‘Life Is Nothing without Friendship’

 

That’s the one thing I always believe in 15 years of my life.

 

“You’re in class F?? Too bad we’re not in the same class”

I look back at my friend, Key “Yeah, at least we got in the same school like we wanted too” I smiled back at him.

“When I remember all the hardships we have to go through to pass the test, I felt like throwing up again”

“You’re exaggerating, we still have to thanks your oppa for his help on our studies. I’ll ask my mom to send some pork ribs to your house”

“Great, I’ll meet you again on break, ok ??”

“Good luck” I wave at him goodbye.

 

I took a deep breath as I walk to my new class. I’ve never been alone all this time, because Key and I have always been together since kindergarten. We first met when my family moved in to the same floor on his apartment. As an only child, Key, the boy next door is the only playmate I have.

 

The classroom is crowded with conversation and laughter. This all-boys school is the best high school in this city. With strict rules and great educators, many students manage to get into best college and sometimes those in overseas. Key’s hyung who is one year older than us is also in this school. He’s kind enough to tutor us for free when we have to take our test. Since their parents compare them a lot, the least thing Key can do is able to follow his brother’s foot step coming to this private school. Me? I just want to spend three more years with him. There’s nothing wrong with that right?

 

I look around and most of the seats were taken already, so I walk to the back and put my bag on the second row beside the window. Since it’s an elite school, I don’t find many faces that familiar from my previous junior high. I took a seat and look at the empty seat beside me. “Sigh, I hope I could make friends easily this time”. Most of my friends are Key’s friends, he is an easy going person, I don’t know why but people tend to circle around him and listen to everything he says. Key is like the sun, I always admire him for that. Not to mention, he’s the fastest runner and won regional race for two years in a row. He’s popular not only with girls but boys also, he’s so easy going and has this perfect appearance that you couldn’t stand but to like him.

 

The bell rang and class is about to start now, our homeroom teacher began to call for our names. Everybody is introducing themselves when they were called.

 

“Lee Taemin”

 

I stood up and bow my head without saying anything. It’s not like I’m not trying to think of something for the past fifteen minutes, but I just can’t find anything to say about me. God, this is so embarrassing, I could felt the whole class is waiting for me to say something.

 

“A bit shy eh ??” the teacher asks, “That’s okay, you could get to know each other later on break”

 

The door suddenly open and a tall guy enter the class, his uniform and his hair is such a mess. He glimpse at the teacher and walk into the class with no guilt at all.

 

“Ya! Choi Minho, the class starts fifteen minutes ago” the teacher shouts

 

“Yes, teacher.. Won’t happen again” The guy mumble something without looking back.

 

He dropped his bag to the desk beside me and use as pillow for his head.

 

“Aish, there’s no help for this kid. You could repeat again a year if you wanted”

 

The class starts again and I can’t help my curiosity to the guy next to me. So he’s repeating a year, no wonder he looks a bit scary. But since we’re going to spend the whole year side by side, I better be friendly with him. I spend the whole class to think of something to say, but as usual nothing came up on my mind. I hate this slow mind of me, why can’t I be a little bit like Key who is able naturally starts conversation.

 

The class ended for the break. As expected from an elite school, the first day already started with pages of notes and homework. I look aside and the guy next to me still not moving his head from the desk.

 

“You know…” I hesitantly say something “The class is over already” He didn’t even budge, maybe my voice is too soft or he’s too deep in his sleep.

 

“Sigh.. what a pain” I took a deep breath and putting my stationary to my bag.

 

“Did you say something brat ???” He suddenly woke up and glare at me with his dark eyes.

 

I became numb, literally! I barely say anything on normal conversation, how can I answer when this guy says something so threatening.

 

He moves closer and looks straight at my face.

 

“Gyaaah… too close” I scream in my heart.

 

“Woaahhh, there’s a pretty eonni here” he grinned at me while touching my chin.

 

What? Eonni? I’m a guy, can’t he see it? God, I want to punch his face. I am so going to punch him. Maybe later when he’s not so close to my face like this or later when he’s not in this room.

 

“Taemin, you make friend already ?” Key came up from the window next to where I sit.

 

“Ah yes…Let’s buy something for lunch” I jumped from my seat and walk as fast as I could.

 

“Quite a friend you got there” says Key.

 

“You know him?”

 

“Not too much, he was in the same class with hyung last year. I think I saw him a few times came to our house with others”

 

“That bastard called me eonni! Can you believe it ?!” I complaint to Key

 

He looked at me and smile “Can’t blame him, you are pretty…” His face moves closer to mine “Emm, even prettier than most girls I know” No good, my face is burning now as his being so close to me “Smells good too” Okay, this is too much, I got just seeing at his round eyes, his nose and his red lips. I felt dizzy suddenly.

 

“Picking up on my Taeminnie again, eh?” Onew oppa shows up at Key’s back.

 

“Don’t blame me, he’s too cute to be left alone” Key laughed and put his arm around my neck.

 

“Your hyeongje, onew ?” someone stood up next to onew.

 

Wow, he’s so handsome. That soft eyes, thick eyebrows and fair skin, our school uniform looks really good on him. It’s as if this uniform is made only for him. He wore glasses and looks so serious but when he’s smile you could feel his charisma and gentleness. And his voice is soooo soothing. Okay, I think it’s weird that I admire him this much but I think I’m just someone who noticed all the details.

 

“Yes, you’ve met Key already. This is Lee Taemin, our neighbour. And boys, this is your student council president, Jonghyun” Onew introduces us.

 

“We’re on your care, Jonghyun hyung” says Key bowing his head.

 

“Yes yes.. pls don’t trouble us too much, ok ?” reply Jonghyun with smile.

 

“I forbid you to get too close to Taeminnie, you know that” Onew glares to his little brother.

 

“Ah, hyung… thank you very much for all your help these past few months” I thank Onew.

 

“Don’t be shy, if you want to turn the favor, pls call me oppa” says Onew sweetly.

 

“You know, as a vice president, you shouldn’t tease your dongsaeng like that” Jonghyun said “Especially someone so cute like this”. He looked at me and I feel my face turns red. , I felt like a little girl here.

 

“You think so too right, hyung?” asks Key “Earlier on Taemin’s class, there’s someone who I think was your classmate last year. He repeats a year and he said Taemin is a cute eonni”

 

“You mean Choi Minho ?” asks Onew

 

“Yes, he sat next to me”

 

“Sigh… there goes your luck, Taeminnie” said Onew. “Don’t worry, if there’s anything trouble you, you could always come to your oppa”

 

Jonghyun slap him on the back of his head “We need to get to the student council immediately. Don’t joke like that” He turn around at me and said “But if there’s anything you need, you could always ask your seniors here” He smiled.

 

“C’mon Taemin” said Key “We better hurry to cafeteria or lunch will be over. You know this is all-boy school, if we’re late we could only have leftovers”

 

When the break is over, I went back to my desk. Minho still sleeping in his desk and continue for the entire half of the day.

 

Something happen when the bell rang.

 

“Yo, eonni” He said

 

Slowly I turned to him “What do you want?”

 

“Here’s all my book for the day. Copy your notes to my book and make sure after you finish your homework you copy it to mine” He dropped pile of books onto my desk “Got it??” He grinned.

 

Sigh… I could feel almost all my classmates look at me with pity. I know this is my fault since I depend so much on Key all this time and now he’s not here, there’s nothing I could do.