un·con·ven·tion·al

Not based on or conforming to what is generally done or believed.

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August 13 (Monday)

The one week break was over and done with. Kyung Mi wasn’t exactly complaining about the holidays that have ended since she wasn’t one of those students who detested being schooled. Getting out of bed, however, she knew one thing that she didn’t want about today. She was filled with slight dread, uncertain about the future; what more about now? She distinctively remembered Gongchan reminding her gently the other day that some things were going to change once school resumed. Surely she hadn’t made it up?

Shaking her head at no one in particular but herself, she readied herself for school. No matter how early Kyung Mi woke up to get ready and proceeded to go downstairs to consume some delicious breakfast, her sister Min Jae would have already begun her journey to school. She couldn’t help but bring a scowl on her face at times. They were both attending the same education system, so why couldn’t they go together? It wasn’t like she was going to cause her elder sister’s popularity to plummet all of a sudden.

Her thoughts lingered for a while at the thought of her sister being admired and adored. It wasn’t exactly a shock. Her sister was attractive, smart and responsible. Perhaps a little cold and reserved to her younger sister, but then maybe she just happened to get her bad side most of the time. People don’t get to choose.

She ate a delightful breakfast with her mother and laughed at her father that nearly left the house without buttoning his shirt properly. Her mother had noticed it just a few moments before he had left. It was remarkable on her mother’s part. While taking bits of her food into which she chewed on properly, she watched with a minuscule smile when her mother fixed her father’s shirt for him. It was simple, not an everyday thing — yet so ordinary of a matter that it might as well be.

“You better not be doing that every morning just to get my attention, alright?” said Kyung Mi’s mother good-naturedly with a beaming face, sending off her husband with a great wave. It was obvious that she really loved her partner and was proud with what he did for bringing home some salary for them to live on.

“I’m going now,” said Kyung Mi to her mother, waving goodbye. She pushed up her glasses a little as she wore her school shoes, making sure the shoelaces were done properly. With that, she was ready. She felt her heart racing when she saw a familiar figure standing casually with a bag at her house gate, greeting her with a charming smile. She made her way out of the house area and stood beside him.

“Good morning, Kyung Mi,” murmured Gongchan as he ruffled Kyung Mi’s hair affectionately. Kyung Mi tried to fake a rage.

“I spent an hour on that,” said Kyung Mi solemnly, failing as soon as she finished that remark since she had begun to smile. Gongchan squinted, examining her hair which was still fine as always to him. She didn’t even tie or plait her hair — plus, the Kyung Mi he knew wouldn’t be vain enough to spend an hour to comb her hair.

Gongchan then gave a small wave to Kyung Mi’s mother although she would not be able to see the gesture that was being portrayed. Gongchan’s eyes crinkled into a smile as they both began walking to school.

“I’m sorry then,” answered Gongchan apologetically with a grin, combing her hair with the use of his fingers. Her hair was soft and nice to touch, anyway. Kyung Mi pulled a face at him, which dissolved into a tiny smile.

“I didn’t think you’ll be coming today, actually,” admitted Kyung Mi, unable to hide her happiness from showing on her face and the way she reacted. The sides of Gongchan’s mouth twitched upwards.

“Why wouldn’t I?” questioned Gongchan genuinely.

Kyung Mi pondered significantly before giving him her answer as she wanted to form the sentence finely.

“I… Well, it’s out of the way,” replied Kyung Mi ruefully. “From your house, I mean. I just realized recently, that’s why. I told you about it, remember?” Gongchan chuckled, nodding to her statement.

“I remember,” said Gongchan with a convincing smile. “But you’re wrong, you know? It is on the way.” Gongchan mentally hoped that she would be convinced that it was part of the way, because truly, it wasn’t. Kyung Mi poked his cheek lightly.

“Liar,” said Kyung Mi, kicking a pebble aside. “I’m pretty sure it isn’t.”

The male rolled his eyes.

“Believe me?” attempted Gongchan one more time. Kyung Mi’s eyes darted in his general direction.

“Please,” stated Kyung Mi. “Your pants are on fire.” He fabricated a dramatic act about his apparent burning pants, which caused no form of amusement to dance in Kyung Mi’s eyes. Gongchan sighed, patting her head as they walked along.

“Fine, you’re right,” mused her best friend. “There are just reasons why I do things in a certain way, you know?” At that, Kyung Mi couldn’t help but to wonder if he might feel something for her. If only? She shook her head, wanting to get rid of such delusions.

“Okay,” was all she replied him and a comfortable silence ensued for the remaining part of the journey.

Kind enough, Gongchan accompanied Kyung Mi to her class.

“First day after the short break,” explained Gongchan with a tiny smile. Kyung Mi returned the smile with hardly any thought. It was a nice gesture, and she enjoyed it.

“Take care!” called out Gongchan who waved and then walked away. Kyung Mi beamed and after he was out of sight, she entered the classroom and took in the atmosphere. The class was cheery, destitute of dust or creeping spiders making their homes on any desks or corners. The flowers placed on the teacher’s table were lovely and looked healthy. She looked around with her spectacles, amused at the sight of some students that were already fooling around.

