The weekend had flown by in a blur of laughter and arcade games, but now we were back in the familiar halls of Haneul Academy. As we settled into our seats, our teacher's voice cut through the chatter.
"Good morning, class. The exam schedule will be released online today at 3 pm, and right now, I'll be handing out your partner names for our exchange program."
The room buzzed with excitement and curiosity. I fidgeted in my seat, wondering who I would be paired with from Matsuri High, a prestigious school from Japan.
Our teacher walked around, distributing papers to each student. When she reached me, she handed me a slip of paper with the name "Hokuto Yoshino" written on it.
"Hokuto Yoshino," I read aloud quietly to myself, trying to picture what my new partner might be like.
Jiyeon, sitting behind me, leaned over. "Did you get a guy?"
I nodded. "Yeah, it sounds like it."
"Lucky you," Jiyeon teased, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
"What about you?" I asked.
"I think I got a girl," she replied with a shrug.
"Hey, she could be a new good friend," I encouraged, trying to lift her spirits.
Jiyeon chuckled. "Yeah, but imagine if you get a cute guy," she teased, nudging me playfully.
I rolled my eyes, feeling a blush creep onto my cheeks. "I highly doubt it."
As the morning continued, whispers filled the classroom as students discussed their new partners. Some were excited about the opportunity to meet someone new from a different culture, while others were nervous about the unknown.
"I wonder if Hokuto Yoshino likes fashion," I mused quietly to myself, imagining possible conversations we could have.
The bell rang, signaling the end of the first period. Jiyeon and I walked together to our next class, still chatting about the upcoming exchange program.
"Are you nervous?" Jiyeon asked me as we took our seats.
"A little," I admitted. "It's always a bit intimidating meeting someone new, especially from another country."
Jiyeon nodded understandingly. "But it could also be really exciting. You never know what kind of friendships or experiences you might gain."
"Yeah, you're right," I agreed, feeling a mix of anticipation and curiosity about my upcoming interactions with Hokuto Yoshino.
As the day progressed, the announcement about the exam schedule drew nearer. Students checked their phones eagerly, waiting for the clock to strike 3 pm.
After school, as I gathered my things and prepared to head home, Joshua and Scoups approached me with curious expressions.
"So, who did you get as your partner A?" Joshua asked, his eyes sparkling with interest.
I smiled, unfolding the slip of paper and showing them the name. "Hokuto Yoshino," I announced.
"Hokuto Yoshino, huh?" Scoups repeated thoughtfully. "Sounds like a cool name."
"Yeah, I wonder what he's like," Joshua added, rubbing his chin.
Just then, Jeonghan sauntered over, overhearing our conversation. "So who did you guys get?" he asked with a smirk.
"I got a dude," I replied, holding up the paper for him to see.
Jeonghan glanced at it briefly. "Interesting. I got a guy too."
Joshua chuckled. "Looks like I'm the odd one out then. I got paired with a girl."
Scoups nodded in agreement. "Same here."
"Well, this exchange program just got a lot more interesting," Jeonghan remarked, his competitive spirit already evident.
"I hope Hokuto Yoshino is into fashion or something," I said, half to myself. "It would make things easier."
"Knowing you, Ara, you'll find a way to bond over something," Joshua teased, nudging my shoulder playfully.
Jeonghan smirked. "Maybe you'll finally meet your match, A."
I rolled my eyes. "Please, Yoon. I'm not that easy to impress."
As we walked out of the school gates, I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement about the upcoming exchange program. Meeting new people, experiencing different cultures—it promised to be an adventure unlike any other.
"Let's meet up later and discuss our plans for the program," I suggested to Joshua, Scoups, and Jeonghan.
"Sounds good," Joshua agreed.
"I'm in," Scoups added with a nod.
Jeonghan shrugged. "Sure, why not? It'll be interesting to see how we all fare with our new partners."
With that, we parted ways, each of us heading home with thoughts of the future exchange program swirling in our minds.
Later that evening, I settled down at home with my laptop, eagerly waiting for the clock to strike 3 pm. The boys—Joshua, Scoups, and Jeonghan—had agreed to meet online to check our exam schedules and discuss our upcoming exchange program partners.
As the appointed time approached, I logged into the school's portal and navigated to the exam schedule section. The page finally refreshed, revealing the dates and times for our upcoming tests.
"Alright, let's see," I murmured to myself, scanning through the list.
Joshua, who was the quickest with technology among us, spoke first. "Looks like we have English on Monday morning, followed by Math in the afternoon."
Scoups leaned over to look at Joshua's screen. "And Physics on Tuesday, then History on Wednesday."
Jeonghan, who had joined the video call from his own home, chimed in. "Sounds like a packed schedule."
"Yeah, but at least it's spread out," Joshua replied optimistically.
I checked my own schedule and nodded in agreement. "Yeah, it's manageable. I guess we'll have to start studying seriously from this weekend."
"That means less hanging out time," Jeonghan muttered, half-jokingly.
"Hey, we can still find time to chill," Scoups reassured him. "Just need to balance it with studying."
As we discussed our exam schedule, the conversation shifted to our thoughts on the upcoming exchange program. We speculated about what our partners might be like and how we could make the most of this opportunity.
"I hope Hokuto Yoshino is into fashion," I mused aloud. "It would be cool to exchange ideas and styles."
"You never know," Joshua replied optimistically. "Maybe he'll have a unique sense of fashion that we can learn from."
Scoups nodded thoughtfully. "Yeah, and it'll be interesting to see how fashion trends differ between our cultures."
Jeonghan smirked. "I just hope my partner is as stylish as I am. It'll make things more fun."
"I'm sure you'll find someone who appreciates your fashion sense," I teased, earning a playful glare from Jeonghan.
After discussing our plans for studying and the exchange program, we wrapped up the call. I closed my laptop and leaned back in my chair, feeling a mix of anticipation and nervousness about the weeks ahead.
As I glanced at the photobooth pictures from our arcade day, a smile tugged at my lips.
YOU ARE READING
Reputation
Romance"You know what's the most attractive thing about you?" I whisper into his ear, my voice barely a breath. "Your brain." "I know, love, that's why I can keep you entertained," he replies softly, his grin filled with promises that send shivers down my...
