#oncloudnine: Coming Up a Cloud

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Eunji looked around the room and her eyes rounded as she realized the room got nothing related to their oh-so-book-club. There was no bookshelves, not even a single piece of paper around, if anything there was only ten tables that created a circular shape with one of them in the middle. There were some pictures hung on the wall but Eunji betted for ten thousands won it wasn’t even related to their achievements for this club.

 

She seemingly seemed to wake up of her reverie and found nine of them stared at her amusedly, as if they already realized what she was doing right now. Their leader, Eunji checked his name-tag for a quick glance, Kim Junmyeon, smiled at her tenderly before he stepped closer.

 

“We know you have a lot of questions about us, but why don’t you take a seat and we’ll have a talk?” Junmyeon said calmly and Eunji couldn’t help but nodded and obeyed his words.

 

She was seated on the middle table of the circle and another weird fact about them was that they sat on their respective tables, even the tallest of nine had to take a detour for his desk.

 

“So hi, welcome to #oncloudnine. My name is Kim Junmyeon, basically the leader of this club. Nice to meet you Jung Eunji,” she greeted with that polite smile, that everyone would fall for it so easily.

 

Sitting next to him was another familiar male she met earlier, he had strong jaw and hooded eyes, dark hair that was as rumpled as his shirt. Her locker neighbor, “Hi newbie, I’m Kim Jongdae and again it’s a pleasure to meet you officially.”

 

“And I’m Kim Minseok, the oldest one. Nice to meet you,” Minseok said and Eunji could feel the vibe of former member of Wonder Girls, Sohee’s smile on his face. He was too cute for being the oldest seriously.

 

“Byun Baekhyun in the house yo!” The male with puppy eyes and cute laugh seemed satisfied with everyone’s responses, even when someone threw a ball of paper at him, he still laughed like a kid. This must be the prankster of the team, “You will know me as the best and important mood-maker in this team, nice to meet you Eunji. I hope we can be good friends.”

 

“Shut up hyung, quit playing nice. It’s not good for your health.” The boy sitting next to him said emotionlessly, he was handsome, his face didn’t show Korean feeling that he might have descents from abroad or something, and boy oh boy that jawline could kill definitely. He turned at her and smiled lightly, “I’m Oh Sehun. I heard you are classmates with Kyungsoo-hyung, so you’re my noona.”

 

“Oh my God, someone stops him please.” Byun Baekhyun dramatically rolled his eyes at him and Oh Sehun stuck out his tongue.

 

The tallest of nine grinned at her and somehow it sparked kindness and innocence out of him. He had protruding pair of ears, white pearly teeth, and when he talked, kind of surprised her because none expected his low, baritone voice. “Hi there, I’m Park Chanyeol. Nice to finally have a girl vibe in our club.”

 

The one sitting next to him was her Class President, he took a deep sigh and stared rudely at Park Chanyeol when the other tried to make fun of him. “I’m Do Kyungsoo, your classmate.” He said it flatly and boringly.

 

“Come on hyung,” Oh Sehun shook his head in disagreement. “Can’t you be a little nicer to the girl? She’s your classmate for ’s sake.”

 

“It’s in my nature Sehun, live with it.” Do Kyungsoo replied and everyone in the room sounded irritated sighs.

 

She shifted her eyes and found the Chinese boy was staring kindly at her, showing off his dimple, before he spoke his Korean in thick accent, “We met before. I’m Zhang Yixing. It’s so nice to see you again here.”

 

“Hey you, I’m Kim Jongin.” That kid with bronze skin, the one that Eunji considered for having the darkest skin, grinned at her tenderly and she couldn’t help but smiled back at him.

 

Junmyeon seemed satisfied after he made sure all of them had introduced themselves to Eunji, then he held onto his notebook before he gazed at her. “So Jung Eunji, please introduce yourself to us. And you kiddos, if you have questions then go ahead and ask, as long as they are appropriate and PG rated.”

 

Sehun scoffed. “Hyung when did we ever talk mature contents?”

 

“Like all the time?” Junmyeon raised his brow. “Remember when Baekhyun was asked by supervisor teacher about whose body was the best and he said you have the best nose?”

 

“O-oh hyung, let’s skip that talk. There’s a girl right here!” Chanyeol sounded uncomfortable since he pressed his lips into a thin line and his ears turned red.

 

“And that teacher was a female too!” Junmyeon widened his eyes dramatically before he turned at Eunji. “By all means, feel free to introduce yourself.”

 

“Well my name is Jung Eunji as you people know it already. I transferred from Busan because of my father’s job.” She looked around and found nine pairs of eyes stared at her intently, “I’m not good with self-introduction, so if anyone has a question please just shoot right away.”

 

Sehun was the first to raise his hand up, something that might not be new for his friends because they now had bored expressions on their faces and some of them even rolled their eyes.

