CHALK

The keys fall down into a jumbled, noisy mess on the marble floor and Joohyun glares at
the hole they made on the tattered bag in absolute annoyancenone of the keys that
the school janitor had scavenged around his office fit the damn lockand Joohyun had
gone through all twenty-seven of them! She was never patient to begin with but today
of all days, when the whole student council had gone down from a severe case of
diarrhea and left their president to clean the new office, Joohyun had no patience to
spare.

How did Seohyuns dongsaeng cook those toxic fried chickens anyways? She wonders
not for the first time, kicking the door in aggravation.

And of course, the door opens with much creaking, like the beginning of every horror
movie and she wanted to screaman hour of going back and forth the campus for those
hiding keys and she only had to freaking kick itgod, her luck.

Her nose wrinkles in disgust at the dust that had settled on every inch of the room and
with a drawn-out sigh that aggravates her more than relieve her, Joohyun steps inside,
determined to make the place shine.

::::

I saw the girl I love today.

She passed me in the hallway and she looked pretty angry. Her pout was so
adorable and my heart was pounding so hard when I tried to sneak peeks at
her. Its kind of nice to see her break her polite smiles sometimes. It feels like I
could actually know her

Shes so cute when shes angry.

Joohyun stares a little bewildered at the chalkboard, reading the words written on such a
messy, choppy scrawlit honestly looks like the chalk broke in the middle of some
words. The ugliness of the handwriting was such an unattractive focus against the
backdrop of actually well-drawn cartoon bears andostriches around it. This was so odd
what is this? Did a student get in here and decide toshe doesnt knowconfess their
feelings to a chalkboard?

With a head shake to dispel her interest, she grabs the frayed eraser and prepares to
return to her task of cleaning just as the last few hours of afternoon sun breaks through
the now spotless window and tints the movable board almost gold. The eraser hovers
over the kid-writing and Joohyun sighs, dropping it and covering the board again with the
stained cloth.

She could erase it tomorrow when she comes to clean again.

::::

Someone erased the boardand wrote on it again, Joohyun discovers after she had
almost coughed her lungs up when she pulled the dust-infested cloth off.

Shes a wimp, a really cute wimp. I found out today that my classroom for
English overlooks the basketball court and I saw her playing. I could have
died, she looked so good in our gym clothes but she cant run at all. It was so
funny watching her try to run around and steal the ball and be thwarted by
her opponents height. She got a little pissed too when her team lost, she was
so red. Its justthe more I know about her, the more I wish I could tell her: I
like you, I wish I could know more about you.

I should really listen to Mrs. Ahn though, Seungwan almost died laughing
when I tried to talk to her in English.

Does he think this is his diary?! And why is he so sappy?

Joohyun closes her eyes briefly, massaging her temples with cold fingers, she was
getting pissed at this person she doesnt even know and its not good for her diminishing
mental stabilitybut seriously, did he have to call the girl a wimp for losing at
basketball? Joohyun just played it earlier and it really is an unfair game to play if
youre average in height. Tall people are cheaters.

She grabs the eraser again, wanting to punish the writer for offending her feelings.

I like you, I wish I could know more about you.

She feels stupid as she returns the eraser to its place againthat board had to be
cleaned sooner or laterbut Joohyun cant bring herself to do it at the moment. Those
last few words just seemed so earnest; and she would have liked it, she realizes, to have
had a confession like that.
I wish I could know more about you, not Ive seen how nice, or smart, or caring you
are.

It just seemed more like an actual beginning together rather than passing someones
test.

::::

I think she doesnt like chickenso thats why. Safe!

I noticed today during lunch, that she slightly drew away from the container of
fried chickens when she was lining up to get food. She made that cute pout
again too, and looked really distressed by the smell for a moment. Is she
allergic? Thats so sad, chicken is the best! I feel so bad for her.

Anyway, Ive really lowered myself to a stalker now :(

::::

Who are you looking for?

Joohyun startles at the sudden question breathed out so close to her face, the chopsticks
that she was holding hitting the metal table with a clang. Yongsun laughs a little, body
still leaning over the space between them, and Joohyun retaliates with a slap on her arm.

But seriously, who are you looking for, Hyun? Youve been looking around ever since we
got here.

Im not looking for anyone. She answers, packing up her dirty chopsticks and replacing
it with her extra spoon. She sneaks a last quick look around the buzzing canteen, and
though she meets a couple of eyes turned towards her, Joohyun thinks, as she quickly
averts her eyes, none of them felt like the writer.

What is she doing? The board wasnt talking about her. Shes not the only one who
doesnt like chicken in this worldand why should it matter if it was her? Shes too busy
with the council to get into another relationship anywaynot that shes interestedshe
isnt.

Dont blame me if I eat all of your food, Joohyun.

She looks down and Yongsun had eaten almost half of her lunch.

::::

Choi Minho keeps brushing the hair off his face, glancing up briefly at Joohyun only to
lower his eyes again, and she is so close to pinning his bangs off his forehead that shes
already thinking if she brought one in her bag. He looks up again and Joohyun tries a
smile, wanting it to end already so she can escape all those faces pressed up close to the
windowshow can they think they both dont see them?

He grins back at her, standing a bit tallerand Joohyun had seen this so many times
before that she fully expected that burst of confidence, that excitement lighting his eyes
up. And she dreads it like always. Her answer was going to be Im sorry, it was already
at the tip of her tongue.

Joohyun was beginning to truly hate confessions.

Ive known you for so long, and youre perfect. Ive been trying to gather up my
courage all this time

And she stands therelike alwaysanxiety falling like weights on her stomach with
every word.

::::

There was a girl standing in front of the board when Joohyun approaches the Student
Council Room (would be, if only she can clean its filth); and Joohyun crouches down
immediately, feeling pathetic as she peeks through the window at the girl. Thank God,
she cleaned these windows or else she would have sneezed her nose of.

The girl stares at the board for a while almost blankly, and Joohyun takes the time to
really look at the trespasser.

Ohisnt thatSeohyuns favourite dongsaeng? She really does look like a teddy bear.

Waitwhat is she doing here? Is it not enough that she poisoned her whole council with
those chickens? Doesdoes she actually have a vendetta against the council?!
The girl steps closer to the board, and Joohyun wonders if herNO, not hersthe
secret admirer ofsomeone-that-is-not-her wrote something new on the board again.
When the girl starts writing on the board though, Joohyun realizes that the writer hadnt
written yet

She was just writing now.

::::

Someone confessed to the girl I love today. They looked good together.

I know I never had a chance in the first place, but I feel like I want to cryor
maybe pull her away from himor both. She probably said yes, she was
smiling

Ah well, at least now I know what heart break feels like, my drama watching
experience would be much improved! Hehe

God, this really kinda hurts. I thought Park Soo-Ha was just exaggerating.

