The next day Seunghyun sat in class, drifting in and out of sleep. He hadn’t slept well the night before. He rested his head on his hand and gazed out the window at the cherry blossoms across the street. How soft and sweet they looked from afar, like light pink pom poms that could tickle you softly and make you squirm from their feather like touch. Slowly in his relaxed state he started thinking about Jiyong. How would his skin feel? Would it feel as soft as those petals? He shook his head, trying to rid himself of the thoughts.

Looking down at his textbook he realized he was on the wrong subject. A full hour had passed and he hadn’t even noticed. Sighing he tried to pull out the right book before the teacher noticed and scolded him in front of the class. He didn’t need another reason for them to snicker at him. He knew he wasn’t good looking. He tried to layer a lot of clothes so people would think it was the clothes that made his bulk, not the fact that he just didn’t like to go out and play like the other kids. He adjusted his clothes again, trying to make his body disappear more.

He looked at the clock, 9:48. He had just 12 minutes left until math. Just 12 minutes to try to get his thoughts straight until the rest of the day was left in a predictable comatose state.

He looked at the front of the classroom and tried to block out the sounds. He closed his eyes and breathed. Slowly, steadily.  Become one with the darkness and silence. Seunghyun felt like he was floating in the space, like his body was left behind and he was free to explore beyond his normal limits. Discovering the deepest depths of his mind for some peace to energize and invigorate him for the rest of the day, for some kind of focus. He searched for the feeling in the depths.

“Choi Seunghyun?” A voice slowly leaked through the space.

Seunghyun winced, his name reminding him of just who he was. He just wanted to forget for a little bit longer. Forget that he was on the brink of failure. Forget that this body was his. Forget that he was so alone.

“Choi Seunghyun!” The voice was more sharp this time and closer than before.

Seunghyun strained to open his eyes to see a pair of dress pant clad legs leading up to his stern teacher’s face. He had a ruler in his hand.

“Have a nice rest?” He grimaced and suddenly switched to an angry face and smacked the ruler down on his hands.

The sting was really familiar. It used to hurt but he had fallen asleep enough in class that he was used to it. The kids in the class snickered. They liked to about his sleeping habits. They called him sleeping baby because he fought to stay awake most days.

“I wasn’t resting, sir. I was just trying to envision how to write my essay you assigned us,” Seunghyun tried desperately to cover up.

The teacher frowned down at him again with a little less mercy than the last time.

“We were taking turns reading from the book we’ve been reading for the past week which you don’t even seem to have on your desk.” He said coolly before bringing down the ruler again.

Thwap! Thwap! Thwap! Thwap!

“Now, get out your book and turn to page 97 or I will make you come to the front of the class for real discipline.”  He said striding away to the front of the class again.

Seunghyun looked at his hands. They were a violent shade of red and the knuckles were starting to swell. He moaned as he reached in his bag for his book. There was only 3 minutes left in this subject. He didn’t know why his Korean teacher couldn’t just let it slide. Maybe it was because he never did his homework.

He flipped through the book slowly. How could the teacher expect him to do more work if his hands were constantly being smacked by him? It hurt for him just to bend his fingers, let alone write his essays for the class.

Ding, ding, ding, ding.

The sweetest sound to his ears. The subject was over and his Korean teacher wrapped up the class before leaving for the next teacher to take over. Seunghyun put the book back in his bag and stretched his arms out, looking out at the people walking outside the school grounds. They seemed like they were in such a hurry today. Not enjoying the freedom they had unlike him, chained to this desk for 8 hours a day.

The door slid open. Seunghyun perked up instantly before sinking back down onto his desk in disappointment. It was just the teacher. Jiyong was late again. He didn’t seem like the kid to be late everyday. Just as he thought this, the door slid open again and Jiyong slipped in. At least it seemed like Jiyong.

Jiyong’s head was hung really low. Constant yawning masked the small smile on his face. He shuffled his feet as he walked over to his desk and collapsed.

Seunghyun looked at the boy’s exposed face laying on his arms. He noticed his dark circles made his skin look paler than he remembered. His dark hair brushing his forehead softly, teasing his eyes with the tips, not providing enough to give them the darkness they obviously craved. His lips slowly starting to part as he began to relax.

Seunghyun wondered what made the boy so tired. Suddenly his hand reached in his oversized pocket like he was pressing a button. Seunghyun then noticed the fancy budlike headphone in his ear. Wah. This guy was really expensive. Those headphones cost more money than he got in a month. Seunghyun wondered what he was listening to. He wouldn’t be listening to those idol groups, would he? He looked cool enough but that doesn’t mean anything.

Jiyong lifted his head a little and pulled opened his notebook, writing something down he saw on the board before lowered his head again. This guy really didn’t know how to sleep in class. He’s going to get caught that way. Jiyong didn’t seem to care as he started to nod off, his face becoming peaceful after a few moments.

“Kwon Jiyong!” A voice snapped through the state of nirvana Seunghyun was in.

Jiyong lifted his head suddenly, looking around panicked. Oh no. He was caught for sure.  The teacher started asking him questions about what was being taught. Jiyong, still in a sleepy daze tried to catch up mentally. The teacher wasn’t impressed and dragged him in front of the class, telling him to put his hands on the board.

“How many do you deserve for sleeping during my class?” The teacher asked Jiyong who was gritting his teeth in preparation for his discipline.

“10 beatings, sir.” Jiyong said strongly through gritted teeth.

The teacher looked sternly at him. “10? I say you deserve more than that. What do you think, class president?” He said looking at a boy in the second row. The proper boy stood and said “I think 15 beatings is deserved considering he is a representative from another classroom and should be an example for them.”

Seunghyun saw Jiyong cringe at the number. His heart started beating faster. He knew how hard this teacher hit their calves with the pointer he used. Jiyong wouldn’t be able to stand afterwards considering his small frame. He wrung his hands, telling himself not to watch. Jiyong did something bad and this was the balance in things. Suddenly his noona’s voice appeared his head. “Maybe this boy is like you, just a little different”

Seunghyun heard Jiyong start counting with each whack to his legs, gritting his teeth and his fingers looking like he wanted to claw a hole through the wall.

“7!” Jiyong yelled, searching for strength.

Seunghyun couldn’t take it. He stood up. His heart racing. Everyone looked at him. This was unusual for him. He normally never made a sound through the day unless asked.

“I’ll take his beatings, sir.” Seunghyun announced.

The teacher looked at him, shocked.

“Now why would you take his beatings? Are you the cause of his sleeping in my class?” He pushed at Seunghyun.

Jiyong was glancing up at him while bent over and trying to rub his calf muscles without the teacher noticing.

“No, sir but if he is being beaten so should I. He did his homework assignment and wrote notes. I have done neither and have been daydreaming all class period. So, I will take the rest of his beatings.” Seunghyun admitted to his own surprise.

“Very well then. You should thank your classmate, Jiyong, for being a worse student than you are.” He said to the younger student.

“Gamsahabnida.” Jiyong muttered with a slight bow before limping to his desk.

Seunghyun made the long walk to the board and spread his hands waiting for the blow.

“I think I’m going to add a few more for interrupting class, Seunghyun.” The teacher said.

Thwap!

The intense burn spread up his legs and he gritted his teeth thinking of the smile on Jiyong’s face, preparing himself for the next blow.

“8!”