Dork.

seventh.

I got to stay inside all weekend (except for the movie theatre thing) and I now sigh as I start getting my backpack ready for school.

I hear very faint upbeat music playing and I'm pretty sure it's coming from directly above me- Kevin's apartment. I assume he lives up there alone then.

I just sigh again and head out of the apartment and down the creaky stairs.

I start walking along the sidewalk, the air is crisp and cold and I brought my own cardigan today. What a peaceful morning

But as soon as I think that I hear footsteps approaching me rapidly, and a hand on my head. Instinctively I rip the safety pin off my uniform skirt and point it at the intruder.

"Ahhh!" The boy screams and jumps back.

"Oh, it's just you" I sigh of relief, and pin the safety pin back on.

Kevin Moon takes a moment to catch his breath. "So that's what the safety pins are for" he says between breaths.

I just nod and continue walking away from him. But the boy in the white turtleneck jogs and catches up with me.

"Wow attempted murder and now ditching me? I didn't realize you hated me so much!" Kevin jokes.

I shake my head, "that's dramatic. You're the one that scared me"

"Oh snap for real? Sorry!!" Kevin says, putting his hands in his pockets.

"It's fine" I say casually as we enter the school campus. We walk into the class together and the only people there are chanhee and Changmin- just my luck.

"Oooooo" Changmin grins at us walking in at the same time.

I ignore him and walk to the back to my window seat.

Throughout the school day Kevin acts as though we are friends- whispering to me during class, texting on the group chat, making me sit with him and chanhee and Changmin at lunch.  although I'm not as anxious around them as I was a week ago, I still can't relax or be myself since I'm constantly sitting with them. Many people ask for Kevin's number or social media, and wave to him in the halls. He's friendly, hardworking, and not too bad looking. I can see his popularity rising from even my social spot.

But of course at the end of the dayI'm reminded that Kevin is only being nice to me because he's my peer first responder. We spend the after school session coloring again; Kevin asks casually about my paranoia with the safety pins but doesn't press on too much.

When we finish we walk home together, and I'm realizing how much time I've spent with him. So far Kevin seems okay, he hasn't done anything bad but of course I won't let my guard down.

We walk in comfortable silence up the creaky stairs, I get off at my floor and he continues walking up to his as usual, whistling a tune.

As I walk a bit down the hall to my apartment number the air feels heavy and colder, the lights dimmer than usual. A shiver runs down my spine. I just want to be home. I place my hand in the doorknob of my apartment, but the door swings open. What? I'm sure I closed it this morning.

I gulp as I open the door further, taking a deep shaky breath as I switch the lights on. Although I wish I hadn't- it would've been better to be in the dark. The apartment is totally trashed, flower pots, chairs, and books littering the floor. What really freaks me out is that the balcony window is smashed.

I let out a shriek- no, a full on scream, I stumble back, my legs become so shaky I fall to the ground. I hear quick steps running down the stairs, and before i know it Kevin is kneeling beside me.

"What? What happened?" He asks.
"I don't know! L-l-look!" I choke out, pointing to the apartment. Kevin stands up and goes to peep inside.

I zone out completely, what if I had been in the apartment during the break in? What would they have done to me? What was the person looking for? Who was it? Why was-

"Sunhee!" Kevin snaps me out of my thoughts and helps me to my feet. "Are you alright? Are you injured" he surveys me quickly.

"Y-yeah, I just walked in and it was like that," I say shakily.

"Okay... Dont worry. It's going to be okay" Kevin says certainly, holding me steady with a confident grip on my shoulders. "We can go report this to the front desk and you can room with me. I live alone there's plenty of room"

My thoughts are so scrambled that all I can do is nod. We go down the stairs to the lobby and tell the security lady what happened. She sincerely apologizes and comes with us to examine the scene.

She tells me to sleep somewhere else for the night and to gather my stuff in case the person comes back and to do inspections and investigations.

I have to enter the apartment again to get my essential things but my legs are too shaky.

"Do you want me to get the stuff?" Kevin asks as I stall in the doorframe.

"It's okay, I can do it" I say (trying to convince myself.)

"Okay, I'll be here the whole time. I'm not leaving you," Kevin says as I walk into the apartment. It's so unsettling seeing the apartment like this. I can just  so clearly imagine a burglar running around scrambling everything.

As fast as lightning I get a weeks worth of uniform clothes and other clothing, makeup and other toiletries.

I pack it all in a suitcase and run back to the front door as if a monster were chasing me. And he's still there, waiting patiently by the door, eyebrows furrowed.

"You made it!" Kevin claps, his expression changing happily when he sees me.
"I did," I say.
"To my apartment we go!" Kevin helps me lug my suitcase up one more flight of stairs and down the hall.

I don't know what I would've done if he weren't here.