MYNAME? Who’s crazy group is that? These 'names' just keep getting more and more— My eyes suddenly caught sight of Junkyu's face, and I gasped. Seeing that, I then hurriedly searched around, and finally found Gunwoo, along with everyone else; and they all seemed to be decked out in a similar-looking tight, leathery outfit.

Whoa, I never thought I would see Gunwoo in something like this! Their performance quickly started, and I...couldn’t seem to close my mouth.

What is happening, how come they never told me how in sync they all are?! 

And most of all, why is Seyong singing and rapping? This is so weird, but...he's kind of good...just a little...hmm, maybe I'm giving him too much credit.

"Omo, that guy is so cute!" exclaimed the girl next to me.

I couldn’t help but turned towards her, only to hear her friend ask who she was talking about.

"The red-haired oppa!" she replied with delight.

I gagged. Ew, why is it always him? I don't understand how anyone could place the words 'Seyong' and 'attractive' in one sentence.

"Really? I like the guy that has that ‘leader feel’," added her friend.

Hearing that, I couldn't help but proudly nod along, the smug smile slowly forming on my face, as she spoke about Gunwoo. Ah, there we go, that's a more logical answer.

When the performance ended, I gasped, once again, very surprised. No way, how did that even—?! Seyong just did a back flip! A friggin’ back flip?! Since when did he become an acrobat, because he's so...not...buff! Eh, that's probably a good thing though, because...a buff looking Seyong would be...ew, why am I even thinking about this?! But I guess now I have another reason to add to my list of ‘why-Seyong-is-a-monkey’.

The music teacher suddenly appeared on the stage, and asked how everyone was doing. Positive cheers were heard, which made her laugh with relief. As soon as she started to talk about the 'special' stage acts, a memory instantly clicked within me.

"You're what?!" I yelled, not meaning to sound an octave higher.

"Hyeri-ah, you're making it sound like we're going to kiss..." pouted Minah.

With one hand on my chest, I used the other one to shield me eyes. "Ah, please don't say that!" I squirmed.

Upon seeing my reaction, Minah giggled. "You're so silly, I'm just going to be singing a song with him!" she reassured.

I slowly let out a sigh, "Yeah, a love song...and you know what that means? It means that you're going to have to look at each other in the eyes all lovingly!"

Minah’s shoulders slumped down, as an apologetic expression made its way onto her face. Awkwardly fiddling with her fingers for a bit, she then began to say sorry to me, for what seemed like the millionth time. My face softened, and I brushed it off. "I know it's not your fault that the teacher likes the idea of you and Gunwoo oppa's voices together..." I said with a small smile.

"And now, we will be having Lee Gunwoo to be singing a duet with Bang Minah!" announced the music teacher, bringing me back to reality. "Not only that, but one of Gunwoo's friends, Kang Junkyu, will help assist him and Minah, with a bit of some rap. The song that will be performed is called 'Amazed', so let’s give it up for this ama~zing performance!" 

The audience clapped, and soon, the song started off with Junkyu softly rapping. After a few lines, he walked to the back of the stage, and the spotlight suddenly focused on Minah, as she walked out. Her voice sounded nothing like the cute performance that she had just presented a while ago, and it blended in so well with Gunwoo's sudden voice. The two of them slowly came a little more forward to the stage, so that we could now get a better view of them.

And throughout the act, even though the three of them sounded so good together, I couldn't help but feel this twinge inside my chest when I watched Gunwoo look at Minah like that.

I knew it was all part of the performance, but to see your crush stare so lovingly at your best friend, (who is really pretty) was just...

Aigoooo, curse you, stupid J word!

———————————————

It was now the end of the talent show, and people were gradually leaving bit by bit. I got up from my seat, and slowly walked outside with everyone else. The sun was now down, and in its place was the moon and stars. Wow, maybe I should have left a little earlier, since walking back home right now by myself, can be a bit...scary.

"Boo!" came a sudden voice.

As soon as I whirled around, I was met with Chaejin's grinning face. Pursing my lips slightly, I gave him a playful shove in return of his 'greeting'.

"Soooo, what did you think?” he eagerly asked.

I tapped my chin and pretended to think about it, “Weeeell...”

And just as I expected, he wasn’t able to handle my laggy response, so he started to shake me a little. “Come on, spit it out already!” he whined, which made me laugh.

“It was...alright, I guess?” I gave a nonchalant shrug.

Chaejin raised an eyebrow. “Alright?” he repeated, in an incredulous tone of voice.

Slowly nodding, I pretended to be disappointed for expecting too much, but then showed him a grin at the last minute. “I’m kidding, you guys were really good!” I blurted out, but he just blinked at me. Aw, I hope he didn’t take my joke too seriously.

