Somewhere Only We Know - Hyunlix

Somnium meum

Second Tuesday

Sights of sweaty students dashed across the road, books falling on the gray asphalt, to get to their classes; businessmen in all black suits buzzing on their phones, and a pink ice cream truck selling kids popsicles, were all on the street on a busy Tuesday morning. Hyunjin found that scene outside the classroom's window more entertaining and peaceful than the chaos inside the room. His classmates' idle talks about their favorite TV series' latest episode. The 'Casanova' wannabes of their class were wooing their next victim, and class officers telling others to pipe down, overpowered Mr. Kim's, their professor, on Archeoastronomy, lectures on Egypt's celestial lore.

"What a drag." He whined with one eyebrow raised, tired eyes and a frown formed on his plump lips; his complaint was barely an inaudible whisper that was meant for his ears only. He rolled his eyes with discontent as he controlled his itch to take over his professor's job, and explain the 'Egyptian Zodiac' or the 'Northern Constellations'.

With alt-rock music blasting in his ear at full volume, the loud tracks muffling his surroundings, he looked over the gentle setting outside the window, finding his muse for his daily doodles, to buy time until he would see the freckled man living inside of his mind. Immersed in his drawing of chibi characters or little characters from his favorite anime 'Cowboy Bebop' eating ice cream, he didn't notice these series of events unfold: that the lecture ended, Mr. Lee entered the room, and his classmates yelled just to get his attention, but no luck. Until a hand slammed onto his desk, jolting Hyunjin's mind wide awake, dropping his pencil on the floor, and turning off the loud music banging at his ears. He took his earphones out of his ears; then with the most annoyed expression he could form, and then he looked up to see the owner of the hand.

"Here!" He shouted before turning to the person in front of him.

"Choi Lia, our class president." Hyunjin said her name with familiarity, knowing her face like the back of his hand. Lia was Hyunjin's first friend; they were inseparable as kids. But both grew up to be peas of different pods, as both liked different things. Why Lia was enrolled in the Astronomy course is still a mystery to him, since she prefers to keep her feet on the ground. Fun fact, she isn't related to the vice president.

"What can I do for you?" He offered her a gentle smile, a smile reserved for his old friend.

"Will you be my homecoming date?" The class president avoided the eyes of her classmate; her cheeks stained with vermillion as she grabbed both of his hands and spoke in a high pitched-voice

"Lia-ah, You know I don't do dances." He chuckled, and patted his childhood friend's head.

"Stop addressing me like a little kid." She pouted and crossed her arms; displeased with how the taller man treated her.

"Are we interrupting something here?" A loud booming voice oozed from their professor, "Ms. Choi, you got his attention, why are you still standing there?!" The words seethed through his gritted teeth radiating pure authority.

Seeing his professor in a new light came as a surprise and amusement for Hyunjin. It was far from his usual affectionate, easy going, and warm demeanor; his dazzling smile, tiny crescent eyes and radiant face now were nowhere to be found. Instead, his face transformed into eyes that threw daggers, narrowed lips, burning ears and excessive tapping on his desk. His professor, who was the physical embodiment of sunshine and rainbows, was replaced by a scorching sun ready to burn Lia with its celestial flames.

"N-no... S-sir." The class president scrambled back to her seat with her tail behind her legs. The freckled man continued to watch Lia like a hawk, eyes burning with something that Hyunjin couldn't pinpoint. He struggled to hold back a giggle, because he found the action of the older man adorable. The freckled man turned his direction to Hyunjin and hurled invisible daggers into its path. Unfazed with the smaller man's threat, he bit his lower lip and shook his head, before replying with a smirk on his plump moist lips.