Those who know the wise words know the wise things in life. Listen to them, they'll guide you in the right direction.

—NOTVANTE

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The boy who spoke after me was the first one out of the room. I quickly gathered my things trying to get to him in time, but when I got out of homeroom we were nowhere to be seen. I looked around in all directions and finally found him with another boy. The boy, whoever he was with, looked familiar but I couldn't put a finger to it. I awkwardly approached him and tapped on his shoulder. In a matter of seconds, mysterious wide brown eyes greeted me once he turned around. I bowed kindly to show that I meant no harm or disrespect of any sort.

"Hello, I just wanted to introduce myself to you. I'm Lee-Xang. I really liked your part of today's discussion in class. Why don't you ever speak? You seem to have good thoughts on stuff."

His squeaked rather loudly causing the mysterious brown-eyed boy to elbow him. I stared at him curiously until his whines came to a complete stop, and it was replaced with an embarrass flush all over his face. I smiled softly at him before turning to the boy. He was already staring at me like I had three extra heads. I threw him another confused look and he finally stopped looking away.

"It's just me. I don't know what to tell you."
He shrugged it off like it was nothing.

His "it's just me" reason was more than enough to have me even more curious. I kept insisting.

"But really. Why did you say that? It was actually really awesome. I liked your point of view on the passage."

He stared at me before nodding and taking a seat against the small brick wall surrounding the tree.

"It's something I've experienced. I just said what I had been through."

I was a little taken back by his strong statement. What did he even mean? Was his life that harsh?

I tilted my head quickly still rather confused.

"It's experience, girl. You haven't had that kind of experience. You see we-"

His friend stopped him. I threw them both looks but the boy had stopped talking completely. The other boy let go of the one who had initially squeaked.

"Okay.. well I'll see you around?"

No reply back. I sighed while pulling my loose strands of hair behind my ear and took off to my next class. I was a little late but that wouldn't be such a problem.

"WINDOWS, DESKS, DOORS! AFTER SCHOOL."

Okay never mind. For being two minutes late to class you can indeed get in trouble... don't do it! I nodded with my head hung low receiving my punishment fairly as I decided all along to make such reckless choices. That was fine. I didn't plan on doing so in the future.

"Now, open your book to this section where we will begin reading the chapter. Who wants to volunteer?"

🦋⊰

School was finally over for the day. Now all I had to do was go back to my Economics class to clean up a little. I pulled my phone out to dial moms phone. Three and a half rings later she picked up.

"Eomma? I'm sorry but I have to stay a little after school.."

She stayed quiet for a little before speaking up.

"..Honey, Lee-Xeng!! Is Everything okay?!"

"No eomma! everything's good. I would've told you if there was any sort of problems.."

I exhaled quietly. We both sort of just stood there on the line quietly before I broke the thick silence.

"Eomma, I'll be home in about two hours okay? I'm sorry again for being late. Once I get home I'll help with whatever you want."

I could hear the smile in her face as she laughed humbly.

"Oh.. my daughter..."

I smiled softly, letting her that I loved her and that he had nothing to really worry about. When I hung up, I yelled and ran away from whatever was banged open. The hooded boys' friend was their slight bags shaping under his eyes as he dragged in a mop, a broom with the dustpan, and a small bucket filled with water. I yelped as the large trail of water trickled across the hall and towards the room across.

"The water! Couldn't you be neater about it!?"

I huffed trying to calm down quickly before my day went from being happy and interesting to down the drain in point five seconds. He visibly flinched and apologized sounding regretful as he did so. I frowned. Maybe I was being a bit over dramatic. And a bit too rude.

"Sorry! I won't do it again! I promise!"

I really felt bad now. I quickly corrected my actions by telling him that I was just not feeling too well with having to be here. It really wasn't his fault at all.

"I help my eomma every afternoon. I'm sorry it really wasn't my intention to yell at you, it's just that the water, and me being here. I-Ugh.."

I closed my eyes and just wished I could be home with the comfort of eomma telling me not to be disappointed because things happen for a reason. I still felt disappointed. I know I could do better and I know that I could also handle things better. I flinched as a cold hand made contact with my shoulder. It wasn't anything bad just a small reassuring gesture that actually made me feel better than I thought it would. I was very thankful.

"How come I haven't seen you around school? Are you new or something?"

The boy smiled softly and shook his head. I wondered about his friend.

"What about your friend? Has he been going here for a while? Did you guys just move here?"

He shook his head with a delightful giggle. It was extremely mood lifting. I smiled a bit more.

"Not exactly. We've been going here for a while. Actually, now that I think about it, it's the first time we actually see you around? It's the first time someone approached us.."

I nodded grabbing ahold of the small things that had to be cleaned before starting on the desks. There was about a good thirty-seven of them all lined up one across the other, the other behind the other. Most were filled with random wrappers and other food items. I frowned at their manners.

"Honestly? Is this how they are at home? Mannerless? This is just... disgusting. Would you do something like this? I know I wouldn't do this... I wasn't taught this way.."

If my frown could get even worse, it was probably like that by now.

"You know, I've already seen you twice today and I don't even know your name.. what was it again?"

He nodded.

"Taeyong."

"Taehyung!?"

"No! Tae-yong. Close though.. wait, How did you know about Taehyung?.."

He looked scared and I all of a sudden began to get scared myself.

"Wae..?"

He took a deep breath and sighed.

"Taehyung was my brother."

I nodded. He shook his head.

"No.. you don't get it. My brother, Taehyung.. he died in a train accident a couple of years ago."

🏹⊰