"Wake up, Jinki it's your first day of school and you better not be late!" 

"Yes, Umma I'm up don't worry" I replied groggily in my raspy morning voice. Slowly I got out of my comfy soft bed only to have to face the harsh cold doors of school in less than an hour. Although maybe today wouldn't be too bad. I mean, it was the first day and kids usually acted nicely wanting to make good impressions on everyone while they still had the energetic high from summer. I usually just tried to remain unnoticed and keep to myself. It worked out better for everyone that way. 

There was one thing I was looking forward to today. Despite not wanting to admit it, the idea of seeing Jonghyun for the first time since June made my heart flutter. God I really missed him. I was still used to hanging out with him everyday like we did when we were young. But I was living in the past and I had to realize that Jonghyun had grown up from our childhood play dates. I needed to do the same, I knew that. But I still wished every time the doorbell rang it would be Jonghyun jumping up and down yelling at me to get outside so we could go get ice cream. At the time I had taken for granted the amazing company and endless laughing. I had taken for granted seeing Jonghyun's beautiful smile after he had finally his strawberry ice cream he'd been waiting to get all week. 

But now was now, and then was then. Now I only caught glimpses of Jonghyun in the hallway at school joking with friends, or at the occasional neighborhood get together. It wasn't like he completely ignored me, he still waved to me and acknowledged my presence, but that wasn't the same as having him run up to you with a thrilling grin on his face telling the details of his most recent hilarious encounter with his creepy cousin Jin. 

But Jonghyun had grown up into a strong, charismatic man. And I was just me, Lee Jinki, nothing more nothing less. 

I ached to see him again. Even a simple "hello" would from him would feel great. Just to hear his wonderful voice. That was all I wanted. 

I looked in the mirror to see my skinny frame. My uniform was a bit too tight in the shirt and a bit too loose in the pants. I guess that was what I got for having an oddly unproportional body. It would have to do though because these were the closest sizes to me the school offered. I ruffled my hand through my newly auburn hair. I figured that maybe a bit of a change would be nice for the new year. I knotted my maroon tie around my neck and forced myself to smile. I would see Jonghyun today. That was reason enough. 

​Realizing I was running a bit late, I hurried out of my room and down the stairs to the kitchen to say goodbye to my umma before walking to bus stop. 

I stopped in my tracks as I saw the only and only Kim Jonghyun standing confidently at the curb. His side profile was enough to offset my previously steady heartbeat. Then, he turned his head facing me and giving me the warmest most friendly smile I had ever seen. "Morning Jinki hyung" he elatedly told me. The way he said my name was always so amazing. He was the only person aside from my family to still call me by my birthname. Everyone else called me Onew, because for some reason in middle school I changed it, deciding it suited me better. I haven't had to effort to change it back since.

"H-hi Jonghyun" I muttered out barely capable of forming sentences while in his presence. 

"Excited for junior year?" he smirked knowing we both dreaded it. 

"Even if I said yes would you believe me?" I questioned gaining a bit more confidence. 

"Of course not" Jonghyun chuckled lightly punching me in the shoulder. "I know you better than to think you're looking forward to school, Jinki" 

"And I know you well enough to know you feel the same way" I was really starting to enjoy this conversation and found myself grinning widely. 

"That you do" he grinned brightly showing his pure white teeth. 

Just as he said that I heard the bus roaring up towards us, and I knew our little talk was about to end. It was okay though, I loved it while it lasted. We got on the bus and someone called over Jonghyun to go sit with him. Before sitting down, he looked back at me with those beautiful eyes and said "Well have a good first day". "You too." I resonded knowing he probably wasn't listening since he was facing his friend. 

After getting off the bus and stopping by my locker, I made my way to homeroom. Of course Jonghyun was there, since homeroom went by sirname and K and L were right next to each other. I quietly sat at the back of the room like I had for the past two years. I pulled out my book pretending to read it just so I'd have something to do. Although I probably imagined it, I could've sworn Jonghyun looked back at me a couple times throughout the fifteen minute period. The idea of it made me happy, and I couldn't help but smile as the bell ending homeroom rang out.

