Yeonjun's POV
~Flashback~
I step off the bus and keep my head down as I walk towards the front doors of the school. This has become a sort of routine for the past couple months since I started school. I get on the bus and sit in the back with my earbuds in, I get off the bus with my head down and my earbuds in, and I walk through the school with my head down and my earbuds in.
It's hard when you're pushed into a place where everyone speaks this foreign language that you don't understand and you're forced to try to understand it for the sake of your own knowledge and well being. I don't blame Noona for this though. She had her reasons for wanting to get out of that horrible place. The only reason I was enduring it was for Jeongguk. But he left, so of course I would choose to leave with Y/N. She's the next closest thing to a mother to me. Of course, it still sucks having to deal with the kids at this school everyday.
Sometimes I wish I could understand what they are saying. I can understand bits and pieces, but they speak so fast and I just end up missing whole parts of conversations. During class it's even worse. The teachers have been trying to slow down for me, which I really appreciate, but I'm sure the rest of the students don't. I know for a fact that we've ended up with extra homework because the teacher has taken too long trying to teach before...all because of me. Which also explains why I'm not considered cool or popular, at all. In fact, I am basically the opposite. I don't know what they're saying, but I'll be walking through the hallways hearing laughs from behind me. I know what they're saying can't be good.
I've gotten used to it though. It doesn't really bother me anymore. It did at first, but there are some kids that I've started to like. What's funny is that they're all Korean. I've somehow found my way back to my roots even in school.
There is this one guy though that I can only hope will notice me. His name is Soobin and he's one of the most handsome boys I've ever seen in my life. I don't really understand why I'm feeling this way because until this year, I had never been exposed to other people that much. All I know is that I find myself drawn to him whenever he's near me. We have a few classes together and he's really smart. He raises his hand a lot and his voice is kind of deep and a bit raspy. I love hearing him talk. And he has a really pretty smile. He's not popular exactly, but he's basically friends with everyone and everyone loves him.
I sit right behind him in English class, so I find myself staring at him a lot.
Today is no exception.
He looks especially good today.
His black hair looks soft and perfectly styled on his head. I've also noticed something new today. He has the most adorable dimples on this planet. He's laughed a couple times at some of the things his friends have said and I think I almost blacked out once because of it.
"Dude," I hear from beside me. "You have got to stop staring at him," my friend Taehyun whispers to me in Korean.
He's one of my Korean friends. He speaks perfect English, but we bonded because we're both Korean and, thankfully he knows Korean as well, so we're able to converse comfortably.
"I know, but he's just so cute," I whisper back.
He shakes his head with a laugh. "You're crushing hard."
"Am not," I answer defensively. "I am just appreciating art."
"Art. Yeah, right," he chuckles. "You know, it's alright if you're gay."
I immediately stiffen. "It's not that I'm trying to hide that I'm gay or something. I just, don't exactly know yet. Okay? We're only in 8th grade. I have time to figure it out."
Taehyun sighs and nods. "You're right. I'm sorry."
"Taehyun, Yeonjun!" We suddenly hear.
Taehyun jerks to an upright position with a gasp.
"Do you have something you want to share with the class?" The teacher shouts in front of everyone.
We both shake our head. I'm just glad I understood what she said.
She turns back around to face the board and continues the lesson. Me and Taehyun exchange a glance and giggle to ourselves.
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Once class is over, me and Taehyun stand up and start to leave. This is the last class of the day, so I need to get to dance class now, but right as I'm getting to the door, the teacher stops me. "Yeonjun, come here."
I nod and walk over to her. "Yes, ma'am?"
"I'm sorry to have to," she continues to speak but I could only understand the first couple words and a few words in between. "...you are so...but I can't..."
And then she stops talking and I have no clue what she was talking about.
"I'm sorry. I didn't understand--"
"She said that she's sorry that she has to tell you this because you're such a good kid, but she can't keep holding up the class by slowing down for you, so you're going to need a tutor," a sudden voice says from behind me.
I spin around and come face to face with Soobin. The Soobin. The one I stare at everyday. The one I'm lowkey obsessed with. Thank god I wasn't born awkward.
"Thank you." I turn back to face the teacher. "I'll figure something out. Don't worry."
"Okay, Yeonjun. I really do hope that you..." and the rest I don't understand, but I can fill in the blanks.
I nod to her and start to leave.
"Hey, wait," Soobin yells from behind me. After he catches up to me, he smiles and holds his hand out for me to shake. "I'm Soobin."
I nod and shake his hand. "I know. I've seen you around before. We're in a couple classes together."
He laughs. "I know. I've seen you, too, but I could never get myself to come up to you. I'm pretty shy."
I laugh at this. "Shy? No way. I see how you talk to literally everyone in this school. You're friends with everyone."
He smiles and looks down at his feet with a slight blush tinting his cheeks. "Admittedly, for some reason, you make me more shy than others do."
I feel my heart skip a beat. "What do you mean?"
He chuckles. "I just mean that you're completely new here and I didn't want to make a complete fool of myself in front of you. I want everyone to like me. It really bothers me when I feel like someone doesn't like me."
"Well, don't worry. I don't think you made a fool of yourself."
He looks up at me and smiles. "That's good."
I look into his eyes and immediately realize the grave mistake I've made. His eyes are so dark, but you can see the kindness and the love in them. It's mesmerising and captivating.
I quickly look away and he does the same, noticing that we were just staring at each other without really saying anything.
"Well, um, I'm actually going somewhere today. So, I should...get there," he looks at me and starts backing away the other direction.
I nod. "Me too."
"I'll see you around then?"
I nod with a smile. "Sure."
He grins widely and turns around happily. I bite my lip at the thought of getting to talk to him everyday like this.
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wow, a whole flashback chapter
JJ, what are you doing?
get back to the actual story already
alright fine fine
next chapter will be better
i promise
hehe
~JJ