Joohyun stares at the board, much like the girl did earlier. The girl. Her secret admirer is
a girland Joohyun should really find this particular fact weirdbut she cant, not when
her heart was acting the weirdest, beating so hard it echoes on her earsnot when she
feelsalmost nervous(but pleasantly?) at finally putting a face to these words that call
Joohyun the girl I love.

Kang

Joohyun tries to remember her name from that time Seohyun introduced herthat girl
who cooked them food and grinned widely at them as Seohyun pats her headJoohyun
barely cared then, too pissed off at the principal for wanting to turn their council room to
a Yoga place because he was experiencing emotional turmoilbut now she wants to
know itneeds to know it.

Seulgithats itKang Seulgi.

The girl thats making her heart beat like this.

::::
She was interested in the person who poisoned her council.

Joohyun thinks, her heart starting to speed up and her face warming as Kang Seulgi bows
repeatedly in front of them, her apology getting garbled from the speed at which she
spews it out. When she finished, red in the face and clearly sheepish, Seohyun pulls her
into a hug and pets her headseconds away from cooing like Kang Seulgi was a new
born baby.

Its fine, Seulgi-yah. You didnt mean it, of course we forgive you. Seohyun says,
oblivious to the four pairs of eyes turning to her as she easily dismisses a week of feeling
like you just wanted to live next to a toilet, as Joohyun learned from one of the victims
herselfByul even said she thinks she hates chicken now too.

Seulgi beams back at them, Thank you, sunbaenims. I promise Ill bring you something
better next time, she assures, nodding slightly and Joohyun can feel the others in the
room stiffen. She would have laughed at them, but she was too wired with
the dread falling over her because she was finding Kang Seulgis smile too charming for
comfort.

She cant even cook, Joohyun.

::::

If Kang Seulgi has a crush on her, then why is she helping everyone but Joohyun?

Jamming a folder full of spread sheets into the box, Joohyun tries to keep her focus on
organizing the files to be transferred to the new room; but she cant, and she was getting
annoyed at herself, at everything, at Kang Seulgi and the way she was walking around
the room, charming the rest of the council, with her warm laughter and the eager way
she asks Can I help you?, into forgetting she tried to kill them.

Apparently, she was willing to do everything from pushing tables and chairs, to getting
down on her knees to sweep under cabinetsbut not arrange files with Joohyunno,
thats too hard for Kang Seulgi.

She grabs another pile of papers

AhJoohyun-sunbaenim, cancan I help you with anything?

She can feel her cheeks getting warmer as the younger girl moves next to her, and
Joohyun eyes the fingers barely touching the edge of the table for a few seconds, waiting
for the sudden racing of her heart to stopwith a steady voice that Joohyun hopes wont
be betrayed by any blush she says, Sure. Here, just arrange them by date. She hands
the stack to Seulgi and tries to look up briefly, determined to look official and impressive,
but ends up averting her eyes anyway when she meets the girls eyes. She looks like a
stufed toy, why are her eyes so intense?

Joohyun can still feel her eyes on her when she had moved away a step to reach for the
other stack of papers (COMPLAINTS), and she feels like shes going to have a
headache thinking of ways to start some sort of conversation. Thats really, really
good. She says, the tint of almost awe in her voice mortifying her, waving the paper she
was holdingthat was complaining about Seohyuns new policy of fining anyone whose
uniform was in anyway not perfect(Good luck with that!)at Seulgis notebook which
was blown open by the force of the stacks dumped beside it. There was a sketch of two
kids playing on a swing on it, and Joohyuns artistic ability is greatly confined to making
doodles on the margins of her notebook, but even she can tell that Seulgi had talent.

The tips of the girls ears flush slightly at her words, lips quirking up and Joohyun thinks
that Kang Seulgi really has such a pretty smileone she kind of wants to see more.

Heh Seulgi laughs, sounding very dorky to Joohyun, Thank you, sunbaenim.

Is that what you want to do after high school? Draw? the question came out automatic,
and Seulgis momentary blank blinking makes her realize how sudden that inquiry was.
Im sorry, its so close to graduation and everybody keeps asking us that.

Its okay, the younger girls peppy smile was back again, and Joohyun cant help but
smile with her, Yeah, I kind of have this idea and I would really be happy if I could turn it
into a web comicuhm, what about you, sunbaenim?

Oh, I dont know. I havent decided yet. And time is running out, she thinks. Theyd be
graduating very soon and all of her friends had been talking excitedly of their plans for
the future and all Joohyun could contribute is a non-committal shrug.

What do you like to do? Seulgi asks, and Joohyun notices that she stepped closer to
her.

Washing and ironing clothes. She says, laughing when Seulgi looks bewildered at her
reply. She certainly did not expect that answer. Im a homebody.

Wellyou can open a laundry mat then, sunbae.Seulgi says, after another bout of
blank blinking, surprising Joohyun with the suggestion, Ill even recommend you to
my omma and shell tell her friends, Im sure.

I cant believe you actually took me seriously.

What? You were just lying?!

Her face right now is so funny, No, I really like doing the laundry, but I meanthats not
really an aspiration. Thats not impressive at all, Seulgi.

But why not? Seulgi asks, sounding genuinely curious, If you like it, then I think youd
be impressive at it, sunbae.

Joohyun really likes her, everything about Kang Seulgi just seemed heartfeltopen,
andeasy.

Wellmy ironing skill is impressive. There wouldnt even be a shadow of a crease after
Im done.

::::

Later, when it was time to bring the boxes to their newtruly out of the wayoffice,
Seulgi hauls a box immediately and volunteers to come with Joohyun, telling her as they
walked side by side about Park Sooyoung and Kim YerimsJoohyun unfortunately knows
them well because they keep being sent to her for breaking ruleslatest prank during
the first years morning gym class and Joohyun wonders out loud how they arent kicked
out yet.

When they arrive, Seulgis surprise at the familiar location was palpable from the way
her stance goes rigid but Joohyun pretends that she doesnt noticepretends to take a
call so Seulgi can erase yesterdays chalkboard messagepretends she doesnt know.

Pretends like there werent stupid butterflies fluttering in her stomach.

::::

The chalkboard was empty today. She didnt expect to be this disappointed. She already
knew there was a good chance Seulgi wouldnt dare write one now that the room is
occupied but she really wanted to read what Seulgi thought of herdiddid she live up
to expectations? DoesSeulgi still like her?

::::
The rain was sudden, foregoing the tell-tale droplets for a sudden downpour and Joohyun
groans, barely hearing herself, when the frantic search of her bag yielded no
umbrella. Great, she thinks, extending a hand to the torrent beyond the school entrance
awning. The rain hits her palm in big droplets that shatters upon impact, surprisingly
warm, and she shuffles forward resigning herself to her fate.

