Isn´t sun going to come out? Does it have to be so dark and cold this morning? It´s almost summer already but the weather is gloomy. I´m sure it´s gonna rain soon too. How annoying.

I only came to school about ten minutes ago but I´m already tired of it. I´m sitting in the corner of the classroom and watching the darkening sky through my sunglasses. People are slowly filling the room, not forgetting to add a jab to my bad mood. You may have guessed by now that I´m not really the most popular guy at school, it´s the opposite actually. Those who don´t avoid me take their anger on me or simply bully me for fun. You would say that I would become scared and introverted but I rather fight. I´m grumpy the whole day until I reach my limit, then I explode and get into a fight. It has always been like this so I don´t care anymore.

The ruckus in the classroom died down with the entrance of the teacher. Bulky and tall man with beard and hard stare. But the silence didn´t stay for too long because after the teacher another person followed. A boy with almost white dyed hair captured everyone´s attention. A new student? Probably.

“Okay guys, shut up already,” our homeroom roared, “this skinny kid is Lee Hyukjae. Be good to him or I´ll beat you all up.” Our teacher was a soldier before and he isn´t the most polite one. I like him though, because he is fair and honest. “Fine, Hyukjae, sit wherever you want and be quiet. The lesson is starting,” Mr. Kim told the boy and ushered him towards us. He didn´t let him even introduce himself and even made fun of him. Our teacher is really different.

The new student himself was a bit confused at first and didn´t know what to do. In the end he was pulled by one of the guys and sat next to him. I was somehow curious about the boy who dared to bleach his hair white but when I realised my curiosity I hissed and turned back to the window. It´s just another punk anyway.

The day went slowly as always. I didn´t get to really catch a glimpse of the new guy because he was constantly surrounded by my classmates. I could already tell that he will be very popular at school. Girls kept complimenting his visual and guys his apparent humour. I couldn´t hear them properly but whenever the blond spoke up everyone burst out laughing. Although I didn´t know anything yet about Hyukjae, I already hated him. At least when the kids were focused on him, I had more peace for myself.

As expected, no one really paid attention to me that day and I got home peacefully without a single fight. I took down my shoes and threw my keys and shades to a bowl next to the door. I greeted my mom who immediately praised me for not having any war injuries today and took a snack prepared by her. Then I slowly shuffled to my room and tiredly sat on my single bed. My thoughts went unconsciously to the new student and once again I had to scold myself for it. No, I can´t sit here.

I decided to get some fresh air and picking up my keys and glasses, I walked out of the house again. I didn´t have any place in mind and just decided to stroll around the streets before it starts raining. I was still in my school uniform and didn´t want it to get ruined by the rain. And soon it really became windier and it was obvious that a storm is coming. Unfortunately I was too far from my home by that time so when I felt first few drops fall on my skin, I quickly entered the nearest shop I could find.

The small bell jingled when I opened the door of a small café. I didn´t know, there was such a place. The café wasn´t really spacious and it looked like it was made from an old book store or something because in the scent of coffee was mixed the smell of books and old paper. It was nice and I was lucky to find one empty table. I sat down and ordered a hot chocolate because in this cold weather I felt like drinking one. When my treat arrived I took a sip and then closed my eyes. This place felt very comfortable with its unusual smell and quiet music. It wasn´t like those noisy and popular cafés on the main street and I fell in love with the place. A light tingling announced another entering customer but I didn´t pay any attention to it until I heard the chair across from me move.

“I hope you don´t mind me. It´s already full everywhere and I would hate going back to the rain,” the newcomer announced and I finally opened my eyes.

I was surprised to see the guy exact same guy, because of whom I decided to leave my warm house, sitting across from me. Lee Hyukjae was putting down his black hoodie that got drenched by the rain. His white wet hair was sticking to his face and neck and he had to run his hand through it so he could get rid of the soaked long bangs.

“Oh, I think you are from the same school. I´m new so I don´t remember properly but I think I have the same uniform at home,” Hyukjae suddenly exclaimed. Why is he so excited, it´s annoying. My bad mood was back thanks to the uninvited companion.

“If you remembered properly you would know, that I´m your classmate,” I grumbled. Hyukjae was startled by my rude behaviour but didn´t give up bothering me.

“I´m sorry, I must have forgotten. I´m not good at remembering people´s faces, maybe if you took down your glasses?” Hyukjae tried and I was about to explode already. See? It doesn´t take much to set me off. Luckily the waitress came at that moment and brought Hyukjae´s order. Another hot chocolate but with additional whipped cream. I had time to calm down, I didn´t want to make a ruckus in a sacred place like this. When Hyukjae´s attention was back on me I shortly refused.

“Why? Is that your image? Because in that case you should have ordered coffee and not chocolate,” the stupid blonde continued.

“Would you mind shutting up? If not then go away,” I hissed through my teeth and it seemed to finally work. Hyukjae sighed and turned his head to look out of the window.

