The next day was like any other. Hanbyeol did her morning routine for her hair and face, got driven to school by her mum, and hung out at the band room before class. Like the spring weather and fresh trees, her spirits were bright and joyful.

On the other hand, Jugyeong felt a shadow on her back since yesterday, fearing that Suho was taking revenge on her and found out her secret. So, in the early morning on the green soccer field, she begged and begged Suho to keep quiet and she would do anything in return. While he didn't want to do that, he paused when he remembered that she was close to Hanbyeol. Cogs turned in his head.

The deal was set. Jugyeong tried to appeal herself as a humble servant, yet Suho could care less, simply letting her do this as she pleases out of pity for her.

As the sun crawled further up, more students relaxed in their favourite spots, some along the hallway and then some perched on their desktops as they laughed with their friends. When Suho walked into their classroom, he saw Hanbyeol doodling in her notebook – a cute picture of a girl playing a rock guitar, resembling the artist herself. Sitting in his seat by the window, he leaned closer to the girl next to him. The curtains were pulled fully open, providing warmth and light.

"Did you draw that?" he asked.

Hanbyeol blinked at him, her honey-brown eyes glimmering. "No, I'm just holding the pencil, and it drew itself."

The corner of Suho's lips twitched up before finding its usual resting place again, "It looks good."

"Thanks."

As a ray of light from the front swung into Suho's eyes, he squinted and put his hand up to block it. Ready on the balls of her feet, Jugyeong immediately ran over and stood in front of the sun's path. She was an awkward statue posed in front of a spotlight. Her hip leaned against Suho's table as her right elbow stretched out with her hand behind her head.

Hanbyeol looked up at her quizzically. "Jugyeong, what are you doing?"

"Just standing here to talk to you," the makeup-caked girl replied with a sheepish grin but wide eyes.

"Class is starting though. What did you want to talk about?"

Right on cue, Mr Han walked in, and the mass of students returned to their desks except for the lone figure by the window. Suho faced down, trying to avoid the second-hand embarrassment. On the contrary, Hanbyeol was wondering why her friend wasn't moving.

"Jugyeong, aren't you taking your seat?" the teacher asked, setting up his book on the front stand.

"Yes, Mr Han," she bowed her head at once and shuffled to the empty chair.

* * * *

The classes flew by until it was break, the most lively time for the school. While Hanbyeol headed to the band room to practice for their upcoming gig, Suho carried a large stack of papers to the teachers' office from their last lesson. Jugyeong spotted him and rushed over to take the heavy pile from him. Due to her constant insisting, he eventually let her handle it.

As Jugyeong was passing through in the corridor with the documents in her hand covering most of her view, she bumped into Han Seojun. His slightly ruffled hair was parted on the right and today, he sported three silver hoops in each ear. Like often, he wore a black t-shirt under their maroon blazer.

"Helmet?" he tilted his head when he recognised her.

"I'm sorry," Jugyeong quickly apologised. "I'm sorry."

The rebel boy stopped her with his arm and narrowed eyes. After she promised to return his helmet soon, Jugyeong ducked down to escape.

"Why are you acting so scary?" Seojun's friend, Kim Chorong, asked. "It's obvious she's trying to get your attention with the helmet."

While he acted cool about it, she definitely had Seojun's attention. Why was she so clumsy yet kind and pretty? But another girl also had his attention. He sighed and dismissed Chorong.

Returning to the classroom, Seojun found Hanbyeol scribbling answers in her workbook, her head buried in the questions. If she wasn't with the girls or in the band room, she would be studying at her small desk. Seojun sat in the seat in front of Hanbyeol to face her, resting his elbows on her desk as his chain necklace clinked on the wood. He observed her focused eyes, decorated with the beauty spot underneath, which stood out on her clear skin.

"Trying to finish your overdue maths homework?" the boy raised an eyebrow.

"Nah, just doing next week's maths homework," Hanbyeol replied casually, taking a sip of her peach iced tea. "Something that you should probably try doing."

"No thanks, I'm good. Maybe you could tutor me though."

"Sure. How many times do I have to hit you until you study?" she joked, her wavy hair falling over her shoulder as she moved her head in a teasing motion.

Seojun leaned closer and winked. "You can hit me as many times as you want."

Hanbyeol pretended to puke but the butterflies in her stomach were quite happy. Absentmindedly twirling the pen in her hands, she enjoyed their friendly banter.

The boy sauntered away when the next class started, and the rest of the day went by with no surprises. Later, Hanbyeol had a lazy evening, just eating dinner with her sister and then unboxing her new hair supplies.

Something entertaining did happen the next morning though. Upon arriving at school, Jugyeong gifted Seojun a letter. While his friends teased him about it being a confession of love, it actually confessed that his helmet was sold online. The girl had fled so he couldn't unleash his fury on her then, not that he would anyway.

