Let's Try - F(x)

SHOUTOUT: MY FACEBOOK BUDDIES ♥ to my twin ATE PASTA who has the same birthday as me, my MEGAN UNNI who's working her off everytime I chat with her and my MIKMIK DONGSAENG ZAIZAI who's well... crazy! ♥ 

Chapter 11: Start Over.

“… and that is it for the second chapter.” Mr. Lee, the physics teacher, said as the students just nodded as if they were really listening. “After the semestral recital, we’ll have to move on to the third chapter…”

It was already afternoon and the students were just waiting for the school bell, signalling for dismissal time. The teacher in front of them was talking about their lessons and quizzes, but the students couldn’t care less. There’s only a day left before the semestral recital, so things outside of the said event are to be forgotten in the meantime. As told by Sehun before, the grade the students will be garnering from the recital will be 40% of their final semestral grade, so quizzes and exams aren’t that much to be worried about as long as they manage to secure a decent grade from their performance.

Though that requires them to perform really well, and to perform really well, they have to work themselves to death with practice.

Jaera’s not an exemption. Even though she already quitted most of her part time jobs, her body’s still being killed with exhaustion—partly because of her one last remaining part time job, and mostly because of the intenseness and proximity of the dance routine that their song was requiring.

Jaera was staring at her book blankly, acting as if she really was listening to their teacher when Lu Han’s words suddenly struck her.

“…Sehun always gets left behind by himself.”

Jaera turned to her right and saw Sehun staring at the front with his chin resting on the palm of his right hand, looking all bored and passive. She stared at his figure and noticed that he was wearing an expensive looking watch, much similar to Lu Han’s. His bag was simple though, with only two large uppercase letters decorating it. Although Jaera swore that she already saw that logo somewhere before and believe it or not, the brand sells products that costs more than the old apartment she used to live in.

However, despite the fact that Sehun’s rich, he never really got everything that he wanted. He might even be comparable to Jaera in a way that only the two of them could understand. Their statuses have vast difference, but their familial situations are very much alike.

Sehun might act snooty, arrogant, and princely, but under his facade lays a lonely, isolated, and lost child that yearns for a loving presence from his parents.

“What are you looking at?”

Snapping out from her trance, Jaera blinked a couple of times before managing to realize that their class was already dismissed, and the only ones inside the room were Sehun and her.

“What do you mean?” Jaera replied, grabbing her books from her desk in a hurry.

“You were staring at your seatmate the whole time.”

“Well, it’s because I was thinking about a few things—“ Jaera answered nonchalantly but stopped upon realizing what she was about to say. Her head shot up abruptly from her bag only to see Sehun smirking at her. “I wasn’t staring at you.”

“Yeah, and carrots are blue.” Sehun retorted, watching Jaera as she quickly dumped all of her things inside her bag. “You said you were thinking about a few things, what was it?”

Jaera paused from what she was doing and turned to look at Sehun. She was about to lash out at him but seeing the serious gaze on his face, Jaera just rolled her eyes. “You know Sehun, there’s this word called ‘privacy’.”

“Really? I didn’t know that.” Sehun mocked, feigning innocence. “What does it mean?”

Not sparing a look towards Sehun, Jaera quickly grabbed her bag and made way for the back door. “It means that we shouldn’t waste any time and start practicing for that freaking number now.”

Sensing that Sehun’s not moving from his place, Jaera turned back and gave him a stern look. “What are you still doing there?”

“Well, it’s kind of a shocker to me.” Sehun said, standing up from his seat while narrowing his eyes on Jaera. “Are you sure you’re Jaera? Kim Jaera?”

“What the hell are you up to now, Oh Sehun?”

“Well, you actually initiated practicing with me first.” Sehun reasoned out. “I was always the one asking you to start.”

“So now you’re counting—“ Jaera was about to make a smart comeback but paused and just heaved a heavy sigh. “Whatever, let’s just go.”