 

“What do you like to do in your spare time noona?” Sehun now casually called her noona, as if he has known her for ages, as if he didn’t just know her five minutes earlier.

 

“Well I like to read and sometimes I go to karaoke box with my friends for stress-relief.” Eunji replied reasonably.

 

Chanyeol then raised his hand up, “Do you like to watch movies?”

 

Eunji’s eyes sparked. “Of course, my all-time favorite is Sassy Girl. I mean…, everyone loves that movie right?”

 

“Oh Jun Ji-hyun…” The boys hummed in agreement. “No one hates her of course. Did you watch Sassy Girl 2?”

 

Eunji shook her head. “I don’t really like sequels. They often disappoint, like for example; Dream High 2 is bomb – no offense to Kang Sora though,” Chanyeol nodded and seemed satisfied with the new girl.

 

Kyungsoo raised his hand up and Eunji’s eyes turned to give him a full attention. “Why did you join this, when I made it clear that none joined this club?”

 

She wasn’t deaf to not notice Kyungsoo’s irritation in his voice. “Because this is the only club that interested me, is that enough? I joined Choir in my previous school and I don’t want to join Choir anymore. I in sports and this is the first club that I caught on. Am I not supposed to apply or something?”

 

Kyungsoo looked away while Minseok took over, “What Kyungsoo means that this is rare; on how a person wanted to join a club that is popularly known as hated club.”

 

Eunji looked around and asked, “What is this club anyway? I don’t see a book at all and there are only ten tables here. Isn’t this supposed to be a book club or something?”

 

“Well it is a club.” Junmyeon replied. “This club is unlike the others, this club is inherited. The members were personally picked, we didn’t do application like this.” Junmyeon raised Eunji’s application. “The seniors picked the potential, influential ones, the ones that might need extra rest so they don’t get crazy or depressed. In other word, people like us.” Junmyeon let out his happy smile.

 

“We use this club to rest, to show our true colors.” Jongdae explained. “Outside we can’t show the real us because we have responsibilities. Take this er for example,” Jongdae pointed at Kyungsoo. “You saw him outside right? The feeling when he talked with you outside is different than the way he talked to you just now right?”

 

Eunji nodded helplessly.

 

“Because that who he really is; apathetic, quiet, and sarcastic. He can’t be like this outside because he holds responsibilities as Class President. Do you think anyone would love a sarcastic Class President?” Baekhyun snorted.

 

“So…, you lie to people?” Eunji concluded unhappily, gloomily.

 

“Lying is not the right word noona,” Sehun grinned. “We just trick them. We give out our best persona to earn what we really wanted, what we really aimed. Everyone in the room owns a certain image that they need to keep.”

 

Seeing the confused, puzzled Jung Eunji made Baekhyun smirking. “You may not understand this Eunji, but later on you’d catch up. It’s not that difficult anyway…”

 

“So is there anyone that has a question?” Junmyeon looked around and he let Jongin ask since he raised his hand.

 

“This is the most important, critical question and we need to hear only the truth.” Jongin sounded so serious that got Eunji’s heart raced a little faster. She missed the shaking heads and small smirks on the boys. “So do you have a boyfriend?”

 

Jung Eunji made a face.

 

 

Jung Eunji stopped at the bus shelter as she recalled the interview she had with the #oncloudnine members. “What is book club without even read any?” She pouted and sighed. “Should I get them to read?” She thought for herself and took out her phone, opened the search engine, and typed easy reading books for starters.

 

“I don’t really read books but if you count comics as books then I’m in.”

 

Eunji almost jumped in surprise before she turned her head and found Oh Sehun was grinning childishly at her. His fringe almost covered eyes and somehow he looked so good up close.

 

“Which bus do you take noona?” Sehun asked wonderingly as he leaned closer since the bus shelter got a little crowded. “Green?” Sehun watched her facial expression and again he let out that kind of smile. “Red then.”

 

Eunji widened her eyes. “How do you know?” She asked in surprise.

 

“Why so surprised, I read your application earlier and we happen to have same route going home. I also take red one noona.” Sehun stepped closer because there were people walking in to wait under the bus shelter just like them.

 

Eunji just nodded and went back to her research, but then as if she sensed to be stared at, she looked up and found Sehun was openly staring. She looked away because she just couldn’t stand that look for too long.

 

“By the way noona, how was school? Have you befriended anyone?” Sehun wondered kindly.

 

She seemed thoughtful for a moment before she came up with an answer, “I befriended Kyungsoo, Jongdae, and Yixing…”

 

“Eyyy, befriending us is different. I mean like girl friends. Have you bonded with girls?” Sehun pulled Eunji toward him because there was this young lady that kept pushing in to have a seat under the bus shelter.

