Spring

Junhyung’s POV

“See you.” I said to Haneul reluctantly.

It was a new school term and unfortunately we were both in different classes.

“Aww~ Don’t sulk! You never use to have me in class.” She said.

“But I was hardly in school and it’s just different.” I said.

“It’s going to be alright.” She cupped my cheeks.

“Will you be okay?” I asked her.

“I should be the one worrying about you.” She said.

“I’ll be fine. I’m used to it.” I mumbled the last sentence, in hope she didn’t hear it.

“Fight back if anyone bullies you, I’m warning you!” She frowned.

“Yes, Boss!” I salute her.

“Go on! It’s late! See you here later yea!” She kissed me on my cheek and ran off.

“See you.” I mumbled.

I watch her disappear into the building before walking towards the one my class is in. I looked down as I walked so as not to attract unnecessary attention, until I felt something hit the back of my head. It was a basketball.

“YAH! YONG JUNHYUNG!” One of them smiled annoyingly at me.

I quickly looked away and quicken my pace. I felt a slap on my back and I know it was too late.

“Why are you running away? Hmm?” He said, really close to my neck.

It was disgusting as he was sweaty and smelt horrible.

“I… I’m late for.. class.” I stuttered.

I bit my tongue to stop myself from showing my scared side.

“Mmm~ It’s hot. Buy us a drink.” He said.

‘Fight back, I’m warning you!’ I suddenly remember Haneul’s words.

I said I want to be a better man for her, I want to protect her, but how can she trust me when I can’t even stand up for myself?

I snapped out of my thoughts when I felt something digging into my pockets.

“STOP IT!” I yelled.

“Woah woah woah. Are you yelling at me?” He said dangerously, giving me a hard push.

My elbow scratched onto something sharp. It was painful, but if I winced, I would have lost it.

“Is it wrong?” I asked him.

“What. Do. You. Think!?” He grabbed my shoulders and banged me hard against the wall after every word he said.

“I don’t think it’s wrong.” I said, smiling at him.

“Damn it!” He gave me a hard punch in my stomach.

I held onto my stomach, but still smiled at him.

“Watch out.” He said before giving me another kick.

He stomped off in anger. I fell to the floor and smiled. Although I got beaten still, I felt good for some reason. It was funny seeing how he angry he got. I picked myself up after awhile and headed back to class.

In class, everyone minded their own business, except for the girls who couldn’t stop staring at me. It was until the door opened again, and then I saw my worst nightmare; that bunch of guys. I watch as they walk passed the teacher and up to their seats. When they settled down, I could already sense that my term wouldn’t be a good one.

The guy whom I offended just now turned over and smirked at me. He pointed at me before making the ‘throat cutting’ sign, as if telling me I was going to die. I looked away and thought of Haneul’s words. I wasn’t going to let Haneul protect me anymore. I am going to protect myself, as well as her.

After class ended, I dumped everything into my bag and rushed out to meet Haneul. I tripped over something and I fell flat onto the floor, my chin scrapping against the rough carpet. I looked up to see what I tripped over and as expected, it was them.

“This is going to be a really long term, I hope you realize.” He said.

He stared hard at me while he smirked and walked away. After he was gone, I stood up and looked at my watch. It was already ten minutes passed the time I was supposed to meet Haneul. I ran to the place, not wanting her to wait.

When I arrived, she wasn’t there yet. I sat down and rested my back against the tree, thinking over the words he told me. I wasn’t going to let him win, am I?

“Sorry, I’m late!” I heard the voice I longed to hear.

“It’s okay.” I said, holding her hand and pulling her down to sit next to me.

“What happened to your chin!?” She shouted.

She lifted my chin and took a closer look.

“I tripped.” I said.

“Really? Youjust tripped?” She glared at me.

“Okay fine.” I sighed and told her everything.

“Bastards! Really good for nothing ing bastards!” She cursed.

“But you stood up for yourself. I’m glad.” She hugged me.

“I’m glad too.” I mumbled, burying my face into her neck.

