DITTO

5

Me and Danielle-unnie walked to our classroom together without talking. I knew she wanted to but I think she already knows that I'm not much of a talker. And speaking, I wonder what she's gonna give me later.

I opened the door of the classroom and held it so that she can get inside as well. She smiled warmly and thanked me for my gesture. I just nodded and proceed to go to my seat. Since the teacher was not yet here and only a few students are around, I decided to scribble for the meantime.

While I was doing so, someone placed a pack of cookies on the side of my table. I turned and it was Danielle-unnie. She was smiling again. I mean, when was the time that she didn't smile? I took the pack and looked at it. There was one shaped like a cat, then one shaped like a frog. My eyes widen and I can't help but smile showing my teeth. I love frogs! They're the cutest animal for me. Danielle-unnie then leaned to look at my reaction and was surprised to see my expression. She then sat on Eunchae's seat which was beside me.

"You're smiling! Does that mean you liked it?" she asked with excitement in her voice. I looked at her with the same expression.

I nodded, "Yes. They're really cute." I turned to look at the cookies again. How did she know that I liked frogs and kittens?

"Thank goodness. I was worried that you might not like it.  I made that last night with Hanni-unnie," she says, still having that happy tone in her voice. I did not want to eat the cute cookies yet. I still have to show it to Minji-unnie later. There were other shapes too, a star, a heart and a moon. It's really cute.

"Thank you for this, Danielle-unnie," I looked at her with a smile. I think this is the first time I smiled fully at her. And the surprised expression she has now confirms it.

"You're very much welcome, Haerin-ah. Um, you should smile more. You look really pretty," she says and looked away but still gracing a smile on her face.

With that said, I felt a blush creep on my cheeks. It was unexplainable. Unexpected, even. No one has told me that before, except for Minji-unnie, Hyein and my parents. But coming from other people, none. Until now. For a split second, I felt my heart race.

"Hi guys!" Eunchae's loud voice interrupted my train of thoughts. Danielle-unnie went back to her original seat as Eunchae came.

"Haerin-ah! Good morning!!! You'll never guess what Kkura-unnie bou-- wait, are those cookies? Give me some!" she tried to snatch my cookies but I hid it from her.

"Yah! It's mine," I said and glared at her. I saw her pout as she faced me.

"Eunchae-ya, here. I also got you some," I heard Danielle-unnie say. She handed her a pack but with regular cookies in it.

"For me? Yey! Thanks, Danielle-unnie!"

"Of course, and give this to Kyujin and Yeseo too," she handed her two more packs with the same cookies as her. I slid my pack inside my pocket and continued my scribbles.

**

"And for your assignment, it would be done by partners. Each pair should make a portfolio and a scrapbook about the list of animals which are present in your surroundings. You can do that at your house or here in school, but I do prefer you guys go and explore outside the campus. It's a good time for you to discover things and more. So now, go and find your partner so that you can start planning the assignment," Ms. Baek told us.

By pair, huh? I'll just wait for Kyujin or Yeseo to ask me-- *tap tap*

"Haerin, can you be my partner for this assignment?" I got goosebumps when Danielle-unnie leaned on my ear to whisper her request. I held my breath for a second there but I didn't make it obvious.

What is going on with you now, Kang?

"Uh. Sure, unnie," I responded without looking back at her. I felt her pat my head as a small giggle escaped her lips. Gosh!

"Yow! Haerin-ah! Wanna be partners --"

"Sorry, Kyujin-ah. I'm Haerin's partner already," Danielle-unnie told the girl who was about to approach me. Kyujin pouted and did a little stomp on her feet. I softly giggled at her antics.

"That's so sad! I wanted her to be my partner, hmp!" she then turned to Eunchae. "How about you, Chae?"

"Sorry, dude. Me and Yeseo are partners already. Go and ask Niki instead, or maybe Junghwan," Eunchae suggested and pointed at the boys in the back.

"No fair!" We all just laughed when Kyujin half-heartedly dragged herself to the spot where Niki and Junghwan are seated.

I was startled when Danielle-unnie started dragging her own chair next to mine. What--

"So, what are we going to do first?" she asked while looking at me.

I got a little awkward and just looked down on my notes. "I'm not sure," I replied.

"Hmm... how about this? We can work on it this weekend at your place or mine. Let's say, on Saturday, we start looking for the animals then on Sunday, we will work on the portfolio and scrapbook. How's that?" she suggested. It took me a while to think about it.

I've never been on someone's place before, other than Minji-unnie's house and I've never invited anyone to my house as well, except for unnie and Hyein.

Danielle-unnie probably sensed my silence so she added, "Hey, it's okay if you wanted another strategy. I'm fine with anything as long as you're comfortable with it."

Aigoo. Maybe I'll just agree to her plan. It's not bad. And maybe I could ask Minji-unnie to come with me to Danielle-unnie's place. Anyway she's starting to get close to Hanni-unnie so it would be fine, right?

"No. I think that's a good idea. But, is it okay if I bring Minji-unnie as well?"

Danielle-unnie smiled warmly and nodded, "Of course! We could all hang out there. It'll be so much fun, I promise you."

I nodded. I should really start socializing more and get used to it. And I think Danielle-unnie and Hanni-unnie are good people.

**

"Haerinie-unnie!" I sighed and shook my head as I heard my cousin's voice all over the place as soon as I entered my house. Moments later, I was engulfed in a tight hug by a giant.

"Ahh, my little Haerinie-unnie! How was your day?" she asked and pulled away from the hug. I took my shoes off first and slumped on the couch.

"It was okay. Same as usual, or not," I remembered the cookie Danielle-unnie gave to me. I smiled slightly at the thought.

"What do you mean and why are you smiling?" she asked with a teasing tone as she took a good look at me. I rolled my eyes at her.

"Nothing. It's not a big deal anyway," I dismissed the subject. But knowing Hyein, she'll bug me about it until I tell her everything.

"It is! Tell me about it," she clung to me like a kid. Aigoo.

"It's nothing, really. Someone just gave me a pack of cookies. But it was so cute. And I felt happy because it had a cute frog and kitten shaped ones." Thinking about it now makes my heart flutter again. And the way she told me I was pretty... I just can't.

"Really?! Did a girl gave it to you? How did she know that you love those the most?"

"Yes, it was a girl. She's really nice. I did not know how she figured out that I liked frogs and kittens though," I told her. It was true. I mean, I haven't told anyone except Minji-unnie and Hyein about my love for such. And I just met her two weeks ago, so how in the world will she know that?

"Anyway. What are you doing here again? Don't you have to study?" I asked her. She shrugged and pulled the remote under the cushion to turn the TV on.

"Nah. I'll stay here for the night and invade your room." As soon as she said that, I instantly run towards my room and that's how we ended up in a race around the house.