>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<

They only have a few days before the sing-offs in class. So by this time, it's not only Jeonghan who merges with the group but also Jisoo who is undeniably enjoying Sorn's cheery company.

Sitting on a corner at the student lounge, Jun stares at the pairs with him. Jeonghan and Seunghee are busy chatting about their compositions, Jisoo and Sorn are also busy talking about the arrangement they will have for their song choice and Sehun and Areum are also busy murmuring beside him.

"These boys surely have ways to get the girls," Areum says to Sehun.

"I bet someone's being left behind," Sehun utters aiming at Jun beside him. They've patched things up. Being friends has never really put them on the edge with each other.

Jun leers at him talking to himself. Here he goes again trying to snide me. But really, first it was only him, (looking at Jeonghan) and now, his friend tags along? Is this some kind of agenda or something? I'm really not enjoying this. These guys have to keep away from us.

"I'm not approving of this hyung," Jun tells Sehun.

"Who says they need your consent? Who are you, their father? Just deal with it my dear dongsaeng," Sehun reprimands him, patting his head.

"Ah! It's really pissing me off! Get your hands off hyung," Jun spikes.

"But seriously, you're getting left behind. Go get yourself a girlfriend," Areum mocks.

"I already have! She's just not ready for me," he says.

"Forget about Seunghee, Jun. She won't be falling for you anytime soon. I assure you," Areum replies. "Not with Jeonghan-shi around."

"It doesn't matter to me if he's there or not. I just have to get Seunghee in my own way," Jun says firmly.

"Just don't overdo it and give me any reason to resent you. If I find out..." Sehun fails to finish his talk.

"I won't hyung. I won't stoop down so low," Jun confirms. "You have my word hyung."

"I'll hold on to your words alright," Sehun utters.

Jun still stares at the two pairs a few chairs away from them. Seunghee and Jeonghan are serious about their talk while Jisoo and Sorn keep laughing with each other. Sorn's his friend and if she becomes acquainted with Jeonghan's friends, he will surely not be glad about it. He's annoyed at their smiles deep inside.

"Hey guys, we're practicing at Jeonghan-shi's place tonight," Sorn declares to them. "Would you like to come along? We can jam, right Jeonghan-shi?"

"Yah. Like I said a few weeks back. You're all welcome in my apartment," Jeonghan states.

"Sure! Why not?" says the only emerging Seungcheol from who knows where. He sits beside Jun and strangles him. "You're coming, right Jun?"

Jun struggles to get away from him. He never ceases to bully him whenever he's around. "Of course I'll be there. Cut it out hyung!"

Sehun and Areum declines though.

"I'm sorry I have an appointment tonight. Can't make it," she says.

"And I'm coming with her," Sehun adds.

Jisoo utters, "So it's just us then." turning at Sorn.

"They can join us next time. We have to set a date for our seniors to insert in their busy schedules," Seunghee ridicules.

"I'll get to you soon Seunghee," Sehun warns.

Seunghee just grins cutely at him that Jeonghan never misses. He snickers at the sight of her. Jun sees him and frowns at the way he reacts. He's surely not holding back.

"So, let's just meet later after class?" Sorn asks.

"Yah," they said in unison.

>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<

And after class they stroll together to Jeonghan's place. Considering Seunghee is still not talking to Jun, she walks with Jeonghan which makes the latter feel really inspired. They walk infront. Jisoo gets to walk with Sorn too, they're right in the middle and Jun is with his beloved hyung Seungcheol, at the back.

Seungcheol is toying with him again, "You look like a horse now. You were so much cuter in our high school years."

"You were worse then too," he murmurs. "And I don't look like a horse. I'm so much cooler now."

"Who says you're cool? You can't even lay your hands right on the girl you like," Seungcheol cackles.

Jun ticks off a bit, "Mind your own business hyung."

"Hey, hey! Cut the crap Jun. Just give up. You have to know when to hold on or not. Girls are hard to figure out but you know when they really don't like you. Just a friendly advice alright?" Seungcheol states.

"Just get off my business hyung," Jun warns seriously now.

"Alright! Chill man," Seungcheol utters.

Jun just ignores him. He can say what he wants but he will still do what he can.

