Jessica’s P.O.V.
 

Before our encounter,

Studying was the only meaning of my existence…

But then I became doubtful about that…

because…

The truth was I’ve been waiting all along

For something that would change me.

Chapter 1: My Neighbour is Kwon Yuri

Bad Boy - BIGBANG (Listen to this while reading this part

Ever since that bloody fight on the first day of school,

my neighbour Yuri hasn’t returned to school.

I walked towards the video game store and knocked…

A middle-aged guy signalled me it’s okay so I proceeded in entering.

I was just going to deliver some notes to him…

“Excuse me. I’m Jessica. Is Yuri here?”

“Yuri, eh? He’s just---“

And a huge guy dropped behind me…

I was so terrified looking at the poor guy who can’t move a finger.

“You’re gonna die, you son of a---“

“YURI!”

And there he is, shady and uhm angry at the poor guy.

“I’ve told you already! Don’t fight in the store, ‘kay?” The owner of the store said while smacking Yuri with a newspaper.

“B-BUT THAT IDIOT BUMPED ME! Iwassocloseongettingtothenextlevel…” Yuri said while he punded his fists on the cashier’s desk.

“You can’t just blame your loss on someone else. You can only blame yourself! Putting that aside…”

“You’ve got a visitor.”
 

“Huh?”

Yuri’s gaze shifted and met mine.

He was so shocked he ran away and jumped through the window.

And we were on the third floor...

“Uhm. Excuse me. I was asked to deliver these.” I handed an envelope to the owner of the arcade.

“Oh thanks a lot.”

For me, Jessica Jung, that was our first meeting.

As the most mysterious freshman,

Kwon Yuri is the hottest conversation topic right now.

I even heard students saying,

he was laughing in the middle of a pool of blood.

he’s always with some really dangerous delinquents

Some say he can even break a cement just by punching it.

A month ago,

He put three seniors in hospital…

Even now, if you go to that place, you can see the tragic traces that were left behind. CLEARLY.

So, on the first day of school, he was forced to stop attending…
 

(Stop Music here)

HOWEVER…

This has nothing to do with me.

“I really want a new reference book.” I said after letting go of a long sigh.

I have a dream.

I want to publish a book.

In order to achieve my goal one day, there is only one thing that I’m interested in…

Calculus.

Aside from that, there is nothing that can attract my slightest interest.

I don’t have time to brood over other people’s lives.

But,

even though that’s how I should be thinking…

Dream Boy - CNBLUE(Listen to this at this part)

An image of Yuri hugging me crept on my mind again…

It was when I’d only just left the arcade store, when Yuri suddenly jumped out of the grass and then hugged me.

Moreover, he stared at me with a wild looking expression.

“You…are you a spy from the school?” He said with an unpleasant look on his face.

“Eh?”

“Don’t pretend to be innocent!” His grip tightened on my wrists.

“It hurts! It really hurts! Let go of me, I’m not gonna kick your or something! I only came to deliver the lesson notes to you!” I pleaded, trying to shook his hands off me.

“Notes?”
 

He stepped back and stared at me again.

“Are you lying to me?”

I was so scared I pleaded that everything I said was the truth.

“Hmph. Is that so? You were the same as that female teacher, trying to make me go to school! Lecture notes…”

I decided to run away as fast as I could

“WAIT!”

But he stopped me…

I faced him, my knees are shaking out of fear.

“…what’s your name?”

“Je-jessica Jung.” I tried my best to say a word.

“Oh! Jessica? Can I call you, Sica?”

He was blushing and messing his hair up with his left hand…

I can’t believe what I was seeing…

“Th-that’s right!...” He looked at me with a wide grin which made me step back.

“…when students can’t come to school because of colds and stuff, friends bring lesson notes to them…in that case…”

“Oh you can just call me Yul then, since we’re FRIENDS and all.”

HUH?

Was all I can think of…I can’t process a thing on my mind right now…
 

His eyes glistened like an innocent boy.

This is not normal.

“Well, later then! Sica!” He gave me a genuine smile showing his gratitude.

I gave him a smile before I turned my back and started walking away…

I look back and found him waving like a crazy kid…

I continued walking…

He was still looking at me…

Unfathomable.

