Wonder About Love | MYG

Chapter 4: Backbone

The town library was not that far away from the high school, being a few blocks apart. When traffic was heavy though, especially after school, it could take at least ten minutes to get there. But, without the traffic from teenagers leaving school or the school buses running, it seemed to be the smoothest and quickest drive that Akila had ever taken there. She had been to the library a few times, dropped off by one of the city buses or by just walking. She still couldn't believe that she was skipping school for the second time today, but she decided not to dwell too much on it.

She had realized that her life, within the last couple of days, had changed. Not only has Min-ji left her alone completely, but she has gained an unlikely friend in Hoseok during the process. She had also gained a pet bird and is skipping class like she did this morning for glazed treats, but is now going with Yoongi, Hoseok's older brother, to the library for their spanish project. Her life was going in an entirely different direction now, away from what she thought was going to be a miserable sophomore year. Now she could feel a little more hopeful for her future.

They get to the library and immediately head inside as the rain that was holding off while they left the school decided to pour once more. The city library wasn't very expansive, but there were a few private rooms that could be used for studying or for working on a project in their case. Akila goes to the front desk, rents a laptop as well as a study room for two hours to make sure that they have enough time to make definite progress. The room they had was a little small, having only one table and two chairs, but it was all they really needed.

Akila opens the laptop and signs into it while Yoongi brings out paper, pencils and some markers. Akila's plan was to sketch out what information they wanted to be in the poster as well as the format before putting it onto the actual poster board, which of course still needed to be bought. They were also going to use a powerpoint for the majority of the information needed. Akila hoped to be done with the project at least a week before it was due, but that was easier said than done. Thankfully, they did not have to present it to the class. That was the last thing that she wanted to do.

"I think we should start with the poster and then do the powerpoint. That way, the easiest is out of the way and we can focus on all of our information," Yoongi nods and brings out the notes that they took for the poster. "This is all that we got down yesterday, do you think we should get more?" Akila looks at all of their notes, skimming through them before nodding. "I think so, that way the poster doesn't look too blank," Yoongi nods and pulls out his phone to look while Akila uses the computer.

They both work in studious silence, both of them typing away to find more information to use. Akila looks up at him after a while, wondering if he had found anything. Yoongi's head was still turned down as he looked at his slightly dimmed phone screen. She noticed how he was dressed in black, almost like Hoseok was the other day, but this time it looked different. Hoseok was a happy and bright person, making black not exactly suit him. But for Yoongi, it seemed to lean into his entire demeanor and style. His hair was jet black, fluffy and stopping a little ways past his neck. He had silver hoops in his ears that slightly moved with the slight turn of his head as he repositions himself in the chair. He was just like his brother, strikingly handsome. If she really thought about it, every single one of Hoseok's friends were handsome. But, Yoongi was a little different in her eyes. He was more mysterious and intriguing to her, though she didn't understand why.

He looks up at her then as she's in midthought, both of them locking eyes for a few seconds. His eyes were brown, yet they wielded a certain darkness to them, making them seem nearly black. She quickly looked back down at the computer, feeling her heart skip a few beats. She didn't understand why she was suddenly so nervous. Maybe it had to do with what Hoseok told her, about him protecting him from his bully. Perhaps she felt a little more comfortable around him knowing that she had someone like that on her side.