[JR's POV]
What a cloudy morning. I guess it's about to rain. Good, then. I'll just go back to my bed and sleep. When I about to close my eyes again, I heard my phone ringing. Oh crap, Ren and his morning call. I took my phone and answered his call.
Me: "I'm--"
Ren: "KIM JR WAKE UP IT'S 7 O'CLOCK ALREADY GET UP FROM THE BED AND--"
Me: "Slow dude I'm awake. I'll take a shower right now okay so can I hang up the phone?"
Ren: "Okay then. I'll wait at the bus stop. See ya!"
It was like that everyday since 5 years ago, when his father left him and his mother. Mrs. Choi became an alcoholic after his husband left him to be with another woman. She got fired from her work and became unemployed. Ren even have to work part-time after school, in a cafè. He admitted, even after those tiring day at school and workplace, he can't even sleep at night. Sometimes he heard his mother crying, or maybe he's the one who cried until dawn. It is that hard for him. He always came to school with swollen eyes and said that he worked until dawn to his classmates, but no. I always called him at night, just to make sure he's already home and sometimes he answered with cracked voice. Nights to nights he spended with tears, he still acted like nothing happened in the morning and smiled to cover his wounds.
I wish that I could help him, but I can't. My parents doesn't approve our friendship. They even want me to stop meeting Ren. Left by his father, has unemployed alcoholic mother, what can you got from a person like him? Those words always comes out from my dad. But that's not even affect me. At all. If my parents wants me to make friends to their friends' children, spending money and intimidate lower people, then I'd rather being kicked from my family.
I finished wearing uniform, packed my bag, wore my shoes, and go downstair to have some breakfast. I saw mom, dad, and Soojung noona already sat down in the dining room. I rushly go down and take a seat.
Soojung: "What a miracle, seeing Jonghyun in the dining room for breakfast."
Me: "Shut up."
Mom: "Here Jonghyun-ah. Have some French Toast."
I took the plate from Mom and started to eat. After I finished my meal, I took my bag and left.
Me: "Mom, Dad, I'm leaving right now."
Soojung: "HEY YOU'RE LEAVING WITHOUT ME?!"
Me: "Go by yourself, you lazy girl."
I started to run before she started to yell at me again. Bus stop is just 5 minutes from my house. When I was 50 metres from the bus stop, I could see Ren sitting there. I yelled at him.
Me: "CHOI REN!"
Ren: "Mr. Kim, you missed our bus to school. Now we have to wait for 5 more minutes and it's 7.45--"
Me: "School starts at 8.30 and you're still assuming that we're gonna be late?"
Ren laughed at me. I sat next to him.
Me: "So, how's work? Got promotion already?"
He shaked his head and looked down. There must be something happened to him. Maybe he got fired?
Ren: "I met him yesterday in the cafè. With his wife and his daughter. I pretended not to know him, but he called me. He asked me to sit with him, just the two of us."
I startled. He talked about his father, but I never thought this would happen.
Me: "How is it?"
Ren: "He asked me to live with him. He asked me to leave mom and promised that my life will be better with him. I laughed and left him. I never knew that he could be that funny."
He laughed. I knew he was actually mad, but he laughed. And then, the bus is coming.
Me: "Let's go."
We entered the bus and took a seat. We didn't talk on our way to school. When we arrived, I paid our tickets and walked to school.
At the lobby, everybody stared at us. They even whispered to each other. I didn't what's wrong, but Ren looked down.
Me: "Hey Choi Ren, which class are you in? You almost past your own class."
Ren: "Ah really? Thanks, I'll see you later..... maybe."
What's with that? Maybe? Ah Choi Ren, the more I know you the more I can't understand you.
I got into the class today. There's only 3 people here. Hyuk, Yongseok, and me. I sat down and started to open my notebook. I asked Yongseok to make sure there's no homework for today.
Me: "Yongseok-ah, any homework?"
Yongseok: "........ no, JR-ssi"
Me: "Okay, thanks."
He's always like that. It's not like I'm going to hit him, but he's always afraid of me. Nevermind, there's no homework for today. I got bored so I decided to go to Hyuk's seat and sat next to him.
Me: "Hi, Hyuk. So, how's our class? Noisy, isn't it?"
Hyuk: "Yeah, noisy. But I guess I'll adapt well here, don't worry."
Me: "That's good, but aren't you feel annoyed with Agust?"
Hyuk: "Actually um... yes. But as long as he knows limits, that's fine."
Me: "Don't mind him. He's nothing to be worried about. I even got tired facing him all the time."
Hongbin: "Have you finished talking, young man?"
Hongbin stood in front of us.
Me: "Yeah I'm done, just wanna know about my citizen's condition."
Hongbin: "Ah sure. You're a major here, I forgot."
Me: "Bye Hyuk. Nice to talk to you."
Hyuk: "Bye JR."
I went back to seat and Baekho was already there. He looked so serious.
Baekho: "Dude, have you heard the news?"
Me: "What news?"
Baekho: "You don't know? It's actually about....... Ren. And you."
I startled. That's why he looked a little bit down this morning. But I didn't understand, what's wrong with Ren? And me? We did nothing wrong.
Me: "What's wrong?"
Baekho: "Rumor has it that Ren is..... gay. And people started to speculated that you and Ren are dating."
I laughed. WHAT KIND OF JOKE IS THIS?! Ren might a little bit looked like a girl, but that doesn't mean he's gay. He still like girls, and he always told me if he had a crush on a girl.
Aron: "Don't laugh, dude. You have reputation here. What if your dad find out about this?"
Me: "It's funny, though. He ALWAYS asked us if we have a girl friends and now he rumored gay?! Baekho-ya, next time go find another joke. Let's just sit down now before Mr. Lee comes to the class."
Baekho and Aron looked confused. Then, Mr. Lee came to the class. I stood and lead the class to greet him, then sat down. During the lesson, I couldn't stop thinking about Ren and Baekho's words. What if it's true? Ah that's impossible, though. I kept thinking like that until break time. Nevermind. I believe in Ren. That's just a rumor, Kim Jonghyun. You don't need to believe that.
