Pairing | JaeDara

Chatter soon filled the hallways as the new school year began. The high school senior students were especially enthusiastic for their last year. A group of four girls were huddled back in their home classroom, waiting for their homeroom teacher.

“One last year in high school and we'll be off to the real world,” cooed Bom

“Like we aren't in the real world now,” Chaerin said

“You know what I mean,” Bom talked back

“Say adult world instead so she won't say anything,” Dara told Bom

“Chaerin is so serious,” whined Bom

“It isn't bad,” Minzy defended

“Thank you,” Chaerin thanked Minzy

“First day of school and you two are already at it,” giggled Dara

“But have you guys heard?” the four girls overheard Jiyong's question

“Heard what, Ji?” asked Seungri

“We have a new homeroom teacher,” Jiyong informed them

“What?” the four girls said in unison

“I heard he is only twenty years old,” Seunghyun said as he entered the room, “A genius,”

“Morning,” Bom cheerily greeted him

“Morning,” Seunghyun replied before giving his girlfriend a kiss on the top of her head

“Cheesy,” Chaerin shivered

“You're just jealous,” Seungri teased

“So not me,” Chaerin argued

“Ji,” Dara grabbed his hand, “Are you sure?”

Jiyong blushed at Dara's touch.

“I heard the rumors start summer. I doubted it, but I passed by the office this morning. Sir Park Yoochun has left, but not because of the rumors going around,”

“What were the rumors going around anyway?” Minzy questioned

“That he was having a romantic relationship with a student,” Seungri whispered

“What?” Chaerin was in disbelief, “He would never,”

“Exactly,” Seunghyun nodded his head

“So why is he leaving?” Bom spoke

“Military duties,” answered Jiyong

The girls all said “ah” and nodded their heads in sync. The group continued to chat, specifically about their class schedule and plans for the weekend. It was the group's usual to celebrate the first week back in school.

“He's here, he's here,” one of their classmates announced from the hallway, running

The group hurriedly sat at their usual places at the back corner of the classroom. Chaerin and Dara were seatmates, next to the window, with Seungri in front of them. In the next row was Seunghyun and Bom, Minzy and Jiyong as seatmates.

“Aish, where is Daesung?” Seungri looked around

“You fool. Taeyang and him are in the other section,” Chaerin hit him with a rolled up paper

“Ouch.”

Before the two could launch into another banter, they heard another pair of footsteps.

“He's so handsome!” another classmate said as she entered the class

“Eh? Those girls,” Chaerin made a disgusted look

“Chaerin, there is a chance he might be,” said Minzy

“But he's our teacher,”

“He's only twenty years old,” reminded Bom

“Leave Chaerin alone. She's just a good girl,” winked Dara

“Ehh, don't call me that,” Chaerin stared at her seatmate

“Okay, okay,” giggled Dara.

The entire class anticipated for the arrival of their new homeroom teacher.

As soon as the new professor stepped in the class, jaws dropped and whispers filled the room. The unfamiliar figure cleared his throat before speaking up.

“Class, settle down,” he commanded, and they followed, “I'll be your homeroom teacher for this year since Mr. Park will be serving the military,” he faced the chalkboard and began to write, “My name is Kim Jaejoong. Call me, Mr. Kim or Sir Kim,” he introduced himself

“He is handsome,” mumbled Chaerin

“Oh, has he captivated your heart?” Seungri, seated in front of her, turned back to face her

“I am just stating a fact. Plus, don't turn all the way here. He can see you. We'll get in trouble,” Chaerin reprimanded him

“Yah, don't you dare fall for him,” Seunghyun warned Bom

“Look at them making a fuss,” chuckled Jiyong

“Seems like we'll have an interesting year,” Minzy commented

“No,” was the only word that escaped Dara's lips

“I hope you will learn something from me and vice versa,” Jaejoong was still talking

“I'd like to learn all about him,” a girl classmate snickered.

