Study Buddy

Sitting hunched over his desk in math class, a boy named Lee Hyukjae couldn’t help but to feel like this was a complete waste of his life.

He was young, energetic and enthusiastic… just not about math. He figured that he should be outside having fun instead of cooped up in a stuffy classroom while the sun was out. He just couldn’t believe that his parents drove him to the misery of his life each morning. It had to be considered some form of treachery.

How could they, his parents for crying out loud, lead him to the place where he experienced nothing but boredom and annoyance all day long? How could they. Hyukjae felt so betrayed that he never once took note of all that surrounded him because he was too busy wallowing in his sorrows.

***

Lee Donghae, the boy who sat one desk behind Lee Hyukjae, couldn’t help but to notice every single sigh released by the boy in front of him.

Was he really so bored that he had to make a noise with his silly sighs all day long. The worst part of Donghae’s day each day was looking up at the doorway of their form class only to realise that Hyukjae actually pitched up for school.

Why did he even bother coming if he was only going to not so subtly, or silently for that matter, complain about it all the time? He always ended up falling asleep in each class and Donghae found that to be nothing but rude considering that their teachers also took time out of their days to educate them

And to top it all off, Donghae not only had all the same classes as Hyukjae, but he also sat either in front of him, behind him, or next to him in each and every class. Having the same last name as the idiot in front of him was the worst thing to have happened to him yet.

*** “Hyukjae!” Hyukjae had heard his name being called about three times but had chosen to ignore the voice behind the calling each and every time. He was tired and he needed a nap. It wasn’t until he felt his chair being kicked several times that he actually lifted his head from his desk and looked behind him. As he did so he noticed how the boy sitting behind him was hinting at him to look forward, and so he turned his head to the front.

”Finally awake Lee Hyukjae?” the teacher asked as he stood with his arms folded in front of the classroom. It was only then that Hyukjae noticed that all eyes were on him and at the realisation, he couldn’t help but blush profusely wondering what had been said and done while he was fast asleep.

Hyukjae looked back to the front of the class and noticed that his teacher was still awaiting his response and so he nodded quickly and looked down at the puddle of drool on his table, never feeling more embarrassed for anything in his life before. He really couldn’t stand school!

”Like I was saying to the rest of the class who were ACTUALLY listening, Mr Lee,” the teacher said as he stood before the class while looking pointedly at Hyukjae. He was trying to make Hyukjae feel bad for falling asleep in his class, and honestly, it was working.

”You all have a study assignment for the rest of this term. It’s a partner based assignment to test your ability to work with a partner as well as study effectively. As you all know, exams are soon approaching and well, studying is essential for all who wish to pass. Even those who feel like learning is not worth their time,” said the teacher while throwing an obvious accusing look in Hyukjae’s direction. Hyukjae shrunk in his chair as he felt everyone’s eyes move to him again before the teacher started speaking once more.

This had to be the worst day of his entire school career.

***

Donghae couldn’t help but to feel a tinge of pity for the Hyukjae as he watched him wither into his chair as their math teacher, who also happened to be their form teacher, continued with his explanation of their next form assignment.

You have to get together with a fellow class mate and fill in this study sheet, as well as provide some study notes that the two of you worked on while doing this assignment together…” the teacher yapped on as Donghae tried to imagine who his partner for this assignment would end up being.

He already knew who he wanted. Lee Sungmin would make for the perfect study partner because he was always to organised and on point. Plus he was currently the highest scorer in their class and the second highest scorer in their entire grade. Donghae just had to get paired with him. If he calculated correctly, all of the Lee’s in their class should end up partnering with one another and so he was very likely to get put with Sungmin.

Donghae was the last Lee in his row and Sungmin was right after him, starting the next row at the very from and sitting next to one of two Choi’s in the class. Counting the number of people in his row, Donghae was certain that he would end up with Sungmin because there were five people in his row and the odd number would automatically place him with the first person from the next row… Lee Sungmin. Well at least that’s what he thought, until…

“All the people in the front row will pair with the person to their right starting from the left side of the class and everyone sitting behind them look back,” he paused as he waited to see that everyone was doing as he told them to do and then continued. “I the person you are looking has his back to you then look forward. The person who you are currently looking at and who is currently looking back at you will be your partner for the rest of the term.” Their teacher finished and everyone in the class released either a groan of complaint or a sigh of relief at who their partner was to be.

Donghae was one of the few who release a groan as he realised who his partner was to be.

As He saw Lee Hyukjae staring back at him with eyes already drooping from sleepiness and boredom, Donghae couldn’t help but feel that this was going to be a long term.