At least, I wont be shivering that much.

When the raindrops didnt hit her when she stepped out of cover, Joohyun looks up to a
blue umbrella.

Sunbae, youre going to get sick if you walk around in the rain.

Kang Seulgi smiles brightly and JoohyunJoohyun wonders if the sudden haze clogging
her brain was normalshe isnt a little schoolgirl anymore, what is this? Seulgi was so
close, the rain falling around them dimming everything else but her smile and Joohyun
wants to touch her, poke a finger on those cute dips on her cheeks, a thumb on that
lower lip that Joohyunthis is getting dangerousthat Joohyun had been infatuated
enough to notice that Seulgi had a habit of biting.

God, why is she so attractive?

::::

Their feet stop before a huge puddle covering the whole of the sidewalk, and Joohyun
meets Seulgis eyes, the tilt of the younger girls head clearly asking what now?, and
when Joohyun shrugs, she laughs again, the umbrella shaking a little above them.

Theyve been jumping and swerving on their way to the bus stop, Joohyun ordering the
younger girl to follow her lead of avoiding any puddles that threaten their shoes and
Seulgi had been laughing almost the whole way as they coordinated their skips and side-
steps. Lets just do it fast, sunbaenim, like taking off a band aid?

Joohyun eyes the wet patch and the strip of shrubbery lining the way and sighs, and she
thought she managed to save her new shoes from water because of Seulgis god-sent
umbrella. Cant wejump it? she asks, looking up at Seulgi.

Iyoure so cute the girl suddenly breathes out, blinking rapidly after; a blush
invading her skin so intensely she looked like her head will pop off. Joohyun wonders if
Seulgis cheeks feel as hot as hers right now.

ImIm sorry, sunbaeI just Seulgi looks down, youre just so cute, she mumbles,
sounding embarrassed.
Yayah! Joohyun manages, pushing the other girl a littlewishing Seulgi wont hear
her heart thudding, I dont wanna be called cute by someone younger than me.

Seulgis chin falls farther, and Joohyun can barely see her face now, and when she
speaks her words sounded oddly empty, losing that tint of warmth that always
accompanies her words, Im sorry, I guess you wont want to hear that from me. Then
she looks up and flashes a smile that didnt reach her eyes at all, Come on, sunbae.
Lets just do it quick, its too large to jump.

Joohyun was really bad at this.

::::

Her socks got wet, clinging to her ankles and sending momentary shivers up her body.
She kicks her feet, getting embarrassed at the way the tips of her shoes barely touch the
ground while the shoes next to her were firmly plantedSeulgis shoes, who stayed as
still as their owner.

Seulgi barely talked on the way to the bus stop after they jumped the puddle, training
eyes on her that clearly seemed interested in anything she says but still stayed mute
except for some hums, or a quiet ah, its stopping when the rain steadily turned to a
drizzle and then stops. Joohyun thoroughly embarrassed hershe even caught Seulgi
muttering whyd you call her cute, stupid, under her breath. Joohyun had dated before
and her uselessness right now is annoying her.

Oh, the younger girl says and Joohyun turns to her eagerly in relief, please talk to me
properly again, Imade something for you, she continues, as she grabs a notebook
from her bag.

Diddid she draw something for me?

Here, Seulgi says handing it to her, glancing at her once and then training her eyes to
the space on the metal bench between them.

Nonoshe didnt draw anything for herand Joohyun cant help bursting into laughter,
trying to muffle the sound by pulling her scarf up her face when Seulgi looks at her,
puzzled.

God, she thought it would be some sketch of her but Seulgi made a list of prices
for washing machines, dryers, detergents and irons, the words written in bold over and
over with a pen above brands and numbers; the cheapest ones, Joohyun guesses,
underlined in red.
This is so unromantic, but why is she so charmed?

Whatwhy?

Its for your laundry mat, sunbae, I was flipping through channels last night and they
were selling a washing machine on home-shoppingso I thought Ill research prices for
you the rest of the sentence was muttered and barely audible and Joohyun kind of
relished the excuse to shuffle closer on the bench to Seulgi, ducking her head to meet
the other girls eyes.

Thank you, Seulgi-yah.

Its nothing, sunbae. Seulgis lips quirk up a bit but she returns to staring at the road in
front of them, leaving Joohyun to follow her leadfrustrated with her inability to say
something to dispel the awkward air between them. A group of little kids crosses the
road, linked at the hands, looking left and right with almost identical expressions of
determination to match the identical yellow caps resting atop their heads while their
teacher ushers them along. Seulgi leans further, smile widening as she watches them.

II dont mind that you called me cute, Joohyun blurts out, reclaiming Seulgis
attention to her. II thinkyoure cute right now.

What am I doing?!

Joohyun eyes Seulgis reflection on the bus window, slightly distorted by the water
marks left on the glass, and bites back a sigh. The bus came before the younger girl can
even react to Joohyuns outburst and she had gone through the motion of paying and
finding a seat in the seemingly full space wondering what Seulgi was thinking about her.

Did she look stupid? Too eager?

Seulgi had offered her a smile and the seat next to the window, but she hadnt said
anything since, just quietly nodding her head to whatever song was playing on her phone
and the fact that she was only wearing one of the earphones was driving Joohyun up
the wall with anxiety. Was she supposed to talk more? Say sorry for obviously hurting her
feelingsbut how does she say that without sounding patronizing and like they were in
pre-school?

Why is this happening to her? She should have set fire to that damn board.

Do you know Jamie Woon, sunbae?

Joohyun faces Seulgi after a short surprise when the reflection shed been eyeing turns to
her suddenly, and Seulgi averts her eyes but returns it almost immediately, a steely
spark to itan eagerness that was a little more pronounced.
She shakes her head slightly in answer, NoI dont think I know him, and Joohyun
regrets how lacking her pop culture knowledge is because she cant even tell if he was
someone she was supposed to know. Seulgi moves closer to her though, placing their
arms right next to each other and Joohyun holds her breath for a moment and then feels
so pathetic afterthis isnt a romantic novel about first love, what is she doing?

Hes a singer, sunbae. Hes so good, and I dont always understand immediately what
his songs are aboutits in English, Seulgi laughs, that dorky laugh again and Joohyun
answers the cuteness with a smile, andI might sound dramaticbut I feel them.

Joohyun wants to pinch her, because how is she real? How do these brazen displays of
feelings still feel so shya direct confession masked in an anonymous board and now,
real emotions about a song diluted by a wavering voice. Youre right, that was
dramatic, she answers, exaggerating her teasing so Seulgi wont take it the wrong way
again.

Do you, Seulgi twirls the earphone cable around her pointer finger, her gaze dropping,
do you want to listen to his album with me?