Sorn and Jisoo are busy chatting about their stay outside the country. Yes, Jisoo has gone that far with a conversation with her. It's a big improvement.

"I've been in California for most of my life. But there's no place like home like what they always say," Jisoo relates.

"No wonder your English is good. I've been out of the country when i was younger too. I've been to Hawaii for a vacation in my high school years and to Toronto for about a year in elementary. Dad's just too busy now a days that we can't tag along anymore," she says with a laugh. "But I really want to have a vacation for some time now."

"Where do you plan to go?" Jisoo asks.

"Probably Europe. I really want to go to Paris," she smiles.

"Wow, we want to go the same place. Maybe we see each other there soon," Jisoo says smiling back at her.

While Jeonghan and Seunghee are silently talking.

"You still don't talk to Jun nowadays. Are you still on bad terms with him?" Jeonghan asks.

"Don't mind him. He'll be okay. He's on suspension for what he did," Seunghee says nonchalantly.

"What did he do?" Jeonghan asks trying to luckily get it out from her. She is firm in not telling him about it. Just casually saying it doesn't concern him everytime. But of course, his curiosity is never ending when it concerns her.

"Are you pushing your luck? For how many times have I told you, it doesn't concern you Jeonghan-shi," Seunghee answers him once again, looking at him with certainty.

He sighs, "Just when I thought you'd tell me." And he laughs sheepishly. "Anyway, is any part of your bath leaking? I have this pipe seepage under my bath sink for some time now. I better tell the landlord."

"Well, I don't have leaks, but sometimes I'm having problems with my shower. It doesn't work at times. Maybe it's clogged or something. But it happened only about two times so I haven't told the landlord about it."

"I'll tell him when I see him. The rent's high enough. He better fix these things."

"Yah."

>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<

In no time, the group is already inside Jeonghan's apartment and Jeonghan leads them directly to his music room. And it's packed with musical instruments, enough for a rock band to use.

"Wow, so that's why you said we can jam here," Sorn praises grabbing a guitar.

"Yeah. Jeonghan is fond playing rock songs for a while. He just completed these instruments a few weeks ago and drags us in here once in a while," Jisoo tells her.

"Not bad," Jun comments and walks to the drum set.

"Oh yeah. I just remembered you are a drummer," Seungcheol tells Jun.

Seunghee paces to the piano of course, and presses a couple of keys.

"Seems like we're all ready for a round then," Jeonghan asks.

"What are we playing?" Sorn asks.

"How about this?" Seunghee starts playing an intro.

And everyone smiles about it.

>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<

They play a few songs for jamming and later on concentrate on their individual works for the presentation. Only Jun is idling away just staring at Seunghee all throughout the evening.

Jisoo and Sorn are now arranging their song. It doesn't take them much time to finalize it. And with a beat, Jisoo starts strumming his guitar as Sorn sits beside him waiting for her turn to sing.

Jisoo:
Words don't come easy without a melody
I'm always thinking in terms of do-re-mi
I should be hiking, swimming, laughing with you
Instead I'm all out of tune

But what you don't know
You lift me off the ground
You're inspiration, you helped me find my sound,
Just like a baseline a half-time
You hold down the groove
That's why I'm counting on you

And if I heard you on the radio
I'd never wanna change a single note
It's what I tried to say all along
You're my favorite song

I'm in a session writing tracks
You've got another class to teach
And then rehearsal with a band
You're always one step out of reach
I'm looking for some harmony
With you it comes so naturally
You helped me find the right key

Jisoo & Sorn:
And when I hear you on the radio
I'd never wanna change a single note
It's what I tried to say all along
You're my favorite song

Jisoo:
My Favorite Song!

Jisoo & Sorn:
And when I hear you on the radio (yeah yea)
I'd never wanna change a single note (no no)
It's what I tried to say all along

Sorn:
You're my favorite song

Jisoo:
You're my favorite song

"Whohooo!!" the others cheer with non-stop applause. The group is swarming around them now except for Jun who stays stuck in his place near the drums.

"That was sweet!" Seungcheol exclaims.

"And! In English too," Jeonghan seconds.

"You wrote it Jisoo-shi?" Seunghee asks.

"Well, yah. Just recently," Jisoo answers.

