“No no no, I’m going to be late!” I yelled, while hastily shoving on my socks.

Umma stood at the doorway with an ‘I told you so’ look on her face, with my awaited pair of rollerblades in her hands. I took them from her, put them on, and rapidly thanked her. Quickly saying my goodbye, I finally zoomed away with my backpack.  

It’s only the first day of a new school year, and I’m already running late. What is this, I thought these things only happened to people in books and movies! Letting out a sigh, I continued to mentally curse at my alarm clock for making this happen. As I made a sharp turn around the corner, my eyes caught sight of a familiar figure walking in the distance. He eventually turned around once he heard me skating closer, and as soon as he recognized me, he flashed me a smile that had my insides squealing.

Hey, maybe Lady Luck was finally on my side?

“Hyeri-ah!” waved Gunwoo, with that dazzling smile still on his face.

My heart fluttered like usual, and it was as though time had suddenly slowed down when I shyly waved back. The flower petals falling from the nearby trees just seemed to highlight his gorgeous presence even more; seriously, where do all of these sparkles come from? And is it just me, or did it suddenly become a lot sunnier?

Breaking away from my thoughts, I managed to grab onto the nearest streetlight pole just in time, to help me stop. Things didn’t exactly go according to plan, (actually, I don't think they ever do) and I ended up doing a 360 degree turn. Letting out a frightened squeak, I ended up colliding into Gunwoo’s arms, who looked just as surprised. The impact was enough to have him stumble back a bit, where we then gradually toppled over onto the concrete floor.

Pain spread across my entire body, as I slowly lifted my head up from his chest. “G-Gunwoo oppa, are you alright?!” I quickly asked.

A soft groan was heard, “Yeah, I don't think anything's broken...but are you hurt anywhere?”

I rapidly shook my head and fibbed, “N-no, I'm fine.”

Noticing how he had cushioned my fall had me feel worst by the second, so I quickly rolled off of him, and stood up. I then carefully helped him get up next, and every attempt of me trying to get him to go to the doctors had him declining. He insisted that he was fine, but I was still worried. Actually, I think ‘worried’ might be an understatement, because I mean...what if he broke a bone or something, then what do I do?!

Aish, note to self; be more careful next time, especially when you're around Gunwoo!

My worried thoughts were temporarily tucked away, as he suddenly asked me why I was so early for once. Looking back at him, I blinked. “Early?” I said, feeling rather confused, “What d-do you mean? There’s only five minutes until they lock the gate!”

In any other normal circumstances, I think I would have already changed out of my skates, and then be dashing my heart out towards the first lesson. But if being late means that I would get to be late with Gunwoo, then why not? I couldn't help but silently giggle to myself at the thought of us spending detention together. And this is why at times like this, I was so thankful that no one could read my mind, and see all of my giggly thoughts.

A perplexed expression accompanied the lifted eyebrow on Gunwoo’s face, as he took out his cell phone. “But it’s only eight?” he said, while showing me the screen.

There was a pause, as a soft breeze came by.

And then, he started laughing.

Oh my God, he’s laughing at me right now, I can feel it. As nice as it is to see him laughing, it doesn’t feel the same when it’s at me and not with me...even though I’m not exactly laughing, but you know what I mean. Does that even make any sense?

“Well at least you know you don’t have to rush within the next half an hour,” said Gunwoo, his voice taking me away from my rambling thoughts. “Come on, let’s walk together,” he suggested with a bright smile.

Did...did I just hear right?

Walk together?

Together...?!

Walking to school together with Lee Gunwoo?! 

Wow, there must be someone out there who really loves me, for this to finally happen!

As soon as his back faced my direction, I couldn’t help but pump my fist into the air and mentally squeal out a ‘yes!’ Obviously, a victory danced was needed after my secretive cheer, and in this case, it was just a bunch of wiggly arm movements, since I didn’t want to bruise him more than I already did with my skates. All of my bad thoughts on the whole day had suddenly seemed to vanished; nothing can interrupt this glorious moment that I'm experiencing right—

“Hyuuuung!” called a sudden voice.

