Tao was never the type to try things; whether it was something new, a sports team or even in academics. It’s not that Tao didn’t want to or that he thought he was too cool for anything, He just was too afraid to fail. To afraid to embarrass himself in front of others or have false expectations. So he didn’t do much. He was mediocre his whole life, believing other people’s judgements about him.

It was Tao’s first day of senior year. The last year he’d suffer the annoyances of everyday life in high school. He, of course, was late and had arrived at school grounds during recess. He held a shiny red apple in his hands and ate as he passed by the hallways. He took a crumpled piece of paper from his pocket and followed the directions to his new classroom.

Tao was in his own little world when he bumped what seemed to be a wall and fell. He was flustered; He didn’t want people to see his embarrassment. He picked up his apple from the floor.

“Aish!” Tao said under his breath. It was his only breakfast and now it was soiled.

A hand appeared in front of his face. Tao looked up.

The “wall” was a man. He had Dirty Blonde hair with bangs that covered just about the start of his eyes and small lips; He looked tiny but he was taller than Tao. His eyes were somewhat cruel but there was something about him that felt safe.

Tao brushed off the hand. He doesn’t accept help from anyone; especially inconsiderate, clumsy jerks.

Tao stood up and dusted himself and the apple.

The man looked concerned “I’m sorry! I’ll buy you a new one later”

Tao shrugged “Watch where you’re going”

The man replied “No really! Please let me buy you one”

Tao was awed that the man was so insistent “I’m fine. I don’t need your handouts”

The “wall” looked miffed “Really, seriously, let me buy you a new one”

Tao was annoyed by his efforts

He got the apple and ate it in front of the man’s face. Mouth opened and all.

“RIIIMMM  RFRRRRIIINNRREEE” Tao said; mouthful of dirty apple chunks.

Blondie looked disgusted and wiped the apple bits Tao spat off his face.

Tao walked away smirking. But the minute he got to the nearest trash can, he the entire apple residue and wiped his tongue.

The man stood there; unable to believe what he saw.

He looked on the floor and noticed a crumpled paper. He picked it up and opened it. It was Tao’s schedule and directions to his classroom.

Meanwhile Tao was walking aimlessly in the halls when the bell rang. He reached for his pocket to find nothing but air inside. He searched his body for the paper but he couldn’t find it. He wasn’t smart enough to memorize the directions.

Tao was lost.

Tao just went inside detention to blend in because he was always in it, except he didn’t calculate that no one would be there on account it was the first day.

A teacher was inside checking records. He looked at Tao like he was crazy.

“Tao, why aren’t you in class?” of course the teacher knew him; he has been there almost everyday.

Tao’s pride wouldn’t admit to the teacher that he was lost so he lied “I’m skipping class. So I guess I belong here”

“Tao, I think you want to be in detention even if it’s not the appropriate hour” The teacher commented

Tao giggled nervously “YEAH YEAH YEP YOU’RE RIGHT I LOVE DETENTION LOVE LOVE SARANG”

The teacher wasn’t amused. “You know what. Just for that. I’m giving you detention for the whole day. Watch your attitude”

Tao gave a sigh of relief. He sat at the nearest chair and placed his black back pack on the floor.

Time flew by and boredom ensued during the whole process

The teacher made small talk. Something Tao found tedious and very annoying

“Tao, You’ve barely passed my class last year. And you only submitted three homeworks, aside from that all of your teachers have complained about your lack of effort. And you’ve been here almost everyday of last school year. With your record, it’s going to be hard to find a college that will accept you…” The teacher continued

“Maybe I’m dumb” Tao replied brashly

“No, you aren’t. No one’s dumb. I’ve seen you’re grades when you were a freshman, straight A’s and honors too. So what happened?”

Tao rolled his eyes “I’m just dumb”

“Maybe your lack of self esteem is playing a big role in all of this. Have you ever tried talking to the guidance counsellor about this?”

Tao’s hand formed a fist. Suddenly a good idea turned into a bad one. He hated being confronted

“No, I don’t have time” Tao made an excuse

“Well maybe you should try peer counselling? Don’t you have friends that can help you?”

Tao just about had enough. Poor Tao, Pity him, he’s going nowhere. No college will accept him, he has no future; blah blah blah blah
“I have no friends okay?” He snapped.

The teacher tried to sympathize with him. Tao himself was surprised at what he said.

“Well…” The teacher pondered, flipping pages of some folder

“It’s never too late” The teacher smiled

Tao looked away. He kind of smiled too but who knows, Tao barely shows his true emotions.

It was almost dismissal and Tao’s masterpiece on his table was almost done. If Tao was graded for tasteful vandalism, he’d get an A plus.