"I'm amazed too at how good he is. And I get to sing this song with him!" Sorn says happily. "How do you do it? I've always wanted to write songs like these."

"Well..." Jisoo stutters a bit.

"You just need an inspiration like he does!" Seungcheol puts his arms around the now starting to turn shy Jisoo. "Right Jisoo?"

"What kind?" Sorn inquires eagerly.

Seunghee glances at Jeonghan who glances at her too. She's thinking about the thing Jeonghan already knows about. Jisoo is trying to stay as calm as he can. But Seungcheol will definitely push through with it.

"Well, just someone. I think about someone," Jisoo answers.

"Like who?" Sorn adds.

"Like the girl he likes. It works way too well for him," Seungcheol utters.

Sorn tilts her head a little, thinking hard. "Hmm..."

Jisoo just can't help but smile. She's way too cute now. He can confess to her right at this moment infront of everyone. But before the conversation leads to anything closer to that, Jun speaks his mind at last.

"Are you through? We don't have all evening you know," he says with that obnoxious look on his face.

Seungcheol just growls at him. "Just when we're on the good part! You weasel!" But he remembers he has somewhere to go too. "But you're right. Hurry up guys, I have an appointment by 8."

Then the others just chuckle at him. And so they continue with polishing their songs.

>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<

Before 8PM, they are all outside Jeonghan's door ready to leave.

"Your music room is amazing Jeonghan-shi," Sorn states.

"Feel free to come anytime," Jeonghan offers.

"Sure. See yah unnie," Sorn bids.

"Yah. Jun! Walk Sorn home will you?" Seunghee tells Jun.

Jun who is already walking away answers, "I will even if you don't tell me to."

"See yah guys," Jisoo smiles at them.

"Come on Jisoo. I'll be late!" Seungcheol rushes Jisoo up.

Their friends have left and now only Jeonghan and Seunghee are left at the corridors. They look at each other.

"Why didn't you sing your song? I thought you wanted me to hear it," Seunghee says.

"Well, on a second thought, it's better that you don't hear it yet," Jeonghan states.

"Okay... Jisoo's song is really good. I bet he'll rank high for finals. And just what is the deal with your friend? He was more than just obvious! Sorn just couldn't read him. She's always been bad with boys anyways."

"Like someone I know," he murmurs.

"What did you say?"

"I said, let's leave that all up to them."

"Well, we can't really interfere with that part of their lives."

"Very well said."

He stares at her as she smiles at him.

"Oh by the way, I know it's way too late to give this to you. But here," Seunghee hands her a box. The gift she's been keeping from him for his birthday.

"What is it? What for?" Jeonghan asks confused as he opens the small box.

"Well, it's for your birthday actually."

He stares at her, his heart skipping a beat. The most beautiful girl on earth just gave him a gift for his birthday, even if it's late.

"Better late than never. Do you like it?"

It's a bracelet. Something he never expects. She's smiling timidly infront of him and it makes him wanna go over her and hold her in his arms. But he contemplates on it. His self-restraint is still functional and on alert mode.

"It's nice. This is my first time receiving a gift like this."

"Can I put it on you? Just like you put the necklace on me."

"Sure."

He hands out his wrist as Seunghee gets the bracelet from the box with her delicate hands. His eyes are fixated on her, never letting a single split second slip his sight. He's drowning on her charms. Her eyes sparkle like the stars, her nose is spotless without a single blemish on it, her cheeks are pinkish with a touch of blush and her hair shines like diamonds, softly falling down the sides of her face. And her lips, most importantly, her soft, pink lips are inviting him to lay a sweet kiss on them. He's so absorbed in her features that he starts losing his cool. And abruptly does something he's not supposed to.

Seunghee has just finished putting the bracelet on him. "Right there."

She looks up to him with a big smile on her face. But what awaits her shocks her. Her big smile slowly turns to an unexplainable expression and she's unable to move. It sends shiver down her spine and her heart begins pounding like there's no tomorrow.

This is the scene that leaves her frozen, Jeonghan's face is only an inch away from hers, with his lips directly parallel to hers. And by looks of it, he is attempting to give her a kiss.

>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<

To be continued...

(16.01.19)