I stopped her from pulling away from me.

“Are you okay?” She asked, my back.

“I missed you.” I said.

“Hahaha~ It was just a few hours.” She said.

“Ya, but I still missed you.” I said.

“Okay okay. I miss you too.” She kissed my cheek.

We remained in that position for quite awhile.

“Hungry?” She asked, pulling out two lunch boxes from her bag.

“What’s that?” I asked.

She opened them, revealing sandwiches and potato salad.

“You made them?” I asked.

She bit her lips and nodded.

“For me?” I asked.

She nodded again.

I took a piece of sandwich and ate a bite.

“How is it?” She asked anxiously.

“SUPER SWEET!!” I said with my mouth full.

“Sweet!?” She looked at me, confused.

I nodded, stuffing the rest of the sandwich into my mouth.

“Try it, its sweet!” I said.

She took a piece and ate a bite.

“It’s not.” She said.

“It is!” I insisted.

Of course it’s sweet, because she made it. It has been so long since anyone actually makes something specially for me. It was sweeter than honey and sugar mixed together.

“It’s not supposed to be sweet! Is there something wrong with you? Are you sick or what?” She asked worriedly.

“Trust me. It’s sweet. Stop asking.” I scooped a spoonful of potato salad and fed her.

“But it’s not supposed to be sweet…” She mumbled as she chewed onto the food.

We spent the whole afternoon there, lying in each other’s embrace and enjoying each other’s company.

“So, how’s class?” I asked.

“Good.” She said.

“Good? As in?” I asked.

“The people are much nicer than the previous jackasses.” She said.

“That’s good.” I pat her head.

“So did that change your perspective of Koreans, especially men?” I asked.

“My perspective changed the day I met you, don’t you know?” She looked up at me.

“Am I that impactful?” I asked.

“Oh, you don’t know.” She laughed.

“But I’m worried for you.” She pouted.

“I’ll take care of myself, Silly.” I pinched her pouted lips lightly.

“Stab them if you need. I’ll take the rap for you!” She said.

“Crazy.” I covered .

“I’m serious okay!” She sat up.

I pulled her back down and locked her in my arms.

“I’m serious too. I can take care of myself.” I said.

“Why not you transfer classes?” She said.

“Did you just tell me to stand up for myself? Besides, they are everywhere. If they really want to hunt me down, do you think I can escape that easily? I don’t want to be running all my life.” I said.

“But I don’t want you to get hurt. Today it may be a scrap on your chin, tomorrow maybe a scratch on your back, the day after maybe a bruise on your cheek, but it’ll just keep getting worse.” She said.

“I’ll be fine. Let’s not spoil the moment, please?” I said.

She sighed and intertwined her fingers with mine.

“You know, no matter how rough the day I had, as long as I see you, your smile, hear your laughter, your voice, whatever bad stuff that happened to me would be gone like dust. It applies for this too. It doesn’t matter what they do to me, as long as I can see you, it’s like seeing the light.” I said.

“I asked you to protect yourself, not fight to prove yourself. It’s not manly this way. Besides, even if you continued hiding, I wouldn’t despise you because of that. Be it whether you’re a coward or a fighter, human or alien, I would still love you.” She said.

“That’s touching.” I laughed.

“Don’t laugh! I mean it!” She threw a handful of dirt at me.

“I know I know. But really? Even if I am different from others?” I asked.

“Different? How different? You are already different.” She said.

“Well maybe, very different?” I asked.

“I’ll still love you. Even if you tell me you are actually blue in colour, I guess I would try my very best to accept you.” She said.

“Even if I am blue?” I asked.

“Yes. Anything. Because it’s you that I love, it doesn’t really matter how you look like. Well, of course, I would very much want to introduce my very hot boyfriend to my friends and family, but ahh, I think blue is okay too.” She said.

“Right.. Blue~” I mumbled.

We started laughing and slapping each other lightly for the fun of it.

But Haneul ah, if you know I have periods just like you do, would you still be able to accept me?