~*~*~*~*~*~

 “Oi, what’s taking you so long?” Jonghyun asked, watching me search through the stuff in my backpack by the doorway. The bell had rung a few minutes ago, and I was the only one left in the classroom.

“You didn’t have to wait for me.” I said, looking up at him and giving him a brief smile before going back to searching through my bag.

“I wait for you every day after school, no matter how long you’re here for.” He rolled his eyes “What’s up?” he said, walking over to me.

I sighed; feeling frustrated, and stretched my arms out. “I can’t find the keychain you gave me. I think I dropped it or something. I already checked the whole classroom. I couldn’t find anything. I have to find it!”

“Amber, its fine.” Jonghyun smiled, putting a hand on my back. No matter what, Jonghyun is always kind towards me, even in situations like this where he gives me something and being the idiot I am, I lose it.

“No, it’s not fine. You thought of me when you gave it to me. I have to find it.”

“Amber, I didn’t technically give it you to. You bought it.”

“Yeah, but you would have bought it if you had your wallet. Besides, it meant a lot to me. Anything you give to me means something.”

 I got down on my hands and knees and began crawling around the desks. Jonghyun began looking at me as if I were insane. Knowing there was no way to convince me otherwise, he sat down in my desk’s chair and took out his phone, quickly taking a photo of me.

Hearing the sound of the camera, I looked back at him and yelled“Hey! Don’t take photos you idiot!”

“Why not? You look so cute! Such a cute llama!” he teased.

I quickly got up and tried to snatch the phone away from him. Of course, he moved it to the other side.

 “Delete it.” I commanded.

“No.” he smirked. I tried to grab it again, failing. Instantly, I began trying to grab it from him, trying everything I could and still failing.

“Jonghyun!! Delete it now! I look stupid!” I yelled, him laughing and dodging the phone away from me.

“Nope!!”

 Tired, I gave up. “Why are you so mean – eh!?” instantly, as I was taking a step back, I stepped on a piece of paper and began to fall backwards.

“Amber!” Jonghyun yelled, grabbing me as I closed my eyes. Before I could fall, he held me close. After a few moments, I slowly opened my eyes, noticing I felt no pain. Once I did so, I began to blush. The position we were in...oh my god. Jonghyun was lying on his back with me on top of him. His hands were on my lower back and my hands clutching tightly to his uniform’s fabric on his chest. He soon opened his eyes and smiled.

“Hehe, saved you.” He said in a sing-song voice as he smirked.

“Thank you.” I whispered, shy. He gently placed his hand on my cheek, it softly and causing my cheeks to flare up even more.

“What are you d-doing?” Damn stuttering.

“You’re so pretty, Amber. Stop letting people make you think differently.” He smiled warmly. I looked the other way, embarrassed. Why is he all of a sudden saying these things?

“What the hell is going on here? Liu! Kim! Stand up this instant!!!”

Quickly, Jonghyun helped me up to my feet and we looked over at the door, seeing our teacher, Professor Choi, glaring at us in anger.

“Professor Choi....” I mumbled.

“That kind of thing is not allowed in this school! How disgraceful!”

“What school is it allowed in then?” Jonghyun asked seriously, me elbowing him in the stomach to shut up.

“No, sir! You have the wrong idea.” I tried to convince him.

 Teacher put his hands on his temples, really annoyed, and said “Just get out, now.”

Jonghyun and I didn’t want to get him more upset, knowing that we were getting it easy compared to other students if they caught in an awkward position like we were just in. Quickly, we scurried out of the room and ran down the hallways and out the front doors. Once we were out of the school, we stopped running and began to laugh.

“Teacher is so dumb. I’m surprised he let us off the hook so easily!!”

“He must be too lazy to want to punish us because of having to grade all of our bad results on our Math tests hehe.” I joked. We couldn’t help but laugh for the next few minutes. After a few breathes, my stomach starting to hurt, I sighed and looked up at the sky. “I’m sorry for losing my keychain. I’m so stupid, I’m so sorry.”

“Amber, its fine! Here, you can have mine.” Jonghyun started searching through his pockets for his house keys.

“No, it’s fine!” I put my hand on his shoulder to stop him. “The last thing I want is for you to lose your keychain. I want you to keep it with care. That is an order.” I smiled childishly.

“Alright, yes ma’am!” he said in English, saluting me. I chuckled and hit him in the head playfully, beginning to walk home.

~*~*~*~*~*~

God damn that girl! I couldn’t focus on anything at the studio today! Hmmm…Wait, again why was that? Oh! That’s right! She slapped me in the god damn face and embarrassed me in front of everyone! Though, everyone was mad at her rather than me. For some reason, it bothers me that they weren’t mad at me for what I said. Idiots.

Walking on my way to my favorite restaurant, I changed my outfit into another all black outfit and wore a matching black hat and sunglasses. Now the fans won’t harass me on the streets, not recognizing me at all. One of the things I miss about not being famous is being able to go wherever I want and being able to do things whenever I want. No schedules or rules or fans to stop me.