Frightening.

These were my impressions on him.

(Stop Music right here)

AAANNYYYWAYYYY….

“We had a deal, Ms. Boa.” I showed the contract we signed on.

“You would buy me the reference books If I delivered them. Here’s the receipt!”

“Whoah! Thanks Jessica! Wow, you bought so many…”
“…Yuri won’t see me when I go there and it’s so troublesome.”

“But I’m quite surprised at how good you are in front of a boy. <3” Boa said while sitting back on her chair.

“RUMORS SAY THAT HE’S A TERRIFYING BOY YOU KNOW!!!” I shouted.

“Whoah. So did something happened?”

“Uhh. He thinks we’re friends.” I said nonchalantly.

“Whoah! That’s amazing! In that case, could you convince him to come back to school?!”

“Convince?”

“Yuri’s suspension has already ended.” Boa said in a tone of a matter-of-fact.

“Even though what he did is definitely over the top, to be honest, the fault lies with those seniors…”

“but the school is indiscriminate and suspended him from school, so he developed an untrusting nature towards the school.”

“This way, I won’t constantly worry about him not coming to school. Right, Jessica?”

“I REFUSE.”

I turned my back when Boa was already pulling my leg.

“W-WHY? CAN’T YOU SEE THIS IS GIVING ME A HUGE HEAD-ACHE?!”

“It’s not my problem.”

“So you want me to go there myself?”

I pulled my leg off of my weird professor’s grip and exited the faculty room.

What a joke.

Clearly she just doesn’t want to go there herself.

I can’t imagine having anything to do with that kind of person.

It was already 4am when classes finished.

I walked the streets alone while reading my book when a hand pulled me to a dark alley.

“Don’t move! If you make any noise, I’ll you.”

YURI?!!!!

He glanced if there was still some students passing by…there was none so he let go of me and crawled…

“Okay, let’s go!”

Go where?

I followed him.

Until we arrive under a bridge.

“Uhm, excuse me. Why did you bring me here?”

“I found a stray dog on the way. I left it here.”

“DOG?!” I flinched.

“What about it? C’mon have a look at it. It’s so skinny, it’s like a bag of bones. I’m gonna call it.” He said.

Actually,

my opinion on dogs…

Lonely - 2ne1(Listen to this at this part)

“Ok, children! If everyone is so upset, how can Mimi go to heaven without any worries?”
 

My other classmates are crying over the class pet rabbit called Mimi.

She just died.

I just stood there and stared at my teacher’s back.

He noticed me and asked me what’s wrong.

“Today we have to fill in our exercise books, so can I go home?” I asked, not feeling any sympathy over the rabbit.

The whole class including our teacher stared at me in disbelief.

Despite the death of the class’ much-loved rabbit, I did not even shed a single tear.

Afterwards, there was a period of time when my classmates would greet me as “dry ice.”

One day, my teacher told me to stay for a moment when classes were finished.

“Jessica.”

“Even though studying is a good thing…”

“…shouldn’t there be something important aside from that?”

What am I supposed to do?

It’s because I really didn’t even feel one bit of sorrow!

Right from the start, I never had any interest towards the rabbit.

Since then…

the distant atmosphere of “animals must be able to love it whole heartedly”

was something I truly hated.

(Stop music right here)

“OH! FOUND YOU!” I heard Yuri shout with joy when I turned my gaze and found him playing with a big black Doberman dog.

Yuri’s eyes were sparkling with joy and so is the dog’s.

The dog was Yuri’s cheeks and as I process something in my head.

“Yuri.”

“Huh?”

“I don’t think dog is a stray!!”

It hurts - 2ne1(Listen to this at this part)

Now, Yuri and I are eating in a fastfood restaurant.

We ended up here when we finished delivering the dog back to its rightful owner after getting help from the police station.

I’m eating a cheeseburger while Yuri was just drinking a soda while staring at me.

Creepy.

Suddenly, three guys went towards our table.

Oh God. Don’t tell me their looking for a fight.

“Huh? You again?” Yuri said.

“Yuri, lend me some money. We’re friends, right?” The tallest guy said.

Yuri got his wallet from his pocket and gave the three of them 20 bucks each.

They walked away with no thanks or anything.