 

Sehun might do that for so many times because he seemed so casual after pulling Eunji in, while Eunji had this palpitation. She cleared and made up her mind. She just joined that club and she had fluttering feelings for this kid? Like come on!

 

“Not yet. I’m afraid to talk with them because they may find my accent funny. I don’t really want to be laughed at.” Eunji replied and Sehun furrowed his eyebrows.

 

“Why do you think your accent funny? I instead find accent like yours is beautiful. It kind of reminds me that Korea is not only Seoul. There is Busan or Jeju with their own pretty accents and things.”

 

Then their awaited red bus came and it seemed to be everyone’s favorite because right then most of the people waited pushed each other’s ways in to enter the bus. Sehun was kind enough to let Eunji walk ahead of him, and when the same lady that pushed in for seat under bus shelter did the same to Eunji, she almost caught off-guard and fell on her knees, before Sehun’s long arms caught her right on time and pulled her right onto his chest.

 

“O-oh watch out noona!” Sehun exclaimed as she was pushed in. “Yah be careful can’t you?” Sehun didn’t bother with formalities as the young lady stared daggers at him.

 

Eunji freed herself of Sehun’s embrace and with reddened cheeks she stepped on the bus, tried to walk the farthest so he wouldn’t bother to come after her. The bus took off a moment later and Eunji had her hand over her chest.

 

Not knowing after all, that Oh Sehun was watching from afar, thanks for his height, and looked down on his shoes to hold back a smile.

 

 

The next morning she arrived early at school, she decided to stroll around the backyard because it was the only place that Do Kyungsoo hasn’t showed her. So after placing her books and bag inside, she stepped out and enjoyed morning sunlight.

 

What she didn’t expect was she caught someone was sitting under the big tree that was infamous to be used as a place for making-out or hiding from teachers. She stepped closer and she realized it was another member, the oldest one.

 

“Oh hello,” He greeted warmly as he checked his wrist watch. “Early bird huh?” He tried a dad joke and it worked for someone with dad and his lame jokes like Jung Eunji.

 

“What are you doing so early sunbaenim?” Eunji addressed him politely and he had this amused smile for that.

 

“Nothing,” He shook his head. “I just enjoy coming early to school. It helps me to think.”

 

“Why do you need to think sunbaenim?” Eunji was still standing and looking down at him.

 

“You know what, sit here. It really hurts my head to look up at you like this. Looking up at Chanyeol is already embarrassing for me as it is.” Minseok tapped grass next to him. Right when Eunji sat next to him, he took off his jacket uniform and placed it over her lap. “So I don’t need to see obscene stuffs in so early morning.” Again he joked and Eunji just smiled.

 

“Is the school fun so far?” Minseok asked out of courtesy to be polite and friendly.

 

“I just got in here for nearly three days sunbaenim,” She smiled but then she nodded. “But I accept the kind words and well I’m adapting. It’s hard. I still find myself missing my school and my friends, shoot I even had a thought of missing my ex-boyfriend.”

 

Minseok laughed tenderly at her last sentence. “Well whoever he is, it’s his loss. He doesn’t know what he’s missing.” Minseok looked up at the trees and grinned. “And just calm down, you will get used to it. I got myself finally comfortable after three months. I think you can do better.”

 

“Oh, sunbaenim was a transferee too?” Eunji blinked in surprise.

 

“I was, yeah.” He nodded in delight. “I just got here for seniors year. Since I was five, I lived in Chicago with my family. Just like you, my father moved here so naturally his family had to come with him.”

 

“I see…” Eunji nodded in understanding. “So what takes you so long to be comfortable with this school?”

 

“Because just like you…, I found myself missing Chicago…, I mean I lived there since I was so young. It has never crossed my mind to speak Korean aside from my family at home anymore, heck I didn’t even ever wish to come here. The thoughts of Chicago was better than here, the thoughts of I deserved better than this, pushed me back to find good friends and my new comfort zone.” Minseok thoroughly told her his story. “Then they came to the picture and made my days a little bearable than before,” He gazed at Eunji and said, “So don’t hold yourself back Eunji. Find your new friends here, make many of them. Have fun here, make yourself comfortable as soon as possible.”

 

Eunji gazed at him and somehow she felt recharged.

 

 

She was nervous as hell when she entered the classroom and found most of them already with their circles. Eunji thought of not doing Minseok’s suggestion but then she realized she couldn’t step back. All she needed to do was to reach out and greet them warmly – no need to hope or even expect them to ask her joining them for lunch, at least Eunji needed a warm smile.

 

Her eyes then landed on two figures that sitting facing each other. They seemed to be watching something, so she stepped closer to see what they were watching, and it was a rerun of Jisung’s drama, Kill Me Heal Me.

