Chapter 3

"O-ha-yo!", Dara greeted everyone as she entered the classroom. Not even Jiyong's furious glare is enough to dampen the start of her beautiful day.

"Morning Jiyong-kun!", Dara smiled at her seatmate. "Such a grouchy face on a nice morning. Wonder what caused that? I did not bump into you this morning. Did you eat something bad? Did you…"

'Shut up, polkadots. You're too talkative this morning.", Jiyong grumbled.

Dara just continued smiling. "I'm just happy. And not even your snide remarks can dissolve my happiness. It's such a wonderful day." Then she felt her cellphone vibrate. She burst into giggles as she read into the message, then she began typing her response.

Jiyong was seething with irritation and curiosity as he observed Dara's actions. Why is she acting like that? Did the message come from that idiot Choi? Damn him!

Just then, Hwangsabu-sensei arrived and Dara had to keep her cellphone.

"Okay class. You're going to have a science project and it will be performed and submitted in pairs. Now, I'm giving you a few minutes to find your partner.", Hwangsabu-sensei said.

As soon as that was said, the class was in chaos with students trying to find their partners. Dara immediately stood up, knowing that there is only one person in the whole class whom she wants to be her partner.

"Bom!", Dara called to her so-called bestfriend. She crossed Jiyong's seat, as she hurried to Bom who is 3 seats to the left away from her. But…

STUPID!STUPID!STUPID!

Dara found herself thrown backwards and landed right into… Jiyong's lap. Jiyong's right hand was holding her shoulder, probably because he caught her during the fall. Dara found herself staring at a pair of crimson eyes.

Jiyong? I'm on Jiyong's lap!

Dara blinked, hoping that the vision will disappear. No way! This is not happening to me! (slow girl!)

Jiyong just stared.

Dara blinked again. He's still right there! Oh no, this means I'm really sitting…

"Well, it seems Dara and Jiyong have agreed to be partners.", Hwangsabu beamed at them. "And they seem couldn't wait to get started."

"!", Dara screamed as she jumped from Jiyong's lap.

"NO! NO! NO! I don't want to be paired with him!", Dara yelled. "Bom is my patner!"

"Idiot. Jae is my partner.", Bom said with her usual emotionless voice.

Dara felt tears coming to her eyes. "Why? Why Bom? Why would you choose Jae over me?"

"Because I can blackmail him to do the entire project. Besides, his animal friends can be good test subjects." She turned her sharp eyes to a sweating Jae. "Right, Jae?"

Jaejoong gulped but nodded. He knew that Bom's words actually meant 'If you refuse, you're gonna regret it!'

Dara sniffed. This was supposed to be a wonderful day but everything had gone wrong!

"Stop your whining, little girl.", Jiyong said. "Badluck for me, I get an idiot for a partner.", he muttered loud enough for Dara to hear.

"Why you….!"

"Okay class, you're going to have an Investigatory Project for your Chemistry Class. Which means that you have to experiment something related to the topic that you and your partner have chosen. So, you will need this time to discuss with your partners the details of your projects. I will hand out copies of previous years' projects to give you an idea what to do. By tomorrow, I want you to submit a draft which includes your topic, the objectives of your experiment, and the possible materials and procedures that you will be using.", Hwangsabu-sensei said.

Groans were heard all over the class.

"Tomorrow? Why too soon?"

"Can't you give us a week for that?"

"That's too hard!"

Hwangsabu chuckled. He just loved to tease his students. "Hehe. Okay, I'll give you 3 days to finish. The whole project will be submitted at the end of the quarter." (School year for High School is divided into 4 'quarters', this was the school system in my HS; 'term' if in college)

Dara sighed. If Bom was her partner, it would have been much easier for her. She glanced at Jiyong and noticed that he wasn't even listening to Hwangsabu. He was too absorbed with his manga!

"Hey Jiyong!", Dara called. "We need to discuss our project."

Jiyong glanced at her with his usual bored expression. "Not interested."

Dara felt the nerves on her head beginning to pop out. "You bastard! Do you expect me to finish the project by myself?", she gritted out.

