“Hello, My name is Chaeyoung.. I am in your care”

 

‘Chaeyoung! ah. I found you. She had a new image.. Will she remember me?’

 

Her long dark hair was now blonde and cute just above her shoulders. She no longer wore her thick black glasses, I always liked her glasses. They added something to her face, a certain poise I suppose. They did more than just frame her eyes or provide her the ability to see; they added an extra window to her soul and I loved that.  

 

Sana unknowingly smiled at the new students, as Momo and Mina smirked beside her.

 

“Told you she was hot.” Momo taunted

“Shush it Momo!” Mina scowled across her

“What! It’s true?” She whispered

“Girls! Will you guys stop,” Sana countered

 

“Well then, please take your seats and I hope you all enjoy your stay with us,” The teacher said with a smile

 

Chaeyoung and the other students took their places and sat in the available spaces.

Sana was staring at the latter, observing every small detail she had.

 

‘5 years is such a long time Chaeyoung.. I really hope you still remember me.’

 

A quarter of the time had passed, and they divided each student into fours for a class project.

 

“We should take her,” Momo whined

“I agree, don’t you Sana?” Mina added

“Uh.. yeah.. sure.”

 

Momo and Mina actively stood up and immediately ran towards Chaeyoung.

 

“Hey, Chaeyoung! You’re in our homeroom. Remember us?” Momo grinned

“Uh, I guess?”

“Well, if you don’t, I am Momo, and this here is Mina— that over there is Sana”

 

“Oh, hi.”

 

“Would you like to join our group?” Mina smiled

“We still need one more,” Momo added

“Uh…” Chaeyoung looked over the two girls who were smiling at her expecting a response, as she peeked behind them to see Sana, who seems to not be looking back at her. She thought through and smiled at the two latter “Sure. Why not”

 

“Great!” Momo actively grabbed Chaeyoung’s arm and pulled her

“Momo!” Mina called out as she tried to catch them

 

They dragged Chaeyoung towards Sana, as Sana sees this in the corner of her eye. Her hand was nervous and trembled at the thought of talking to her again.. after 5 years. 

 

“Sana-chan!” Momo came in with a bright smile— her arms around the Chaeyoung “We got a new member!” she cheerfully exclaimed.

 

Sana stood from her place and greeted “Hi. I am Sana”

“Chaeyoung” she smiled

“Oookay! let’s start! We only got an hour before the presentation!” Mina exclaimed as she placed a speaker in front of them

 

It’s already been half an hour when Momo and Mina had been doing the choreography, Sana had contributed a bit and Chaeyoung. However, Chaeyoung remained quiet and Sana can’t help but stare at her for a fact Chaeyoung had paid little attention to her.

 

‘I guess she doesn’t remember me’ Sana thought and released a loud sigh enough for the group to hear

 

“Eh? is there something wrong Sana?” Momo worriedly asked

“H-huh? Nothing. I was just... tired and thinking”

“You sure?” Mina asked

“Don’t worry” she smiled at them as she noticed Chaeyoung finally looked at her— with a glance, Sana smiled, yet Chaeyoung looked away— she sighed.

 

After an hour of practicing, and getting ready for the class project, they performed and gained a few cheers from their classmates for their performance. The bell rang for lunchtime and students began to leave the room

 

“Hey! Chaeyoung! Are you doing anything for lunch?” Mina asked with a smile

“Uh.. nothing really”

“Oh great! Wanna join us?” Momo grinned excitingly

“N-no it’s fine”

“Aww.. why not”

“I forgot, I do have things to do” she stuttered and hung her head low.

 

“Join us, Chaeyoung. it’s just for a short time?” Sana spoke to her with a gentle smile. Chaeyoung recognized the voice and lifted her head up.

“Maybe, for a few minutes..”

“OKAY! Let’s go!” After hearing Chaeyoung’s reply Momo instantly grabbed the girl and pulled her away

 

“Wha—“

“Wait! Momo!” Mina ran after them

“Oh, geez..” Sana chuckled as she just calmly walked following the girls.

 

🌨️

 

“Chaeyoung! Do you want anything?” Momo exclaimed

“Uh..” she looked for food that would interest her.

 

Momo and Chaeyoung were in line for food while Sana and Mina wait on their usual seats.

 

“Chaeyoung seems so quiet huh,” Mina thought out loud

“Yeah.”

“I worry that she’d be worn out from Momo’s high energy.” Mina chuckled

“I guess.”

 

“And you.. seemed to be thinking a lot lately” 

“Uh. It’s nothing, I guess I was just tired.”

“I see..”

 

“Oy! Girls!” A familiar voice called out to the two latter as Jeongyeon, Jihyo, and Nayeon came in with grins on their faces.

 

“Ah! Jeongyeon!” Sana exclaimed

“Hey there!” She laughed “Wassup” she sat beside Sana as she wrapped her arms around her “Miss me?”

“No?” Sana chuckled and slightly pushed her away

“Mean!”

 

“So, how’s everyone doing?” Nayeon asked

“Great, we met a new student.,” Mina replied

“Really?”