She inclines her head to meet Seulgis eyes again, Id love to, Seulgi. Joohyun didnt
mean to whisper the wordsto almost make it linger, and feels embarrassed at the
inadvertent flirting when Seulgi raises visibly shaking fingers to tuck Joohyuns hair
behind her ears, a flitting graze on her cheek that almost made her want to close her
eyes because she was sure Seulgi could see how affected she was with that stupid touch.

The earphone is fitthe music starts, and Seulgi starts to smile as she pulls away,
beaming down on the phone in her lap, and Joohyun takes a breath and fails to bite down
on her own smile as she looks out the window again.

Joohyun wants to say, when she catches Seulgi sneaking peeks at her looking happier
each time, I want to know more about you too.

:: ::

When she gets homeSeulgis soft and embarrassed please stay safe on your walk
home, Joohyun-sunbaenim still in her earsJoohyun pins the laundry mat list on her
cork board, starkly informal and colourful amidst all those important reminders about
deadlines, tests and council activities.

:: ::

Hello,

Do you know that you look like a teddy bear? You kind of remind me of the one
thats in my room. Ive had it for forever. I cant even remember who gave it to
 me, and what silly name I probably named it. Maybe, Ill name it after you now,
it is as cute

The words disappear into a white smudge and still Joohyun keeps scrubbing with the
eraser, her face burning with shame at the prospect of Kang Seulgi reading something so
childish and corny. With a groan, she steps away from the chalk board, and back to the
pile of boxes that had to be unpackedthe documents sorted, the office materials laid
down and accessible for council work. She was good at this, organizing and cleaning
things you do quietly, steadilyrather than standing on a podium and giving an opening
speech to a gym full of studentsor confessing her feelings for the first time.

Shed heard so many confessions before but Joohyun had no idea how to ask do you
want to go home together again?and its so pathetic. Kang Seulgi had been hanging
around her for the last couple of days; still helping with emptying out the previous
student council room, but except for that one time they spent together, hugging their
knees under a table when she helped Joohyun disentangle the nightmare of cables
beneath their seemingly harmless computerthe younger girl laughing when Joohyun
couldnt stop the few curse words of frustration when the cables continually end up
severely stuckSeulgi had spent her time helping Seohyun who rewarded her with food
even for the most menial task.

Joohyun was impatientand despite being thought of as shy, being actually shy, she
was used to getting what she wants quickly, and this dawdlingunsurepace she was in
with Seulgi was making that side of her almost ache. It sounds almost pitiful, but she
envies the easy way Seulgi talks with Seohyun. Joohyun would have liked to hear what
she was telling her when Seulgi would open her arms wide and grin big, leaning closer as
she tells her story with bright eyes.

Sunbaenim!

Seulgi looks out of breath when Joohyun looks up at her, blinking back a look of surprise
that Joohyun probably has on her face as well, the suddenness of her appearance
disappearing into awkwardness as she retreats slightly behind the door.

Yes? she says, laying down the papers on the floor, oddly having the urge to check if
the words she had written on the board were really gone even though she had just
erased it earlier. When she moves to stand, Seulgi jolts to movement, stepping into the
room all please dont bother, sunbae, dont bother please.

AndJoohyun remembers scoffing when Seulgi had wrote about how her crush looked
good in their gym uniformwhat is the diference?but now she gets it. The white shirt
sticking to Seulgis frame, and the sweat dotting her skinwasreally appealing.
Joohyun looks down, grabbing the papers she was sorting again when her eyes start
tracing the slope of her neck bared by her tied hair. Stupid, stupid.

Her face gets hotter though when she wonders if Seulgi meant this kind of good as well.

I Seulgi laughs a little, and Joohyun cant help looking up at her again to see her face
light up, I saw you with that big box when you passedwewere having our gym
classII just thoughtmaybe youd want some help, or something, sunbae

Or something flashed in her mind and Joohyun kind of wants Yongsun to appear out of
thin air and slap her. Sure, thathank you, Seulgi. She caught herself tucking her hair
behind her ear and can she be anymore obvious? With a stilted wave, she motions to the
boxes. II have to sort those paper works outstill, she offers a small smile and a
shrug when Seulgi sits next to her on the floor, to be completely honest, I didnt know
some of those papers existed. I think the last president dumped his workload on me.

It was just a jokenot really, Kwangsoo-sunbaenim seems like the type to do something
like thatbut judging by the crease between Seulgis brows as she pulls one of the boxes
to her, she didnt seem to get that. Thats really not fair she says under her breath,
I dont want you to get tiredand Joohyun wonders if Seulgi wants her to hear
this, is she flirting too? Or---

Do you want to do it all so I wont get tired? Joohyun asks, testing it out with a tease.

Seulgi colors immediately. So that answers that, Joohyun thinks, biting on a laugh that
escapes anyway when she tries to say Im just joking, to reassure the flustered girl.
Her laughter comes to a stop though when Seulgi, her face partly hidden inside the box
she hauled on top of her crossed legs, the tips of her ears red, mumbles:

I dont mind it, if I get to spend more time with you.

And thats the best opening Joohyuns ever gonna get, isnt it? I do tolike spending
time with you, I mean. Do Joohyun takes a deep breath and wonders why she was
getting so nervous when she was basically talking to a box, do you want to go home
together again today?

Seulgi emerges out of the box, the mess of papers on her hand blocking her face, when
she nods the paper moves with her and Joohyun thinks, I really like you.

::::

When Seulgi asks her on the bus if she wants to listen to her songs again, Joohyun holds
out a hand for the earphone but Seulgi, looking adorably determined, leans in again to
place it on her.

::::
 Hi!

I made a playlist for the first time today. Its all the songs I really like. In your
words, the ones I really feel~ . Ive enjoyed listening to the songs youve
introduced me, but if you ask me, what I really enjoyed was watching you mouth
the lyrics so happily. Youre adorable. If I ask you, will you sing for me?

Do you want to listen with me this ti

The eraser won the staring contest with Joohyun and with a groan, she lets it meet its
lover: the chalkboard again, her wipes as intense as their love.

Shes losing her mind.

::::

He should have made this into a petition.

Joohyun lays down the budget plan for the upcoming sports festival on the floor, turning
her attention to Seulgi who had a box on her lap again, sitting cross-legged in front of
her. What should be in a petition? she asks.

Seulgi had volunteered again to come with her today, the both of them leaving the rest
of the council on their task of emptying out the old room, and despite the constant shock
Joohyun has been getting from all the other council members suddenly walking into the
room, she and Seulgi had managed an easy conversationabout dog breedsof all
things, as they sorted out the remaining papers.