I closed my eyes again and tried to enjoy the blissful atmosphere again. But somehow it felt suddenly too quiet. Was the noisy blond still here? I opened my eyes to check and found him leaning against the window. His eyes were closed too and I couldn´t help but study his handsome profile. Long nose smooth skin and sharp jaw line.  Long neck with prominent Adam´s apple and protruding collarbones. Just like my teacher said, the guy was obviously skinny. I wanted to stare more but Hyukjae spoke up all of a sudden.

“Do you have those shades so you could check me out?” The tired eyes slowly opened themselves and his full attention was once again on me. His stare was cold and serious and at once I didn´t know how to retort. But then he started laughing again. “I´m sorry! It just felt stuffy after you told me to shut up and I hate this kind of feeling. Seriously your shades are way too dark so I have no idea where are you looking. You were sleeping, weren´t you? Sorry, really,” Hyukjae blabbered.

I couldn´t help but chuckle too. C´mon what kind of person jokes around with a stranger like this? I admit that the blonde is funny. I wouldn´t take off my glasses but I´ll consider talking to Hyukjae for a bit. It´s still raining heavily so what? In a few days he will turn his back to me too but for now, let´s keep the peace.

“What´s your name?” Hyukjae spoke up first again.

“Lee Donghae,” I answered quietly and sipped from my drink. My companion hummed and I wondered if he heard about me at school. He might leave now.

“Donghae as for East Sea?” He asked after the short silence and I relaxed. I nodded to answer his question and waited for another that was surely to come. I didn´t know him well yet but I could tell already that Hyukjae was a curious animal.

“Then you aren´t from here either, right? You must have been born somewhere close to the sea if your parents gave you such a name,” the blonde´s almond shaped eyes looked at me and for a moment I got scared that he could see through my glasses. Nonsense.

“No, I´m from here but my father lived by the sea,” I can´t believe I´m telling this weird stranger about my family.

“Is that so? You know, I really like your voice. It´s somehow deep and covert,” Hyukjae changed the topic as if he sensed my discomfort with the talk about my father. Or maybe it was just a coincidence. He didn´t let me answer anyway because he suddenly stood up.

“Thanks for your time, Donghae. My shift is starting so I have to go,” Hyukjae took the wet hoodie into one hand and the empty cup to the other and smiled. “I´ll tell you a secret,” he then leaned closer to me, “I noticed you at school.” He gave me a wink and before I knew it, he disappeared behind the counter.

Wait, Lee Hyukjae works here? Then he always has a place to sit, right? He could have gone to the back and change into some dry clothes, he didn´t have to sit here with me. That bastard! They told him everything at school and when he saw me, he had to come and mock me too. I even talked to him. I´m so angry and embarrassed.

I hurriedly paid for the chocolate so I wouldn´t have to talk to Hyukjae when his shift starts. I was about to go out to the rain when the waitress stopped me in front of the door.

“Please, take the umbrella. When you come next time you can return it to the café,” she pushed the black umbrella into my hand. I wanted to refuse but she was already gone. Whatever, it´s not like I have to really return it. It´s her fault for giving it to someone who isn´t their loyal customer. I won´t come here anymore. I won´t talk to Lee Hyukjae ever again.

That night I couldn´t fall asleep. I thought about Hyukjae and the betrayal. I started to believe that he might not be a bad guy but I was wrong after all. People are just like that, they are hurtful and annoying creatures. I was too angry to drift off and in the end I only slept for three hours. You can guess that my mood was worse than ever the next morning and the last thing I wanted was to see Lee Hyukjae.

But for the second day in row I was unlucky. Just when I was entering the school gates I heard quick footsteps behind me. I spun around in a reflex and faced once again totally drenched blonde. It seemed like he was running to catch up to me but I didn´t want to talk to him. So when he was trying to regain his breathing I shifted the stolen black umbrella in my hand and started walking to school. I heard some footsteps again and not wanting to see the blond I didn´t turn around anymore. That was a big mistake though because it wasn´t Hyukjae behind me but one of my favourite bullies.

“Sorry for ignoring you yesterday, I´ll make it up for you today!” He laughed and pulled my umbrella. The handle knocked down my shades which fell down and broke. The guy folded the black umbrella and lifted it up in the air. I was sure he would stab me with it and other students who stopped to watch us began cheering him on. But just as I was expecting the worst his hand with the weapon suddenly stopped midway.

“I´m sorry but you can´t do that!” Lee Hyukjae exclaimed holding the guy´s hand. Everyone was surprised and people started murmuring. My bully also didn´t seem very amused by the blonde´s heroic act. He must have been disappointed that the new student won´t join the bullying. I thought that he would hit Hyukjae instead but the blonde spoke up again. “You can´t break it! It´s my umbrella and it´s my favourite too,” he pleaded.

Everyone was left dumfounded, bullies, students and me too. Our minds were analysing the situation and trying to understand Hyukjae´s behaviour. Did he come to my rescue? Or maybe he didn´t mind that I´m being bullied at all. Would you grab a hand of an angry bully just to save your umbrella? But this was Lee Hyukjae, someone who dares to bleach his hair white and jokes with strangers. Since no one found a satisfying answer to the confusion, the tension just naturally died down.

