No idea why I only found this song today... how could I miss this? You can listen while you're reading if you want to :)

[Yujin's POV]

It was such a boring school day again. I was a bit tired already and I had a few classes yet to come. Of course, the geography teacher would choose today to invite someone in front of the blackboard to check their knowledge and mark them correspondingly. And this lucky “volunteer” who was drawn in a painfully slow and nerve-wracking way turned out to be... me. Great. True, I was a nerd, but that didn't mean I knew everything in every subject. And our geography teacher didn't really look just for knowledge, he asked really ridiculous questions which we should in his opinion be able to answer just by using our brain and thinking about it. He was crazy, probably. How should we know something he never taught us? Besides, I was really bad at stuff that required thinking about people, about people's nature, about what they would do and why, which was what geography was a lot about. I was more of a rational thinking person.

“So what should I ask you...” Oh god, why is he purposely taking his time? “Then tell us something about China.” Ugh, I'm sure he's going to ask weird questions again.

“Okay. China is located on the west of Asia, its capital is Peking. It has the most inhabitants in the world-”

“What does the saying “China is an economical giant and a dwarf at the same time” mean?” What..? Umm, something with economics... maybe having something to do with a really massive production... but a dwarf? I'd better not say anything when I'm not sure.

“Umm, I'm not sure... probably-”

“Well, think about it. If you were a country, why would you do trades with China? What would be the most important for you?” This is exactly what I was talking about. If I were a country? What the..? And how should I know what I would want? My mind is completely blank...

“Well... I would want the most convenient option?”

“Which means?” Do I look like an economics student? I'm in high school and I've never heard of things like that!

“Umm...”

“How long did you learn yesterday?” Oh, here comes one of his favorite questions.

“A half of an hour I guess?”

“Well, that was not enough. No learning, no success at school!” Oh. I saw this other favorite catch-line of his coming. “Did you think you were that great? Go sit down.” I guess I just got an F. Huh, did he really think learning would help answer questions like those?

I sat down, tears forming in my eyes as always someone raises their voice at me like this or when I fail at something... like this. I held it in, but couldn't think of anything else for the rest of the day. Even though I knew the questions weren't fair, I couldn't help but wonder if it was also because of my incapability to think about things like these. Maybe I should have learned more? I always get a feeling there's nothing I can do right at times like these. I was not just thinking of this particular event now, but about my own abilities... why were there so many things I was clueless about? I was lost in thoughts as I was slowly walking out from the main entrance and to the yard. A shadow appeared in my line of sight, which was currently on the ground, a few steps before my own feet. I looked up to find AJ standing next to me, but not looking somewhere behind me instead of looking at me. Soon a grin appeared on his face. I followed his gaze, I didn't see anything in particular, just a lot of people. I also saw Sookyung, very busy with narrating something enthusiastically to Hoon. But I couldn't watch them for long because they suddenly started getting further away, or more precisely, as I realized seconds later, I started getting further from them due to certain someone dragging me somewhere again.

We arrived at a playground, the kind of playground where little children of 3 to 5 years spend their free time, accompanied by their parents. There were colorful swings and a sandbox, where I could see a clumsily made sandcastle.

“Why are we here?”

“You're upset, right?”

“Ho-”

“I know you, even though you don't think so probably. After the geography lesson, I assumed you would think about it again for a long time. And most importantly I saw you right now walking with that expression,”

“Uh, okay, I admit you are right... but why did you bring me here?”

“Normally I would bring people to club, but I guessed you would prefer a more innocent kind of fun.” I looked around myself to see all those swings and colorful plastic decorations.

“What? Really, a playground for five-year-old children?”

“Let's go get drunk at a club then?” he smirked and reached for my wrist.

“When I think about it, a playground sounds really fun,” I dodged him, not wanting to go to a club. I looked at the ground and felt a bit awkward. I haven't been alone with him since... those incidents. I was still confused. I could feel that he was a bit nervous as well.

“Then come on. Party time!” he nudged me towards the swings. I couldn't help but laugh softly and sat down on one of the swings. He sat on the one besides me.

“I think you take everything too seriously. What happened happened. Don't think about it anymore.”

“But it's- … ...besides, it's easier said than done... it just keeps replaying in my head...”

“Eli and Dongho had studied in China for a few years and I bet they didn't know either... Forget it, it's just school...”

“Just?”

“Yeah,” he said as he got up again and walked somewhere behind me. “It's not worth thinking about,” I heard from back there, weirdly close to me, and soon I felt a force pushing my back, making the swing move. A surprised gasp escaped me and I held the chains of the swing tighter. “Your life should not only consist of school,” he continued. Soon I was swinging pretty high and fast and got a bit scared.

“S-stop it,” I pleaded and immediately felt safer because the swing was abruptly stopped and I could see two hands on the chains, just above mine, keeping the swing still.

“I'm sorry,” said the voice coming from behind and I turned around, remembering the noise I could have heard when the swing had been stopped.

“Are you okay?” I asked him. He suddenly seemed somehow happier and just nodded.

