It's the same each day. It never changes and she likes this routine of hers.
Going to school daily, attending classes timely and then heading back home just to do the same whole routine all over again the next day. She likes knowing that she reaches school on time at 7am every morning. She likes knowing that she will be getting high grades for her exams after having spent so much of her time studying daily. Heck, she even likes having the same side dishes for dinner.
What she doesn't like, she realizes, although it did take some time for her to acknowledge this, is perhaps the sudden change in this system of hers. Because now she reaches school later than usual, can't seem to focus entirely in class and ponders over which side dish would be suitable.
For whom you ask? Oh yes, the reason for this change, you mean?
To address this, you need to ask her best friend, the very epitome of a human sunshine for being the contributing factor to this unexpected outcome.
"I managed to speak to her today and I'm telling you, she is so friendly, can she be anymore perfect?"
The human sunshine also known as her best friend says quickly as she fawns over the object of her affection for the past two months. It's Physical Education period, which is perhaps her best friend's favorite class because well, said object affection will be here soon to practice for the upcoming game. Of course, Haerin only knows this because her best friend fangirls over the girl every Tuesday morning.
"I think I've heard this enough to know she is in no way flawed, at least in your eyes, of course."
She replies nonchalantly, ignoring her best friend as she casually takes a skipping rope from the box. Her best friend does the same but it doesn't stop her from continuing her argument, not that there was any to begin.
"You mean everyone's eyes, unless they are blind of course! Well, you know, I've yet to have anyone else disagree with me."
"For starters, I'm your only friend."
"Ah, look! Here she comes!"
Her best friend interrupts her, holding onto her arms with a wide grin on her face, eyes fully focused on the basketball team members entering the gymnasium. Haerin averts her eyes over to where her best friend is looking and briefly shares an eye contact with the one person she has been hearing all sorts of things about for the past sixty days. She takes in the person's facial features as if it was the first time she's seeing them and quickly looks away, trying her very best to look uninterested. She hopes it works. Okay, now go to your game like you always do.
To her dismay, her best friend has decided to say hi to said person in question from over a mile away with her loud booming voice. Haerin briefly looks back to the front to find said person already standing in front of them with that ridiculously bewitching eye smile directed at them, wait no, not them, at her best friend.
"Minji-sunbae, do you remember me? We met at the fair yesterday, I'm Hanni-sunbae's friend."
Her best friend says out loudly, face forming the brightest expression Haerin has ever seen in her life, it honestly feels a little bit like staring into the bright sun on a hot summer's day.
"Of course, I remember you, Danielle. Hi, Haerin."
Haerin blinks, perhaps one too many times as said person, correction, Minji-sunbae looks at her with a small knowing smile while her best friend just gives her a puzzled look. Said person is quick to notice the look on Danielle's face and quickly offers an explanation, perhaps to salvage Haerin's frozen state.
"Ah, I sometimes go to art exhibitions when I am free. I guess you could say I've always been a longtime fan of her paintings. I only knew recently that it belonged to Haerin."
Said person says with a somewhat forced chuckle, eyes briefly diverting elsewhere, Haerin notices. Wait, a fan? Haerin blinks again, now reeling from this new piece of information.
"Ah, yes, my best friend is quite the artist you see, I heard you paint as well? Perhaps I should pick up painting as a hobby too!"
She hears Danielle says out loud with her object of affection nodding in agreement. Haerin is only human, she simply do not possess the willpower to even participate in their conversation, she is still very much in the midst of processing all of these new information. A longtime fan? This feels surreal.
"You should, but Hanni would be so lonely at the debate club."
As the two girls converse animatedly, Haerin takes this moment to observe the huge blue bag resting on the arms of her supposedly longtime fan and realizes she must be staying back again later today, just like that day, she thinks.
"I'm sure Hanni-sunbae can manage but yeah I agree with you, she needs me."
Danielle says with a loud chuckle before she pumps both of her fists up in the air.
"Anyways, good luck for the game this Saturday, I will be there to cheer!"
"Thank you, good luck on the cheering as well, Danielle. I guess I'll see you two around?"
Her best friend nods enthusiastically as the tall girl casually walks towards the basketball court, waving them goodbye. Two? If you're wondering, yes, Haerin is still speechless, standing as still as a lone scarecrow during a drought.
"See, she even knows your name! How nice of her to say hi to you!"
Danielle repeats for the nth time as Haerin just nods weakly in agreement. She casually begins skipping with the rope she has in her hand and ignores the fact that the basketball game has begun. Danielle of course, isn't here to do any skipping.
Suddenly startled by loud cheers, Haerin looks over to see her best friend and many other girls cheering loudly for the basketball team. She briefly turns to the front to see that her longtime fan has just scored an impossible 3 point score. As she keeps her eyes on said person, she hears her heart quickens a little.
Ra-ta-ta-ta, her heart thumps, but she thinks its because of all the skipping she is doing.
"Perhaps the anchovy side dish would be alright?"
Haerin softly voices out, as she finishes her jumps, now turning to look at her best friend who is still unfazed by what she said, her skipping rope left on the ground.
"Sorry, what did you say?"
"You mentioned before that she doesn't take vegetables, perhaps you can try taking her to that place that has that anchovy side dish instead?"
"Ah, yes! That is brilliant! You are such a life saver, bestie!"
Danielle gives her a brief hug before giving her undivided attention back to the game. Haerin sighs and takes a quick deep breath, trying to calm herself down.
But all of her efforts are undeniably in vain when she locks eyes once more with her longtime fan moments later. She realized there and then that this curiosity in said person isn't sparked merely by her best friend's constant fangirling.
Ra-ta-ta-ta, her heart thumps once more.
Perhaps she refuses to and perhaps she will possibly never admit it, however despite her insistent attempts in labeling this effort of getting to know said person in question (secretly) was for her best friend's interest, she has now come to the conclusion that it was otherwise.
She sees Danielle giving their, no her object of affection a big thumbs up and loud cheers as she timidly looks away, keeping her eyes on anything other than the person responsible for her rapidly palpitating heart.
Ra-ta-ta-ta, her heart continues to thump.
This was indeed for herself.
