[Dasom]

Haha, I've known you since forever.

When was it that we first met?

Second grade, when we were seven years old.

How many years has it been now?

Eight years.

You're sixteen now. I'm fifteen.

I was the first person to tell you Happy Birthday!

There's been something that has been bothering me since I first came to realize that I could have feelings for boys.

Maybe I've liked all your friends before. 

Maybe I've been on the verge of dating your best friend.

Maybe I've been hesitating about choosing other boys because of you.

I think this feeling first started in seventh grade.

It was when you were thirteen, a teenager, and I was only twelve.

Our friends realized that we were close, like siblings.

They started to taunt us, tease us, and torment us.

They made our friendship awkward. 

No longer could we stand together as just friends.

We were called lovers, spouses, and partners.

It ruined our friendship.

Of course I was sad, but something inside blossomed.

My mind started to yearn for you, look for you, and wander to you.

I realized what it was.

Love.

I loved you.

On the verge of heading into my teenage years, I fell for you.

To make my feelings known, I started to show it, but you seemed awkward, like you disliked what I was showing.

So I stopped.

Instead, I looked for other guys,

There had always been boys that I've known since third grade, but I haven't known them as long as you.

Time passed.

Again, in eighth grade, the same feelings reappeared.

I liked you.

Seeing your face, I would smile shyly.

Yet I was frightened that you would reject me, like in seventh grade, so I kept them hidden and eventually, they disappeared in the back of my mind.

We entered high school.

Rumors about our relationship had never ended.

We were still nicknamed 'The Genius Couple' or 'Mr and Mrs. Einstein.'

When it was time for Homecoming (a high school dance), people started to vote for us as the Lord and Lady.

Suddenly, the same feelings appeared, taking control.

I wasn't in my right mind. 

I asked you to Homecoming, only to be devastated when you said no.

I asked you a second time, just to make sure...

Again, no.

Afterwards, I grieved tearlessly, my mind being eternally tormented with regret.

It was the one thing I had always feared: a blunt rejection.

We were elected Lord and Lady.

How awkward it was when we had to walk down the aisle, hand in hand, in front of thousands of watching eyes!

They cheered for us and clapped for us, blind to the true damage they had given us.

Never again did I think of you that year.

No- I did.

These girls, they were talking to you.

I guess it's understandable since you are the most athletic male in our grade, but I didn't like it.

Somehow, I wanted to walk over and tell them to go away.

I wanted to say that you were mine.

Yet I resisted those actions, still fearful that you would be angry with me.

Now it's tenth grade.

We're back to the present.

We're both busy with our individual classes and the only class we share is English.

I told you Happy Birthday at 12:03 am.

You responded the next morning, at 6:41 am, telling me that I should sleep earlier.

For the first time, you actually responded to my texts.

It struck something in my heart and the same feelings almost returned, but I closed the door to my heart.

No longer would I go through anymore rejection.

I could not fall for your actions.

Your birthday was the first day of school, and I met you during English class.

We sat apart on the opposite sides of the classroom and never talked.

Conversing was unnecessary.

Our eyes gave everything away.

I saw your hazel eyes land on me frequently during class.

This can't happen again.

This is a trick.

I"ll fall again and have to face the rejection once more.

I bolted the door to my heart with heavy chains and nails, ensuring that there was no way for entry.

Yet your eyes still fell on me each day afterwards and slowly, the chains disintegrated.

At lunch, I met your father, a teacher at the school, and I chatted with him.

Whenever I talk with you father, I always wonder if he ever thinks that I'll be his daughter-in-law.

Oh no.

The door opened.

[Myungsoo]

You were that new student.

I remember you: shy, embarrased, and tiny.

You were assigned the seat next to mine, and I remember you making fun of my messy desk and my habit of chewing things.

Surprisingly, I discovered that your intelligence was enough to challenge mine.

I guess that's where the competition between us first started.

Math was the best subject for us both and ever since we first participated in the math competition in 5th grade, there has been no end to our rivalry.

Middle school was fun, besides the part when people started to talk about us.

I hated it.

My friends who started it were awful.

It was a continuous torment to my sanity, and I couldn't walk anywhere without hearing your name.

Eventually I just wanted it to all stop.

But then you started to act strange; I think you liked me.

Every time we met, you would try to come closer to me.

That only made the rumors worse.

I hated you for doing that.

Then in eighth grade, I forgot about the drama until I saw you standing closely with my best friend.

You were standing too close to him.

Was this jealousy?

High school started.

Honestly, I was really worried about school.

I wanted to do well and get good grades, despite the multiple sports that I would be participating in.

Suddenly, when the topic of 'Homecoming' appeared, my friends started to talk about us again.

They pressured me to ask you.

I refused.

Affirming the rumors of us being together would only make everthing worse.

You asked me to Homecoming.

Not once, but twice and I had said no both times.

So you liked me.

I blamed you for making our relationship even more awkward.

Even though I tried to regain our friendship, it didn't work.

I guess you were upset about the rejection.

I'm sorry.

We never talked again after Homecoming, and I don't know if I was disappointed or relieved.

The rumors had died back down, but nothing was the same anymore.

Now I blamed myself for rejecting you.

It's the start of a new year.

I'm going to do well; it'll be better than my freshman year.

I got the birthday text.

You may not have realized, but I was surprised that you would stay up so late just for me.

I was touched.

Maybe we could start anew.

At school, I saw you in English, the only class we shared.

We sat at opposite ends of the class: you with your friends and I with mine.

Our teacher was talking, but my attention continued to wander to you and the birthday text.

It was my sixteenth birthday.

It was the year that I would be able to drive.

It was the year that maybe, I would be bold enough to accept you?

You looked really pretty that day, I can still remember it clearly.

I don't think you like me back.

You haven't looked at me like you did in previous years.

I wish you would do it again.

This year, I will not reject you.