An Artist in Love

Chapter 9: The Transferee

Lexi's POV:

I came to school later than usual because I had a nightmare. I was ten minutes behind my usual time and to my surprise, and probably everyone's as well, Dan wasn't there. I took my seat and even Chan Min wasn't there. I was about to go ask Beatrice when suddenly Jake called my name and came to me. "Are you okay now? Why were you late?" he asked worriedly, holding my arms. "I'm okay, Jake. Calm down," I chuckled. "I was late because I had a nightmare and I needed to rest after I woke up." "Nightmare?! Was it because of --" "Yeah, but don't worry! I'm fine now! See?" I happily said. He loosened his grip on my arms and said, "You're always like this, aren't you?" "Mhm. Pretty much." "Haha! I'll just have to get used to it then."

I didn't understand what he said, but before I could even ask him, he was already with his separate group of friends. I went to Beatrice and asked her. "I don't know either. Maybe he had some errands to do... or an artwork? I don't know, I'm sorry." "Oh, it's okay. Thanks Bea!" I went back to my seat. I wonder what's up. No Dan and no Chan Min. Could it be that Dan's sick or something? "Morning, Lexi!" Chan Min suddenly greeted. "Oh, hey! How's Dan?" "Hm? How'd you know?" "Well, you wouldn't be this late if it weren't for Dan and there'd be no way that Dan's late." "Mm, fair enough. He's got fever! It was too cold yesterday while he was walking to his dorm and Beatrice's. He caught a cold and eventually had fever."

"Is it bad?" "No, no. Just slight fever." Five minutes after, class started and our adviser came with a new student. "Ni hao! Wo jiao Cheon, Yi Jae (Hello, I am/I am called Cheon, Yi Jae). My nickname is Cy and I'm originally from Korea but my parents decided to move to China for their business." We all greeted him back and he sat temporarily beside me since we did not have an extra chair. "Hi, I'm Lexi!" "Nice to meet you, Lexi." That's where it all started... after that we were like instant friends. We passed notes to each other during classes, we (Cy, me, and Chan Min) would talk when there aren't any teachers around, and we'd usually be laughing.

=Lunch Time=

"Lexi, can I eat with you?" Cy asked me. "Yeah, sure. Let's go?" He nodded his head. I was already by the doorway when Jake called out for me. "Yeah?" I responded. "Can I... uhh..." "Can you what?" "Uhh..." "HE WANTS TO EAT WITH YOU FOR LUNCH!" one of his friends yelled out. The whole class turned their heads to our direction with shocked faces. "Sure! Let's go," I replied. He flashed a bright smile at me, said good bye to his friends, and then ran towards me. He wrapped his arm around my shoulders like always and said, "Thanks, Lex!" "Welcome."

"Hey, Jake, the whole class seemed surprised!" Chan Min exclaimed. "Yeah, I don't know why though." "Cause it isn't normal for guys like you hanging around with guys like us," Chan Min stated. "Guys like you?" Jake asked. "Yeah. The ones you classify as 'the losers' of this campus." "Oh... I'm sorry about that... I don't... I don't mean it anymore." "Yeah, cause Lexi's here." "What?! I uhhh... no! I just... don't feel like you guys are losers anymore."

"Thanks, Jake!" I said just to break the heated argument. Jake smiled at me, lips together, before talking to Cy. "Hey Cy! The names Jake." "Nice to meet you."

Chan Min's POV:

This isn't good. Dan would be furious every day and I know it. Two more guys surrounding Lexi isn't acceptable. "So where do you guys wanna eat?" Lexi asked. We looked at one another and Cy answered, "The kiosk! I always wanted to stay there." "Okay then, the kiosk it is!" Lexi enthusiastically said, putting her fist towards the sky. "I'll just go to the canteen and buy food," Jake said. "Same." I left the kiosk with Jake and headed to the canteen.

Cy's POV:

I was left alone with Lexi at the kiosk. "It's so cold today!" she said with a smile. I nodded my head in response then said, "Winter season isn't particularly my favorite." "Why?" "It's too cold! I like the warm better." "Mmm... I like it when it's snowing. It's really fun playing with the pile of snow. Haha!" "I never did try that." "WHAT?! How can you not! It's like the best thing." "My parents didn't allow me. They said I might catch a cold or something." "Oh... do you wanna try it? After school." I nodded my head and smiled. "YAY! I do miss it, haha! Last time I did that was first year of college, in my old school with Zi." "Zi?" "My little brother. Well, he's not so little anymore since he's in fourth year high school already," she said. "Ahh..." "Wanna meet him? He's coming over today because uncle's not home and he doesn't wanna eat dinner alone." "You... stay with your uncle?" "Yep. My parents aren't really around anymore..." "I see... I'm sorry, Lexi." "It's fine! Anyways, he'll be around at 6:00. You can eat dinner with us if you want as well."

"No, it's okay. I'll just pass by." "Alright. AAAHH!" Lexi said when her table cloth suddenly flew away. We both ran after it and when I thought I was about to catch it, she reached for it and we bumped into each other, our faces merely inches apart. I instinctively held her waist since she nearly fell. Her body was slanted and leaning forward, her shoulder touching mine. Her hand held unto my left shoulder. We straightened up and unconsciously, my hands were still on her waist and her hands were on my shoulder, just like when people dance... sweetly.

I felt my cheeks turning hot and I looked away and removed my hands from her waist, she did the same with my shoulder. "S-sorry, Cy." I nodded. "What happened to you two?" Chan Min suddenly appeared and asked. "NOTHING! Nothing," Lexi said. "Anyways, let's eat!" We headed back into the kiosk and started eating. I fell silent for the rest of lunch time and found myself constantly looking at Lexi.

After eating, we headed back to our classroom, and on the way there, I saw a small pile of snow. Since I was walking behind them three, I made a snowball and threw it at Lexi. It hit her back and I laughed really hard. Not soon after, she threw one at me as well, and for the ten minutes that was left before our next class started, five minutes we used for playing around and the other five, heading back.

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