“Here,” the guy simply gave Hyukjae his umbrella and opted for only hitting my shoulder on his way to school. People around too began dispersing and the blonde himself only gave me a small smile before he joined them.

I picked up my broken glasses and sighed. I didn´t know what to think about Hyukjae but I was sure that today won´t be a good day. I was wet, tired and my shades were useless. I wanted to turn back and go home but I could already see Mr. Kim gesturing me to continue walking. He always knows when I want to skip. Another sigh and soon I was waltzing into my classroom.

When I entered I immediately noticed Hyukjae sitting in the middle of the class once more surrounded by others. Seems like the incident this morning didn´t ruin his popularity maybe it got even boosted. I still didn´t like the boy and so I went quietly to my place and sat down. I closed my eyes so I wouldn´t provoke people around me into some action. It became my habit to close them whenever I was in place with so many people especially without my glasses on.

I passed the rest of the morning classes quietly avoiding eye contact with anyone. But inside I was once again becoming annoyed. Every single recess I kept hearing his laugh but at least I hoped I won´t hear it on lunch break. Everyone always goes to the cafeteria and I stay here alone with my homemade or bought lunch. I opened the box and took out a sandwich but suddenly something hit my desk. It was chocolate milk followed by someone else´s lunch box.

“Hey! I didn´t know you eat here,” a certain annoying blonde said and seated himself in front of me. Is this a bad joke?!

“Go away!” I lost my temper. But Hyukjae had no intention to leave the place.

“Why? I don´t want to eat in the cafeteria and you are here alone so what´s the matter?” The dumb guy across from me seems to be bad at reading my mood or good at ignoring it. “Anyway, if you want to say something, could you say it into my eyes? It´s rude to look away all the time,” he huffed and that was the last straw. If he wants me to look at him then here he has it, I don´t care anymore. He would find out sooner or later anyway.

“Why won´t you go and eat with others!” I yelled at him my eyes looking directly into his. Go, go away! But Hyukjae had to be just this unpredictable.

“I don´t like eating with many people, they always steal my food and I never share!” The blonde retorted and pouted but it silenced me completely. It wasn´t the childish reason for which he doesn´t eat in the cafeteria but the way he looked at me. It was completely natural and although he was angry, his anger wasn´t caused by the fact that I had my shades down. His eyes didn´t hesitate, didn´t waver as if he just didn´t care that I look like this. As if he didn´t see it at all.

“Okay, you can stay,” I gave up. I´ve never met a person like this. Even people, who like me or my family who doesn´t see me often, always waver. They put on a smile but their eyes shift for a bit to get used to the sight in front of them. But Hyukjae didn´t, it felt more like my mom or brother, people who see me every day. So incredible. What do I do now?

“What is your favourite colour?” Hyukjae suddenly asked on his chocolate milk. What´s with the sudden question? I thought for a moment he might be mocking me but he looked as carefree as always.

“Blue,” I answered truthfully and secretly glanced at him. I was expecting his reaction. Hyukjae just hummed and then looked back at me.

“That´s nice. I like people who prefer blue,” he then said and as if nothing continued with his lunch. I didn´t understand his answer but it was natural to ask him too. “And yours?”

“It´s a secret!” He immediately answered. He expected the question already, heh. Well I have more to ask.

“What´s with that umbrella?” It just didn´t make sense. The always drenched blonde didn´t look like someone who would use an umbrella. And why would the waitress have his umbrella?

“Well, I forgot it on Sunday at work because it didn´t rain in the afternoon and then on Monday I told Tiffany to give it to you because I know that it´s not good when your uniform gets soaked. But I regretted it today,” I pouted again. “It was raining this morning but we had only ugly umbrellas at home so I decided to just go like that. And because of you it got almost smashed!” He then pretended to be angry. I chuckled.

“You are really weird,” I couldn´t help but say. Hyukjae tried to be offended.

“For someone who sees the world through blue eyes, you are quite insensitive,” Hyukjae then dropped the bomb.

I stood up harshly and a few things fell down from the desk. I didn´t care, I felt mad and betrayed. I´m a normal person, I didn´t commit any crime and don´t deserve to be treated this way! I hate people who get close to me just to hurt me a second later. I took my backpack and ran out of the room leaving there shocked Hyukjae. No, stupid Hyukjae! I felt like crying and I didn´t cry for so long too.

I´m completely normal except for my eyes. I wasn´t born sick nor blind, but different. My eyes are blue.

Blue is conservative and predictable, a safe and non-threatening color, and the most universally liked color of all, probably because it is safe and non-threatening. At the same time blue is persistent and determined to succeed in whichever endeavors it pursues. Change is difficult for blue. It is inflexible and when faced with a new or different idea, it considers it, analyzes it, thinks it over slowly and then tries to make it fit its own acceptable version of reality.

Thank you for reading! How is it so far? I´m also not a student of medicine, so if someone from you is, please pretend that you aren´t. :D Thank you for your support, love you! :) Btw, there´s gonna be a new japanese eunhae album. Donghae spilled something on Sukira by accident and Hyukjae´s reaction to it was so hilarious. See you soon again, bye! - PandaHero