Sehun widened his eyes at the sudden change in attitude of Jaera but followed behind her, nevertheless. “That’s a first too.”

After moving out from their classroom, Jaera and Sehun immediately made way for the vacant practice room available on the first floor of their building. The journey to the practice room was relatively silent, except for Sehun’s constant suspicions on Jaera.

“This is really, a fateful day.” Sehun started, entering the empty practice room leisurely. “For the first time in history, the ‘Kim Jaera’ isn’t responding to any of my name callings—“

“Ugh Sehun, just please stop the stupid counting.” Jaera hissed, dropping her bag on the bench before ruffling her head in frustration. “Why don’t we just get this over and done with? In case you didn’t know, there’s only a few days left before the recital.”

“I know.” Sehun said, following suit before placing his iPod on the stereo system of the room. “I perfectly well know about it.”

“Then why don’t you quit messing around and just grow up?” Jaera asked sarcastically while walking over in front of the mirror to do her starting position.

“Why should I stop?” As soon as the intro started, Sehun immediately walked up to Jaera’s behind and grabbed her waist, not failing to let her catch the smug smile visible on his face. “I like messing with you.”

During their practice, Sehun and Jaera surprisingly did their parts well—solo and duo parts alike. The expressions on their faces weren’t bad either. It’s as if dancing with each other was so natural that their faces don’t look as indifferent as before. The irritable demeanour of Jaera already disappeared, as well as Sehun’s infamous blank face.

It didn’t matter if it was the work of Jaera’s hours practicing in front of the mirror or anything alike because whatever it is, it surely worked.

“Ni mam jakku naega himdeureo—“ As soon as the cursed step came, instead of placing his right hand on Jaera’s hips, Sehun instinctively raised his hand in midair so as not to get yelled at by the girl again.

But the opposite happened.

“Hey, what the hell do you think you’re doing? You’re supposed to hold me here.”

Without any hesitance, Jaera unexpectedly pulled Sehun’s right hand and placed it on her hips before proceeding in her own routine.

The abrupt move of Jaera made Sehun stop and freeze in place. With his eyes wide open, Sehun just kept staring at his hand on Jaera’s hips while the latter gave him a weird look. “What?”

“You’re not going to yell at me?” Sehun asked, giving Jaera a look of disbelief as the latter just bit her lower lip.

Jaera then turned to give Sehun a look before going back to their setup. “This is the dance step and I’m just following it. There’s no reason for me to yell, right? So why should I?”

Sehun, who was used to Jaera’s constant complaints and yells, couldn’t help but doubt the girl’s sudden lack of hostility. It’s not that he wants her to be difficult, he’s just suspicious as to why she suddenly changed attitude. He wanted to confront her, but the new Jaera isn’t half as bad either. Heck, he could even touch her without him getting lashed out.

But of course, he was only talking about the probabilities.

“Oh, I’m so proud of them.” Suho said, smiling ever so proudly as he peeked in through the glass window. “Their relationship’s slowly getting better.”

“I know, right Mr. Kim?” Haeri added, beaming at Suho. “They actually look good with each other, don’t you think?”

“That may be so but,” Suho said, turning from the glass window to Haeri with his angelic smile. “Studies should come first.”

Upon hearing Suho’s words, Haeri can’t help but just nod meekly. Though it’s not really meant for her, it’s almost like Suho unintentionally told her to not get her hopes up too high. That he won’t take on anyone at the moment, much less a student, which Haeri is one, unfortunately.

“You’re right, Mr. Kim.” Haeri muttered, forcing on a smile. “Studies first.”

Suho smiled and patted Haeri’s head. He was about to watch the two again when a wide-eyed Soyeol suddenly came to his sight. “What are you two doing?”

“Soyeol, we’re just watching Jaera and Sehun’s practice for the recital.” Haeri said.

“Aren’t you supposed to be practicing right now?