Deskmates//Woonmyungz

four

Jaehyun's pov (1st person) :

"Hey, Woonhak!," I called in an attempt to snap him out of his daze.

He had probably zoned out; happens to the best. The boy seemed pretty tall and handsome. He was wearing baggy clothes, giving him an almost teddy bear-like appearance.

"Hi!" He replied back with a generous smile that added charm to his looks.

Bowing to the principal as a sign of respect, I ushered Woonhak out of his office.

"Let me orient you with the basics of the school for now... I shall give you a proper guide during the lunch hour if possible," I spoke politely, masking my shyness that generally intensifies around new people.

"Okay.. lead the way, captain!" His confidence was something.

"Wait! You already know that I'm the soccer team's captain?" Surprised, I couldn't help but ask.

"No, no!" He gasped.

"It was random, a friendly remark, ya know. I didn't know about it 'til now, frankly. Still, that's so cool! A straight-A student, school's pride, a prodigy, and now you're tellin' me that you play soccer too! Boy, you're literally the Jack of all trades... rather, Jaehyun of all trades."

I was taken off guard by his praises. Though I often hear bouts of them, his words felt genuine. I stretched my already smiling lips into a grateful grin that conveyed my appreciation for his thoughts.

To say that I wasn't a bit flustered by his endearing smile would be an obvious lie. A sincere smile had always been a source of reassurance and friendliness for me. The smile he gave me was pure and appealing, a positive sign that we'd make a great team in future.

I didn't realise that we had been walking all the way while talking, until I accidentally bumped into a group of students. Apologising for not paying attention to my surroundings, I guided Woonhak to the main ground where all the blocks were in view. I gave him time to take it all in, observing the excitement sparkling in his wide eyes.

In that moment of peace, I found myself already growing comfortable in his company. Where he was the transfer, I was the one who was nervous about meeting him, not the other way round as one would typically expect.

He must have picked up on my introversion, as he gave me a comforting smile once he had absorbed in the school's blueprint contently, and rested a hand on my shoulder, the warmth of his touch putting me at ease. He passed his timetable to me, and I realised that our schedules were almost similar.

"The school is more refined than I've heard about. Thanks for showing me around and for the warm welcome, captain," he chirped in his usual bright manner; it was adorable.

"Glad I could help. Let's head to our first class, which is the same for us. I can show you the locker area and other places on the way."

With that, we made our way to the classroom, having light conversations about various topics as we walked.

"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
Woonhak's pov (1st person) :

What could be a better experience than having the school's handsome all-rounder as one's guide and possible friend on the first day of new school? It was an ideal welcome a transfer like me would wish for.

Besides, Jaehyun was not just attractive but also incredible as a person. He was exceptionally helpful and encouraging, his words sending a sense of reassurance that every newcomer needed. His timidity intrigued me, but I assured him that he could be open and relaxed around me.

Although he appeared quite introverted, his pleasant smile and genuine assistance provided a hospitable welcome for me. A part of me believed that, despite his reserved nature, he might be as free-spirited as anyone else; perhaps he was selective about whom he opened up to. I hoped to gain his trust so he could feel comfortable around me someday as well.

In the first class, which turned out to be the dreaded math, I met Riwoo again as I walked in. I gave him a friendly wave and said hello, only to be met with Jaehyun's curious inquiry, "Do you know him?"

With a smile, I nodded and confirmed, "He's Riwoo." His eyebrows shot up in surprise, and he turned back to glance at Riwoo, who was engaged in conversation with a tall guy having nice hair.

"He's my friend too!" Jaehyun exclaimed, a hint of excitement palpable as he guided me to our assigned desk.

Our seat was situated in the front row, right in the center, directly in front of the projection screen. Jaehyun, being his thoughtful and considerate self, allowed me to choose which side of the desk I preferred. Despite the small choice, given that I'd be either ways under the teacher's watchful eyes, I decided to sit on the left side. This way, Riwoo would be closer and I could chat with him when boredom struck.

While I was unpacking my stationery from my bag, I was startled by a hand lightly patting on my shoulder. Looking up, I realized that the teacher had already arrived, ready to begin the class.

As was customary, it was my cue to introduce myself to the class and the teacher, so I stood up, straightened my posture, and faced my classmates to orate.

"Hi everyone, my name is Kim Woonhak. I recently transferred here from Gyeonggi-do High School and I'm excited to get to know all of you... I'm really looking forward to being part of this class and making new friends. My interests include playing basketball and producing music. I'm eager to dive into the school year with you all. Thanks for welcoming me!"

Not lying, I had only memorised a quarter of the speech since I've never been great at mugging up stuffs. The rest just flowed naturally as I registered the anticipation etched on my classmates' faces and the uplifting expressions Jaehyun and Riwoo carried.

The class accepted my presence with a hearty round of applause and the teacher gave me an affirmative nod, wishing me luck for the semester ahead with a sweet smile. I bowed my head respectfully and traced my steps back to my desk where Jaehyun patted my back encouragingly.

"You did well and will do better in future, deskmate."

Deskmates? Well, it felt like a strong start to the semester and a promising beginning of a potentially wonderful bond we could sport.

  """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
A/N

Sorry if it turned out as too formal, but I personally can't relate to a casual conversation with a newcomer in my life (being a huge introvert).

Plus, I wanted to ask if y'all would like a few filler chapters (like oneshots or textual parts) i'd post in future in between this book.

Fighting !!!