Chapter 6: (1/2)

I didn’t realize it was Monday until it was too late. I woke up at 7:30 and school started an hour and a half before. I quickly got dressed and ate a one second breakfast before bolting out the door at high speed, my backpack flying behind me. The elevator was broke for some dumb reason so I had to take the stairs. Sometimes it really stunk to live in an old building because things like this always happened.

I rushed down the stairs, jumping over a few went I had the chance and leaping through the door to my apartment building. I mentally cursed at myself for not setting the alarm clock and going to sleep too late the night before. People in the lobby moved out of my way as I jumped through them and soon enough I was finally on the sidewalk. It was warm and there were a lot of people out for that early in the morning.

When I reached my school, it was almost eight o’clock and I figured I would’ve missed my first period. I walked into the school, got a late pass and walked quickly to my classroom, since the hall monitors would yell if you were running through the hallways—I was not in the mood to be yelled at.

Lately, I was really not in the mood to do much and I hated being like that. It was depressing and I always felt out of energy, so I decided I’d arrange to do something fun with Hyuk after school (or homework) tonight. I’m sure he’d be able to do that, since he’s free most days after he finishes his school work.

I walked quietly into the class and bowed to my teacher, handing her the note I received from the office, scurrying quickly afterwards to my seat next to Hyuk. I sat down with an exasperated sigh and threw my book bag on the desk, pulling out a bag of snacks I kept hidden inside my desk. Hyuk looked at me with an amused look.

“What?” I whispered urgently, pulling out the papers I needed for the class.

“Why were you late today?” he asked quietly. I took out my pencil and started listening to the teacher’s instructions. He was saying that were had to work with the person next to us and finish the worksheet. When I heard that I turned back to Hyuk.

“I slept in.” I explained. He shook his head, but was still smiling wide.

“Ah, Hongbin…” he trailed off, almost in disbelief. I knew he was like this because of the missed day last week and the fact that I was usually very punctual. I hit the back of his head lightly and whispered a shut up, before looking at worksheet for the class, trying to get started on it.

We worked for a couple minutes before getting distracted and talking about something totally unrelated. Hyuk told me about this kid in first period class who ran out crying because he got a message from his girlfriend over the phone that they were breaking up. We burst into laughter, unable to control it.

“Lee Hongbin and Han Sanghyuk, be quiet.” The teacher yelled at us, and like little kids we just laughed quietly to ourselves. That’s what I liked about Hyuk—he was exactly like me. We had so much in common and more than once we almost thought we were separated brothers, but that was years ago when we were much younger.

Suddenly, Hyuk’s face fell and he looked at me seriously. I blinked, getting totally confused.

“Did you hear?” he asked me. “Hakyeon-hyung asked Leo-hyung out but he said no and Hakyeon didn’t come to school today.” He told me and I suddenly lost all interest in our previous conversation.

“Hakyeon-hyung did that?” I gasped, shocked. My friends were really surprising me lately.

“I think it’s because Leo-hyung has been hanging around with this girl, Lee Hyomi, too much lately.” Hyuk said, looking off to the distance as if he were thinking hard about something. At my cousin’s name, though, I dropped my pencil onto the desk, my face frozen stiff. Is that why she came back? I thought to myself. Leo-hyung? It wouldn’t make sense. How could they know each other outside of school, especially since she just came back yesterday? Hyuk continued on talking, unaware of my expression.

“I don’t know who she is but apparently she’s from America. A transfer student, you know? Ken-hyung told me that she came here from America two weeks ago and they (her and Leo) met on the soccer field. They became friends because of their common interest in the sport.” Hyuk stopped for a second. “Sounds like a movie made for teenage girls, if you ask me.” He shook his head in disgust.

“You said Lee Hyomi, didn’t you?” I asked, in absolute horror.

“Yeah, that’s her name.” Hyuk said back, quickly.