I stared at the boy, the boy at the other side of the bright yellow room. He had thick rimmed glasses, messy hair, and braces. His name was Kwon Jiyong. Nobody wanted to sit next to him during lunch, nobody wanted to partner with him during projects and worst of all, nobody wanted to be friends with him.
But I did.
My only problem is my best friend Bom, I can't sit next to him during lunch because she drags me to her table, I can't partner with him because Bom begs me to partner with her, I can't be friends with him because I never had the time to even talk to him once.
Most people stay away from him because of his isolation from everyone.
But I wanted to get closer, have a better look, see who's inside him.
Today was that day.
Bom was absent because of the influenza that has been spreading through the school.
I held my lunch, which was composed of some kimchi, steamed potatoes and apple juice my mom made.
I took a deep breath and slowly crept up to his table.
"May I sit next to you?" I croaked out, my mind scolding me for almost having an inaudible voice. He looked at me as if I was kind of monster, before giving me a small smile saying "Sure."
I sat down across from him and unpacked my lunch, I looked at his and noticed how expensive his lunch looked, grilled steak, salad and flavored sparkling juice. I almost had my mouth drooling, but thankfully I stopped myself and stabbed my fork into the small little potato.
I looked at him again, and he was staring right back at me. My eyes widened and I quickly looked at the potato that I was supposed to eat. I ate it whole with red tinted on my cheeks, he must be rich! Oh my god manners Dara! Manners!
I only heard him stifle a laugh. With my mouth still filled with chewed potato, I looked up at him. "What's so funny?"
"N-Nothing." I actually got to hear his voice very clear this time, it was deeper than average but it wasn't that deep.
"Do you want to trade?" He asked, me questioning him, not even my whole lunch could buy one small slice of that steak.
"U-Uhm, your lunch looks a lot more expensive than mine.. um.."
"Mmm, You'll give me kimchi! I'll give you.. steak..?"
Was this guy serious?
I took the small container filled with home made kimchi and gave it to him, while he gave me half of his steak.
I took a small bite of his steak and holy guacamole this is the best thing I have ever tasted.
_________
It wasn't long before we spent more time together, learning each other and we became more than friends but not in the best friend zone yet.
Until, he said he was transferring to another school, because his grandpa died, his parents decided to live there until they felt like it was time to let go.
I, of course, accepted this, I can't stop him from doing what he has to do. Even though my heart was telling me to stop him from leaving.
"Dara, today's my last day. I hope you and Bom will stay in touch with me."
He gave me a big smile, while I, in the other hand, was about to break down. I didn't want him to leave. I wish I never told him it was okay for me.
"J-Jiyong, I have something to say." I tugged on his uniform. He arched one of his eyebrows, I could hear his dad's car honking and his dad saying it was time to go.
