𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐡𝐬 - 𝐭𝐥

one

a/n: hi! so this is my first time writing fantasy and I've put so much effort onto it and I've had so much fun writing this so please give the recognition this book deserves. i love you so much! i know my stories are lame and hard to understand but you will soon. thank you so much!

*

the bell rang and it signaled that classes were about to start in a minute or so.

last two hours of school and lisa is off. the classroom is a whole mess, to think of stupid and clumsy and ego boosted college students filled the room.

lisa sat beside the window, overlooking the wide open field of their university, she sighed.

it was a nice day, the morning came in bright and warm and lisa was cool with it until this noon time when the clouds started to became dark when time passes by.

it was almost four thirty four in the afternoon, four minutes had passed and their history teacher hasn't made an arrival yet. lisa hated the teacher much to her extent where she doesn't want to be in his class anymore. Mr. Nam is such a strict professor, going in his classes just to sit and let them read a thick book and conduct a quiz afterwards, not bothering to explain even an ounce of vocabulary found in the book, precisely just like every other college school had, and just like any other college student, lisa despised the teacher the most.

five minutes went down to ten, the rain poured and lisa couldn't love the weather much more. she smiled to herself and plugged in her earphones, chilling at a lofi song while tracing the rain that races down the window glass.

another couple of minutes and they heard someone is approaching. her classmates went back to where they were seated and put everything in place. Mr. Nam doesn't only hates students, he also hates trash and feeling untidy.

lisa took off her earphones and settled it inside her bag, exact timing when a teacher went inside the room.

it wasn't Mr. Nam, she was greatful, yet expecting too much from this new teacher.

right, it was near summer break and they tend to replace teachers. okay, lisa understood now.

"is this class 3-B?" the tall man asked, removing his coat and the scarf wrapped around his neck. he placed it on the chair, folded and neatly placed.

the class answered in chorus and he smiled, his dimple showing. lisa finds him cute. what a new sight to see in her history class. a brighter aura, she concluded.

"pardon me for coming in late. pleasure to meet you all students, the name is Kim Namjoon. i wouldn't like you to address me in such a formal manner even if i speak like that. calling me sir would do." she heard him say and wasted no time scanning the book placed in front of him, at the table which was Mr. Nam's previous desk.

"so where did you stop on Mr. Nam's class? i would want to make a good impression on you since i know you've all had a hard time in his class." he chuckled and the class followed suit. lisa bet he was young and bright in the inside. lisa wondered if he is a bookworm though, and he seemed perfect for it.

"anyways, what lesson are you now?" he asked and one of lisa's classmate who sat in front answered him. he smiled and said his gratitude to which lisa assume it was Bobby, the smart one in the class.

"oh, so i see. i think we have some good topic today and i think you have to be thankful since it wouldn't be Mr. Nam who'll teach you these things." the way he talked is so full of knowledge and learnings and lisa wondered how could he appear like that. she knew he is a teacher and she was curious how could he pull of a different vibe than the other. a vibe that can draw anyone to listen to himㅡthat kind of vibe.

"mermaids," he started of with the topic. he talked so casual like he wasn't even teaching at all. "i believe almost all of you inside this class do not believe in mermaids, or such following things of course. i mean, it's the twenty first century and who would pique an interest in mermaids?" he pointed out a point but what about me? what about lisa? what about the people like lisa who shared interest with mermaids or even their male counterparts?

the whole class went silent until lisa raised her hand. "yes, msㅡ?"

"manoban." she answered.

"yes Ms. Manoban?" he asked again, smiling at the girl.

"i do." she said, "i have an interest with mermaids." she said. taking the whole class by silence. some may laugh at her and some just ignored her but some raised their hands too, claiming that mermaids had piqued their interests, just like her.

"oh well, i think, i stand corrected. half of the class now is interested in mermaids, interesting." he said and laughed to himself, resuming to the table.

the class ended well and smoothly and it was lisa's first time to actually pay attention to her history class. it was really that interesting, not to mention that she had a thing for mermaids but Mr.ㅡ Sir Kim rather made the lecture much fun.

she headed for her locker and picked some books she borrowed from the library. she barely had three minutes left until the library will close.

on her way therec thankfully, she arrived peacefully and did not bother anyone. she entered the library, panting and told Ms. Sana to lend her some little time to find books to borrow again. you can say that the library is her home and that she is a bookworm.

she explored the area of books that seemed heaven for her. no one can satisfy her more than her love for the books. she was about to pick a John Green novel, when her teacher's words echoed through her.

"mermaids are like us human, only that they lack some parts to call them one. but like us, mermaids have feelings, and it isn't possible to engage in depths of feelings or urges. after all, we are still created by our only creator."

"so, mermaids and human can fall in love?" she said to herself. not so long when she found herself standing at the shelves full of thick booksㅡ the history section.

it took her not so long to found the books she wanted to read, she was startled when someone spoke beside her. she realized she was really into those books to not notice someone appear beside her.

"now i can say you're really interested in mermaids, huh?" that voice. Sir Kim. she bowed and he did the same.

"i was about to borrow the books you had in your hand already but it seemed like you had it first." he said. lisa was startled and he laughed at her actions.

"oh, no Sir. you can have it if you want. i know you need it more important than I do." she said and bowed to him, her head faced the ground and her arms offering the books to him.

"no, no. i understand though. read it. your mind have to culture more things like this and I've already resd the book so i guess it's your time to read that one." she smiled and he did too. awkward silence enveloped the area.

luhm, i'll go first Sir. See you around." lisa politely bid her goodbye but before she left, Sir Kim's words left her dumbfounded.

"enjoy the book, lisa. it was the same book that made me believe and see."