 

“Oh Jisung!”  She pointed at the phone screen and got two figures looked up at her in confusion and of course in surprise. They blinked at her and Eunji pressed her lips for exclaiming unnecessary like that.

 

One of them had extremely short hair, colored in light brown, with her super cute face and pretty lips, while the other one had long, straight hair with same hair color and also owned a pretty face with such sharp nose. They looked at her as if she was a stranger so Eunji reached out her hand.

 

The short-haired one glanced at her friend before they broke into smiles and offered her to sit next to them. “By the way I’m Yoon Bomi and this is Park Sunyoung, but she prefers to be called Luna. And ah, we share only a day away date of birthdays. So be prepared to gift us both.” She cheered and her tone was cheerful.

 

“When are your birthdays?” Eunji wondered.

 

“Hers is August 12th, mine is August 13th.” They informed kindly.

 

“Shut up!” Eunji exclaimed in shock. “Mine is August 18th!”

 

“Shut up!” Now it was their turn to exclaim.

 

“Wow this is huge, I got goosebumps. See, see.” Sunyoung showed off her arm that made Bomi and Eunji wowed.

 

It took them only minutes before they grew comfort to each other. It was the bell that separated them with a new promise that blossomed Eunji’s feelings; let’s have lunch together later.

 

Not knowing that there was a certain pair of eyes, owned by the Class President that pretended to be interested with whatever his friends talked about, watched three of them carefully, with a small smile on his face.

 

 

“Kim Junmyeon-sunbaenim!” Eunji called for the taller in the hallway after school finished.

 

The taller halted on his track and turned as he waited for Eunji to reach him. He even waited for her to calm down before he opened a drink bottle for her to drink. Eunji didn’t see it coming but thanked him for the water anyway.

 

“Where are you going sunbaenim?” She asked as they started to walk off. “Are you going to that place?” She wondered in hushed tone as she looked back and forth, afraid someone might overhear.

 

“No need to speak in hushed tone Eunji,” Junmyeon for speaking lowly as well. “Nobody would ever think I went there anyway. But yeah, to answer your question I go to that place. Are you coming too?”

 

She nodded eagerly as he showed him her original Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone book. “I’m bringing a book for us to review, or you know… I can read it by myself.”

 

“Hmm, eager to make the club as useful as its name huh?” Junmyeon smiled and continued, “But count me in. Although Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix is my favorite, but I don’t mind to read the first one.”

 

“So sunbaenim, you read too!” Eunji seemed hyper.

 

They went from Harry Potter to Lord of the Rings to webtoon to dramas to small, little things until they stopped in front of the #oncloudnine door. It was by rule that only members owned the key, also the supervisor teacher whenever they felt like coming down to check on them. When asked, the reason was to keep their profiles hidden, since someone might be curious and wanted to join.

 

“So why did you take me?” Eunji wondered when Junmyeon took out the keys of his pants.

“Easy, because Kyungsoo and Jongdae alerted us about you and Yixing was eager to promote you. We wanted to see you and we are satisfied with you. So why not?” Junmyeon unlocked the door and hurriedly asked Eunji to walk in before anyone noticed.

 

The other members were already inside, but they seemed to be perplexed and focused by something. Junmyeon tapped Chanyeol’s shoulder and the younger just shook his head and his eyes remained rooted on whatever it was on the middle.

 

Eunji and Junmyeon had their brows furrowed until they came to their tables and found Eunji’s table was occupied, not by who, but by what.

 

A pink, fluffy teddy bear was sitting comfortably over her table with a small card. Eunji took it and read it, before her eyes widened and turned to see the others.

 

I think I like you.

— Smiling Bear

 

Baekhyun took it over and read it before he let out a disbelief expression. “‘I think I like you’? Wow this person really…” Baekhyun shook his head before he turned to see his friends. “Yah who did this?”

 

Sehun clicked his tongue, “Only ten of us own the keys – and I don’t think our super did this because they don’t know about new member. So it is either Eunji-noona gifted herself to make a sensation,” she received a glare from the older, “Or someone among us grows feelings so quickly for noona.”

 

Eunji then came into a realization; Oh Sehun was right. She, of course, wouldn’t do stupid things like this because she just got here and why would she make a sensation when she doesn’t have feelings for these boys?

 

She watched nine of them, trying to be very careful; Kim Junmyeon was dazed with this new fact, Kim Minseok was talking to Kim Jongdae, Kim Jongin was more interested with his phone, Zhang Yixing seemed clueless, Byun Baekhyun tried to read the handwriting, Park Chanyeol crossed his arms, Do Kyungsoo seemed emotionless, and Oh Sehun smiled in disbelief.

 

One of them did this, it must be, either for fun purpose only or for real.

 

But the question was; who did this?

 

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HAPPY NEW YEAR, #oncloudnine members❤