“So what now?” I asked him.

“Wanna try building a sand castle?” he grinned. It just made me laugh. “I probably should go home by now, you know,” I told him and got up. “But, um, thanks,” I added and walked away before he could get a chance to offer walking me home.

[Inyoung's POV]

When the school ended I went to put my stuff into my locker. I was uselessly trying to fit all my books I was carrying inside, but I saw I had no choice but to organize it and make some room there. So I started all the stuff out, the books piling in my hands. A few of them even dropped. But when I looked at the ground to see where they fell, I didn't see them anymore.

“Can I help you?” I heard a deep, but warm voice. Here he goes again. Why is he doing this to me? He keeps doing all those gentleman-like things and smiling and then how should I keep my head? But I kind of did need help right now, and fast before all those books bury me here. As if I had a choice anyway.

“That would be nice, thanks,” I told him. Soohyun approached me and pulled some of the books in my arms into his own. I blinked, he was so close for a moment.

[Soohyun's POV]

I stepped closer to her and pulled as much books as I could into my own arms. I became nervous with the proximity. She quickly put the rest back inside to free her arms and started organizing her locker in order to make some room. She looked so cute when she was annoyed by the lack of room for all her stuff in her locker... but wait, I shouldn't think about that, it's not gentlemen-like. I handed her the books I was carrying then.

“Thank you,” she muttered.

“That's what I should do,” I said and mentally slapped myself right away. Why did I keep saying that, of course I didn't do that because I felt I should. I wanted to help her!

As I saw her smile faintly, I wondered if she was still so sad because of her rejection. Well, she probably was, I could tell. Although it should maybe be a good thing for me, because this way she stayed single and that meant more chance for me, this was the last thing on my mind. I knew she was heartbroken and not prepared, so I was going to wait. Right now, I just wanted to make her smile. But I didn't know what I should do.

There's no place for me in her heart now... what should I do?

[Inyoung's POV]

There's no place for me in his heart now... what should I do?

That's what I thought as we stood there right in front of each other. Maybe it was time to get over him... but was I strong enough to do that? No, I wasn't... I didn't even want to... but I probably should.

“So how are you lately?” he asked me.

“Well, I'm... just so-so,” I replied honestly 'cause I didn't feel like faking anything. He didn't know the reason, so what...

[Soohyun's POV]

She doesn't know I already know the reason... but I won't ask because she wouldn't be comfortable with that. And I don't want to hear about that other guy.

“Don't let anything ...or anyone... bother you... I mean – if you are sad because of someone, then just don't care about them,” I said, trying to encourage her and not to sound like I know too much or something. Maybe it came off weirdly...

[Inyoung's POV]

If you are sad because of someone, then just don't care about them... so that's practically him telling me not to care about himself? I know he doesn't know, but... it's a bit weird of a situation. Why is he saying that anyway? Ah, it's probably because he's kind to everyone and feels he should encourage everyone again.

“Umm, okay, I guess...” I replied. “H-how about you? How's your life going?” I asked in return, not sure whether I wanted to know.

[Soohyun's POV]

“Oh, Soohyun-hyung, here you are,” I heard my beloved dongsaeng who I found unbelievably annoying at this very moment call me.

“Oh, Dongho...”

“Hyung, buy me a lollipop,” he whined. Ah, really!

“I thought you said you were more mature now...”

“It's true, hyung! By the way, I was right about you having a crush and you said I wasn't! But you're not gonna fool me, you know...” Did he... just say what I heard him say? Oh my, not in front of her... I glanced at Inyoung to find her with a slightly surprised expression. Thank you, Dongho... now she knows... and she'll probably think I like someone else? I don't want that!

“I told you I don't!” I tried to get out of it. But why do I have a feeling it wasn't persuasive... Ah, molla...

“Whatever you say... I'll wait outside!” Dongho said and went away.

[Inyoung's POV]

I blinked as I heard Dongho say it just like that... true, I already knew... but it still surprised me. I wonder if Dongho knows her. Aish, stop it, Inyoung. You should just forget about him. You have no chance with him anyway, That's true, I should cheer him on to be happy, right?

“You know, what he said just now...” he started.

“Oh, that's great...” I paused a bit. “I hope it'll work out somehow for you,” I tried to be encouraging. But it hurt to say things like that.

[Soohyun's POV]

But it's not... wait... she hopes it will work out? She wants me to be happy with someone else... What had I been thinking, of course, she doesn't have feelings for me... she likes someone. But I couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed. And I still felt the need to sort it out.

“It's not like-”

“Anyway, good luck to you, well, I... I gotta go, my bus will arrive in a few minutes,” she didn't let me explain and ended the conversation. I sighed. That didn't quite work out...

 I had a great time parodying our geography teacher :D Well, this exact situation never happened, but I could so imagine it...

And uh, I feel a bit bad for making Dongho a little kid just like a lot of authors do (which I never really liked, lol) just because he's the maknae... but sometimes it just so fits into the situation... Mianhae, Dongho-ya!