Oh. Nothing, sunbae. The shaky smile Seulgi flashes, and the way she moves the hand
holding the paper away from Joohyuns vicinity tells her it really isnt nothing. With a
smirk, Joohyun leans in and tries to take away the paper from the younger girl, who
moves her arm further away. Its nothing, sunbae!

If its important enough to be in a petition, I think I should see it. She says, leaning
further and trying to pull Seulgis arm back. Be a good dongsaeng and give it
to sunbae. A short struggle startedSeulgi waving her arm in a bid to stop Joohyun
from taking it and Joohyun rising to her knees and trying to keep the other girl still by the
shoulderthat ended when Seulgi dissolves into laughter and surrenders the paper.

Joohyun waves it in her face gloatingly and Seulgi just laughs harder. Youre so cute,
Joohyun-ah.
Her face warms a little at the casual way she was addressedit must have been a slip of
the tongue because Seulgi doesnt seem to have noticed the mistakebut Joohyun opts
out of mentioning it to her, she wouldnt mind it if Seulgi calls her Joohyun-ah.

So what is this Seulgis laughter tapers off as Joohyun starts reading, and when
Joohyun peeks at her the younger girl averts her eyes and bites her lip in obvious
embarrassment, I think its better if President Joohyun makes the announcements
every morning at assembly, I wouldnt mind seeing her pretty face every morning,
was the rest of the recommendation, and Joohyun wants to find Park Gun,
and politely return the letter to him. The recommendation box was her project and the
other students were all being extremely annoying dropping love letters in it instead of
actual feedback.

Ah, she says, folding the paper repeatedly, slightly shy since Seulgi basically implied
that she wouldnt mind seeing her face every morning too, this wont do, I
really hate talking in front of so many people...

IId like it, Seulgi starts, and Joohyun expects her to say something like I like your
voice, or I like seeing you but like the laundry mat list, Seulgi surprises her with
earnestness, the rest of the students at assembly dont listen to Baek-
seonsangnim when she talks and I find it really rude to her. If you do
it, seonsangnim doesnt have to strain her voice trying to get their attention. The
students always pay attention when you talk. She takes the paper from Joohyun and
smooths it out, smiling steadily when she meets Joohyuns eyes, but if it makes you
uncomfortable then I dont want you to do it either, sunbae. You dont have to do
anything that makes you uncomfortable.

She was glad that if thisfeeling will ever turn to love that her first love would be Kang
Seulgi. Seulgi was just genuinelyniceand maybe nice had been worn down,
something to say when theres nothing else to compliment, but SeulgiSeulgi just cares,
about Joohyun feeling uncomfortable, about their teacher being disrespected. Rather
than just caring about her, Joohyun likes this more.

Seulgi grins wide, clearly making an effort to ease them out of the awkwardness, do you
hate talking in front of people because you cant quite reach the mic on top of the
podium, sunbae? and Joohyun hits Seulgi, because teasing her about her height is just
asking for a slap, but it didnt offend her in the leastthey moved a little bit forward
today and Joohyun now gets these big grins that she only watched Seohyun get before
and she cant really believe how happy it makes her.

::::

Joohyun places her earphone on Seulgis ear on their way home, her nervousness slightly
soothed by the redness of it, and when she taps play on the music player and Seulgi says
oh, I know this!, Joohyun sighs out a breath that she didnt even notice she was
holding.

::::

Minho looks slightly confused when Joohyun motions to one of the wayward chairs inside
the office, but drags one of them with him anyway, and Joohyun answers his confusion
with a shrug as she sits herself on the computer chair. Were still moving our things to
our new office.

Huh? What happened to the old one?

The principal kicked us out of it, dont ask why. So what did you want to see me for?
Joohyun was really, really hoping it wont be another attempt to ask her out because
Minho had been talking to her a bit more casually again and Joohyun valued their
friendship and the constant rejectionno matter how nicely she tried to couch itwas
really taking a toll on it.

Minho smiles, rolling his eyes a little, Youre not that pretty, Hyun. Relax, I have my
pride too, I understand if Ive been thoroughly rejected.

Min

Its fine, Im over it. Seriously,

Joohyun studies him for a while, grateful for his effort to reassure her, okayso what is
this about?

Money, He deadpans, and Joohyuns head starts to throb, this sports festival was going
to kill her. The sports committee cant function with the budget you gave us, Joohyun.

You can have the rest of the remaining budget for events but Im not going to budge
anymore after that. Im sorry, but we cant spare more.

This is harsher than your rejection. Minho says, laughing slightly, Cant you spare
some more for your friend? he asks, and Joohyun pats him on the shoulder as she
stands up.

When it comes to budget, no one is my friend, Minho-yah. Come on, we still have clas

Can I hug you? Minho asks, cutting her off, the seriousness on his face remaining only
a split second before he musters up a smile, Ive given up, I promise. I just want to know
Ive liked you since I met you when we were first years, Joohyunand now were
graduating. I justI just want to know what it would feel like, at least a little, to be with
you.
She opens her mouth but closes it again when she cant think of anything to say, and
Minho runs a hand through his hair again and smiles down, gaze flitting across the room,
Youyou dont have to

Okay.

There was a crick on her nape that wont be alleviated even by her most ambitious head
turnsburning a path of irritation that just adds to the headache shes been having. She
feels groggy and not quite thereand between trying to stave off the sleepiness that
was making her head hazy and failing so pathetically on not training her eyes on Kim
Yuras back, her teachers voice had just been a garbling background that she cant
register.

Yura leans down to get another pen from the bag on the floor and Joohyuns eyes follow
the movement and settles, grudgingly, to the transparent umbrella lying next to the bag.

What is she doing? Why is she letting this afect her?

So what if maybe it wasnt her?

Mr. Song calls her, because of course he will. He calls Joohyun all the time regardless if
she was raising her hand to answerand Joohyun catches Yura turning to her as she
focuses her attention on the board. Hopefully, she can guess what they were talking
about from the writings on it.

So what if it was Yura all along?

::::

Joohyun hesitates on the steps of the school entrance, in the middle of mentally counting
to twentyand shed never felt more like a child, or more pitiful than at that moment as
she wishes that Kang Seulgi appear before the numbers run out. Byulyi had already said
that Seulgi had apologized and left the old council room earlier to attend archery
practice. She probably wont be appearing soon.

14

Joohyun wants to wait. Shed got plenty of proposals on the upcoming sports festival to
read in the meantimeshe has the timedoesnt mind the time, really. Butbut would
that be okay? They havent agreed upon anything, Seulgi had not said that shell walk
home with Joohyun everydayit just kinda happened the last few days.

17
Would waiting appear desperate?

She takes one last furtive look back, hoisting her bags strap properly on her right
shoulderand she cant help the dejection when no one appears as she says twenty
under her breath.

