Surprise! Double update so make sure you've read Chapter 10. ㅎㅎㅎ

It had been weeks since I last saw civilisation. The dark circles under my eyes got worsened by the passing day but there wasn’t much that I could do since the teachers had rejected till my fifth draft. Sigh.

If you were curious, nothing much had happened for the past weeks but I bumped into Jongin thrice.

Jongin wasn’t the kind of guy you would find at the library unless he had very important business which requires him to do so but that faithful day, he just so happened to be there. I was in a rush that afternoon that I forgot the most important thing in my life then: my laptop. I was already running late for my draft submission when I realised I left my laptop in the library. When I went back, it was already in the safe hands of Kim Jongin.

“You should be more careful. I may not be there the next time you leave your stuff.” He said, handing me back my laptop.

That moment he looked so sincere and kind and different. I hadn’t been thinking much about him lately but the smile he gave me then made all my efforts turned to waste.

That wasn’t the only time I encountered Jongin.

The second time I bumped into him was when I tried to open my locker but for some strange reason, I couldn’t. This had never happened before so I became a little scared. I keyed in my locker’s code but it turned out to be another futile attempt. I used both of my hands to pull it open but, I guess, I wasn’t strong enough. I was so desperate to get it open that I hit it with my right fist. Wrong move.

“Argh!” I quickly retracted my hand and examined my knuckles.

“Stupid locker.” I glared at the thing which had caused me so much trouble in an early Thursday morning.

From the distance, I heard somebody chuckled so my head quickly snapped toward the source of the voice. Great.

“You should have asked for help.” Jongin said casually as he leaned on his locker, not far from mine.

His eyes locked on mine and I blushed almost immediately. Stupid cheeks.

“I- I can manage.” I stated, putting my focus back on my ungrateful locker.

But before I knew it, Jongin was already standing next to me. I was already reaching the handle of my locker when he did just the same. Our hands touched. And it was the most magical moment I had ever experienced. Both Jongin and I were stunned for a second but he gained his composure in no time. Well, maybe he was used to touching girls’ hands. And that fact made me a little sour. Ugh, stop thinking too much, brain!

Jongin kinda flicked the handle and my locker busted open. Maybe Jongin was a locker repairer in his past life because clearly he didn’t break a sweat while I, on the other hand, almost gave up in defeat.

I hadn’t even said my gratitude when Jongin turned around to leave.

“You should take care of your knuckles. I’m sure it’s gonna bruise.” He said, stopping on his track but keeping his back facing me.

He waited for just a second but he heard no reaction from me and he left just like that.

I was rooted at my spot. My locker was wide open and Jongin was no longer in my peripheral view. I found it a little hard to move. I felt my heart beating wildly against my chest. I thought that feeling was gone for good but I thought wrong.

The third I bumped into Jongin was when I literally bumped into his shoulder during lunch break. I was looking for my table at the cafeteria but, being the clumsy me, I tripped on my own shoelace and accidentally bumped into Jongin who was carrying his tray.

Jongin was with his friends but those guys didn’t seem to belong to the ‘Joonmyeon & the gang’ group because I knew none of them.

“Hey! You should watch where you’re going!” A very tall guy exclaimed at me.

I grew red in embarrassment but I quickly apologised.

“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to.” I bowed repeatedly.

“I bet you did it on purpose. Only crazy girls wouldn’t throw herself at Kai.” Another guy snickered and fist-bumped his friend.

Kai’s friends laughed at that statement which I considered as a humiliation. I looked at Jongin, hoping that he would say something to save me but he just smirked and left.

I must have looked like a total fool to him all this while. The same old ache came creeping back somewhere in my chest. This time I felt it so much harder and everything seemed gloomy.

Why? Why did he do that?

“Are you ready to meet all the club presidents and vice presidents?” Joonmyeon voice brought me back to present time.

“A-ah, yes. Let’s go.” I quickly said and grabbed the pile of files on the table.

You should be forgetting about Kim Jongin, Jung Haneul! Why are you so stubborn!? I groaned inwardly.

Joonmyeon was living up to his title as a gentleman as he opened the door to the conference room for me.

“Ladies first.” He gave a small bow, feigning that typical bell boy’s expression.

I snorted but played along.

“Oh well, thank you.”

I almost laughed at myself but quickly stopped upon seeing the faces waiting for me inside the room.

Oh great.

“Hello, everyone, thank you for coming. As you all now, our annual community programme is coming up so we all have gathered here to discuss on the details of the event. Here’s Jung Haneul, the overall in-charge, for the event and I shall now pass the time to her.” Joonmyeon formally introduced me.

I cleared my throat.

Confidence, Jung Haneul. Confidence.

I started talking about when the event would be taking place and I went on to the point where we would be going to Suncheon for a three-day-two-night trip. I continued on to the details of the activities that we would be doing. So far, everything seemed to be going well but still I was so nervous to be talking in front of the people I least expected.

In case you were wondering, for this community programme I had thought of asking for every club presidents and vice presidents to participate and the teachers said yes. But I had completely forgotten that Jongin was the Dance Club’s president. Not to mention, Krystal was the Cheerleader’s Captain. How could I forget? And, one more person, Oh Sehun. He was Jongin’s vice president. Just how bad my luck could get?

Thankfully, Joohyun was there. At least, I had someone I actually wanted to be with.

“Any questions?” I asked as the briefing came to an end.

I crossed my finger, hoping that no one would raise their hand. But to my dismay, I saw a hand shot up.

Another surprise.

“Why Suncheon? Why couldn’t it be somewhere else? Somewhere nearer?” Krystal asked, looking very interested at the matter all of a sudden.

“Well, uh, you see, our principal thought that many of us have been too absorbed in living the pampered life so I suggested to give a life out of the busy Seoul a try.” I answered, trying to sound as confident and as convincing as possible.

She nodded, thankfully, and gave me a smile. I didn’t expect the smile but it was better than nothing.

I paused for another second to see if anyone was gonna ask anything, and again a hand shot up.

“Are we seriously gonna go digging and fishing and everything there?” Krystal asked.

From her face expression, she must have not liked that idea one bit.

“Uh, yes. It’s gonna be fun, I guess.” I tried to smile.

Krystal wanted to reject but she decided not to.

“Anymore questions?” I asked the rest of the students.

Krystal was about to raise another question and I found it a little annoying that she kept asking me questions. I was so close to thinking that she did it on purpose. And to be honest, I was a little scared that she was gonna ask something that I wouldn’t be able to answer. If that did happen, I wouldn’t dare to face tomorrow.

“If that’s about it, I’m heading out first. Update me if necessary.” Jongin non-chalantly stood up from his seat and walked out of the conference room.

I was a little surprised by his action but I didn’t take to heart because it was better than having to hear another question from the same person.

One by one, the students started leaving the conference room because I decided to dismiss them. Before they went out, I asked them to note down their phone numbers on the paper Joonmyeon was holding.

I was glad that the briefing was a success and I smiled to myself at that, but something must have bothered Krystal because her expression was clearly not good. She looked at me one last time before actually leaving the room.

I felt uneasy but Sehun’s congratulatory message made things a little better.

“I didn’t know you were one good Student Councilor.” He teased.

“Well, thank you.” I curtly nodded.

“See you later then.” He said and waved at me.

I just gave him a smile.

Finally, the conference room was cleared. As I flashed back to the things that had happened in the last 30 minutes, I could only tell myself, “Well, this is gonna be interesting.”