Flash Forward...

Meeting the Boys

Chan Woo waited quietly while Jin Seo and Go Eun packed their stuff into their bags at the end of the day. The girls stopped by the locker room quickly to change out of their uniforms into their casual clothes that they carried with them. They walked out of the school together with Chan Woo leading the way to where his friends planned to meet up with them. He hadn't told his friends that he would be bringing any guests along with him. They took a short bus ride before the three got off and walked into a park. Over on a small, grassy hill were six boys. Three of them were kicking a soccer ball between them, two were sitting on the ground talking, and the last one was laying down, playing on his phone. Chan Woo called out to the boys and waved his hand. All six of them stopped what they were doing and turned to look at their youngest friend... and the two girls who were with him. All the boys took a deep breathe at the sight of them. 

A tall, pale girl with long black hair that hung around her body was walking on Chan Woo's left. Her eyes were large and softly gazed at the boys. A small smile formed on her lips that had a pink gradient painted on them. She wore light-washed skinny jeans with rips in them, an oversized lavender sweatshirt, and white sneakers. Her long legs allowed her to match Chan Woo's pace easily, and this is what drew eyes to the girl on his right. She was considerably smaller next to the two who she walked with. It was clear she was walking much quicker than she normally would as her pace was awkwardly fast, and she had an annoyed look on her face directed towards the tall girl and Chan Woo. She was also pale, but her hair was a lighter black and sat at shoulder length. Her paleness was accentuated by the black fitted t-shirt, black ripped skinny jeans, and black sneakers she wore. The only color on her was the light pink that graced across her lips and cheeks. Her eyes disappeared when a giant smile formed on her face as she looked at the group of boys. 

The three boys on the ground stood up and walked over with the other three to meet Chan Woo and his companions. Jin Seo and Go Eun stopped in line with Chan Woo facing the group of six.

"These are my friends... This is Kim Jin Hwan, he's the oldest" Chan Woo introduced the shortest boy out of them all. 

"It's nice to meet you." He smiled and bowed a little in their direction. 

Next came Song Yoon Hyung who made an awkward step forward as though he was going to hug the girls until Jin Hwan smacked him on the back. He smiled sheepishly and said hello. After him came a boy who Jin Seo and Go Eun would have normally avoided on the street for his thug-like appearance. He smiled the brightest out of them all and cheerfully introduced himself as Kim Ji Won. Jin Seo almost missed the look that crossed Go Eun's face when Ji Won introduced himself. She recognized it quickly and noted that at least he was taller than Felix. 

"Hey." Was all the next boy said, he had a disinterested look on his face and gave a half-hearted wave to the girls. Chan Woo put a name to him and Jin Seo's face blushed at the sight of Kim Han Bin. Dong Hyuk and Jun Hoe practically stumbled over each other when introducing themselves. The girls giggled when they shot dirty glances at each other for ruining their first impression. 

"Hello! My name is Jin Jin Seo! I'm excited to become as good of friends with you all like I have with Chan WooOOOOO!" Jin Seo shot up a peace sign, winked, and laughed along with the boys at her play with Chan Woo's name.

"It's nice to meet you all. I'm Cha Go Eun, please excuse my friend." Go Eun smiles and tugs on Jin Seo's shirt as if to say please chill out, then behind her hand goes, "she's easily excited." Jin Seo smacks Go Eun's hand and turns to Chan Woo.

"So did you guys have anything planned?" Chan Woo looks at the rest of the boys waiting for them to answer Jin Seo's question.

"We could go get food at the mall and get to know each other?" Yoon Hyung suggested. Ji Won clapped and agreed with the idea. His stomach clearly seconded as it growled loudly. The entire group laughed as they headed towards the mall.

