She doesn't really want to join the dance. She was embarrassed with the thought that no one would ask her. She is an average looking girl. Black long locks, snow-white skin, and small brown eyes that fits perfectly her frame. However, high school is sometimes cruel; though she cannot be concluded as the high school geek, no one tried to invite her to be one's guy company in their senior's dance. She has the brains all right, but that's pretty much the reason why she felt so left out. She maybe first on battle of the brains list but on times like this… she was way down the bottom. No one dares to try even the worst geeks in school never gave a damn.
The dance mania is all over senior's mouth. No senior student in high school can get enough on their excitement and Dara was pretty overload with all their preparations. She can hear them talking at the canteen, lobby, comfort rooms, and even on buses.
"Seung Ri asked me to be his date on the dance." Minzy whispered. Dara looked at her with surprise. The dance virus really infects most of the seniors, she thought. She can see her friend trying hard to lean on the table as she blushed with joy while telling her the news. They were in the library. Minzy is two seats away from her but that didn't stop her from telling her, of what sought to be, one of the very important things of her friend's high school life.
"Remember last night? You went home early after gym class and I returned to the laboratory. I saw him there. I smiled, he smiled." Minzy continued.
"Then?" she answered sarcastically with her one eyebrow raised medium high.
"Then he asked me if I could be his date."
"Oh, that sounds…exciting?" Really, she wanted to be excited for her friend but her words didn't came out right.
She can see how Minzy's face glows as she hums a song while scanning a research book. "Well, maybe that's part of the dance mania," Dara thought. Somehow, this mania made every girl in school blush… except her. She doesn't want to think about it. She would rather finish her research than to share her classmate's madness over senior's night.
She's almost done with her research. She had written number of notes and collected volumes of books. It's already past seven but she doesn't want to go home yet. She relaxed for a while and rested her back on the chair as she closed her eyes. This research really gave her a headache. How she wished some of her group members were here to help her, but because of the upcoming dance, they all excused themselves. Even Minzy left her an hour ago. She needs to find a glamorous gown for the night she supposed.
"Tell me what I should wear? The dance is tomorrow and I haven't decided if I'll wear cocktail dress or a long gown."
Dara, though eyes closed, she could hear Bom's sentiments as they passed her. She smiled with the thought that surely, if her eyes were open she'll definitely see how worried Bom is.
She knew Bom since second grade. She was the guy's favorite and fantasies of the geeks. "She possesses all the beauty this earth can give," she remembered Minzy's statement when she saw Bom walking at the lobby the other day. Every senior student anticipates a very glamorous Bom at the dance, and that surely made her panic. "Gee, her head might be exploding now because of pressure," she sarcastically thought. "Don’t ask us, ask your date. Maybe Jiyoung could help you." She heard one of Bom's friend answered.
Jiyoung? Did they mention it right? Is Jiyoung, Bom's date? But why will I wonder? That's not impossible…their looks and fame status complement each other. Students won't be surprised at all if they were to be seen together at the dance.
When Bom's company finally passed her, she opened her eyes and leaned on the table. Why did she felt distracted from what she'd just heard? It's pretty common in a high school environment to have a glamorous couple like Bom and Jiyoung.
"Enough," she said to herself and arranged the books in front of her. She finally felt her stomach crave for food thus, she decided to just continue the research on Monday and go home. Well, she wanted to be here tomorrow, but since the dance is tomorrow night, she'd rather stay home than to feel awfully sorry for herself.
She returned all the books on their respective shelves and left two more on the table. When she came back for the two, her eyes spotted Jiyoung on the corner of the room. He was taking down notes from some book. He might have been researching too, Dara thought. Though she was collecting the books on the table, her eyes remained stuck to where he is. She took her bag along with the books and headed on the shelves to return the remaining two. Coincidentally, the last book belongs on the shelves near Jiyoung.
As she head towards the shelves, she can feel her heartbeat drumming on her chest. The closer she gets to the shelf, the closer she gets to Jiyoung and the harder the drumming on her chest. Of course, she's not looking at him. Her brain dictates her to control this abrupt shivering on her nerves. In a while, she pretended on not seeing him. She reached the shelves and returned the book. From the corner of her eyes, she saw Jiyoung looked at her as she puts the book into the shelves. But that didn't take so long. He returned his head on the book and continued reading; as if she wasn't there.
Why would I think he would bother to look at me? He doesn’t even know who I am so why would he give a damn? I maybe one of the smartest in class but that doesn’t give me the prestige he and Bom gets. I'm starting to lose myself, pabo. I'd better be out of here very, very soon or I'll shiver to death.
She finally gave the library's door a last look before going to the alley downstairs. She doesn’t understand the feeling. Since Jiyoung transferred to their school, he has been the talk of most girls. Every girl knew him from freshmen to senior. His image got greater appeal that most of his fellow seniors envied. But though he was gifted with good looks, he's not doing well academically. In short, he was her exact opposite.
It's hard for her to admit that she was too, was cast by his spell. Despite all her sarcastic and know-it-all defenses, Jiyoung's spell captivated her. It was pretty good insult in her pride thus no one knew what she really felt for the handsome lad. Well, even she can't tell what she felt about him.