"You're the one who needs the grade the most. Even if I fail the project, my current grades is enough for me to pass.", Jiyong replied without looking at her.

You annoying, insensitive, selfish, unfeeling bastard! Dara wanted to shout at him.

The class ended with Dara nowhere the start of their project.

Frustrated, she glanced around and saw that everyone seemed to have plans to leave with their partners to discuss the project more. She looked at Jiyong.

"Jiyong... please...", she begged.

"No.", Jiyong replied.

"!", Dara screamed. "You're the worst person I've ever encountered!"

RINGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG!

Dara took her cellphone from her bag. "Hello?"

"Hi Dara. This is TOP. I was wondering if you want to go to Central Town today. I'll treat you to Howalon."

Dara sighed. "Hi TOP-kun. Sorry but I have to work on an investigatory project for Chemistry. My STUPID PARTNER here won't cooperate.", Dara complained to him emphasizing on the words 'stupid partner' while directing a murderous glare at Jiyong.

"Oh? Chemistry, eh? If you want, I can help you. Chemistry is one of my favorite subjects."

"Really? You're going to help me? Yipee! You're the best TOP-kun! Okay, I'll..." Dara was cut-off when Jiyong grabbed the phone and ended the call.

"What the hell was that!", Dara cried.

"In case you have forgotten, this project is only for you and me. Outside help is not needed.", Jiyong said. Especially if it's that Choi! Damn!

"But you won't cooperate!", Dara answered back.

"Fine!", Jiyong grabbed her hand and pulled her outside.

"Hey, where are we going?", Dara was confused now.

"You want to discuss the project, right? Then let's go to my room."

"Y-your r-room? EKKKK!", Dara pulled her hand from his. "W-why in your room?", she stammered. "Why not in the library? I'm sure we can find..."

"I prefer my room. Most of our classmates will be in the library and they're going to make a lot of noise. Besides, I don't want to be seen with a baka tagging with me.", he smirked. I want privacy!

"Why you..!"

"Shut up, polkadots. Don't flatter yourself that I'm going to molest you or something.", Jiyong said. I just want some time with you, idiot! "I'll cooperate with the project but on my own terms."

"I could ask TOP-kun..."

"That's not an option!", Jiyong snapped.

It can be an option! Dara thought. But I guess he has a point. We should do this on our own. And it's going to be quite noisy in the library and we need to brainstorm on this.

"Okay, you win!",Dara snapped back. She took her cellphone from him and sent a message to TOP that she's not going to be available.

Jiyong opened the door to his room and let Dara in first (such a gentleman!). Dara had been here once but she still marvels at the size of Jiyong's bedroom, well of course, it's way much bigger compared to her 2-star room.

"Oh, I remember! You have a mini library here right? Wow! Your room is really big, Jiyong.", Dara gushed.

Jiyong said nothing. He just stood leaning against the door and stared at Dara. Dara just kept babbling on and on, gushing at each of the expensive items displayed in Jiyong's room.

"So you like my room that much, polkadots?", Jiyong finally asked.

"Of course, I do. Who wouldn't?", Dara replied.

"You can transfer here if you want.", Jiyong said.

"T-transfer?" Dara was shocked, then she blushed. Transfer with HIM? Sleep in the same room with Jiyong? What was he suggesting? That arrogant...

"You can be my maid. And you can sleep there on the floor.", Jiyong continued then looked at her, and said in a knowing and amused tone. "You were thinking of something else?"

Dara turned bright crimson. "Kwon Jiyong! You...!"

"By the way, what's with you and that Choi guy?", Jiyong asked.

"TOP-kun? He's a friend.", Dara answered, thankful for the change in topic.

"Or boyfriend?", Jiyong wanted to spat at that word.

Dara blushed (again!) . "No, he's not. He's just a close friend." For now. "He's not my boyfriend... yet." Dara whispered the last word with a smile.

But Jiyong heard that. His crimson eyes narrowed as he observed Dara's reaction. Not yet eh? We'll see about that.