While, initially, Jin Seo and Go Eun tried to stick by Chan Woo since he was the reason they were there, their interests took them elsewhere. Go Eun walked next to Ji Won and Jun Hoe who were keeping her entertained with their loud jokes and energetic storytelling. Her eyes rarely strayed from Ji Won, even when Jun Hoe was (almost) a little too obvious in vying for her attention. Every time Ji Won shot a smile her way or made eye contact she looked to the ground to hide the blush that would creep into her cheeks. Once in a while their hands would accidentally brush as they walked and Go Eun's chest would tighten. It had been a while since such interest in another person and welled within her. She wasn't expecting to have such intense feelings for someone she had just met, but they weren't unwelcome in any way.

As Go Eun stuck by Ji Won, Jin Seo had snagged a spot between Chan Woo and the apathetic Han Bin. In this sort of company it was for the best that Jin Seo was a talker. Jin Seo always had a specialty when it came to people, she was beyond charismatic and could charm even the shyest of introverts. Half way to the mall she was able to yank a conversation out of Han Bin. While Jin Seo was a talker, she was capable of pulling out other people's talker-half, and that's when she would settle into the listener spot. Han Bin started to come out of his shell when Jin Seo brought up hiking. It turns out he was an avid hiker in his free time and really loved the outdoors. 

"We should go hiking together some time. There's a new trail that I've been wanting to try and it would be fun to have the company." Jin Seo said, she had toned it down since the park. Han Bin nodded his head in agreement while Chan Woo looked on at them. Disappointment was sinking in slowly. He was hopelessly watching his sun set on a different horizon and he wasn't exactly sure how to stop it. When the group arrived at the mall they each went to the food store fronts that enticed them and regrouped at a large table in the middle of the food court. Jin Seo and Go Eun sat down with their pasta bowls while all seven boys returned with three large pizza's between them. They sat there for hours after the food was gone, goofing around and learning more about each other. As the day turned to night the girls and Chan Woo remembered that homework was still sitting in their backpacks.

"I'm really sorry guys, but I'm going to have to leave first. I still have homework I need to finish... Jin Seo, you do too." Go Eun said as she rose from her chair, she slung her backpack over her shoulder while she watched Jin Seo pout.

"She's right... but I'm having so much fun I don't want to go! Oh let's make sure we hang out together again soon!" Jin Seo rose from her chair to stand next to Go Eun. Chan Woo stood gathering his things.

"I will text you guys later after I walk Jin Seo and Go Eun home!" Chan Woo stated, beginning to usher the girls away when he was stopped.

"Hang on! I can walk Go Eun home so you don't go too much out of your way Chan Woo." Ji Won had already thrown his jacket on and sidled up next to Go Eun. She blushed when he threw his arm around her shoulder and began to walk her away from everyone. She turned and waved shyly back at everyone before continuing on with him. Jin Seo smiled to herself, fully expecting loads of texts about Kim Ji Won later. Jin Seo continued walking next to Chan Woo until a quiet presence next to her startled her.

"Oh my gosh! Han Bin you scared the shit out of me! You're so quiet!" Jin Seo's screech made Han Bin laugh, but his presence lit an annoyed flame within Chan Woo.

"Sorry, I just figured I would walk you home instead of Chan Woo, that way he can head straight home and get started on his homework." He looked over to Chan Woo, raising an eyebrow.

"It's fine, I can take her home, really. Plus, don't you have something to go do anyways?" Chan Woo did his best not to sound as tense as he felt. He was hoping his older friend would understand what he was really trying to say. Please, I really like this girl... Don't take this away from me!!

"Nah, I'm free the rest of the night and I don't need to go into work until late tomorrow anyways." Han Bin grabbed Jin Seo's bag and held it over his shoulder, "I'll take her home, no worries, kiddo." He smiled at Chan Woo.

"Bye Chan WooOOOOO! I will see you tomorrow! Thanks for inviting us today! I had so much fun! I'm really glad I got to make a friend like you!" Jin Seo gave Chan Woo a quick side hug, unknowingly relieving some of the tension in Chan Woo's heart but stringing some up within Han Bins. She waved as her and Han Bin exited the mall and turned toward her house. Chan Woo exited the mall after them and looked on as the girl who brightened his day walked off into the dark night with one of his best friends. 

To Be Continued...