The city air felt clean and crisp as the students of Seungri High filed out of school, ready to start their holidays. Although it was still early February, it felt like spring. The school was almost empty now apart from a few teachers, clearing their desks and the school janitor raking the leaves. However two second year students remained. Standing on the roof together, looking over at the Seoul sky line.
 

Go Nam Soo lent his body against the railing, sighing as he did so. “Can you believe it?” Nam Soon said smiling gently, still looking forward. “We’re in class 3.”

“I know, huh.” His friend Park Heung Soo said tiredly, looking like he barely believed it either. It was surprising, seeing all the trouble the two had caused and the studying they had barely done. But Nam Soon was brought out of his thoughts by Heung Soo’s unexpected question.

“But what are you going to do in the future?” Heung Soo asked.

Nam Soon narrowed his eyes, “I don’t know.” Because it was true, he didn’t know. “I will think about it from now on.” And that was true. Because he felt for the first time in a long time, his life was actually going somewhere. He turned his head to Heung Soo and smiled, “And you?”

 Heung Soo’s head stayed looking forward and he sighed, “Me too.” And for the first time he turned to look at Nam Soon, a smirk playing on his lips. Nam Soon couldn’t help but smile back looking into his friends eyes, feeling very happy.

 “School, really…” He grunted turning quickly, to look over the railing over at Seungri High and all the streets and apartments that surrounded it. He felt Heung Soo, turn to face the view with him and they both stood in a comfortable silence. Nam Soon couldn’t help but think, Heung Soo looked really handsome back there. But his mind didn’t dwell on it and he soon forgot as he looked out, the golden leaves blowing in the wind and felt for the first time in a while, at peace. As he had his best friend back and was ready to take on the world with him.

And that holiday was good. The two spent the two weeks off bumming around mostly, occasionally going to their favourite ramen café and not doing any studying. Nam Soon fell back into his new routine comfortably and happily. Sometimes he would look up at Heung Soo and couldn’t quite believe he had his best friend back in his life.

Of course, things weren’t perfect. They had spent the last two years of their lives apart and there was still the awkwardness of what happened between them. Even though Heung Soon had forgiven him, Nam Soon couldn’t help feel that gut wrenching guilt when Heung Soon couldn’t run for two long or when it was cold and caused Heung Soon’s leg a lot of pain.

 And although they occupied themselves well enough with their comics and constant teasing, football used to be a big part of their friendship. Although Nam Soon wasn’t as into football as the other, he’d spend his time watching Heung Soo’s games, helping him with practice or watching football with him. Now there was just an awkwardness when ether they walked past young boys playing football in the park or when watching the news and the reporter was mention Seoul FC.

Heung Soo would just roll his eyes saying, “Yah, sekki-ya. What is this some pity Heung Soo party? I’m over it, or does my fist need to remind you of that?”

But even though things weren’t perfect, Nam Soon was the happiest he’d been in years.

But the holidays can’t last forever and the new school term came around so quickly, the boys were sure it didn’t even feel like they had a holiday. Although they both complained bitterly to each other about the new term, they both found they awoke early on their first day back. So they both had breakfast, got dressed and made their way to school for their final year.

As they arrived they realised they were so early, Teacher Jung hadn’t even made it to class yet. They had heard from Kim Min Ki that the headmistress decided it would be better to let Teacher Jung and Kang stay on as the teachers of Class 2 as they were the only two that had managed to raise the class’s grades.

The two sat outside the classroom, playing on their phones until they heard two familiar voices approaching them. Song Ha Kyung and Lee Kang Joo walked towards them arm in arm.

“Yah! Go Nam Soon! You made it to the third year!” Kang Joo yelled, releasing Ha Kyung and running over to smack Nam Soon on the shoulder. Nam Soon winced rubbing his shoulder. Damn, that girl is strong.

“You doubted me?” Nam Soon mocked disgust “Aish, how could you doubt this great brain? Of course I got into the second year!” Next to him, Heung Soo snorted.

“Oh sure. Prove yourself by spelling your name right on the next test!”

“That was one time you bastard!” Nam Soon hissed and he heard the girls laugh.

“Oh sorry Heung Soon.” Kang Joo said “I didn’t even see you there.”

Heung Soo clicked his teeth and glared at her, Nam Soon just laughed. His almost missed their morning routine. He turned to Ha Kyung, who was standing quietly adjusting the straps on her backpack. “Had a good break, Ha Kyung?”

Ha Kyung jumped at little at the sound of Nam Soon’s voice. She bent her head nodding, “Yes. Thank you.” Nam Soon smiled at her. However he couldn’t help wish that she felt less awkward around him.

The rest of the class came in dribs and drabs. Shouting, hugging and catching up. Although they had only been gone a few weeks it was clear a lot of people were happy to see each other. And for once, Nam Soon felt good to be back. Not happy though, after all it was still school.

“Teacher!” Ki Dyuk shouted, pointing up the corridor to where Teacher Jung was making her way towards them carrying a stack of papers in her arm.

“Teacher! Let me help” Min Ki said taking the papers from her arms.

“Thank you Min Ki-ah, it’s good to see you.”

“What about us?” A whiney chorus was heard from class 2.

Teacher Jung laughed, “It’s good to see you all too. You can all come inside now.”

The class filed inside the classroom, but where met with unlabelled desks. Normally at the start of the year, there seats were labelled with their names to show where they would sit for the year.

“Teacher, are seats aren’t labelled! Where do we sit?” Kang Joo asked.

“Well. Teacher Kang and I discussed it and since you guys are nearly adults we thought we would let you choose your seating plan.”

There were woops from Ki Dyuk and his friends as they all high fived each other.

“However, if any of you are being disruptive. I will give you a seating plan.” She said sternly to the class, though she clearly was talking to Ki Dyuk and his friends.

“Yay! We get to sit next to each other Ha Kyungie!” Kang Joo yelled, hugging her best friend.

“Yah… why are you so happy? We basically sat next to each other last year.” Ha Kyung said wiggling out her grasp.

“Not really.” Kang Joo pouted “I sat behind you last year. Now your eyes can be on me for a change.” She said seductively. Her voice seeming to mimic the male lead you’d see in a drama.

Ha Kyung rolled her eyes, “You’re so weird.”

“Yah Kang Joo, stop scaring the kids.” Nam Soon teased the short haired girl.

“Yah Nam Soon, stop flirting and get to your seat.” Heung Soo mimicked his tone, but somehow it sounded a lot crueller from his mouth. The playful atmosphere died. Ha Kyung looked awkward and Kang Joo just looked pissed. What’s his problem? Nam Soon thought. Why did he have so kill the mood like that, this damn sekki-ya is at jokes. Heung Soo just walked past them all and took a seat on the far left of the room. Nam Soon shrugged apologetically at the girls and walked over to Heung Soo. “Yah! Were you trying to be mean or do you just really at jokes? What’s your…”

“Here.” Heung Soo interrupted, looking up at him. “You like the window seat right? He patted the desk next to him. Nam Soon’s head tilted in confusion.

Heung Soo rolled his eyes, “Yah, here I am being so nice and saving a seat for you and you’re just standing there like an idiot. Hurry! Or I’ll take the seat myself.”

“Oh- thank you.” Nam Soon stammered awkwardly, quickly taking the window seat.

Heung Soo huffed in annoyance and turned to face the front of the classroom, arms folded.

Nam Soon chuckled, decided to let it go. Heung Soo was an , but he was his best friend. And he Nam Soon was glad to have him beside him again.