Always being the first one out, I bolted out of homeroom and walked to my first period class: Math. I walked in and went towards the desk marked "Lee Jinki" in the middle right of the classroom. It wasn't until I noticed the name of the desk beside me, that my heart started to go crazy. "Kim Jonghyun" it read. Oh my god how could this be? I couldn't be this lucky could I? Of course I was overeacting and Jonghyun sitting next to me in math class wasn't really that big of deal logically. But to me, it meant the world. This was a small chance to interact with him every day and I welcomed it. But now reality approached me and I realized I was just awkwardly waiting for Jonghyun to walk through the classroom and sit next to me. Not wanting to be there when he arrived, I asked the teacher to go to the bathroom. "Already, so early in the day? Well alright but make it quick"to that, I rushed out the door and to the bathroom. I checked myself in the mirror seeing how my appearance was today. I noticed a small pimple near on my chin and hated my face for burdening me with it. After pointlessly washing and drying my hands I headed back to class to find Jonghyun sitting at our desks. I quietly sat down next to him giving him a quick glance before turning my attention to the teacher. 

He explained that this year the school had a new system which included making all the seating arrangements be alphabetical. The students all groaned and rolled their eyes, but not me. I couldn't help but widely grin, before catching myself and turning the smile off. Jonghyun leaned up to my ear and said "I guess we'll be seeing more of each other then" grinning as he moved his face away. I turned to him with a smaller smile this time and said "I guess so". 

And we did. For the rest of the day we sat next to each other, except at lunch where he sat with his friends and I sat alone under a tree near his table. Normally I would sit with my friend Taemin, but we had lunch at different periods this year with the school's new weird system. 

However, after school was by far the highlight of my day. I was walking home, when I heard someone behind me say "Hey Jinki hyung wait up". I turned around to find Jonghyun running to catch up to me. I immediately smiled patiently awaiting him.

"Hi" he panted to me. 

"Hey"

"So how're you liking the school's new system?" 

"Umm...I like it I guess, but I don't get to sit with Taemin at lunch anymore which " I nervously said not knowing how to respond.

"So you don't mind sitting with me all day long"

"Not at all we get along well don't we?" Crap, I shouldn't have said that. We weren't even close anymore that was not an okay thing to say. 

"Yeah we really do. Knowing someone  for as long as we have can do that to you" Gosh that was so sweet. He was so sweet. And wonderful. And amazing. Aaaand crap I'd been staring at him for the past minute. Quick, Jinki respond. 

"Uuhh yeah I guess you're right." Ew that was awkward. 

Before I knew it we had arrived at my house. I was about to say goodbye, when he asked me, "Hey why don't I come inside? I feel like I haven't spoken to your mom in forever" 

"Yeah sure come on in" Okay well this is good, more time with Jonghyun. 

He took his shoes off as soon as he came in, and for some reason the gesture made me happy. Not only because it was polite, but because I got to see his cute little feet in his socks. 

"Umma, I'm home. Jonghyun's here too" 

And with that my umma bolted down the stairs eager to see said boy. "Ohhhh Jonghyun I haven't seen you in so long. How have you been? Oh you've grown so much! Look how big your arms are!" Oh God Umma thanks for not embarassing me in front of Jonghyun. She did have a point though, Jonghyun's arms really did get quite muscular over vacation. I could feel myself blushing as I glanced my eyes towards his bulging biceps. I awkwardly scratched my head trying ease the awkwardness that was just created. "Jeez Umma let him say hello before pounding him with questions."

"No it's okay. Annyeoghaseyo" he bowed to Umma. Always so polite that Kim Jonghyun. 

We all sat down in the living room Umma still asking him questions leaving him barely any time to breathe. 

"So how're things with that girl you were seeing?" 

"Ooh well we broke up over vacation. She wasn't really for me" he said uncomfortably. 

I had almost forgot about his girlfriend, though I don't know how with how affectionate they were at school last year. People were always calling them the 'School's Cutest Couple' so it felt kinda nice to hear that they broke up, although I didn't want to be happy about it. 

Jonghyun and Umma went on talking for about an hour and I occasionaly budded in to say a comment or two, but mainly I just sat back and listened to Jonghyun talk about his life. I already knew everything he said, but it still felt good to hear his voice again. 

Finally he told Umma about the new school system which immediately caught my attention. 

"Oh that's wonderful, so you and Jinki will see each other more this year. That'll be nice" 

"Yes it will be. I'm looking forward to it" Jonghyun said looking me straight in the eye, hinting about the irony to what we spoke of earlier today. 

"Me too" I said looking right back at him. 

We stared at each other for a few moments before he broke the contact and said "Well I better get going now" as he stood up. 

"See you tomorrow" 

"Have a good evening" he said bowing and walking out he door. 

Later, I sunk into my cozy bed and breathed in and out deeply. Wow seeing Jonghun every period at school every day. This was going to be one hell of a year.