Suddenly someone barged in the door.

“Yes, what is it?” The teacher asked

Tao finished up his drawing of a dinosaur on the wooden table when he looked at the person by the door.

His eyes lighted up. It was that jerk from this morning

Tao bit his lip to hold his anger. This guy was the reason for him being in detention in the first place. He ruined his last first day.

Tao and the man looked at each other for a second. Before the man started talking to the teacher

“The principal sent me here. He said something about my transcript?” It was surprising that the tall man was kind of awkward. But Tao assumed with clumsiness, it was inevitable.

The teacher stood up from where he was sitting “Oh yes, you must be the new student from Canada. Welcome, please have a seat. If you could please wait I’ll just pick them up from the secretary. Oh and Kris right?”

Kris nodded “yeah?”

“Meet Tao, I’m sure the two of you will be good friends” He smiled before leaving the room

Kris entered the room and Sat across Tao. It was silent at first, with awkwardness in the air.

Kris spoke first “You dropped something this morning”

He passed the paper to Tao before returning to his original place again, like an awkward turtle.

Tao opened it up and it was his schedule. He faced Kris

“So you’re the one who stole it? Wasn’t ruining my morning enough? You had to ruin my whole day?” Tao sounded mad. Of course he was passive aggressive as usual.

“I think you’re over reacting. You dropped it in the first place. You aren’t new like me here, so I assumed you know where to go” For some reason Kris was unusually calm

“AFTER YOU BUMPED ME” Tao was getting angrier

“Well yes, but you weren’t careful enough and you bumped me” Kris fired back

“What the . I don’t need to take this from you. You bumped me okay?”

“Well maybe if you look where you’re going, you wouldn’t have” Kris said, with a half smile

“I was looking at the directions okay? And you were like a ing wall bumping random strangers. I don’t know how it is in Canada but you bumped me. It’s your fault” Tao reprimanded

“Fine, I bumped you but it seems illogical to blame me for you getting lost after bumping me whilst looking at the directions for a long time” Kris was articulate and his awkwardness seemed to disappear when he spoke with such fluidity

Tao didn’t know who the hell Kris was but all he got from the bull he said was that he implied that Tao was dumb. He found it intolerable “WHAT THE DID YOU SAY?”

Tao stood up and pushed a chair all the way to the back. It almost hit Kris

Kris blinked twice but retained his composure

The teacher entered the room

“Tao, why are you standing? Sit down. Kris , here’s your papers and we hope you have a great stay here” The teacher seemed to be ignorant of the mess in the room. He looked like he was charmed by Kris

Kris smiled like this innocent little child and took the papers. He was about to leave when the teacher intervened.

“Since you’re new, I’ll have Tao show you around. Would that be okay Tao?” The teacher asked cheerfully

“What in the—No.” Tao sternly declined

“Tao! You’ll show him around. He could be your first friend!” The teacher signalled Tao with his eyes

Tao wanted to die of embarrassment right then and there “No--” Tao facepalmed himself

“Tao! You need to pass this year because I won’t if you don’t start showing initiative. Now show him around before I fail you”

Tao was sure that wasn’t legal. But he had no choice.

Tao nodded as well as Kris

The bell rang

“Oh well, it’s been a fun day. Tao, wont you Kris to his classroom tomorrow?” The teacher asked

Tao nodded

Kris said goodbye to the teacher “Bye sir….”

Tao picked up his bag

“Bye… Tao.” Kris said, his voice shaking

Tao gave a fake smile to Kris and a bad sign when the teacher wasn’t looking.

Kris left the room

Tao left; ending his first last day.

_____________________________________The Next day_____________________________________

Tao groaned; he didn’t like waking up early but his alarm clock started to work. Finally.

Clothes flew out the closet. Tao was feeling groggy and wasn’t a neat person either. He was looking for something to wear to school.

Tao found a black sweater with colourful skulls on it and pants.

He took a shower and headed for school.

In the hallways, Kris was nowhere to be found. Which was good since Tao might just punch the jerk in the face. ‘Obligation evaded’ Tao thought to himself

Tao finally knew where to go. He was walking when a pair of hands touched his shoulders.

Tao was startled like a scared cat. He looked behind him and it was the person he wanted to avoid.

The hands were shaken off.

“Don’t. Touch. Me” Tao warned Kris

Kris wasn’t bothered by it “I just wanted to remind you of escorting me to my classroom”

Tao replied harshly “I aint doing that”

Kris pouted “Aw, oh well he’s my first subject anyway”

Getting sick of these passive aggressive threats, Tao agreed “Fine fine fine, ok I’ll you”

Kris smiled. Tao was starting to understand Kris’ charm, he looked away immediately.

