Neha is a transfer student in Yongsang High School from India. Her life - in a new school, in a new city, with new people - that is this story about. Will she have friendships, maybe relationships or maybe she may have no one beside her.
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The next day, the teacher takes us to the nearby lake for canoeing. We had to get in pairs for each boat. I noticed Yoosin coming towards me. Before he could reach me, I ran to Jaehi. Yoosin seems surprised. I watch him turn and walk to Junghoon.
"Hey, Jaehi!" I say to her. "Can I be with you?"
"Why?" she raises her eyebrow.
"Just simply," I shrug. Luckily she agrees.
"Jaehi, how long have you been in this school?" I ask, hoping to start a conversation in the canoe.
"Longer than you have, obviously," she grumbles.
"You're really funny."
"Don't laugh, just take me back to shore."
"But we are not even halfway across," I complain.
"Just listen to me, Neha. Go. Back."
I turn the boat and row back to the shore.
"How's Yoosin?" she asks suddenly. I think before I reply.
"He's fine. Why?" I ask.
"Stay away from him."
"What?" I ask, surprised.
"You heard me. Stay. Away. From. Yoosin. He is mine. He will be."
"You can take him as your boyfriend. But he will still be my friend!" I am angry at her now.
"No he won't!" she jerks the boat so hard that we both fall onto the water. I come up to the surface and does not find Jaehi.
"J-Jaehi!" I scream. I go underwater and find her drowning. I swim towards her and try to pull her with me to the shore. After full ten minutes of pulling and swimming, I push her towards the shore. Teachers run towards us. I try to breath.
Soon the rest of the class are with us. Yoosin comes beside me.
"Hey, Neha," he says, propping my head. "You okay?"
"J-Jaehi, she flipped," I manage.
"No!" Jaehi yells. She woke up. "You tried to push me off!"
"Is that true, Neha?" the teacher asks me.
"No, Jaehi, you jerked the boat," I try to convince.
"Liar! You are trying to kill me!" 'fake' tears slip out of her eyes.
"No, no."
"Neha, because of you, we will cut short the trip. We leave this afternoon," the teachers says and guides Jaehi to the nurse. The rest of the class swears at me and leaves except Yoosin and the rest.
"I swear, I didn't! I wouldn't," I say, tears spilling out of my eyes.
"We know," Lee says. The others nod.
That evening, we all board the bus. In the bus everyone stare coldly at me. I have ruined their field trip, I think. How else should they react? As usual we sit in the back. I stare out of the window with thoughts swimming through my head.
Suddenly, Yoosin caresses my hand. I blush. "You okay?" he asks.
"I don't know," I mumble. He sighs and lays his head on my shoulder.
I am so glad to have them beside me, I think.
[TIME SKIP] : At Neha's apartment
I lay on the bed. Tears keep pouring out of my eyes. The phone starts to ring. It's Daniel. I pick up the video call.
"Hey Daniel," I say.
"Hey Neha. You okay?" He looks closely at me. "Were you crying?"
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I quickly rubbed my eyes. "Uh, no. I wasn't. Why did you call?"
"I wanted to invite you to my birthday," he said. "The rest of us will be there. I couldn't tell you in bus."
"Oh. Yes sure. I will come," I say. "When is it?"
"Next Thursday. 5:00pm. I will send you the location before 5pm. Good night, Neha."
"Good night Daniel," I say.
As Daniel hung up, Yoosin texts me.
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We say goodbyes. I close my eyes to sleep.
[NEXT DAY]
Yoosin and I walked through each and every store. "What does Daniel even like?" Yoosin complains. "Maybe we should just by chocolates or something."
"We should buy him something that he will actually remember," I say as I scan the racks.
Yoosin moves to the back of the store and I stay in the front.
"Hey," somebody says behind me. Kim Taemin. Jaehi's cousin. I have seen him looking closely at Neha in the corridors. He even tried to hug her three months ago.
"Hey Taemin," I say. We shake hands.
"Isn't that Neha?" he asks and points towards her. I nod. "Dude, Yoosin. You know I'm rich. I can give whatever you if you can sell Neha to me."
"I'm sorry Taemin," I say. "But, she is not for sale." He gives me a cold stare.
"Yoosin-ah!" Neha calls.
"See you later, Taemin."
I walk towards Neha. I am not giving her to anyone. She is mine.