“Yeah— she’s with Momo.” Mina pointed to the two girls who were falling in line.

 

Jeongyeon noticed Sana bummed out as she continues to stare at Chaeyoung

 

“Uh.. you okay?” She leaned over to Sana

“H-huh? Yeah... I am fine.”

“If you keep staring, that new girl will melt,” she laughed

“N-no.,” Jeongyeon replied with a hum and left her. However, Sana grabbed Jeongyeon’s wrist to stop the latter from leaving her

 

“Jeongyeon?”

“Yeah?”

“You didn’t notice her?”

“I..”

“Chaeyoung. that’s her.”

“What?— she changed.”

“And I am bummed because she hasn’t talked to me since dance class”

“Oh.. you’re in the same electives as her?”

“Just dance.”

 

“I see.”

 

Chaeyoung and Momo returned with their trays and sat across them. Chaeyoung noticed Jeongyeon and Sana staring at her and hung her head low yet again.

 

“Ah! You guys are here!” Momo exclaimed, “This is a new student, she’s—“

 

“Chaeyoung-ah” Jeongyeon uttered

“Oh. You know her?” Momo asked but Jeongyeon completely ignored the latter

 

“Chaeyoung-ah.” She called again. Chaeyoung looked over at the voice

“H-hey.”

“You remember me?” Jeongyeon leaned with anticipation 

“Y-Yes.” She stuttered

 

“Great!” Jeongyeon laughed as she stood up and took a seat beside her “Chaeyoungie!!” Jeongyeon exclaimed and hugged the latter

 

“Uhh.. you know each other?” Mina asked

 

“Yeah! We knew each other since who knows when! Chaeyoung is practically like a sister to me!” Jeongyeon exclaimed as she wrapped her arms around Chaeyoung and ruffled her hair “You changed a lot!”

“—geez. I see you haven’t changed a bit,” she flipped her hair and fixed it

 

“Okay? That’s cool! So you guys are childhood friends?” Nayeon asked

“Hell ya!— together with Sana too!” 

 

“Sana?!” Momo and Mina asked in unison as they looked over to Sana who is now averting her eyes

 

“You knew Chaeyoung! And you didn’t tell us”

“I— uh. I wasn’t sure if it was her.”

 

“Hey! Hey! You remember her don’t you Chaeng?” Jeongyeon grinned. Chaeyoung hummed and slightly nodded. She was then immediately pulled in for a hug “Dang I missed you.”

 

“I missed you too.” Chaeyoung chuckled

 

Sana watched everyone giving Chaeyoung the attention across her, she sees Chaeyoung’s smile and how she felt comfortable with Jeongyeon but she still can't help figure why Chaeyoung was too distant.

 

‘I want to know what happened, I want to ask her..’

 

Questions had been falling through as the girls asked her continuously. Chaeyoung nodded, hummed, laughed and smiled but she avoided eye contact with Sana.

 

“C-chae—” Just before Sana could say a word Chaeyoung immediately stood up

“I have to go. I forgot I got something to do.”

“Wait.. already?”

“Yeah.”

“See ya.” She packed her things and immediately stormed away without giving Sana a chance to talk to her.

 

Sana internally sighed as she sees Jeongyeon moving back to her seat.

“She changed hasn’t she?” Jeongyeon uttered

“I’ve been meaning to talk to her, and ask her how she was doing, but every chance I take, she just had something to do. Time.. is just not on my side”

 

“It’s okay. Chaeyoung is back. That’s all that matters, we can find a way” Jeongyeon smiled as she gently grabbed Sana’s hand and intertwined it “it’ll be okay” Sana sighed and plopped her head onto Jeongyeon’s shoulder.

 

“I think I am just tired,” she mumbled

“It’s okay” Sana slightly closed her eyes to take a bit of rest while Jeongyeon and the other girls continued to talk.

 

🌨️

 

“Bye Sana!” Momo and Mina waved as they move to their next class. 

 

Sana and Jeongyeon were walking side to side, at silent pace.

 

“Are you still sulking?” Jeongyeon asked

“No.. I am just—“

“How bout this, Let’s grab dinner together tonight. Let’s try to bring Chaeyoung.”

“No. Don’t do that”

“But..”

“It’s okay.. I am fine”

“Sana, I am your best friend.. I know when you are happy or sad.”

“Don’t worry” she chuckled. Jeongyeon sighed as she gently grabbed Sana’s hand

“Sana, your smile is important to me”

“I am smiling— what do you mean,” she laughed

“I know you are— and I want to keep you smiling..”

“You’re just too cheesy Jeongyeon,” she laughed

“If it makes you smile.. then Cheese it is!!” She laughed 

 

“Weirdo!”

 

Jeongyeon dropped Sana to her next class but before doing so she stopped her as they both faced each other outside her class.

 

“Sana?” Sana replied with a hum in question but Jeongyeon remained smiling as she continued to hold Sana’s hand “nothing..” she smiled

 

“Tell me.” She pouted. Jeongyeon chuckled as she patted her head

“it’s nothing. Sana-chan!— Keep smiling okay?” 