I even heard tone of them saying that Yuri is an idiot.

“So…”

I freaked out when he suddenly said a word to me.

“How was it?”

“Huh?” I was being confused right now.

“DON’T PRETEND YOU DON’T KNOW!” He banged his fist on the table.

“HURRY UP AND TELL ME! HOW IT FELT TO GO TO SCHOOL TODAY!”
 

“H-how am I suppose to a-answer that?” I munched my cheeseburger not looking at him, he’s scary.

“School is…it was fun, right?” He said, looking at me like he envied me going to school.

“B-but anyway…”

“What we’re doing right now,”

“feels like friends hanging out in town after school, doesn’t it?” He smiled giddily.

“YURI, DON’T TELL ME YOU ACTUALLY LIKE GOING TO SCHOOL?” I asked.

And Yuri’s ears turned all –red when I said that.

“…If you’re interested in it, why don’t you go?”

After hearing that his face went down…

“…because I’m scared.”

“I don’t know why but, everyone seems afraid of me.”

“I’m always avoided when I’m noticed. That’s why I hate school.”

Well, isn’t he self-conscious?

Truly an idiot.

“But, Sica…”

“You are the first one…”

“…to come visit me and do something good for me, those lecture notes you gave me, I’m gonna treasure it my whole life.”

He showed me that genuine smile again.

Which threw me off a bit.

He showed me that every time I see him.

Why does the school’s most feared delinquent acts so innocent and pure?

“…Those guys back then…they were the first people that I met who weren’t afraid of me, and also wanted to be friends with me!”

“So, even though I can’t go to school, I don’t really care!”

He’s being tricked.

“Yuri, I think you’re the only one who thinks you’re actually friends.”

He frowned a bit with that question mark written all over his face.

“For example, if they were actually you’re friends, they wouldn’t be scamming you.”

“Since I don’t really have friends myself, I’m no expert on the matter, but…”

“You’d be better off without those types of friends.”

Yuri got up and splashed the soda he was drinking straight at my face.

“You’re the kind of girl everyone hates!” He said with no emotion on his face. Then he left.

At that moment,

I felt warm tears over the cold soda dripping on my face.

But I took a deep breath and ordered something from the counter.

I went out and caught sight of Yuri not far away.

I threw the Milkshake that I bought right at his head.

He stopped walking and the cup container of the milk shake fell down on the ground…

He slowly turned his head around and looked at me. He was pissed.

Okay, time to run.

I found him chasing me desperately. Like he was going to kill me.

What’s with him?

Wasn’t I only telling the truth?

Out of my kindness…

What’s to get mad about?

(Stop Music Right here)

A week passed and I never heard from Yuri.

“Jessica!”

It’s my nutty professor again.

“Have you seen Yuri?”

“No.”

“Is that so?! He’s not answering my phone calls either…” Boa sighed as she ran her finger on her messy brown hair.

“If it continues like this, in the end he’ll be expelled from school.”
 

Lonely - 2ne1(Listen to this at this part)

Classes started, and I was out of myself.

This is not right.

After six hours of class, I decided to go to the arcade store…

“Welcome!” The owner of the store greeted.

“Oh, aren’t you Jessica? If you’re looking for Yuri, he’s not here!”

“Oh, I’m not. Umm.”
 

“Could you tell Yuri that if he continues to skip classes, he’ll be expelled from school.”

“Please tell him that for me! Bye.”

I bowed down and walked towards the door.

“Hey, wait!” I stopped after the owner did so.

“Do you...wanna try playing?” He pointed to several videogame machines.

BANG!

I missed the baseball.

Is something wrong with this bat?

I can’t believe I’m playing this thing when I should be home studying ahead of our subjects.

Why am I doing something like this?

If I’d known earlier, I wouldn’t have come.

“Hm. Not sure if not watching the wall would be better or calculating the angle…”

I don’t wanna give up.

I won’t lose to this kind of thing.

“Really, that Yuri isn’t really worth it. Recently, I haven’t been able to get any money from him!”

I missed the baseball.

Damn bastards. I’m trying to concentrate here.

Yuri, eh?

“Haha! Is that so? Then he really is worthless!”

“And I thought I just found a convenient living cash-machine…”

I listened to their conversation and found out that it was the guys who scammed Yuri.

