Me and THEM

7: Hi Jieun

Yunji's POV

I never imagined this. All this. Baekhyun likes me I think he's just goofing around. He always does. Right? I forced a short laugh to cut the long awkward silence. He looks at me with a curious look.

"Y-you're joking...right?" My smile fades when he looked away as he pursed his lips. He isn't joking? He was serious? I...

"B-baekhyun, I'm sorry...I-I thought you were joking..." I scratch my head forcing my smile. He forces a weak smile. It was obvious. For a person who smiles perfectly all the time, he hasn't mastered faking it...

"I know you wouldn't take it seriously do there's no need to apologize. I should apologize for rushing you." he says. He taps my shoulder and leaves his hand rest there.

"You know, you're a really nice girl Yunji. That cute eye-smile. Your soft voice. The innocent look. That blush that appears when I'm," he steps closer and closer, ", when I'm this close to you."

I did feel blood rush to my cheeks. Too much blood. The tips of our noses nearly touched and I can see the strands of his eyelashes. I felt my knees shivered. This has been my closest encounter with a boy. I barely moved...or breathed. He snickers and moves back, only then, I breathed again. I didn't notice I actually held my breath.

"I just like you. I hope this doesn't change anything with our friendship. Will it?" he tilts his head. I shook my head slowly, a smile slowly fades back. It was hard to speak but I said,

"We'll always be friends."

***

The next day

I went really early to class today and I was too early, I even bumped with the Maintenance who was just opening our room doors. The classroom felt eerie. It was empty and you could only hear the sound of the cars outside. The seats were neat and the board was too. The only thing written there was the date yesterday: SEPTEMEBER 12. I placed my bag on my armchair and quickly grabbed the chair in front and pulled it to the corner of the board. I stepped on it carefully after picking up a piece of chalk. I brush off the number "2" in the date and replaced it with 3. I had to tip-toe since I was too short. Before I can even look if I wrote neatly, I tripped off the chair I was stepping on. I was expecting for my bottom to ache and a cold floor hitting it, my palms supporting my back, but no. I fell on top of a kind-a soft thing. I blinked my eyes twice and then pushed myself to sit. I looked back and my eyes literally encircled.

I. Landed. On Jieun.

I jumped and stood up. I was a little shake-y but I recovered my balance not too long. She was about to sit when I helped her up.

"OMO...Mianhaeyo Jieun! Mianhe..." I said while carefully brushing dust off her skirt. I bowed countless of times. I only stopped when she softly squeezed my left shoulder. I look at her.

"Munje eopseo (It's Fine)  Yunji, I purposely stood behind you because I knew you'd fall off. Your laces aren't tied well and your foot was near the edge, you placed your chair on a slope and you were reaching for a high place. Take care next time, Yunji." she flashes a small, short smile and leaves me there.  I bite my lip. Her voice is so faint and her lips move gracefully. I am so amazed of her. I think she's amazing. I grabbed my bag. involuntarily, I placed it on the chair next  to Jieun's. She watched me fix my things there and then asks,

"Y-you're sitting next ..t-to...me?" she stuttered like she was scared of me. I msiled the warmest and placed my hands on my lap. I've never seen anyone sit with her before. EVER.