“Okay Junsu, you can take the seat next to Venus. She’s one of the top students here in the class. So I know she will be able to help you out so you can familiarize yourself with everything here,” the teacher said.

 

                All the girls in the class instantly felt envious of Venus. They were all thinking that she was so lucky to actually sit next to the most handsome guy in school.

 

                Ven, on the other hand, was shocked. She never expected her ordinary day would be filled with so much excitement.

               

                “HI! I’m Junsu… You’re Venus right?” he asked with the most charming smile that could easily send a million girls floating in the air.

 

                Eve who was sitting on the left side of Ven, quickly nudged her friend. “Hey Ven! He’s talking to you… Uhmmm… maybe you would like to answer or something.”

 

                Ven quickly  shook his head as if to wake herself up. “Oh… sorry I was thinking about something,” she apologized.

 

                “Oh yeah right!” Eve uttered with a mischievous smile.

 

                “Hi! I’m Junsu… Nice to meet you. I hope you won’t get tired of me,” he said sweetly.

 

                Ven tried to smile back even though her pulse was already racing so fast. She was thinking that any minute now she would probably faint or unconsciously nosebleed.

 

                “Hi… I’m Eve. I’m Ven’s bestfriend,” Eve suddenly interrupted. She just decided to make herself known.

 

                “Hello Eve. Nice to meet you too,” Junsu replied with a smile.

 

                “So would you like to join us for lunch?” Eve quickly asked.

 

                He nodded instantly. “Sure that would be great,” he answered.

 

                Venus who was sitting in between Eve and Junsu was still in shock. All she could do was look at the two as they continued chatting with each other as if she wasn’t there.

 

                Lunch time…

 

                Ven still couldn’t believe what was happening.

 

                Everyone’s eyes were on them the moment they entered the canteen. Somehow she suddenly wanted to melt or just run away.

 

                “Hey Ven, you’ve been awfully quiet. For God’s sake girl… speak,” Eve said jokingly.

 

                Ven stared at her friend. She then sighed heavily. She was too different from her. She was too shy compared with her friend.

 

                “Are you all right?” Junsu asked as he lightly touched Ven’s shoulder as a friendly gesture and to show his concern.

 

                Electricity quickly shot through Ven’s entire body. She wanted to instantly freak out. She had never felt something like that before. But again she tried to act like nothing was wrong. She knew if she reacted, she would be attracting more attention. And it was the least thing that she wanted.

 

                “I... I’m okay. Just thinking about something,” she uttered. Then she remembered it was the same thing she had said before.

 

                Eve suddenly burst into a laugh. “Oh Ven, you’re so cute!”

 

                Junsu also laughed lightly, which in turn, made Ven blush in embarrassment.

 

                Minutes passed and all three of them were already sitting together in a table.

 

                “So what do you guys do after school?” Junsu asked curiously.

 

                “Oh we just go straight to our homes. My brother won’t let us hang out on school days, if that’s what you’re asking. But he does allow us to go out provided that he’s also with us, and only on weekends,” Eve answered.

 

                Junsu nodded his head. “I see. Is that the same with Ven?” he asked as he gave Ven a quick glance.

 

                “Yes,” Ven replied shyly.

               

                “So you have a brother Eve?” Junsu asked again as if suddenly trying to shift the conversation into another direction. He had already noticed that Ven was feeling awkward whenever the conversation was about her.

 

                “Yes, he’s a year older than us,” Eve answered quickly. “And speaking of my brother, here he comes.”

 

                Junsu and Ven quickly looked at the direction where Eve was looking at.

 

                “Hi girls,” Yunho greeted cheerfully. His attention was then drawn to Junsu.

 

                “Hello brother, he’s our new classmate. He’s Junsu,” Eve introduced their new friend.

 

                “Oh, so you’re the new guy everyone’s talking about,” Yunho uttered as he sat down beside his sister.

 

                “Hello, just call me Junsu,” he said with his usual cheerfulness.

               

                Yunho smiled back. “I hope you will like it here. If you encounter any problems, don’t hesitate to come to me.”

 

                The other boy nodded. “I am quite happy to have met you guys. You are all so nice.”

 

                Eve laughed. “Nice? Us? You’ve only met us so don’t go concluding just yet,” she uttered as if hinting something.

 

                Yunho shook his head as a sign of disapproval of what his sister just said. “Eve behave,” he suddenly warned.

 

                “Oh brother, I was just kidding,” Eve said with a laugh.

 

                “So do you guys know any particular place that I can hang out? A nice bar, restaurant or something like that?” Junsu asked curiously.

 

                Unexpectedly, someone appeared and lightly slapped the back of Junsu’s head.

 

                Everyone was surprised at what they saw.