Dara's eyes strayed to said person, with a grave expression on her face.

“Dara, what's wrong?” Chaerin put her hand on Dara's shoulder

“Nothing. Nothing's wrong.”

But in reality, Dara felt like her world was collapsing.

Dara shifted in the bench near the school's back entrance in the parking lot. She had to lie to her close friends in order for her to stay longer in campus.

“What's taking him so long?” she said under her breath, “Why is he here in my school?”

Dara's neck was starting to feel strained due to her continuous turning.

“He's taking forever. Did he go out the front?” she finally stood up.

Dara let out a long sigh and looked up at the sky, closed her eyes.

“You really shouldn't close your eyes when in a parking lot. You might get run over that way,” Jaejoong arrived

“Jae,”

“You waited for me?”

“Do you find this amusing?” Dara turned her back on him

“No,” his tone became serious.

Dara continued to walk with Jaejoong trailing behind.

“Then why?”

“It was a good job offer,”

“And you didn't consult me about it?”

“Dara,” he said in a soothing manner

“We'll talk about it when we're far from school premises. Or better yet, another day. When my anger is toned down.”

Jaejoong blinked several times, in wonder. He wondered how someone younger than him be so much more mature. He was starting to believe that it really is true that women mature earlier than men.

“Does this mean I can't walk you home?”

“What do you think?” Dara shot him a look

“I take that as a no.”

He stopped walking and watched Dara walk away from him. Dara could feel her tears, pushing to flow from her eyes, but she repressed it.

Dara and Jaejoong were not official yet, but there was a budding relationship between them. It started the past summer when Dara decided to take an English Literature class. It wasn't a subject offered in her school, but a free class in the next city, offered to anyone interested at the age of 16 and up. Dara was thrilled when she first saw the ad in a post near their campus. It was her dream to be an inspiring, all-around writer. Dara met Jaejoong in that class as a peer, a fellow Literature enthusiast.

“Excuse me, is this seat taken?” asked Jaejoong

“No,” Dara shyly answered

“May I sit here then?”

“Of course,”

“Thank you. Um,” he paused, “Do you know anyone else taking this class?”

“I'm actually alone. How about you?”

“Same,”

“Oh,”

“Would it be okay with you if we became friends?”

“Uh, yeah. It's okay.”

Dara clearly remembers how she felt and what she thought of Jaejoong upon first meeting. She was poise on the outside, but internally screaming inside at how such a handsome guy initiated a talk with her.

Dara arrived at her house and directly went to her room to mope.

“How could he do this to me?” she said to her pillow

Her cellphone began to beep. She glanced to see who it was.

“Jae,” she sighed.

She hesitated to answer, having 50/50 thoughts on talking through the phone.

“What?” she answered

“Please don't be mad,” he pleaded

“Didn't I tell you we'll talk about it another time?

“Now is another time,”

“Don't be a smart ,”

“Please, Dee,”

“You know I don't like talking about serious matters through the phone,”

“I know.”

The call ended making Dara furious.

“Geez, what was the point of calling if he was going to do that?!”

Suddenly, her bedroom window opened.

“I'm here,”

“Yah!”

“Sssh, your parents will hear you,” Jaejoong told her as he climbed in her room

“Are you mad?!”

“Yes, I'm mad about you,”

“Don't give me any of that,” she looked away.

Jaejoong sat by her on her bed and held onto her hand.

“Dara,”

“I told you to wait until I was calm,”

“Look at me,” he gently turned her to face him

“What's going to happen to us now?” Dara's frustration was revealed

“We're going to continue the way we were before,”

“How? You're my teacher! You know that kind of stuff is forbidden!”

Dara pushed his hand away, but Jaejoong carefully cupped her cheeks to keep her close.

“Doesn't matter to me. Even if it is forbidden, I'd still love you.”

Dara's cheeks became flushed causing Jaejoong to smirk. He inched in closer to her.

“It'd be our little secret.”

His lips then crashed against hers passionately.