Bit by bit, a tiny smile then made its way onto his face. “You’re always joking around, so I never know when you’re serious or not,” he sheepishly said, and then added, “Just like Seyong hyung.”

My eye twitched at his comparison, so I grabbed his collar and yanked him a little closer to me. “Yah, how many times do I have to tell you that, that crazy monkey and I have nothing in common?” I said, hoping to sound threatening to him in some kind of form, but I don’t think it was really working.

You see, Chaejin always faced everything with a smile, and I sometimes wondered what kind of air-head he was.

“Do you like hyung?” he suddenly asked, and I raised an eyebrow.

Are you serious? You’re asking me this again...?

I let go of Chaejin’s shirt and calmly looked at him, “Honestly, why do you always ask me this?”

It was true; this was something that I’ve noticed Jinseok do, and it was always so out of the blue. And every time I asked him what his motive was, it was always a chime of “no reason” before he would prance off somewhere. But seriously, what is he up to? It’s like he’s hoping that I would change my answer or something...ew, no way is that going to happen.

Well you know what, Chae Jinseok?

Whatever you’re scheming here, I’m warning you right now, in my mind, that I will be keeping an eye on you. Yep. Even though I’m not verbally saying this out, but...yeah!

And just as I expected, all he did was show me that shifty smile at my question, just before giving me a shrug. “No reason~” he chimed, as I mimicked in time.

Ugh, I’ll find out sooner or later...

Insoo soon came over, along with Junkyu and Gunwoo. I praised the four of them for doing so well, and then after a bit of talking, we somehow got onto the topic of the ‘after party’. Apparently there was this gathering afterwards, for the people who had performed, to all get together and socialize, with some others. Gunwoo invited me to come along, and as much as I really, really, really, wanted to stay, I couldn’t. It was already dark enough, and I didn’t want to be out at a time where loiterers would come out to ‘play’.

As I continued to talk to Gunwoo, and felt terrible for having to say no, someone suddenly wedged themselves in between us.

Seyong cozily draped his right arm over Gunwoo’s shoulder, and then did the same action with his left arm over my own shoulders. “So Hyeri-ah, what did you think about our performance?” he happily asked, with a tilt of his head.

Making a face at him, I shrugged off his arm off of me, and then pushed him away. “Aish, can’t you see that we were talking?!” I growled, showing him my annoyance.

For some reason, he started smiling, and it was just really shifty. But then again, everything and anything that he does has some suspicious ‘motive’ behind it...

Seyong brushed away my comment, “Aaaah, I knew it! You totally thought I was cool, huh?”

I rolled my eyes at him. “You? Cool? Puh-lease,” I scoffed, “Taeil’s goldfish has more style than you do.”

Hearing this, he narrowed his eyes at me. “Yah, don’t compare me to a puny goldfish!” he threatened, but that didn’t stop me.

As Gunwoo blinked at us, Insoo and Chaejin laughed, while Junkyu just looked entertained. Letting out a frustrated sigh, I turned towards the other four and said my goodbye, trying my best to ignore a certain red-head from behind me, yelling away. They said their farewells to me, and I smiled at Gunwoo one last time before walking away.

“Yah, Lee Hyeri, don’t you ignore me like that!” shouted Seyong from behind.

But that just made me fasten up my pace towards the school gate, and turn the corner.

Tsk, crazy un-cool-monkey-goldfish-boy, who do you think you are?

———————————————

During my walk back home, I kicked a pebble, as my thoughts began to wonder. Maybe I should have stayed behind...I could have probably asked Minah's parents to help take me home or something. But then again, I did promise umma to be home by nine, and it was already eight thirty...

Poo.

As I continued walking, my ears perked up when I suddenly noticed the sound of someone else's footsteps coming from a few meters behind me. Hmm, maybe it's probably just...someone passing by? But I instantly shoved that thought away, and began to pick up my pace, when the feeling of paranoia took over me.

Hopefully it was just an old, frail ahjumma out for an evening stroll or something.

But that comforting thought wasn't working though, because the quicker I moved, the more the mystery person's footsteps increased, and that was enough to start making me panic. And before I knew it, I immediately broke out into a run, down the pathway, and it scared me even more to hear them now running as well.

Oh my God, no! Who are you, and what do you want from me?! What if it was one of those loiterers that umma had warned me about? Ah, what do I do if they catch—

I suddenly felt a hand grab onto my arm, which caused me to let out a terrified shrill. Turning around, I then did the first thing that came to my mind, and that was to hit them senselessly in the face with my bag.

Take that, you creepy creeper! And no, I'm not going to stop just because you're asking me to! For all I know, you could be—

"Hyeri-ah, it's me!" yelled out the stranger in distress.

Now properly recognizing their voice, my eyes widen, and I froze.

Bit by bit, the person gradually moved their hands away from their face, to reveal a weary-looking Seyong.