 

                “You just got here and you’re already thinking of hanging out? That’s the main reason why Mother and Father can’t leave you alone in a new school. What a life! I always end up being dragged to whatever school you are being dropped into. I think I am doomed to be your babysitter forever,” the unexpected person said out loud.

 

                Junsu turned around to look at the person talking and quickly smiled. Then he stood up and immediately embraced the woman from behind. “Oh, don’t be angry Erin. I was just joking.”

 

                All the girls in the canteen including Ven and Eve were shocked and dismayed. So their new dream boy already had someone. All their hopes and dreams of having him quickly vanished into thin air. The girl standing in front of them was very pretty and had the same eye-catching qualities that Junsu had. Somehow they were the perfect pair.

 

                “Hello! I’m Erin… I’m Junsu’s sister,” the girl quickly introduced herself to Eve, Ven and Yunho.

 

                “Sister?” Eve asked as her eyes instantly lit up with happiness.

 

                All the girls who heard what Erin said also sighed in great relief.  Xiah was still available, they were all thinking…

 

                “Hey Erin, I was just joking okay. So don’t go around telling Mother and Father about what you heard. I wouldn’t want another lecture again. I think my ears bled after the last time they gave me their record breaking sermon,” Junsu said as if trying to sweet talk his sister.

 

                Erin laughed. “Fine, just let go of me already.”

 

                Junsu quickly released his sister from his embrace. “Have you eaten? Why don’t you join us? The table is big enough for all of us.”

 

                “Can I join you?” Erin asked while directly looking at Eve and Ven.

 

                “Sure, by the way… I’m Venus. But you can just call me Ven.”

 

                “Oh, finally her voice returns,” Eve jokingly commented.

 

                “I’m Eve.”

 

                “Hello, I’m Yunho.”

 

                Erin sat down and smiled at the girls. “Please pardon my brother okay. He’s really a very naughty boy.”

 

                “Hey, I’m not,” Junsu protested.

 

                The two younger girls couldn’t help but giggle.

 

                “Oh it’s okay… actually I’m sort of like him. I like fooling around and teasing my brother,” Eve said.

 

                “Brother?” Erin asked curiously.

 

                “Yes… I’m her brother,” Yunho added.

 

                Erin quickly focused her attention on Yunho. “Hey, wait a minute. We’re classmates right? Sorry I didn’t recognize you much earlier. I have a very bad memory sometimes.”

 

                Yunho just nodded his head. “It’s all right.”

 

                “The two of you are classmates too? Isn’t that great?” Eve said out loud.

               

                While Eve continued talking, Venus couldn’t help but feel small. She had totally lost her will to talk. And was just now watching and listening to everything that was happening around her.

 

                “Are you all right Ven?” Yunho asked with concern in his eyes. “You have been very quiet ever since I got here.”

 

                “She’s been like that since this morning,” Eve said to her brother.

 

                “Really? Are you feeling sick? We can go to the clinic if you want,” Yunho said to Ven.

 

                Venus managed to smile. She was deeply touched with Yunho’s kindness and sweetness. “I’m okay. I don’t know what’s wrong with me today. I just don’t feel like talking today… that’s all,” she lied.

 

                “Oh… where’s Jiajene by the way?” Yunho asked as he suddenly started to look around.

 

                “You know her… she must be with her friends again. We all know she likes eating with her own friends,” Eve said.

 

                “Yes, Eve’s right,” Venus added.

 

                “So you have a sister Venus? That’s wonderful. I always wanted to have a sister. But I ended up getting a totally annoying brother instead,” Erin said with the same cheerfulness and aura that Junsu had.

               

                “Ouch! That hurts. I’m not annoying. I’m handsome, sweet, talented and loving but definitely not annoying,” Junsu tried to defend himself.

 

                Erin laughed. “Fine… fine….”

 

                “By the way Erin, Venus is my going to be my personal school buddy,” Xiah said with a wide smile on his face.

 

                “Huh? Personal school buddy?” Erin asked as if confused.

 

                “Yes, she’s supposed to help me get familiarized with school and other activities here,” Junsu tried to explain.

 

                Erin nodded her head and gave Venus a very warm smile. “Oh now I understand. Venus, I hope that you will be very patient with my brother. He can be quite a troublemaker and a very big headache sometimes.”

 

                “Hey sis… stop ruining my reputation okay,” Junsu uttered.

 

                “Oh don’t worry about it,” was the only words that came out of Ven’s mouth.

 

                “Thanks… and please do take good care of my brother,” Erin said that quickly made Ven’s heart skip a beat.

 

                “Take care?” Venus suddenly repeated the words in her mind. And as she continued to silently stare at Junsu, she couldn’t stop herself from wondering what she was getting herself into.