::::

Seulgi was standing in front of the school entrance the next day barred from continuing
any further by the heavy rain and she cant see her but she can imagine the frown on
her face pretty well. Joohyun tries to keep her steps level and her smile politethe
younger girl had not come to help that day and Joohyun truly did not expect to want to
see her face that much.

She missed her

Joohyun missed her parents a lot at first, when she moved from Daegu to Seoul on her
first year of High Schoolhad called them every night, trying not to be a cry-baby and
failing each time when they both say that they missed her a lot tooher father sobbing
a couple of times. She missed her siblings; she missed her old friends; she missed
talking freely in Satoori without someone calling it cute or sniggering at it mockingly. She
wasnt a stranger to missing thingsbut shed never quite missed someone like this. It
wasnt that throbbing that just reminds her that its there in quiet momentsits likea
niggling demandto be close to Seulgi, to have Seulgis attention.

In some ways, this is starting to scare her.

With a tightened grip on her foldable, purple umbrella, she surrenders to the demand,
Seul

Seulgi-yah!

She watches as Kim Yura passes by her, long hair thrown about as she runs; and then
watches with a sinking feeling as Seulgi grins backeven wider than with Seohyun,
happierall her pearly whites announcing her delight.

She contends herself to half-steps as Yura asks, Whos the best unnie? while opening
her umbrella and Seulgi chimes in almost as if theyve done this so many times before
Of course you, unnie!

When Joohyun reaches the entrance, Seulgi and Yura were already by the gate, umbrella
teetering to and fro as they bumped shoulders playfully and Joohyun wonders if they
were even being spared from the rainwonders why it kind of hurts watching them.

::::
Seohyun didnt find it weird (thankfully) when Joohyun sat next to her on the mat during
a brutal game of dodge ball in gym class and remarked, as casually as she can manage,
that she didnt know Yura and Seulgi knew each other.

Oh, they just met. I mean, Yura just met Seulgi now that she got into the archery club,
but Seulgi had wanted to meet her for so long, Seohyun laughs at this, clearly
remembering the younger girl telling her these things and Joohyun wanted for a moment
to have seen it, she must have been so cutebut then the words sink in andshe didnt
want to anymore. It irks her just thinking about it. Now that she finally met her, I feel
like my favourite dongsaeng had forgotten me. Seohyun adds, looking up at Joohyun as
if asking for reassurance that she was still the favourite unnie.

ImIm sure, she still likes you more. Joohyun ofersdefinitely more than her
extending a hand to pat Seohyun once in the back, mercifully being saved from doing
anything else when their batch was called to play.

If Joohyun threw any balls a little too hard, it was only because she was extremely
competitive.

::::

It wasnt her.

Joohyun concludes, staring up at the laundry-mat list from her spot on her bed,
surrounded by proposal papers that she cant concentrate on.

The theatre club wants to hold a play on the auditorium but the schools choir wants to
hold a concert on it and they have been badgering her to decidesending proposal
papers with increasing desperation; the sports club wants a bigger budget to hold a
competition; the trot club wants to skip classes to practice and Joohyun couldnt spare
even a sliver of belief when Park Sooyoung was that clubs vice-president.

She has to decide efficiently and she has to decide soonbut all she can think about is
the fact that she hadnt talked properly with Seulgi for days now.

She cant function properlycant sleep properly for god sakeand this has never
happened to her before. Sometimes she just wants to stop Seulgi before she leaves the
council room, so much earlier again, and just ask ifjust ask if it was her.

She was pretty sure by now though that she had just let her vanity delude her.

It wasnt her. Seulgi couldnt even spare her a minute of conversation now, Joohyun tried
fingers holding on tight on the notebook the younger girl forgot in the council room,
words still coming out breathless no matter how hard she tried to hide the run she did,
and Seulgi flashed that same charming smile that causes her cheeks to bunch up cutely
and thanked her for the notebookand left for archery practice before Joohyun can even
say, Lets go home together, Seulgi.

She sees them every day nowSeulgi and Yura, looks for them really if she was honest,
going home together.

It was Yura of course it was Yura. Seulgi didnt even know Joohyun, not really. The
younger girl was just naturally kindshed mistaken friendly afection for attraction

Joohyun takes a breathone that borders tears that shell surely feel so, so stupid if she
criedand returns her attention with more conviction on the papers scattered on her
bed. Its okayits okaythey werent even anythingshe just allowed her ego to get
the better of her.

Its just disappointmentits okay.

::::

Her notebook was a mess, Joohyun thinks, staring for a moment in disgust at the page
full of scribbles that started out with purpose but turned wayward with sleepiness. She
cant aford another night like that, Joohyun thinks, closing the cover on the eyesore and
clutching the notebook close to her chest.

The school year was going to get even busier with activities and she cant afford
thinkingthinking about Seulgi to this point of distraction.

And because nothing was going her way today, when she leaves the class, perked up a
little by Yongsun mimicking the new Neutrogena commercial, Kang Seulgi was waiting
outside their roomcute bun in place and humming with that blank, almost dumb,
expression that Joohyun cant figure out why she finds adorable.

Ah, Kang Sseul! Yongsun says and Joohyun stops herself from turning to her friend in
confusionhow many of her friends does Kang Seulgi know?

Seulgi blinks back for a few seconds, lips curving up slowly as if still held by the song
that she was humming earlier. Oh, unnie, Seulgi says, the enthusiasm in her voice
making up for her delayed reaction, Joohyun-sunbaenim.

Seohyun, Yongsun, Yurathey were all close enough to be called unniesbut Joohyun
was just sunbaenim.

It was tiringfeeling like this, and almost with a twisted kind of humour Joohyun finds it
funny realizing what this was. She was jealous. And wasnt it so funny? She had made
it through three relationships never feeling like thisover boyfriends that were actually
hers. Shes jealous now over someone she just deluded herself into thinking was
interested in her.
Are you waiting just to see my pretty face, Seulgi-yah.

Noshes here to see Yura.

Of course Im always happy to see you unnie, but Im waiting for Yura-unnie.

Those confessions were about Yura, and Joohyun had been so stupid.

Her headache was pressing more intensely on her skull now, and Joohyun reaches out
and grabs her best friends elbow, bowing to Seulgi once and uttering a quick goodbye,
feeling impolite about cutting their conversation short but she cant stay there any
longer. If she sees Seulgi lighting up again just at the sight of her Yura-unnie, Joohyun
might just scream.

With hurried steps she walks down the corridor to her next class, Yongsun urging her to
slow down, for gods sake, and Joohyun knows she isnt as weak as this. She can shrug
this off and forget about it. She wasnt in love with herwhat a dramatic thing to think
they barely knew each other.

But it hurts, and she cant fix itcant fix herselfand god, it was so frustrating. She was
so stupid.

