A week later
You walk briskly into the classroom, earphones plugged in as usual to drown the chaotic noise around you.
These days, most of your classmates have stopped talking about you behind your back. There are still a few who do, but you just pretend that you don't see or hear them.
You open your worn out backpack, take out your books, & lay your head on the table until the bell rings.
"We have a new student coming today, but.. apparently he's late, so-" Frowning, your home teacher says as he checks his watch.
"I'm sorry Sir. My bus broke down halfway so I had to run." A boy your age barges into the classroom & explains in between heavy breath.
Wait.. He looks awfully familiar.
"Ah, it's ok. Just introduce yourself to your classmates so we can start the lessons." Your teacher pats his back encouragingly.
"네 (ne=yes)! Annyeong haseyo, I'm Park Jimin. I just moved back here from the US last week. I hope we all can get along." He bows & smiles brightly.
The class instantly erupts into a loud cheer. You can see the girls giggling & whispering with blushed cheeks & twinkling eyes.
Well, kinda understandable. You have to admit that the new guy looks quite cute, especially when he smiles. But since you have zero interest in men, you don't really care.
"Now, let's find you a seat." Your teacher says.
You look to your left & right, both seats are occupied. Breathing a sigh of relief, you open your book & get ready for the lesson.
"Yoon Jungshin, can you move to the seat at the back? Let the new student sits beside Y/n."
Your eyes shoot up to your teacher in an instant.
"왜- 왜요 (wae yo=why)?" You ask.
"Because you're the smartest student in our class, so I'm hoping you can help him out. Everyone sit down please, let's start the class." He exclaims, ignoring the panic expression on your face.
"Hi, we meet again. Your name is Y/n?" Jimin smiles at you as he sits down on the desk beside you.
You nod without saying a word & focus back on your book.
"We've met before, remember? I thought you were a foreigner."
"Let's just focus on the lesson first, shall we?" You coldly say without moving your gaze from the book.
"Oh. Ok." He sheepishly replies & looks straight ahead at the whiteboard.
We've met before? No wonder he looks familiar. But where? Ugh, stop thinking nonsense. It doesn't really matter anw.
You shake your head to get rid of the thought, but you can't help but steal another glance at him.
He's even more handsome up close.
Suddenly, he turns his face towards you & meets your gaze. He then smiles at you, making your heart skip a beat.
You quickly cover your face with the book to hide your fervently blushing cheeks.
I need to stop letting him get into my head. He won't want to be my friend anw. No one likes being associated with an orphan. Especially an orphan who looks so different & ugly like me.

A few days later, Jimin POV
I watch her carrying her tray of food from afar, her face devoid of any emotion.
Although we've been sitting side by side for a few days now, she still hasn't warmed up to me at all. She only speaks to me when it's absolutely needed.
At first, I thought she did that because she hated me, but after I've observed her for a while, I realize that she does that to everyone.
I want to give up & stop caring about her. However, I can't. Not sure why. Most probably because of our meeting at the columbarium that day. Her beautiful gaze that was strong but full of sorrow has been imprinted in my mind ever since. I really want those eyes to look at me with joy.
"Y/n! Come sit with us!" I wave & call out to her.
She turns her face slightly towards me & then walks out of the cafeteria.
"Ugh.. She's so annoying. Jimin ah, don't even bother. She won't talk to you." Naeun, the girl who's sitting on the same table with me, says.
"Maybe she's just not in the mood." I shrug & continue eating my lunch.
"No, she's always been like that. Not only does she look weird, her personality is aggravating as well. You better don't associate yourself with her." Jungha, another girl, rolls her eyes & adds.
"Maybe it's because she's an orphan. She doesn't have parents to teach her manners." Hyosung, yet another girl, whispers.
"Ommo, Jimin ah, you probably don't know that, do you? Her parents were immigrants from South Asian country & they both passed away in a car accident when her mother was about to give birth to her. So she was sent to the orphanage ever since she was a baby." Naeun explains.
"How do you know all this?" I ask her.
"Well, my father is one of the benefactors in the orphanage she's in, so I know stuff. Anw, let's stop talking about her. My parents are out this weekend, so.. would you like to come to my house for a 'private party'?" She bats her eyelashes & leans closer to me.
I know girls like Naeun. Rich, pretty, popular. Too bad, her personality stinks.
"Sorry, but I've something planned with my dad this weekend. Also, I don't think Y/n is weird at all. I too don't have a mother, she passed away when she gave birth to me. So I guess, I'm a weirdo to you all as well. Now please excuse me." I smile sarcastically at them & rise from my seat.
"Jimin ah-" Realizing that she's made a mistake, Naeun nervously calls me, but I keep walking.
Stepping out of the cafeteria, I search around for Y/n but she's nowhere to be seen.
Just when I'm about to give up, I see her walking out of the restroom with the cafeteria tray in her hand.
Did she eat in the restroom?
"Oh hi, I called you in the cafeteria earlier. But maybe you didn't hear it." I pretend that I coincidentally bump into her.
Her eyes widen in surprise as she quickly hides the tray behind her back.
"Sorry. I gotta go." Head lowered, she mumbles & hastily walks pass me.
"Hey!" I yell at her back.
She abruptly turns around & looks right into my eyes.
"Let's have lunch together tomorrow." I say.
She gapes at me for a few seconds before she swiftly turns back around & runs away.
I huff & smile to myself, because just now I saw a glint of unexpected delight in her eyes.