What?

Who's...oh no.

No, no, no, not that voice.

Not right now!

Actually, not ever would be better. Seriously, why do you have to always come and ruin my alone time with Gunwoo? And out of all the times you appear, why now?!

Gunwoo waved towards the red-haired male, who continued to show him his enthusiastic hand actions. As soon as he reached over to us, he greeted Gunwoo with their usual ‘bro-fist-pump’ thing, and then turned towards me. “Oh, hey fatty,” he said with a wink. 

My eye twitched at both the comment and the gesture, which automatically made my fist fly towards his face. “I am not fat!” I retorted, and unfortunately, my attempt to hit him had missed, as he swerved away in time with a smirk.

“Don’t you think a punch is a little too much affection?” questioned Seyong, as a highly amused chuckle then came out of his mouth.

His laughter annoyed me even more, so I proceeded to try and kick him instead. But right at that moment, the cheeky thing then ran behind his elder for protection, “Hyung! Help me; Hyeri’s going to kill me with her love!”

“Shut up!” I yelled, fuming with annoyance.

Gunwoo shook his head and then sighed, but a tiny smile played amongst his lips. “There’s always chaos whenever you two are around each other,” he stated.

As he was speaking, Seyong was making 'funny' faces, which just made me glare back at him. Aish, the nerve of this fat head! He always somehow manages to ruin my alone time with the guy that I like, and now he’s being disrespectful for not even listening to him! 

“Come on, let’s go,” said Gunwoo, ignoring the glares and 'mehrongs' that were going back and forth from myself and that stupid cherry-head.

Ugh, why did my favourite colour have to be red?

And why oh why did he have to go and ruin it, by colouring his entire head with it?

Anyway, I'm glad that Gunwoo was standing in the middle, because that meant that there was some distance between me and Seyong. As we continued our trip to school, the two of them were talking about a dance routine that they needed to practice to a song that they helped write. It was for a group assignment, and I think the entire music class was going to perform their work for the upcoming talent show.

I'm not sure what their song was called, since I was trying my best to drown out Seyong’s voice with Gunwoo’s one...but I think it had something to do with a message? Looking at the two conversing, it still sort of makes me wonder how they were even best friends with one another in the first place.

I mean, Gunwoo is like Prince Charming; caring, super nice and very handsome. Seyong, on the other hand, is like...heck, I don’t even know what to compare him with.

Ever since we met (umma’s best friend just happened to have an extremely annoying son) he had always picked on me, whenever the chance was given, and if there wasn't a chance, then he would create one in some twisted crazy way. Actually, now that I think about it, he was pretty nice when we first met. I guess as time passes by, people change, because we just ended up bickering more than ever now...but hey, he's the one who brought it upon himself, okay? 

He knows how much I hate vampires, but went and dressed up as one during Halloween, and secretly hid in my room when he was over, to scare me. I ended up screaming so loud, that all of the dogs in the neighborhood barked and howled, and I was sure that even a few windows had cracked, (or simply shattered into pieces; I wouldn’t be surprised if they did) as well. There was also that one time when he tricked me into helping him play this ‘game’ on the computer, which actually turned out to be one of those creepy--pop-up things. I was so terrified, I ended up pushing the monitor screen off of the table before running away from the laughing maniac, who then later on had the nerve to yell at me for ‘breaking’ his computer.

Well if you ask me, the idiot should have expected that after making me pretty much have a heart attack, stupid.

The sound of students chattering pulled me away from my thoughts, and I realised that the three of us had finally reached the school. Giving Gunwoo a little wave, I quickly disappeared away to my locker before Seyong could unleash some stupid smart-arse comment at me. It was just the start of a new school year, and I was already exhausted; both physically from the fall, and mentally from Seyong. I honestly hoped to myself that the head wasn’t going to be in any of my classes this year.

I mean, it’s bad enough that our mothers are best friends, and that we have a few common friends to see each other more than necessary, but to see him in my classes would make me want to kick grass, and punch flowers or something.