“Taeng!”

 

A small boy around age 10 running breathlessly trying so hard to catch up with his brother. The other boy looked behind him and grinned.

 

“Hurry up Yul!”

 

Kwon Yuri wasn’t as fast as his twin brother. He was even shorter than him and because of that, Taeng always and pulled pranks on him. He never complained because all his older brother pranks were nothing but funny and enjoyable. Yuri felt tired chasing Taeng so he stopped with his hands on his knees gasping for air. Taeng grin grew wider and he quickly stop on his track. He jogged back towards Yuri.

 

“You’re okay Yul?”

 

“You…ran…fast…”

 

Taeng chuckled listening to his younger brother taking deep breath in between words. He pat his back.

 

“You should built that stamina Yul or you’re going to be left out.”

 

Yuri looked up and saw Taeng had that crooked smile of his that he grew fond of. His ragged breathing finally became stable once again. He stood straight and playfully shove Taeyeon away. Taeyeon laughed.

 

“Now you resort to fighting like a kid Yul?”

 

“Yah! You’re my big brother! Don’t be so mean.”

 

Taeyeon laughed even more.

 

“To be honest, you pushed me out of mom’s tummy first you idiot.”

 

“No I didn’t. Dad said you were the one that eager to go out first.”

 

Their playful pushed turned into another playful brawl and like always, Yuri ended up face on floor and Taeng sat down on his back screaming in victory.

 

“Yeah, I won! Wohoo!”

 

Yuri grunted when his brother jumped on his back.

 

“I’m so going to tell mom about this!”

 

Taeng ruffled Yuri’s short black hair.

 

“You wouldn’t dare you black bean.”

 

“I will.”

 

Taeng pushed himself up away from Yuri and held out his hand towards the tan boy. Yuri smile and took his brother hand letting him pulled his body up.

 

“I know you won’t tell mom or dad.”

 

Yuri dusted away some dirt from his pants while eyeing Taeng.

 

“How would you know?”

 

Taeng gave a playful shoved on his shoulder before running away once again. But before Yuri could scream his name, he turned around while running backwards.

 

“Because we swore brothers until the end!”

 

Yuri watched as Taeng turned around and left him standing there with a smile plastered on his face.

 

“Yeah brothers until the end.”

 

……

 

Yuri put away some of his book inside his locker. He then took out a few papers and a notebook for his next class. His currently in senior high and in his last year as student; seniors. He wasn’t the brightest in class but he managed just fine. He’s not athletic either but he passes all his gym classes in the past. Yuri just an average student. But despite everything, he had a heart bigger than anyone else. The nicest among all. That’s Kwon Yuri.

 

“Why didn’t you wait for me earlier?”

 

Yuri didn’t have to turn around to know that his twin was behind him. He closed his locker. Taeng now had his back leaning on another locker next to Yuri.

 

“I had to send an early report for math. Didn’t mom told you?”

 

Taeyeon just shrugged his shoulder. Yuri turned and face him.

 

“You came home late last night Taeng.”

 

“Sorry. I got caught up with Allen’s party. It was crazy!”

 

Yuri just shook his head. Sometimes he wondered did he really came out late than Taeng?

 

“I had to cover up for you again. Dad almost grounded you.”

 

Taeng just grin and sometimes Yuri hated it. Taeng took things way too easy but then this is Taeng. He still remembered how everyone in school were in for a surprised when they knew about him being Taeng’s twin. Comparing the two of them, Yuri wasn’t even as good as him. Taeng is the school basketball captain. He didn’t need to find a scholarship for college. Colleges were lining up offering him a scholarship just to play for them. He was so popular among the girls and the face of every party threw by students. Teachers love him for everything he had done for this school. Taeng’s became the school everything while him, he was no one. But Yuri never said anything. Despite all the attention on Taeng, Yuri felt he needed to be there for his twin. They needed each other supports.

 

“Hey, anyway Minho had another party this weekend. Are you coming?”

 

Yuri didn’t have the heart to disappoint Taeng not when he was looking so hopeful. But Yuri knew he wasn’t needed there. Minho made it clear to him the other day.

 

“Nah, I’ll be fine. I need to study. We have college entrance exam this year.”

 

“Aw come on man. When was the last time you had fun? Plus I won’t go to college if you don’t get any college. I’ll just shoved them away so that we can be scolded together.”

 

That earned laughter from Yuri. Taeng was grinning even more. Despite of him being popular in school and Yuri was nobody, Taeng made it clear to everyone that no one messed up with Yuri and get away with it. Taeng ruffled his hair earning a protest from Yuri.

 

“Yah Taeng!”

 

Yuri pushed Taeng away. He was about to scold him even more when Wooyoung came and just like the other days, he ignored Yuri and focus on Taeng.