She hears Yongsun call out in confusion when Joohyun swerves to the right and pushes
the bathroom door open. The sob that escapes her when she finds the place empty of
the usual girls parked in front of the sink was honestly pathetic, and she bites hard on
her lip, heart heavy and constrictedshe cant do itshe has to cry. When her friend
calls for her, Joohyun has already locked herself in a cubiclestaring at the numbers
vandalizing the door in disbelief that she had succumbed to tears over this, had to press
her lips tighter together just to stop from sobbing.

Are you crying, Joohyun? Yongsun asks, sounding appropriately bewilderedJoohyun

was bewildered too.

No, she says, her stuffy voice giving the lie away immediately.

Whats wrong, Hyunnie?

I wishI just threw that stupid chalkboard away. Noshe thinks almost immediately
after she said it. She didnt wish itbecause even if it was all in her head, Joohyun was
glad she didnt miss meeting Seulgibecause Seulgi was nave and almost too dorky but
she also made her heart flutter just with a smileand that feeling, Joohyuns kind of
afraid she wont feel again.

Chalkboardwhat--?

I thinkI fell in love with a teddy bear, Yongsun-ah, but she doesnt like me back.
Teddy BearIopen this door, Bae Joohyun! Are you okay? Aishh you havent slept at
all because of the festival havent you? You cant do that, Hyun. Look, youre losing your
mind!

::::

Joohyun looks up at the ceiling of their schools clinic, the perpetual whiteness of it only
broken by the row of fluorescent lights and feels antsy. Beyond the partition curtains, she
could hear the ping and pang and occasional grunts of the video game that woke her up
a few minutes earlier, and Joohyun shakes her headsomeone must have played the
headache card again to get out of class.

She fainted in the middle of a recitation, humiliating. She can still feel her side smarting
from hitting her seatmates armchaircan still hear the panicked voices as her
classmates crowded around her.

Heolshe knew the answer to that question too

The round clock, looking intensely red against the white walls, informs her that its 5:15
the student council room would be empty by now. She missed their farewell party
however will their old room forgive her?

It would be the last time Seulgi comes to help too. Everything had been settled
properly in their new room. Her debt from poisoning the rest of the council paid with hard
work. Joohyun has run out of reasons now to see Seulgi often

The student next to her groans after a menacing voice says game over and Joohyun
closes her eyes and wishes that they stop playing nowwhy cant people play games
with soothing music(like township) instead of all these noisy fighting gamesbecause all
the noise wasnt contributing to the melancholic atmosphere she kind of wanted. She
just experienced her first heartbreak, cant the background music please cooperate.

The pings and pangs started again and Joohyun sighs. Shed been awake for roughly ten
minutes now and shed heard the student lose six times already. This is a clinic not an
arcade. You cant see me but Im Bae Joohyun, I can send you to dete the curtains
drew back so suddenly, ending Joohyuns words with a swear; and then faintly, Seulgi?
she asks, as the younger girl just stood there, her urgency seeming to deflate in relief.

Youre awake, sunbae. She says, wrapping the words in so much affection that Joohyun
can feel her heart start to beat weirdly again, areare you okay? Nothing hurts? a
palm grazes her cheek only to be drawn back immediately by a red faced Seulgi, II
should call the nurse. Ill call her right now! Joohyun pulls her back by the wrist, thinking
almost immediately how easy it would be to move just a little bit more so that theyd be
holding hands, if theyre hands fit togetherlike they do in moviescan she take that as
a sign?
Am I ten? She thinks, and still, with a light slide against warm skin, and a quick glance up
to see Seulgi looking down at their hands with a confused furrow between her brows,
Joohyun interlaces their fingersandher heart didnt beat any quicker (a good thing
since its already beating at an unhealthy pace, shes sure), there were no sudden sparks
from Seulgis hand to hers. In fact, Seulgis was a bit sweaty and a bit bigger than
Joohyuns admittedly tiny handnono, it wasnt a perfect fit at all, but Joohyun feels
hopeful anyway when Seulgis breath audibly hitches when she realizes that Joohyun was
about to hold her hand.

Sunbae, wha

Why dont you call me, unnie? Joohyun asks, cutting Seulgi off and making her turn her
eyes back to Joohyuns face, and when the younger girl immediately turns her gaze
away, Joohyun wants to hold on hardercling to the hope a little longer. Cant you call
me unnie too? You call Seohyun and Yongsun unnie. Cant you

II dont want to. Seulgi says almost immediately, and just like that the small flicker of
hope that Joohyun tries desperately and unwisely to keep alive fizzles to nothing.

She pulls her hand back.

Cancan I ask why not? she feels the rejection sting harder after she asks, humiliation
mingling with it. Why? Because she doesnt like you as much as them. Why else, idiot?

Itsits just not at the lull, Seulgi blinks back at her for a few seconds and then her
gaze flits about the room clearly with nothing to justify her refusal other than the truth,
and Joohyun just wishes she didnt ask at all. So this was what rejection feel s like, a
dizzying mix of longing and embarrassment pressing against her chest like a tightening
band. It was the worst, and Joohyun feels even more horrible with the thought that shes
been making people feel like this for years. polite. Seulgi finishes awkwardly, fingers
flexing in and out of a fist, I should tell the nurse, youre awake, sunbae.

Joohyun clutches the white blanket tightly in her hands and nods her head, okay

It isnt her. She cant be angry at Seulgi for her delusions.

::::

She can be angry actually, in fact she is very angry.

Joohyun almost breaks the chalk in her hand when she pulls back the cover of the board
and saw Kang Seulgis familiar lazy drawl all over the board againthe agenda she was
about to write flying right off her head.
Is this a game for Seulgi?

Omo! Its a love letter! Byul says, positively thrilled and Joohyun feels even more
irritated when the rest of the council starts clambering off their chairs and pushing on
the big table to look at the board.

Omo! Omo! Byuls voice was rising in intensity and Joohyun just wants to erase the
writing before the girl hyperventilates, Im in love with you, sunbaenim, Omothis
this is Jung Soojung, isnt it? Didis she confessing to me?!

YesJoohyun was very angry because Seulgi cant just go and make her heart beat like
this for her whenever she pleasesits not fair.

::::

The archery club members keep looking at her oddly as Joohyun marches determinately
towards the school field, and Joohyun ignores them for a whilebut then remembers
whyand then shes just even angrier at Seulgi.

She rejected the archery clubs president last month even after he made that big speech
about how hell win the archery competition for her. She rejected him on the spot and he
did atrociously on the subsequent match. Joohyun had avoided him like the plague
since. Shell kill Seulgi.

Her steps falter when she sees her, grinning widely with her big bow as she excitedly
claps for Yura who had just sent an arrow flying right into the target meters away. If you
like me, if you love me, then only smile at me like that, Kang Seulgi.

