Colors ♡ Kim Hongjoong

ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ 16

Date: November 23

"Today I want to begin a group project," the teacher announced in literature class. "I want to put you into pairs and have you co-write a research paper on how certain elements in classic literature have affected modern culture. Or, you can write about how modern culture has affected our perspective on classic literature elements. You and your partner will have to decide on one of them and you have until next Friday to complete the paper."

I wanted to pull my hair out of my head.

"What the heck is that supposed to mean?" I quietly mumbled to myself, completely out of earshot of anyone else. While she announced the pairs, I tried to make sense of what she was even asking us to write about. I loved reading books, but I couldn't write research papers like this.

"Kang Yeona and Kim Hongjoong," she said lastly.

My head shot up and the room erupted in whispers. She had to have paired us together on purpose. Maybe she found amusement in it. It was common knowledge that Hongjoong and I were incompatible and literature was not my strongest suit — even if I still excelled far past most of the class.

As everyone else switched seats to sit next to their partner, I begrudgingly moved next to Hongjoong. We spent the last fifteen minutes of class debating which route we should take the paper. I just wanted the easier option and to me, it seemed rational to do it that way.

"Easier isn't always better," Hongjoong pointed out, "You have to take the route that you're most passionate about. Then your work will have better results."

"I don't think I'm passionate about this paper in the first place," I stated flatly, "Whatever you want to do is fine. But if we don't get a good grade, it's your fault."

Sighing, he nodded and took some notes down, "Okay, fine then. I think we should plan to meet in the library after class so we can work on this."

"Today?"

"No," he shook his head, "I have plans."

I quirked a brow, "Okay then..."

"Why?" he suddenly glanced up at me, "Is today a good day for you?"

"No," I replied quickly — too quickly. Shaking my head and slouching back, I added, "I also have plans."

My plans included a nap, finishing my science homework that was due tomorrow, and tinkering on my newest robot project while Wooyoung hogged Yeosang's game console. Those were my plans and I had no desire to change them on short notice.

"So we'll meet tomorrow then," Hongjoong closed his notebook and tucked it into his back pack. The bell was going to ring any minute. I would make a break for it and meet Yeosang and Wooyoung outside in the hallway. My mouth nearly watered as I remembered what mom said she'd make for dinner. She had planned to make some fried chicken, which was me and Yeosang's favorite.

When the bell rang, I met Yeosang and Wooyoung outside in the front courtyard. They were hanging out with Seonghwa and Yunho. It was so strange to see them spend time together out of the blue. I tried to rack my brain at any other time before recently that they had hung out or even spoken to each other. It wasn't very often.

Yeosang and Wooyoung didn't hold the same distaste for them as I did, but usually the three of us stuck together so if I didn't want to hang out with them, then we just didn't. I had always known that I was the only one that viewed Hongjoong and his friends as any kind of competition. Since the beginning of high school, I had always been fighting Hongjoong to be top of the class. My hard work was not going to get me second place...yet sometimes it still did.

Wooyoung spotted me and welcomed me with open arms, "Yeona!"

His voice sang my name sweetly as if he had been waiting for me all this time. We had just seen each other a few hours ago during lunch. Not to mention passing each other in the hallway. Or the fact that we share an art class together.

I let him sling an arm around my shoulder. Seonghwa and Yunho lit up, greeting me. I merely gave them a nod and a "hello". Yeosang continued speaking with them after briefly acknowledging my presence.

"Is it this Friday?" Yeosang asked, leaving me absolutely oblivious to their current conversation.

Seonghwa shook his head, "No, it's next Friday. Hongjoong said he has a project this week so we moved our show to next weekend."

I frowned. Yeosang and Wooyoung were not about to trick me and take me to another one of Hongjoong's little concerts. One time was bad enough. I shuddered, remembering the soul bond pains from that night. And how Hongjoong had made direct eye contact with me. Yet, he'd never even brought it up to me.

"We'll come and support you!" Wooyoung declared cheerfully. Yunho turned to me and I knew exactly what he was about to ask me. I could have bet major money on it — if I was a betting person.

"Are you coming?" he smiled curiously, and I was right.

I deadpanned, "Probably not — no."

Yunho's mouth twitched downward but he regained his smile just as quickly as it had faltered. Seemingly brushing it off, he shrugged, "I understand. I'm sure the project with Hongjoong will be very draining and tiring."

My eyes widened. Was Yunho...challenging me? If he was trying to win me over by using this tactic against me, I wasn't going to let him win. Yeosang, calm as ever, pretended as though he didn't find it funny. But I knew him and he was probably laughing inwardly.

"I won't be tired at all," I objected, my voice sweet and mocking, "I'm a busy person though and...underground shows aren't really my thing."

Seonghwa and Yunho grinned, but shrugged it off once more. I hated that they found my disinterest funny. Not everyone was swooning at their and Hongjoong's feet.

The whole school might...but I wasn't.