 

“Dude, coach want to see you now.”

 

Taeng raised an eyebrow.

 

“Now?”

 

“Yeah now.”

 

“Okay.”

 

Wooyoung left the two. Taeng sighed.

 

“It’s too early for a team meet up.”

 

“Just go. He might have new training method against DoongWan High.”

 

Taeng shook his head.

 

“Yeah probably. Got to go. See you after class.”

 

“Okay.”

 

The only reply he can said before Taeng left him. The bell rings. Yuri quickly gathered his stuffs and moved towards his first class. In the midst of avoiding people, Yuri bumped into a girl and both of them fell down. His stuffs were all over the floor. Yuri ignored it and quickly helped the girl up while profusely apologizing.

 

“I’m so sorry!”

 

“It’s my fault too.”

 

“I’m sorry!”

 

Yuri keep repeating the words and helped the girl gathered her bag. The girl keep on saying it’s okay but Yuri probably didn’t hear her. So she grabbed his shoulder and forced him to look at her. The moment Yuri eyes laid upon her, he for sure forgot how to breathe. She look so beautiful smiling at him like that.

 

“I said it’s okay. It was my fault too.”

 

Yuri knew she was talking to him but his ears were deaf upon her words mesmerized by her beauty and that smile of hers. She was a sight to behold. A goddess that was descended came his conclusion. The girl felt him staring at her. She released her hold and waved her hands in front of him.

“Hey?”

 

The girl shook her head and slowly pat his face. That made him woke up from his trance. He felt his face turned red when the girl smile at him caught him spacing out. He quickly composed himself saving any pride left in him.

 

“I though spacing out is my specialty.”

 

“I-I’m…sorry.”

 

“Say sorry again and I won’t forgive you at all.”

 

Yuri scratched his back scalp.

 

“Anyway, thank you for helping out.”

 

The girl took her bag from Yuri and flashed her most genuine smile at him. One that took his heart away; literally.

 

“Y-Yeah..”

 

“I have to go. I’m late for class. Thanks again.”

 

Yuri look as the girl walked away from him and disappear around the corner.

 

“She’s so…beautiful.”

 

Another bell rings. Yuri eyes widen.

 

“! I’m late!”

 

……

“Mr Kwon. You’re late.”

 

Yuri bowed 90 degree towards his homeroom teacher. He never came late before. But because of the incident with the mystery girl earlier, he broke his own record.

 

“I’m so sorry Mr Han!”

 

He kept his head down staring on the floor sincerely apologize. He didn’t want Mr Han to be mad at him. He heard a disappointing sighing coming from the older guy.

 

“Let this be your first warning Mr Kwon. Just because your brother is Taeng, you can do things as you please. Now go back to your seat. Class is starting.”

 

Yuri felt his heart twisted in pain. Why does everyone assume that he was trying to live off his brother name? He didn’t want it and he was definitely not going to let Taeng be in trouble because of him.

 

“I’m really sorry. It won’t happen again.”

 

Mr Han didn’t answered but just waved his hand dismissing him. Yuri with a heavy heart looked up and slowly got back to the back class; where he belongs. He put away his bag and sat down. But much to his surprise, there was someone else seating next to him; a place where others had been avoiding since junior high.

 

“He should have let you explain.”

 

Yuri looked to his left and saw the girl she bumped into earlier frowning at him. She then continued.

 

“You were late because you were helping me. He should have let you explain. It was an unfair treatment from him.”

 

“Y-you…t-the girl…”

 

Yuri was obviously stuttering. The said girl frown slowly disappearing replaced by a warm smile.

 

“Yeah it was me. Sorry if you got into trouble with Mr Han.”

 

Yuri shook his head.

 

“It’s fine. I-I’m used to it.”

 

The girl had no idea why he said that when it was clearly wasn’t his fault. She really want to probe more on the matter but Yuri seems to be against the idea.

 

“Are you sure?”

 

“Yeah. Don’t worry about m-me.”

 

“Anyway, what’s your name?”

 

Yuri didn’t answered but look at the girl with shocking expression plastered on his face. No one ever wanted to know who he was before.

 

“Kwon Yuri.”

 

He didn’t dare on looking at the girl and looked down on the floor.

 

“Yuri? Well I’m Jung Jessica. Nice meeting you Yuri.”

 

Yuri slowly looked up and saw Jessica smiling so wide for him. Her smile was so contagious that it made him smile too; a small smile but it was enough for Jessica.

 

“So let be friends Yuri?”

 

Yuri quickly nodded his head agreeing on Jessica suggestion. He was way too happy about it. Now, he has a friend and she was the one who wanted to be his friend. Maybe Senior high wasn’t so bad after all.