Hey, Yura, Joohyun says immediately when she reaches the two of them and then can
I talk to you? to Seulgi who takes one look at her and blushes up to her cute ears.

You know what? Wait a minute. She turns to Yura who was looking at them obviously
torn between confusion and amusement, Do you like chicken, Yura? she asks, and
Seulgi colors even brighter.

As a petor

As food.

Ohthen yeah, sure. I love it. The answer came with a smile even though she still
looked confused and Joohyun cant help smiling back a little even if she was still angry at
having her feelings jerked around all over the place.

Yura loves it. She loves Chicken. Its not her.

Thats good; then please excuse Kang Seulgi-ssi for awhile, There was possession and
triumph in her voice, Joohyun can hear it plainly, and from the way her classmates
brows rise, Yura hears it as well. Joohyun can hardly care though as she reaches out and
grabs the sleeves of Seulgis shirt, hesitating for a moment on whether to grab her hand
instead just to make her point crystal clear.

Shes used to getting what she wants and shes not gonna stop now when she never
wanted anyone this much.

Seulgi splutters a little more, and Joohyun lets her stutter an apology for leaving early
before tugging on her sleeve and pulling her with her. Around them, students from
various clubs move about trying to set up the stalls and the decorations for the festival
and Joohyun imagines that they must be loud, laughter and complaints thrown about the
place, but all she can hear as she marched Seulgi back to the council room was the
pounding of blood in her ears and Seulgis steps as she follows behind her. So this was
what all those people who confessed to her felt before they meet her.

Its horriblehow did they do it? How could Joohyun have ever taught it a nuisance? Her
knuckles bump Seulgis arm once in a while and Joohyun can barely breath from
exhilaration. She wants her, she wants her so much and shes so afraid she wont have
her.

Joohyun pulls her all the way to the council room, feeling faint from adrenaline as she
shuts the door, when she turns back to Seulgi, the younger girl was staring up at the
words in the board, almost in surprise; and Joohyun suddenly has the urge to cry again
because if it wasnt Kang Seulgi who wrote that last one, maybe shell actually die from
this anxiety.

Diddid you write that?and the others too? she asks, failing to get the words out at
first. She can feel her face warming and has to remind herself not to place a palm on it to
check.

The other girl blinks back at the board and then blinks back at her, clear agitation tinting
her eyes and Joohyun wants to hold her hand again just to calm her nerves a little, but
just one step towards her and Seulgi started to laugh awkwardly, hands reaching for
each other almost desperately as she starts cracking her knuckles.

Iwhat? What writing? I dont know any writing sunbaenim, maybe itsmaybe its a
prank? she lets out another forced laugh affirming it with a weak, its funny.

And Joohyun realizes just how shot her nerves were when she starts crying just from
hearing the word prank, barely getting out I saw you write one of them. She knows
she shouldnt cry. Seulgis in love with her. She might be denying it but her hurried steps
to get to her and the way she reaches out hesitant fingers to her face shows it clearly,
but Joohyun had never felt this uncertain about anything before.
Dont cry, sunbaenimIIm sorry, I shouldnt have written it! Im sorry, just forget
about it. Im sorry pleaseI wasnt watching you as much as you think! IIm not a
stalker. Im sorry, Ill stop I promise.

Thatsthats not what I want to hear. She manages, fixing Seulgi with a glare that she
only uses when Sooyoung or Yerim gets sent to her for detention, thats not what I want
to hear. You cant go around playing with my emotions, claiming to like meto be in love
with meand then cant even call me unnie like I mean nothing to you! EveryoneYura,
is good enough to be unnie but not me, Im just Joohyun-sunbaenim who you suddenly
avoid like I did something bad to youwhen youre the onewhy dont you call me,
unnie?

Ill call you unnieif you like, Seulgi looks pained by the concession, looking almost
wounded.

Why is it so hard to do it?

I just wrote ityou already read it. II love you I dont want you to think of me as
a juniorits stupid because youll never like me the same way but at leastat least I
can hope, butIll call you unnie now. I promise Ill stop, so dont cry about it anymore,
Joohyun-un

Seulgis lips were soft, the small gasp she did just before Joohyun pulls her by the collar
down to her lips was soft, her skin was soft when Joohyun reaches out to trace her
fingers on her cheeks and her palms were soft when she clutches unto Joohyuns arms
everything about Kang Seulgi was soft and Joohyun smiles into the kiss when Seulgi
presses closerexcept for thisexcept for the hard, desperate way she presses her lips
back on hers.

When she pulls back, Seulgi looks dazed, If thats your reasonthen you cant call
me unnie, you cant call me unnie ever.

ButMinho-sunbaenim Seulgi says, slightly leaning closer to her as if to kiss her

again, Joohyun moves closer and Seulgi almost sighs in bliss at the kiss.

Minho? What about him? she asks, hardly caring about the answer as she presses
another kiss on Seulgis lips.

Seulgi moves away, looking wounded again, and Joohyun just wants to pull her back to a
kiss again, I want you so much but I wont be a part of you cheating, sunbaenim.

What are you talking about? she asks, the haze from their kiss not quite letting her
think properly. What cheating?
Iyoure not a liar, sunbae. Please dont lie nowI saw the two of you huggingin
here. Seulgi looks like a cross between a determined and a kicked puppyand Joohyun
cant help but find it so cute. Shes jealous of Minho, so cute.

This isnt one of your dramas that you like so much, Seulgi-yah. She says, interlacing
their hands, because now that she actually managed to fall in love, she cant get enough
of wanting to be close to Seulgi. How could you have missed the part where we hugged
because we couldnt be anything but friends?

Wah? Seulgi starts back in confusion, and Joohyun really has a problem now because
she really does find Kang Seulgi looking dumb extremely adorable. Soyoure not
together, a quick peek at their hands, youyou really like me, sunbae? The gradual
elation in Seulgis eyes as she says the words touches Joohyun more than any romantic
words could. Earnest Seulgi who wears her emotions so easily on her sleeves, who shows
just how much she loves in her eyesJoohyun had never felt this wanted.

HmmI like younoI love you. Seulgi grins, bigger than any grin she ever gave
Seohyun and Yura(so there!), but you dont really seem to like me

What? Butbutbut I just said it! I love you, sunbae!

Joohyun pouts as she smooths a hand over Seulgis right collar, right before grabbing it
and pulling Seulgi down until the tip of their noses could touch, thenwhy am I
still, sunbaenim, Seulgi? As your girlfriend, shouldnt you call me Joohyun?

Even her laughter is soft, Joohyun thinks as Seulgi laughs in relief. I love you, Joohyun-
ah, she says just before closing the space between them.

~END~