Following the directions on Kris’ notebook, They found the classroom together.

Tao didn’t believe it. It was his classroom as well.

“Let me see that” Tao swiped the notebook from Kris’ hands

“NO, NONONONONO” Tao felt like all the misfortunes in the world landed on him

“Why?” Kris asked innocently

“This is my classroom too. ” Tao was irritated

“And so?” Kris got his notebook back

“I hate you” Tao replied

“We hate each other but complaining is pretty useless so stop being a drama queen” Kris smiled sweetly again

Kris had something about him that made him get away with saying insulting things without the other feeling insulted. It didn’t work on Tao though

“Whatever. Get inside first so that people won’t think we’re friends” Tao ordered

“No way, you’re not my boss. You go in first” Kris found Tao’s consciousness rude

Tao pointed a tongue at Kris teasingly

He slammed Kris’ notebook on the floor before entering the classroom giggling.

Kris made a face and picked up his notebook

Tao sat at the last row; in the corner of the classroom near the door.

He heard girls squealing and whispering among themselves.

Tao brushed his hair with his fingers; thinking it was him

“Im so Handso--” Tao’s vanity was interrupted when he heard Kris’ name

“OMG it’s Him!” One of the girls warned and the group disbanded when Kris entered the room

Kris took a seat in the front row; near a window, his blonde hair glowing in the sunlight.

“What? PFFFT. Whats wrong with these people?” Tao murmured

 The girls were blushing so hard and controlling their squeals in the sight of Kris. Tao wanted to vomit

The teacher entered and silenced the girls in the classroom.

“SHHH!” Class had begun. It was Teacher hyung from before.

The teacher said good morning and introduced the new student

“Class, we have a new student all the way from Canada. Please stand up and introduce yourself”

The teacher ordered

Kris stood up and the squealing started again

“QUIET! Let him speak” The teacher warned

“Anyo Haseyo. Im Kris.. Uh its nice to meet you” Kris bowed and sat down again

The girls shook and had big smiles across their faces.

Tao pretended to sleep to ignore his environment.

The teacher started teaching again.

Tao woke up in the middle of the class to see Kris solving a problem on the board.

Tao shrugged “He’s smart too?” Tao wanted to fall back asleep but he was sleepy

Kris sat down

“Right, Very good Kris. I wish some of your classmates were just as eager and motivated like you and not sleeping in my class” The teacher stared at Tao

Tao sat properly; he despised his senior year.

Soon, time passed and it was already recess.

Kris was finishing his notes when he was bombarded with a group of girls asking a bunch of questions

“Since you’re from Canada, how is it like there?”

“Is that your natural hair color?”

“Oppa, you’re so handsome!”

Tao smirked and went out.

“Tao!” A voice from the classroom called out

Tao rolled his eyes and turned around. It was Kris calling him

The girls were all shocked

“He’s your friend?!”

“But he has no friends”

“Why are you friends with him? He’s a weirdo”

The girls asked more questions

Tao crinkled his nose. He held his anger inside.

“She’s right. I’m too weird to be your friend.” Tao left Kris amongst the girls.

Tao headed for the back of the school where he knew he’d be isolated.

He reached his pocket for a pack of cigarettes and got one stick.

He lit it up with his lighter.

He inhaled and took a huff.

He didn’t smoke often; If often meant everyday. Only three times a week, when he felt life’s pressures chasing after him.

He was fascinated at the smoke that came out of his lips. He’d play around with it. He blew it slowly, feeling all the heat escape his mouth. He created circles of smoke. He smiled like a child at it.

Tao almost finished the stick when someone stole it from him.

He looked to his right and there was Kris; too close for comfort, looking at him seriously.

Tao avoided looking straight at him. His charm might get to him. He didn’t want to be one of those fangirls.

Kris threw the cigarette on the floor and stepped on it

Tao didn’t want to be messed with “What the hell is your problem huh?!”

Kris stood still with a straight face

“You can’t ing leave me alone can you?” Tao looked into Kris’ eyes

Tao yearned for an answer but he got none so he continued his rant

“Stop meddling in my business or else I might just--” Tao made a fist with his hand and looked like he was about to punch Kris

“Might what?” Kris asked

“ you alright? YOU. I don’t even understand why everybody’s so enchanted by you. You’re nothing special. Oh wait you are. You’re something alright. You’re big; A BIG PAIN IN THE ” Tao flicked his finger on Kris’ forehead

Kris looked pissed but he held it in “Just quit smoking. It’s bad for your health and it blackens your teeth”

“I do what I want when I want” Tao walked out but made sure Kris saw him get another stick of cigarette before leaving the school premises.

Tao wasn’t seen for the rest of the day.

To be continued...