaeun, and most of them are lies.” I objected. Gaeun didn’t look satisfied and she continued, “But they could be indeed bad, Yeonjoo.”

Having my hands on her shoulders, I reassured, “If things are going wrong, I know how to take care of myself. Besides, I heard a lot of bad rumors about me but you still willing to be friend with me.” Gaeun was about to counter back and I quickly cut her off, “They’re nice so far, don’t worry.”

Nodding, Gaeun then excused herself, saying she got her mother waiting already. I stood up, wearing my backpack and left the class. I was walking on the hallway and arrived at the gate when I got to meet Jinhwan.

“Going home?” he asked casually. I gave him a nod and we both ended up walking together. “Why so late?” he asked again. “Notes to take Sunbaenim,” I answered. Jinhwan frowned at my words and he reminded me, “I thought we already told you to call us by names. Just Jinhwan is fine.”

“I just think it was kind of rude for me to do so,” I admitted sheepishly. Jinhwan ‘tch’ed and said it was all right. “It is weird to have us called ‘Oppa’ so name would be much preferable,” he reasoned.

“How do you find the boys?” He questioned then, rather sounded hopeful. I smiled and told him they were really great and nice. “I’m glad then.” After that, we walked in silence and I thought he was really nice person. And I also started to think my favoritism began to change to him.

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