Kim Nicole

As soon as the bell rings I pack my bag and rush across the cafeteria, past my lunch table and friends. Up the stairs and a left turn, my breathing is labored and my hair is on my face. Avoiding any attention from the passing students I fix myself and smile. 

I patiently wait until I see soft bouncy hair then walk as I call his name. "Luhan!"

Luhan is once again ignoring me although this time it isn't about me telling him to get over some girl he meet when he was a child. It's about the slap I gave to Choi Minha. I know I'll be easily forgiven since he will side with me once he hears that she snuck her way into my spot and is using her surname to influence the coaches decision. 

Still, he walks and doesn't stop when I pull his shoulder so we are face to face." Luhan, please hear me out." 

Once he realizes that I'm no longer following him he waits for me to catch with him and we both walk in silence to his locker. Once he has opened his locker I take this as a chance to explain myself. 

"Luhan I'm sorry you had to see "that" at the library. I was wrong but you need to understand me before you side with her. I was furious to know that that girl had stolen my spot in the team. She has been here for a month and is already the talk of the academy. That's unrealistic and people only treat her that way because of Choi Minho. You know, our senior." As I talk my voice gets louder and I can't keep myself from sounding like I wanna strangle her.

"Don't talk about her that way. You don't know how much she has been through and she deserves that spot." Luhan says through gritted teeth before closing his locker.

Something ticks within me and all the anger stored inside just erupts and spills all over my lungs and suffocates me. So I grab Luhan by the collar and pull him so I am breathing on his face. "No, I don't know. But I have worked my whole life to be where I am and I deserve a spot on the team just as much if not more. I take all the blows from my mother and I'm always pressured into being the exact replica of Minho. I've had to get accustomed to not sleeping and eating so I can succeed in academics and the rigorous football training. You of all people should be supporting me and not acting like a hormonal boy and following Minha like a lost puppy." Once done I harshly throw him against the locker, hard enough to inflict some pain but not so much to leave a mark. 

"Leave Minami alone," Luhan calls out however I have long muted him. And I push my legs to take me down the stairs and into the girl's bathroom where I silently cry. 

I thought he would understand. We are friends, aren't we? 

I sit on the toilet and cry, it's still early and some girls are hugging the mirror trying to retouch their makeup. Once in a while, I can hear them comment how loud my crying is so I swallow my cries and wait for the storm to pass. Once the voices are gone I step out and splash water on my face, my eyes are red and swollen. 

I exit and head to the lunch table. 

"You ok? did you stay up all night studying for the exam that Mr.Park was talking about? It's not until next week so you can chill on the pills." Jihyo jokes. 

Tired and exhausted I laugh and play along with the scenario she has created. "I thought it was today, you were so loud I couldn't hear the date. So when is it?" I playfully steal the strawberries from her plate until she gives up and slides her plate to me.

"Wednesday," Jihyo says then gives me this quizzical look like she knows something I don't know.

When the bell rings I wave my friends goodbye and head to my physics class. I take my seat at the back beside the teacher's desk. There are a couple of students and most of them are socializing and they go back to their seats once Mr.Vu starts his lesson.  I rarely socialize since I'm still trying to finish homework from my other classes, lately I'ven sleeping on my homework. Once the desk start filling with students I pull me textbook up and put away my homework. 

Classe is mostly my brain trying to fight sleep and concentrate on the board while my hand cramps from writing too many notes. 

By the end of the day, my energy has gone up and I'm ready for football practice. The group is waiting at the school's entrance. Luhan is talking to Minha, Kris is laughing and Amber is braiding Tani's long hair. Minha is the first to take notice of me and pushes Luhan so he is in front of me. 

"Hey, sorry I was rude. I got a little overprotective and Mimi says that she's fine."

"Mimi?" I ask. 

"Minha." Then he pulls me so we are walking side by side. Everyone is paired, Minha is with Kris who is being a goof, Amber and Tami, Luhan and I. The two of us walk in silence and observe our surroundings. Fall is nearing its end and winter is coming. 

I wave bye to Luhan, Kris, and Tami who are going home while the rest of us are going to practice. 

Although I glance from time to time to check on what Minha is talking about I don't bring up the slap incident and neither does she. When we are in the changeroom she walks up to me, I anticipate for her to speak out loud so everyone can hear her, however, she quietly asks if I have extra socks. I rush to my bag and hand them to her. 

I guess she is over it. 

Even though she is nice to me I still keep my guard up because there is no way someone can be so nice without wanting something. So when the coach calls for us to partner up I leave Jimin and go to Minha in hopes of finding some dirt on her.

Minah she isn't that bad, not that I'll ever voice it out because I got pride and a reputation but I guess she is ok.

When we switch positions, I watch as she runs to the midfield and starts the kickoff. When I sit the others girls stand and pat me on the back. As soon as I sink into the bench I feel as though I have done my best and so is Minha. She looks so graceful while running and pink hair or no pink hair you can't help but notice her.

And somehow through the whole match, I end up wishing that I could play by her side. That she isn't an enemy but a friend like I've known her and we used to be the best of friends who always told each other our deepest secrets.  

I hate her, that much is true but at least for now I'll pretend as though we have been friends since elementary.