See now…

I already told you…

The ball came out again and I swinged my bat like a pro…

I hit it.

You idiot.

Suddenly I felt someone watching on my back…

YURI?!

When did he get here?

He wasn’t watching me…he was staring blankly at nothing.

What’s this?

A guy like him can actually have normal feelings…

Whatever.

It has nothing to do with me.

I picked up my bag and left the batting game thingy.

I passed by his side and he didn’t even moved or looked at me.

…Today I’m…

not quite feeling alright.

To my dismay, I entered a wrong room…

Because of spacing out, I clearly had no direction…

it was those scammers.

“What’s this? Oh you’re that school girl that Yuri brought along from last week!”

My knees are shaking and I think I’m gonna fall on the ground in any second.

Just why am I doing something like this…

But,

When I...

Take a look at his expression…

I just can’t ignore it.

“Yu-yuri has always considered all of you as friends”

“That’s why…”

“If…”

“If.”

“You can also be friends with him in the same way…”

“Then please be more sincere towards him and be friends with him!”

I tried my best to blurt out each word as fear was crawling in every inch of my body.

“What the hell you say, school girl?” He stretched his hands towards my face. I closed my eyes, not knowing what’s gonna happen next.

It was silent. I was closing my eyes for a long period of time.

To You - CombackMadonna(Listen to this at this part)

“You bastards can just get lost for today.”

I opened my eyes and found Yuri holding the necks of two of the scammers.

He threw them to the wall and kicked their asses.

On the way home,

Yuri was silent as he accompanied me home even though I refused.

I looked at him and found tears falling from his hazel brown eyes.

“W-what? What is there to cry about?”

He sniffed and tried to look to his side, not wanting to see me looking at him crying.

“It’s not that…I just feel…really happy.” He wiped his tears with the back of his hand.

Why is it that…

when that rabbit Mimi died, I did not shed a single tear, but…

This time,

Just by looking at his face…

I can’t

seem to suppress this feeling this urge to cry.

With all my might, I rushed at him and embraced him with my arms.

What’s with these honest tears?!

“It doesn’t matter!”

“…It’s alright because before long, you will be surrounded by many people.”

He held me close and continued crying.

Have I… have I ever cried…

such beautiful tears?

He broke off from me and looked straight to my eyes…

“To me…”

“As long as you’re with me…It’s alright to give school a second try.”
 

“That’s good.” I gave him the best smile I can ever make.

He then slowly began to lean closer…

“What’s this feeling…” He said.

“HUH?!!”

This is starting to feel awkward…

“I think I like you…” He said frankly, while his eyes sparkled.

“Eh?! You mean as friends, right?!!” I backed off and took a few steps away from him.

“No, I mean as members of the opposite .”

On a certain sunny day in spring…

I experienced my first love confession from a man.
 

When I Fall - Afterschool(Listen to this until the end of the chapter)

The next day, Yuri actually came to school.

He was waiting for me at the gates…shaking in nervousness.

Anyway, I just walked pass him.

“SICA!!!!”

“AH, MY LEGS ARE FROZEN AND I CAN’T MOVE!”

“Take me with youuuuuuu…..”

“Who said you had to do such a thing!” Trying to shrug him off because some students are looking at us.

It seems that he’s really scared of the school.

Like how a duckling follows its mother, he gingerly followed my lead.

“Heh. What’s up with that guy?” Laughter came from behind us.

He stopped on his tracks and stared at them like a devil would do.

“You say something, pimpsqueak?!” He shouted which sent all the other students away.

Okay, pretend I don’t know him.

In any case,

The seat next to me is finally occupied.

“I’m still shocked that you actually came.” I said while finishing my literature report.

“…well, I did.”

I concentrated on the novel I was reading, it was Uncle Tom’s cabin, trying not to think about what he said yesterday.

“Wait, wait a moment!”

“I-I think that because you don’t have any friends, you’re misunderstanding your feelings!”

“Huh? I understand.” He sighed.

“So you’re saying it’s because of my situation, desperate for friends.”

ah, so he thought the same thing.

“But, Jessica, even if the situation was different…”

“I’d definitely still like you.”

 

-TBC-