A few days later...
“Okay, students. Please finish reading A Tranquil and Unseen Silence. A report will be due next week!” Sunsaengnim said. “Class dismissed!”
I sat next to the window, farthest away from everyone else. Putting away the notebook, pencils, folder and books I had on my desk into my bag, I exited the classroom and walked out into the corridor. There was a crowd of students, and most of them were heading to the corridor where EXO stays for lessons. It was lunchtime, and some students were heading to the canteen. Agh... crowds of people. I turned around to take the fire exit staircase. No one took those stairs and it led to the gardens outside anyways.
Walking down the stairs, I looked out into the scenery. It was so beautiful. I’ve always liked this school because it was away from the outside world, away from all the greedy money-makers and had scenery of never-ending beauty. I could go mountain climbing. I could explore this valley without anyone making me do anything I don’t want to. I was a free spirit, and I loved it.
Everyday, I always tended the Campions, and yesterday my gardener sent me a new batch of Middlemist Reds sent directly from Britain, and I was so happy to receive them. When winter approached, I’ll have to move these to the Greenhouse on the West Campus. These flowers are extremely rare and hard to propagate.
Reaching the gardens, I walked in and was just about to pick up my watering can when I sensed another presence. Looking up, I found the school’s most coveted Kingka, staring at me.
He was handsome, I have to give him that much credit. Smooth, soft-looking pale skin, soft, slightly curly blonde hair and big eyes, with perfect features and a nice body. He was perfect. There was no doubt about that. I stopped in my tracks, and our eyes met.
His eyes were very beautiful. They shone, sparkled. I looked over at the beautiful flowers. “Why do you always come here?” he spoke up. His voice was clear, and soft.
I stared at him blankly. "Here, you don't have to talk," he said, standing up and walking over to me and giving me a pad of paper and a pencil. "Write your response."
I hesitated. This was weird. I usually don't communicate with humans. Usually to teachers it's a nod or shake of head. But this was guy was being nice. "I'll wait," he said, and crossed his arms as he looked around the garden.
Deciding to respond, I picked up the pencil, the wood rough against the soft skin of my hand. Carefully and delicately, I wrote across the page,
My flowers are here. Those delicate lilac ones. I come to water them everyday.
Handing the pad to the guy, who took it. His eyes scanned the page, and he smiled softly.
"Really? Those Gibraltar Campions? They're yours?" He asked. "I wondered where Principal Kim got those." I was surprised, but didn't show it. I picked up the watering can and walked over to the flowers, and lightly watered the flowers. There was the sound of footsteps and I knew he was standing behind me, looking over my shoulder.
"You're a really nice girl. You take care of other living creatures and always come to water everyday. You've got a lot dedication, Cha An-ssi." His voice was soft, and his comment surprised me. I was always used to being complimented on my politeness towards others and my beauty. This was new. I bowed my head in thanks.
Who knew this Ice Prince was not that... Icy after all?
He turned his attention back to the flowers. "They've grown nicely. Where did you get these? I heard these were very rare." I was about to step back, but my foot got caught on a stone and I lurched backwards. Oh, no!
There was a swift movement and in next second, I was in a pair of strong arms. Big, worried eyes locked with mine. "Are you okay?" He asked. His tone was genuine, and for some strange reason, I had the urge to talk to him. Something I haven't felt in need of in a long time.
"Yes," I whispered. "Thank you."
Lu Han's Point of View
Her voice was beautiful. She looked me straight in the eye and I helped her up. Her eyes were sincere. She gently took the pad of paper I had in my hand and wrote:
These flowers were my mother's. She got them from a greenhouse in England. These are very special to me.
I nodded in at the response. "I see," I said. Personally, I was kind of surprised that she communicated with me in the first place. I've encountered her several times in the past, and she never talked or showed emotion. Once, she sat at the same table with Kai, Su Ho and Xiu Min at a Academy dinner and although Su Ho was nice to her, she just politely nodded and shook her head at his questions. Kai's feedback: "Drop dead gorgeous, but mute." The other time she was partners with Jong Dae for a school project. His comment: "She's very hardworking and smart, but we didn't communicate! She just did the work and we handed the project in. Done. At least we got an A."
We communicated for the next hour using that pad of paper. I asked about her and she replied, asking about me too. We didn't discuss personal life issues, but more about academics and botany. She really doesn't know that I've been watching her for the last few days, has she? I've always watched from the classroom window as she watered her flowers. I liked dedicated girls.
She was my type. I can't deny that. I like quiet, kind, hardworking girls with long dark hair and pale skin. The only problem is that those kind of girls can't handle the pressure of being in a relationship with me or are too demanding and overprotective. I've dated many girls in the past, and they were always too clingy. Or too fragile. It was never good, lets just say that.
Of course I wasn't going to hit on this girl. That just wouldn't be a good idea. I have a feeling I'm the only person she's communicated like this with and I don't think I should shatter this fragile acquaintanceship.
In the end, we had to depart. She got up and bowed, before exiting the garden with her things. I just sat down in the garden bench. That was... Interesting.
A few minutes later, I too left the garden and went up to the dorm. Se Hun was on the couch, his math textbook propped up on his lap. He looked up when I entered. “Hyung,” he greeted. “What’s up?”
“Where are the others?” I asked, sitting down next to him.
“Y’know, out. I don’t really know, but I know Kai is dancing in the studio, Kris hyung is at practice, Lay hyung is somewhere in the wild, Kyung Soo is cooking with Xiu Min, and Chen and Su Ho are doing student council business I guess." I laughed.
"Same old same old," I said just as both of our phones rang, signaling a text. We looked at each other, then too out our Galaxy S4s. We both looked at the screens and our eyes widened.
To: All students at Seoul International Academy
Oh look who it is! Spotted! Our beloved Ice Prince and the Frozen Ulzzang! It seems their having quite the communication... WHAT?? Is this Frozen Ulzzang secretly a man snogger? STAY AWAY FROM OUR PRINCE OF THE FORLORN DEER!
There was a picture of Cha An-ssi and I. Se Hun looked at me wide-eyed. “You... c-c-communicated wi-wi-with the Frozen Ulzzang?” he sputtered, obviously shocked. I frowned.
“She has a name, you know,” I said bluntly. “So Cha An.”
“Yeah, whatever. So you talked to her?” he seemed genuinely surprised. Totally un-Se Hun like. “Did she talk back?” I rolled my eyes.
“Of course not. Have you ever heard her talk? She’s obviously an introvert. We communicated through a pad of paper.” I took it out from my jacket pocket and showed it to him. He took it gently, and flipped it open. Reading through the conversation, he smiled gently.
“She has beautiful handwriting,” he commented. “It’s so neat. While your’s is... eligible.” I punched his shoulder and we laughed.
“Let’s eat,” I said, getting up from the couch. “let’s go have a tasting of genuine Do Kyung Soo cuisine!”
