This is purely a Kainiel chapter. No innocent Taemin around. ^^

Leave comments if you want. Enjoy!

15

He stretched out his arms right above his head, letting out a yawn at the same time. He slouched on the table and asked, “Do we really have to finish this?”

Jongin lightly slammed his head on the Chemistry book that lay open in front of him. He breathed out a sigh and slowly let the sleepiness that he had been holding back take over him.

“Ya! We have just started.” Juniel slapped the table once but made sure the sound produced was not too loud to make a ruckus in the library.

It was their third day of tutorial but Jongin kept complaining about this and that. The pile of books that surround him made him feel he was exiled and punished. But Juniel doesn’t plan on giving up on him. Not now. Not when his flunking grades scream for her help.

“Jongin.” She hissed at him.

“What?” Jongin lifted his head and opened one eye to look at her. “I’m tired. Don’t bother me.”

“You’re not going to see Monggu if you continue acting like this. You know this all for your own good. I didn’t volunteer for this but Mr. Lee personally asked me to, so I agreed.” Juniel didn’t care if she sounded like his mother nagging so she babbled on. “If you don’t try, then I can’t help you at all. You have to make an effort, Jongin. Just think of your parents and your own future.”

“Okay, okay. You can stop talking now.” Jongin sounded irritated. He leaned back on his chair, aiming his usual glare towards Juniel.

“Here. Answer this.” Juniel handed him a piece of paper.

Without meaning to, Jongin snatched the paper from her furiously. Juniel couldn’t help but feel bad that she had to make him angry like that. She couldn’t blame him for acting that way though. Even she doesn’t like people ordering her around and telling her what to do. But she told herself that it’s for Jongin’s sake.

Jongin did not say a word throughout the tutorial. They remained in the library for about two hours since their dismissal. Gradually, students began leaving the school library when it started getting late. But Juniel was too engrossed in her tutoring; she hadn’t kept track of the time.

“The library is about to close any minute now.” One of the student librarians announced to remind them.

“I guess we should stop here.” Juniel spoke. She began grabbing the books and returned them back to their shelves.

Jongin got up from his seat silently, Juniel still feeling a little irritation coming out from him. She caught him looking at Krystal, one of the students who were also in the library. To lighten up the mood, Juniel playfully nudged Jongin on the side of his stomach. “You like Krystal, don’t you? Isn’t she pretty? I heard that she comes from a very rich family. Oh, and her older sister is very pretty, too.’

Instead of commenting back, Jongin threw a glare at Juniel. This made her shut her mouth. The two descended down to the first floor. Juniel heard the familiar sounds of a bouncing ball and she knew Jongin heard it as well because he turned and headed towards the open space where his friends might be playing basketball. Without second thoughts, Juniel tagged up behind him though she didn’t know why she was going with him in the first place.

Boys from Class D, the class where Jongin is from, were playing basketball when they reached the place. Juniel could point a few familiar faces. There was that Chinese boy, Tao, and the other exchange student she met with Naeun. He was very tall and Juniel remembered that very cold expression on his face when she first met him. There was another boy with a familiar face and Juniel recognized him as the boy with colorful hair that somewhat resemble a parrot’s feathers. She didn’t recognize him right away because he had dyed his hair to a soft color of pink. She remembered Jongin calling him Sehun. The rest had faces Juniel hadn’t seen before.

“Kai!” Tao called out and passed the ball to Jongin. Jongin caught it easily. “You’re late!”

“It seems like you’re enjoying your girlfriend’s company than ours.” Sehun, the boy with pink hair teased again. He gave Juniel a wink and then grinned.

Jongin took a sideways glance at Juniel. Then, he scoffed after doing so.

“Want to play with us buddy?” A boy invited. He had puffy cheeks and his eyes don’t have double eyelids. He looked like a cute baby so Juniel was surprised when Jongin addressed him as hyung.

“Ah, I’ll have to pass this time Xiumin hyung. I’m a little tired.” Jongin replied. Then, he added with a flat tone. “And she is not my girlfriend.”

“Jeongmal?!” Sehun jogged towards them to get closer. He tousled his pink hair back before stretching out his hand. “I’m Sehun. Oh Sehun. You’re very cute. I think we’re a match made in heaven. What’s your name?”

“Huh? Uh, J-Juniel. C-Choi Juniel.” Juniel stammered. She isn’t particularly good at introducing herself to strangers, needless to say in front of good-looking boys. Though her best friend Chanyeol is a boy, she befriended innocent Taemin and she talks to Jongin who happens to be a boy as well, doesn’t mean she’s okay introducing herself to a bunch of testosterones.

“Oh, even your stutter is very cute.” Sehun giggled. “Sehun? Juniel? Hmm. . . aha! Huniel!”

“Stop that, Sehun. Don’t you see you’re scaring her away?” A boy intervened to Juniel’s relief. He had a very small face and, weirdly, Juniel defines his looks as pretty rather than manly. His close friendship with Sehun clearly showed because Sehun suddenly became submissive under the boy’s gaze.

“Thank you Luhan hyung.” Jongin said. He chuckled and added, “That one needs some beating.”

“So she really is your girlfriend, huh?” Sehun inquired cunningly.

“No.” Jongin startled Juniel by grabbing one of her wrists. “Let’s go.” Then, he dragged her out of the good-looking boys’ sight.

- - -

“Your friends seem nice.” Juniel commented when they’re out of the school and walking towards the neighborhood nearby. Juniel realized that Jongin was still holding her wrist as they walked. “Ah, Jongin..”

Jongin turned to face her and then immediately dropped her hand out of his grip. He turned away feeling embarrassed.

Suddenly, Juniel gasped. “Ddeokbokki!” She pointed at the stall by the street selling the spicy food. She ran towards it, Jongin sulking as he followed her.

“It’s been a long time since I ate ddeokbokki.” Juniel gawked at the food. “Would you like one, Jongin?”

Jongin simply looked at her.

So Juniel bought two servings of ddeokbokki for Jongin and herself. She thanked the man after paying. “Kamsahamnida, ajussi.”

“Here.” She handed the other serving to Jongin. “I am sorry for making you mad a while ago. But I have to keep tutoring you whether you like it or not or less you won’t have Monggu back.” Juniel held up a pumped fist and then cheerfully said, “Jongin Hwaiting!”

Jongin couldn’t help but smile at her.