"For the next monthly assessment we have a group assessment" said the instructor standing at the front of the room 

"Pair up with anyone and create a 2 minute piece for then" 

With the words pair up I watched as every pair of eyes in the room started anxiously scanning. Whenever a group assessment was called for everyone wanted to be paired with the best to give them the edge. As everyone moved I caught B.I's eyes hopping he would pair up with me, but before I could take a step forward to approach him my vision was blocked by the back of a head infront of his face. 

"Do you want to partner with me ?" Minji said to Hanbin

Hanbin stood for a moment a little shocked at the request as he looked over to me. I looked away to Jinhwan across the room and made my way over to him. 

"Jinhwan sshi.. did you have a partner yet ?" I asked anxiously

He smiled and shook his head 

"Partners then Sera ?" he said playfully and I smiled a yes in return

The two of us walked out of the room past Minji and B.I towards a practive room at the edge of the building where Jinhwan and I sat talking about what we could do.

"Do you want to do a dance, rap or singing performance" I asked looking over at Jinhwan

He ran his hands thorugh his hair contemplating for a second 

"What's your speciality? I sing and I'm not bad at dancing either" Jinhwan said 

"Me, umm I sing too .. and dance" I smiled 

"Perfect, then lets pick a song that we can sing and dance to" he said simply to which I nodded enthusiastically 

The two of us sat scrolling through different sheet music and listening to songs trying to decide 

"Sera"

"Hmm Jinhwan sshi"  Jinhwan smiled at the tone of my voice as I continued to stare at the screen and he watched me out of the corner of his eye

"Sera, call me Oppa"

I turned to face him as he looked relaxed and then looked forward again. I didn't have any older brothers or any close older male friends either so the word Oppa seemed so unfamiliar as I wrapped my head around the concept. But truth be told, every girl, even if only a little bit has that fantasy about calling a boy oppa and so trying to remain as poker faced as possible I replied 

"Arraeso Oppa"

The two of us continued looking and disagreeing and agreeing  when Jinhwans hand suddenly stopped and he turned to face me with a bright look in his eyes 

"I have an idea, what do you think about the song Stay by Rhianna? "

"Stay?"

"Hmm, we can start with me playing piano and your voice but then I can join in with the round and around around part and overlap our voices as I rise up and we can dance as we continue"

My mind was transformed as I imagined the scene in my head and felt the cool tones of Jinhwan's voice and the flow of our bodies together as we danced together

"that sounds perfect"I smiled brightly

The two of us gathered our things after splitting the parts and printing our lyrics and sheet music to familiarize oursleves with

As we walked out chatting we watched as B.I and Minji laughed along happily as they exited  from the main practice room.  My face hardened as the two walked out of the building without realising we were behind them in the corridor, guess they had a good time I thought to myself. 

"Sera?" Jinhwan oppa poked me bringing me out of my daze 

"Want to walk back together"

"Sure" I smiled as we made our way out into the cold of the night. I pulled out my thick black woolen scarf and wrapped it around my neck as it flew behind me like a superman cape.

As we walked back in the still of the dark night we talked about this and that before Jinhwan suddenly asked

"Why didn't you pair up with B.I Sera?"

I looked at him and thought for a second 

"because I thought you'd be a good partner too" I said simply without delving deeper into my mind for the answer. He just smiled in respone looking down at his feet before walking silently again

"let's be really good for this assessment then okay ?" I nodded burying my face into the depths of my scarf to shield me from the chilling cold

-------------------

Jinhwan oppa ran forward and stuck out his hand to stop the elevator doors. They opened up revealing B.I and Minji standing next to each other as we too stepped in somewhat awkwardly. 

"did you guys choose what you were going to do for this assessment?" Minji asked 

"Yeah did you two ?" Jinhwan replied 

"Don't reply" Hanbin cut in coldly. I looked back to make a moments eye contact before I looked away again

The rest of the ride passed in silence before the boys stepped off on their floor leaving me and Minji and in the stark elevator

"We decided to" Minji said with a tinge of teasing lacing her tone

"That's good" I said 

"Watch out unnie" she said with a smile and I gave her a sharp side glare as we arrived to our floor and walked out together. She trailed behind me and her smug presence made my face boil over with rage 

Before I opened our apartment door I spun around to face her 

"You better watch out too because we're going to be real good" 

She sharpened her gaze paired with the innocent smile she used to charm everybody around her

"Let's make a bet unnie. How about if I win I get to ask B.I. oppa to the school dance and you won't"

I stood there staring at her 

"I wasn't planning on asking him anyway" 

"well this way let's make it set in stone hmm ?"

"And if I win?" I glared back

"tsk, well if you win you can do whatever you like but somehow I don't forsee that outcome against our group."

I wanted to strangle her, I wanted to grab her by hair and have a fight there and then in the hall. Coherent words escaped me as I felt my face go bright red and my mind fumble for the right words. But before I could think of a rational sentence through my inner boiling maddness Minji opened the door behind me and stepped in

"Goodnight Unnie" she called out as she went into her room

I have never wanted to win more in my life