The news of their breakup spread like wildfire by the end of the week. I heard people speculated that I dumped Krystal but if people knew me well, like my friends for instance, they knew it would be the other way around. Because dumping Krystal had never once crossed my mind.            By almost the end of the period, I could feel the Krystal-ess energy of the upcoming weekend hovering above me like a darkened cloud. “I should have gotten you tickets to watch Joker tomorrow.” Wendy said. We were on our way to our lockers to keep some books and prepare for our last class. “Joker? Is it good?” Wendy shrugged, casually avoiding a freshman running down the hallway. “I heard the reviews were okay. I would have asked you to go if I had any idea you were single by the time the movie came around.” I tried to make myself get used to the word single. “It’s fine. I have plans this Saturday.” “You do?” Actually I didn’t but I don’t want to make Wendy feel bad. Besides, I think I still need time to get it wrapped in my head about my new single status. “Yeah, I’m going out with Mom. Girls bonding or whatever. She’s forcing me.” I lied. “That’s nice.” They soon parted ways and Wendy left for Spanish class while I made a quick jog to our Art room. As usual Irene and the tall girl was already there, occupied in their conversation but when the tall girl saw me by the door, she smiled at me and pointed at the sit next to her. I was a bit reluctant to do so, but knowing sooner or later Mrs Lee would switch me there, I made my way to the seat. Irene had her hair in a high ponytail this time and I noticed how fair and milky her skin was. She caught me staring and I looked away, pretending to be busy while I took out my stationary and sketchbook from my bag to the table. There was a collective of relief sighs when Mrs Lee announced the assignment that she was going to give was a ‘simple, cartoony, colourful and easy drawing’. But the only thing that irked me was when my teacher said it was a group work; either a pair or a group of three. It was actually inevitable doing group assignments, especially for Art class and I looked up, stealing glances around the table, wondering if I should asked or wait for someone to ask me. The tall girl spoke to me first, “Do you mind joining our group?” “Uh…yeah, sure.” I glance at Irene for a fleet second before I turned to the tall girl, “I’m sorry but what was your name again?” The girl snorted, “Sooyoung, but you can call me Joy.” “Okay cool.” So their Art teacher wanted them to create a detail drawing of twenty objects with a developed background but the trick is, she wanted us to try and include one of our group members into the drawing alongside the objects. The three of them worked together, listing possible and most importantly, easy objects to draw on a piece of paper. “What’s the easiest object to draw?” “A stick figure.” Joy answered. “I don’t think that would be acceptable.” I muttered, “The sun, clouds…those are like the easiest. The basics.” Irene hummed, approving my suggestion and she added, “I think drawing objects that means something to us would be a good idea as well. Because we see and think of those things often, it’s easier to visualise.” “It’ll be detergent for you,” Joy grinned, and soon winced when Irene flicked a pencil on her forehead. My mind on the other hand pondered on Irene’s words, objects that means something to us, and I don’t know why but my mind went to that duck – again for the nth time. Annoyed, I grumbled under my breath, “Stupid…” “Did you say something, Seulgi?” Irene raised an eyebrow. “Oh – no, I mean, yeah it’s a good idea,” Seulgi looked at those curious brown orbs, “drawing objects that means something to us…” “Well detergent for Irene and perhaps, a trash can for you since I heard you got dumped by Krystal Jung.” “Joy!” Irene called the girl out, disapproval etched on her face. My face burned red. I wasn’t sure if I was angry or embarrassed; maybe the latter. But it was true though. Krystal Jung did dumped me anyway. I should probably add trash can into the list of objects. Besides, it won’t be too hard to draw one. Once they were done with Art class, I was clearing out my things when Joy spoke to me afterwards with Irene listening along. “Sorry I was such a . I can be that way sometimes. I hope you accept my apology?” “Sure.” “And I’m sorry Krystal broke your heart.” Joy pondered for a bit and added, “But she wasn’t really that great anyway to be frank.” “Joy,” Irene warned again, probably so done with her friend’s poking. The girl gave an apologetic smile to me and I couldn’t help but smiled back. “You should embrace your freedom. Girls are nothing but trouble,” Joy said. “Aren’t you a girl? And how do you not have a girlfriend with all these motivational talk?” Irene asked. “So what, you’re saying you want to be my girlfriend?” “No way,” Irene made a face and waved her hand, “and I don’t have time.” “You don’t have time to date?” I asked. This struck me as an unacceptable excuse. Something along the lines of It’s not you, it’s me or I just think we’re better as friends or You don’t think enough about things. “Look, I take care of my sister all week long. Morning and night and I have to balance my study time as well. So yeah.” Irene explained. I was then about to ask on why she was at the river the other day if she said she is always busy taking care of her sister, but I didn’t ask that yet and save it for another time. We walked out of class, and out of our school compound. We had an agreement to meet each other this upcoming Saturday and to try and draw each other as best as they could on some secluded café. I was actually relieved that I had something to do this weekend instead of brooding in my room (because I was not about to have a girl bonding with Mom like I told Wendy earlier). Sooyoung reached into her pocket for her car keys. “Anyone need a ride home?” I was kind of embarrassed to say I might need one. I was still burn-out of the 7.2km walk back home last week. “Where do you live?” “Near Dobong Park.” Dobong Park wasn’t all that far from my house. I stood there mulling if I should ask but Joy beats me to it. “I can send you back home. You live nearby as well, right?” I nodded, “Yeah, I think I could kind of use a ride too.” Joy turned to Irene, “What about you?” “Nah,” she said, “I’m going to take the bus.” “The bus?” I asked, “Really? But a lot of us here don’t take the bus though.” “Rich people don’t, I guess.” Irene said. “Poor people do.” I felt the redness rising in my cheeks again. Just why was I such a clueless ? “I mean…what I meant to say is –” “You meant to say that you don’t ride the bus and neither do your friends because you all have cars.” “No…I meant..” “It’s fine, Seulgi. I’m not offended.” A chuckle escaped from the girl, she must have enjoyed my conflicted expression. Till the end, Irene declined Joy’s offer to send her back home and soon both Joy and I stood for a while watching the small back of Irene leaving the school gate and then she was gone. “Don’t mind her. She’s always like that – you know, the very independent type.” Joy added, and ushered me to her car.                                                           ***     We agreed on meeting up at ‘A Second Chance’ café around 11am. I was force to being reminded on that night how I felt like the name of the café mocked my situation yet it also gave me a string of hope to rekindle my relationship with Krystal. But I don’t think there is much hope left. Joy picked me up with her Audi A5 and we arrived at the café first and waited a short while before Irene showed up and sat at their booth. She came by bus. The café ambience was chill and jazzy. There were only a few tables occupied because I noticed people usually opt to come to this café when it was near the evening. We were not even five minutes into showing off our sketching when my stomach grumbled. It was embarrassing how loud it was and both Joy and Irene burst out laughing at me. I did had some toast with strawberry jam earlier but I guess it wasn’t enough. “Do you like roast beef sandwich? I think everyone loves a roast beef sandwich.” Joy stated before we agreed to eat before starting our assignment. They ordered three sandwiches, coleslaw and some drinks. I had a strange flash sitting in that booth with Joy and Irene, imagining this as some alternate version of me sitting in a similar booth but with Wendy and Jongin. I guess Irene would play Wendy in that version, though they looked different. They were similar in he