* * * *

During break, boredom found Suho in his usual spot in their yellow and blue classroom. He was studying in the quiet when he habitually glanced to his right. The seat was empty but a quarter of Hanbyeol's drawing was sticking out from under another notebook. Cautiously reaching for the top book she left on her desk, he moved it aside to see her notebook on the bottom.

Suho chuckled softly as he leaned back to his seat. The sketch of a girl playing a guitar was now completed, but the girl's hair grew to her feet like wavy tentacles and there was an ice cream on a microphone stand next to her. Although it wasn't a drawing by Leonardo da Vinci, it was a cartoon perfect for kids.

"What's this? What are you smiling about?" Soojin asked as she walked over with her arms crossed.

Suho's mouth immediately dropped to a straight line and he looked up at her. "What about me?"

"I just heard you laugh," the girl pointed at him. "It's been a year since I heard you laugh last time. Do you see my goosebumps?"

As Soojin got closer, Suho avoided her gaze. It was clear to most that she's always wanted him, but he did not share the same feelings. Soojin sighed before trying to brighten up again.

"What are you looking at?" she asked curiously.

The handsome boy simply turned a page of his textbook and skimmed the notes. Soojin was desperate to know what finally made him smile, but she eventually left out of frustration when he didn't reply.

At lunchtime, the ruckus and singing in the classrooms didn't help her mood, but hanging out with the three girls did. With Sua linking arms with Jugyeong in the daisy-coloured hallway, the short-haired girl explained that students were preparing for a talent show. The girl beside her limped along, her eyes blurring down as the words went back out of her ears.

"Hey, Jugyeong," Soojin spoke up from behind them. "You look so lifeless."

"Are you okay? Did something bad happen?" Hanbyeol added, walking next to Soojin.

Jugyeong snapped her head up. "Hm? Oh, no. Nothing happened."

She halted. Realising that they were heading to lunch, she remembered that she made lunch boxes to bribe Suho. Hopefully, with her delicious food, she can finally feel debt free and safe that her secret is with him.

"Wait, I have to go somewhere," Jugyeong announced before running behind them with teenagers jumping out of the way.

"Im Ju! What about lunch?" Sua called out on her tippy toes.

Soojin went after her, so the two girls continued to the cafeteria with Hanbyeol's stomach growling. However, they were stopped shortly by Suho. The tall boy stood right in front of Hanbyeol, not a word coming from his pink lips.

"Um, do you have something to say?" she asked, peering up at his dark eyes.

Time froze between them. Just a girl and a boy hardly a metre away from each other. Hanbyeol could hear her own breathing and smell his cologne - a hint of vanilla and an earthy scent. Suho realised how her light brown eyes almost appeared golden, just like the sunlight shining through the windows beside them.

Sua, the forgotten girl, gawked as her head turned between the two on repeat. As seconds ticked on, her eyes enlarged. She claimed that she'll get a table first and scurried off to the cafeteria. Her lack of presence was not felt.

"Jugyeong asked me to have lunch with her on the rooftop," Suho finally said, disrupting the silence that coated the long space.

"Okay," was Hanbyeol's simple reply, not knowing what he wanted her to say.

"Should I not go?"

"Do what you want," she shrugged. "It's your life."

Suho paused. He was good at studying, but when it came to girls, not even a calculator could save him. Luckily, there were hardly any students around as they had all gone to lunch. Although he wanted to get to know the girl more, the timing probably wasn't the best right now. It really wasn't.

"Then, will you go out with me?" Suho asked, the words firing straight from his mouth with impossible return.

"No."

There was no hesitation. Hanbyeol thought he was joking at first, but his face told her otherwise. Of course, he wasn't the type to crack that sort of joke. Realising he was serious, she bit her lips, playing with the soft cuffs of her white shirt before taming her hands to rest by her skirt. The air was thick and heavy as if it was pushing down on her.

"I'm sorry, I have to go to lunch now," the long-haired girl bowed her head slightly. "Enjoy your lunch."

As she rushed off with a pounding heart and wide eyes, she couldn't help but imagine him having a cute lunch with the other girl. She shivered at that thought – an adorable tea party on the rooftop. But it wasn't her problem.

Suho sighed in the empty and dull hallway, watching the beautiful girl disappear. While he liked that she didn't fall for his looks at first sight, he didn't expect that it would be this hard. His face remained passive, but his fist clenched. Being rejected for the first time hurt like a car, not that he knew what that felt like. 

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Kdrama or Cdrama? Me, probs kdrama cos they hold a special place in my heart, but I love some historical cdramas so much - the storyline, characters and costumes are so good!

Next chapter will hopefully be next Wednesday. Can't believe it's nearly December already - nearly Christmas and then the end of the year, ah!

Thanks for reading! Please vote and comment :)