She made her way to her usual spot, the seat that was conveniently beside one of the classroom windows. She didn’t sit at the front row — no, she had the tendency to dream at times about her works — but sat at the second row, the corner left seat. She had a good view for copying notes that the teachers would be writing on the board. Kyung Mi placed her bag at the base of her table and took out the materials needed. Plus her hidden doodle book that was under her table. Sometimes she just had the idea and she didn’t want to lose it just because she didn’t have any paper around.

“Kyung Mi!” called out a voice suddenly, followed by a few giggles. “I hope you can differentiate jellybeans now!” Kyung Mi turned to the direction of the voice and saw that it belonged to one of the girls in her class. She smiled politely.

“That was just a mistake on my part the other time,” joked Kyung Mi. “Next time; I’ll get it right on the first try.” Her classmates proceeded to laugh at her reply and left her alone after that, since the teacher arrived they all had to take their seats. And so the first class of the day had started.

Recess time rolled by. It came faster than Kyung Mi expected to, but that was absolutely alright. She generally talked to her classmates; catching up on what they did during the holidays. They usually rolled their eyes whenever she brought up Gongchan, since they thought that was ordinary news. She also made sure to fill her stomach with some food, washing it all down with a nice drink. Kyung Mi generally returned to her classroom the earliest. Why, she was not one who often ate during recess time but the first day of any schooling day after a break was always an exception. It wasn’t like an unannounced race — it was a habit of hers. It didn’t bring any side effects, at least.

Even in class, while waiting for the next teacher to come in, the endless chattering filled the classroom. Idle talk was often in the class’ atmosphere as if recess time wasn’t over just yet. During times like these, Kyung Mi’s eyes would wander plainly around the classroom, remembering a thing or two. There went the girl, who kept laughing even though the joke had been retold just a month ago, the student who always got pranked by his crowd of guffawing friends and then one more typical scene. She particularly smiled at this one. A boy at the most corner right seat was sleepily drinking his can drink, an apple flavoured one today.

It was ordinary things that made her smile. The sense of routine wasn’t always a boring thing. Sometimes it leaned on the good as one would know that the certain situation would be happening. All thoughts pertaining to that matter then dissipated into the thin air as the teacher came into the classroom. Lessons were taught, groans were heard from the students who had not recovered fully from the thrill of the holidays and other things. All Kyung Mi knew was that she was cheerfully packing up her belongings and made her way down the hallway. She turned around and met with Gongchan.

“Oh!” said Kyung Mi, pleasantly surprised. “Don’t we usually wait for each other at the cafeteria?” She had made that remark since it had been that way; plus the fact that upon one’s exit or entrance to the school the cafeteria was the first landmark of the schooling area. Gongchan’s face fell, a sad smile plastered on his face.

“Ah, Kyung Mi,” said Gongchan with a trace of guilt, his fingers fiddling with his bag. “I’ll be staying back at school’s library to study from now on, so I can’t walk you home any more. I’m sorry.”

Kyung Mi shook her head lightly when she felt his guilt.

“No, no, it’s fine,” reassured Kyung Mi with a smile. “You have to study! You have to work hard. We spent time with each other during the holidays, so that makes it all the more better.” Gongchan was about to say something, his mouth agape but then he decided to close it and just smiled satisfactorily.

“Thank you,” replied Gongchan gratefully. Kyung Mi only gave a light punch on his shoulder. “Fighting!” said Kyung Mi as she left the school compound. It was odd, not being accompanied by Gongchan — but she figured that she could live with it. She would still see him every day at school for a bit.

Next day came along, and Kyung Mi specifically remembered that it was Gongchan’s birthday. After school, she headed towards the library and called Gongchan out for a bit. While waiting for him to come out, she did a few skips with her feet since it was rather chilly; due to the rain that was pouring heavily.

“Anything?” asked Gongchan as he leaned on the side of the library’s entrance doors. Kyung Mi beamed.

“Walk home with me?” suggested Kyung Mi. Gongchan frowned slightly.

“I can’t, Kyung Mi…” replied Gongchan softly, shaking his head slowly.

Kyung Mi really didn’t want to do it that way, but she ended up doing so.

“But it’s your birthday!” reasoned Kyung Mi, sounding like a child. “Take a break from studying.” He sighed.

“I can’t,” murmured Gongchan. Upon seeing her sad face, however, he added a few more words.

“I’ll really try to arrange something this weekend, if you don’t mind,” chuckled Gongchan lightly. Kyung Mi’s face brightened up at that.

“Great!” said Kyung Mi gleefully. At that, Gongchan waved goodbye to her and she began her journey home. Before she left, Gongchan made sure that she opened up her umbrella to shield herself from the rain.

Once she was out of his sight, Kyung Mi’s footsteps slowed down. Truthfully, she wished she could be walking back with Gongchan right now. They hung out often — surely she could go without his company at times but she was too used to his presence that when his absence stood by her, she was deeply saddened. She felt disheartened as well. She took a few steps in the rain with her umbrella, feeling sorrowful. She was about to exit the school gate when she felt a presence beside her.

“Gongchan?” whispered Kyung Mi by accident. But the one who replied took her by a big surprise.

“Kyung Mi, may I share the umbrella with you?” inquired a male’s voice. Kyung Mi’s eyes flickered towards the other, truly believing that it should be Gongchan as the height was stunningly identical but it wasn’t. His eyes were different, reflecting a scintilla of light and his hair was recently damped with the rain. Her eyes then widened as large as dinner plates when she finally realized who it was. It was the quiet boy who sat at his corner — Oh Sehun.