Mia brushed some of her hair behind her ear as she left the school building.
Today she had gotten more looks and sideways glances than her previous three years of school – not that she was keeping a mental tally, or anything.
And not that she was particularly gloating, or anything. She just felt, well, pretty good.
She knew it was shallow of herself to be acting like this, getting all worked up because she felt pretty.
But Mia couldn't help but think – if these people noticed her, then surely Renjun would.
He'd looked at her today. She'd seen it. The call hadn't been planned, but Mia wanted to praise her parents for calling.
The ringtone had gotten his attention. He'd seen her. He'd recognized her.
If only her ringtone hadn't been so infuriatingly embarrassing. Mia usually listened to Loote, it was her guilty pleasure. She made a mental note to change it immediately.
"Hey!"
The voice came from across the parking lot. It was unmistakeable. Mia froze.
She almost couldn't face him.
Slowly she turned on her heel, knees creaking.
Renjun was jogging towards her. Even in gym shorts and a T-shirt riddled with grass-stains, he looked handsome.
His soccer cleats, slung over his shoulder, bumped against each other.
He slowed to a stop in front of her, bushing a hand through his dark bangs. "Hey, Mia."
Once again, her throat constricted. Mia clutched the strap of her (borrowed) designer handbag. She managed a weak smile, and a wave.
If Renjun was weirded out by her silence, he didn't show it. "I didn't know you were in my English class," he continued. "Have you been there this whole time?"
Mia felt a small surge of...well, not satisfaction.
More like, validation that she had always been a total wallflower, and her makeover was completely necessary. She nodded.
Renjun chuckled. "Jeez, I'm blind. Can't believe I had no idea. Well, I guess that's what you get for sitting beside a dumbass like Hyuck, right? His idiocy is probably contagious."
Mia giggled behind her hand. For a second, the smile on Renjun's face wavered and his cheeks went pink.
He cleared his throat, and hurried on, rubbing the back of his neck. "So, ah, you planning to study for that test next week?"
Mia wanted to say that she had never studied for an English test in her life, especially not for a Shakespeare play.
She had read Hamlet three times by the time she was thirteen. But once again, her voice died out, and she settled for a shrug.
"Well, none of the guys really want to, since they don't care about their education." Renjun hooked his thumbs into the waistband of his shorts. Mia tried not to drool. "And I know you're pretty smart, so, would you mind maybe studying with me?"
It took all of her willpower and concentration not to fall over on the spot. Renjun...wanted to study...with her? Spend time with her? Was this...could this almost be a date?
She could feel her face turning redder by the second. Her fingers tightened on the strap, knuckles going white.
She swallowed, and tried to say something, but at the last second the words died.
They were going to get nowhere if she couldn't even say yes.
Mia nodded. Renjun's face cleared, and he smiled. "Cool. You free today?"
Her heart ached to say yes, but she had a shift at Club Wi Fan.
She internally cursed her manager, and unconsciously the words "I'm busy," slipped out.
Her eyes widened as she realized she'd just said something, to Renjun, out loud.
She waited for the trumpets and fanfares and fireworks, but nothing happened.
Gray simply shrugged and said, "Alright, cool. Another time, then?"
Apparently, two words were Mia's quota for the day. She nodded, and he grinned. "Cool. I'll see you in class tomorrow."
He started walking out towards the parking lot, but stopped short. "Wait, where's Jaemin's car?"
Mia realized that, in fact, it was gone.
Because of Yeseul's disappearance she had bussed to school that morning, and so wasn't graced with the usual morning parking frenzy.
But now that Renjun mentioned it, the lot seemed empty without the blinding white Chrysler.
"Jae took off with his new girlfriend," came a voice from behind them. Mia jumped.
Chenle, followed by Hyuck and Mark, had materialized behind them. Saeron stood by Mark. She looked surprised to see Mia, and smiled.
"What do you mean, took off?" Renjun snapped irritably. "How are we getting home?"
"Catching the bus," Chenle said mildly. When Renjun made a face, he smirked. "You look like the idea of public transit viciously offends you."
"I hate buses," Renjun complained. "Too many people."
He looked oddly sad and quiet, not at all like how Mia was used to seeing him. She wondered what was wrong. Saeron gave her a wave as she passed.
Renjun looked at her in surprise. "Youknow Saeron?"
Mia nodded again. She was getting quite good at communicating non-verbally.
Renjun shook his head, looking baffled but amused. "Well, I learn a new thing every day."
"Come on, man, you'll miss the bus!" Chenle called.
Renjun saluted to Mia. "Later, then!" She waved as he turned and dashed off the catch up with his friends.
Mia watched him go until they rounded the corner, heading down to the bus stop.
It was only then that she realized she was missing the feeling in both her legs.
She let out her breath in one long whoosh, nearly falling over.
Talking to Renjun was one thousand times more stressful than she'd ever imagined. Sighing heavily, she turned on wobbly legs and began making her way towards the downtown shuttle bus.
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