“you’re weird Jeongyeon”

“I know,” she said with a grin as she leaned down to the latter giving her a slight peck on her forehead

 

“Ah!—Jeon—”

“I’ll pick you up later!” she laughed and ran away

“Yoo Jeongyeon!”

“Bye!” 

 

‘ugh, Jeongyeon is making my face flustered again.’

 

Sana smiled as she held onto the room’s door handle. The moment she pushed it open, she spotted Chaeyoung on her elective class.

 

‘She’s here too. wait.. Momo and Mina are not in this class.. oh no’

 

Sana walked in class while the other students pay little attention to her. She looked over at Chaeyoung who was sitting at the back corner by the window— who was looking across the horizon. She hesitantly walked closer until she reached her. 

 

“Can I sit here?” a voice that was familiar to Chaeyoung caught her off guard and her eyes widened.

“Ah. S-Sure” she stuttered and Sana hesitantly sat down. It was an awkward encounter. 

 

“So...  you took robotics?”

“Y-yeah”

“Cool.. it’ll be great to be working with you,” Sana smiled.

“Me too,” she said monotonously

 

Sana silently sighed as she began to turn awkwardly the other way and the teacher had arrived, without giving them the chance to talk.

 

‘Oh Chaeyoung, why are you so distant.. It doesn’t feel the same, I wanted to ask how are you doing.. but something is just stopping me.’

 

“Before leaving everyone will have a project that is due for Finals, and with whoever you are sitting with is your partner for the rest of the school year.”

 

“Ehhhhhhh?!”

“Quiet!— So I hope you all chose the right seatmates!” The teacher smiled and left the room when the bell rang.

 

Chaeyoung immediately packed up and left without uttering a word to Sana.

 

“Ah! Chaeyoung!” Sana courageously chased after the latter who seemed to walk in a fast pace

“Chaeyoung! where.. are you going?”

“class.”

“Why don’t you even talk to me?”

“cause I was in a hurry”

 

Sana scowled as she took a huge leap to catch up to Chaeyoung and blocked her way

“Chaeyoung!”

“W-what?”

“you’re my robotics partner. You shou—”

“I know. I am just in a hurry!”

“Why don’t you even talk to me?”

“It wasn’t meant to be like that.”

 

The bell rang, and the students had slowly cleared up the hallways.

 

“Geeze Chaeyoung. You changed.” Sana scowled and walked away from the latter

“I’m sorry” Chaeyoung mumbled

 

‘Ah! What an idiot move. I..— Ugh!..’

 

🌨️

 

Sana silently walked towards her next class to as she met up with Jeongyeon who was waiting for her outside the classroom

 

“Hey Sana” Jeongyeon called, but she immediately noticed “Hey, are you okay?”

“I.. I think I made Chaeyoung mad?”

“What did you do?”

“I don’t know.. I’m just.. I kinda yelled at her”

“huh. what for?”

“She hasn’t talked to me at all.”

“give her time Sana.” Jeongyeon gently patted her head and pulled her closer “I know you missed her too, just as much as I did— but we gotta—”

“Why is she distant to me... and not to you?”

“Ah..—“

“It’s okay, class is starting” She pulled away and walked towards her seat.

“Sana.,” Jeongyeon mumbled as she began looking out of the hallway.

 

🌨️

 

The day continued with Sana being silent, as she encountered a few classes with Chaeyoung for the day. At the final period, the three childhood friends had another encounter yet again. Sana remained silent and lost for the rest of the period while Jeongyeon and Chaeyoung tried to remain distant with each other and Sana as much as they can. It was obvious that these two were affected by Sana’s silence. The moment the final bell rang, Sana left without uttering a word. 

 

Chaeyoung who is in the corner again sighed as she stood up from her place to get ready to leave.

 

“Chaeyoung” A familiar voice called out to her

“Hey.”

“What happened between you and Sana?”

“Nothing, I was just in a rush” she averted her eyes and continued to pack

“Why were you not talking to her..— you know she missed you too”

“I did talk to her.”

“Chae? you’re being too distant to Sana.”

“—But, I’m just—“

“It’s hurting her.” She said monotonously, as she turned around to leave

“Huh?”

“You should talk to her.—“

“Jeongyeo—“

“Rooftop. We always meet there at this time. I won’t join you two. Fix this,” She sighed and left

“Wait, Jeongyeon!” Chaeyoung uttered yet Jeongyeon ignored this attempt and left the room

 

“Geeze” Chaeyoung mumbled with a sigh— grabbed her bag and left

 

Chaeyoung walked out of the hallway as she passed the stairs, she thought if she should check the rooftop or just leave. She looked up the stairs as the yellow ball of fire rayed down its light through the window panes lighting up the dim-lit staircase. She took a step down and thought, whether or not to see Sana. She stood still for a few seconds engulfed in her thoughts creating a pro and con list in her head. With the first step she took down, she released a deep sigh her decision made and took a step up the escalating stairs.