I stopped on the sidewalk when I realized I was walking by the same place from earlier. I examined the area, those moments replaying in my head. I put a hand on my face subconsciously, remembering her.

 Why does she have to keep taking my concentration?

“People like you should disappear and do the world a favor.”

I quickly remembered those merciless words, even now still being able to feel their painful sting. When she said those words, it feels like she was not only saying them towards me, but also to someone else.

“Sir! Are you the guy from earlier??” a woman asked, walking over to me. Oh no, don’t tell me I was caught.

“Maybe. What’s wrong?”

“This girl from earlier, your friend, she dropped this. They just bought it but when she…confronted you…it dropped from her belt-loop. Could you please be a kind boy and return it for me?”

“Wait, so you know I’m…”

“Yes, but obviously you don’t want to be harassed by fans. I only recognize you because you are wearing the same sunglasses you bought from my store a while ago and you have the same aura as the first time I met you.” The older woman smiled, seeming sympathetic towards me.

“Could you please return it to her for me? She is a really nice girl and I hate to see her lose something dear to her. The girl has been through enough.” She said, handing the keychain to me. Wait, what has she been through? Wanting to ask her that question, I quickly stopped myself, knowing it wasn’t my place to be asking.

“Sure.” I said, smiling warmly.

“Thank you. I have to go back inside the store now. Thank you, Kai.” She winked and walked back into the store. I don’t know why, but I couldn’t say no to that woman. She was too…kind and I didn’t want to disappoint her. Plus, I knew I was going to meet this girl again and – for a reason unbeknownst to me – I wanted to talk to her badly.

“Jonghyun! I will personally get a brick and throw it at your head, you hear me!? Stop poking me!!” I looked farther ahead of me. That voice, I know where I have heard it. It belonged to her.

I then saw her, walking with that boy from earlier. I looked down at the keychain the woman gave me. It was in the shape of a dinosaur. What a random thing to buy. Does this thing even hold any deep significance?

Slowly, she walked closer and closer.

“Ahh, lady.” I said when she was close enough, her head looking up to see me.

“Oh, yes?” she said startled, stopping in front of me. Her friend – Jonghyun – stared at me, analyzing me. The hell was his problem?

“Did you drop this earlier?” I asked her, showing her the keychain as I dangled it in my right hand.

“Yes!! My keychain! Jonghyun! He found my keychain!” she said happily, grinning as if she had won the lottery. The way she acted…it was kind of cute. Wait, what am I saying!? “Thank you so much sir!! I was looking for that everywhere!” I handed her the keychain, smiling.

“No problem.” I said calmly.

“Wait…” she looked at the keychain, then at Jonghyun, and back at me, her expression confused.

“How did you know it was mine from earlier?” I couldn’t help but chuckle, smirking. It wasn’t mean to be mean or cruel, I just found the way she said it adorable, but the girl seemed frightened and stepped back a step, pointing at me.

“You’re that jerk from earlier!!” she said. “You’re K -” before she could finish saying my name, I put a hand over .

“Could you say it louder!? Quiet. I don’t want a mob of people around me. Will you stop?” I said, agitated. I swear, if she exposed me to everyone else I am going to die. She nodded, letting me move my hand away from her.

“If it is an apology you want, you’re not getting it. Now if you excuse me, Jonghyun and I will be leaving. Goodbye Mr.Jerk.” She began to walk away, the boy following her. Okay, now she is getting on my nerves. Walking away like that, who does she think she is?!?

Quickly, I turned around and said “You! Don’t walk away from me! I want to talk to you!”

She stopped and turned around, “What do you want?”

“Look, I’m sorry for what I said earlier to you. It was mean, and I’m sorry.” She raised an eyebrow, surprised at what I said.

“Do you mean what you say or are you trying to hurt me somehow?” Wow, this girl is very untrusting. Who hurt her so much to make her act this way?

“Come on Amber, let’s go.” Jonghyun said calmly, trying to get her to leave with him. He grabbed her arm and gently tugged her.

“I will, just wait a moment Jonghyun.” She said, keeping her eyes on me and ignoring him.

“I was acting like a jerk to you and I apologize.” I said again, putting my hands in my pockets and looking down at the sidewalk. Why am I apologizing? Why do I feel guilty? What is wrong with me today!?

“I forgive you, Kai. What I said was unnecessary as well and I’m sorry.”

“No, I deserved it, don’t apologize.” I said, looking back up at her. She smiled warmly, losing all of cold, cynical expressions she held before. She began walking over to me, leaving Jonghyun confused. All of a sudden, she grabbed my cheeks and lifted them up, forcing me to smile.

“Smile. There is no reason to be sad, idiot.” She giggled, grinning. I just looked at her, shocked.

“Amber, your Dad…” Jonghyun said worriedly, Amber remembering something. She let go of my face and ran to her friend.

“Ahh, I almost forgot!” she said. They began to walk home, Amber waving at me before she ran across the street with her friend and getting lost into the sea of people.

I just stood there, dumbfounded, looking like an idiot. This girl, why does she do this to me?