Feeling Brew

~16~

Irene put her earbuds in and strode to her new favorite spot on campus. She found herself laying on that bench and staring up at the sky almost every day. Now that she knew how Mi Ran felt, she had a lot to think about.

As she entered the Arboretum, she noticed someone else in her spot. His hands were folded over his chest and he snored softly. Irene approached him slowly, squeezing herself onto the empty part of the bench next to him. Sleeping like this, he looked so peaceful.

"Stop staring at me," Jooheon grumbled. "Even bad boys need their beauty sleep."

Irene laughed so hard she snorted, and Jooheon sat up in surprise. He had never heard her laugh before, and he hid his smile as he watched her try to catch her breath.

"Wow, you really are something. Anyways, um, thanks for the other day. I feel a lot better after what you told me about looking at the sky."

"Did I ask?" Jooheon averted his gaze. He had his group of friends but he never really talked to anyone and no one ever opened up to him. The fact that NCTU's brain was perched next to him amazed him. "Uh, is something up, though? Or are you just getting some fresh air?"

"To be honest, I'm worried about my twin," Irene sighed. "I just realized how bad she has it."

Jooheon coughed. "No offense, or anything, but I think anyone who gets compared to you has it pretty bad. Double major, perfect grades, swim team captain, erm, the visual aspects. It's hard to win against someone like you."

The girl sighed. "I know! I kinda want someone to win against me. I want Mi Ran to be better and get all our parents' recognition and not be held to my standard. I want everyone to stop thinking I'm the goody two-shoes that sucks up to every teacher. I mean, I'm just fortunate that studying is one of my hobbies. That's why I do so well."

Jooheon grimaced. "Studying is your hobby? Gross."

"Why? What do you do for fun?"

Jooheon shrugged. "Draw, watch videos, write raps."

"Whoa, that stuff sounds fun!"

Jooheon laughed. "EXACTLY! Hobbies are supposed to be fun. Oh wait, stop it."

"Stop what?" Irene asked, confusedly. "I didn't do anything."

"You made me laugh. Laughing isn't a part of the concept," Jooheon gestured to himself. "It doesn't go with the ripped black jeans and leather biker jacket. Hope you understand."

"Even bad boys need their beauty sleep," she imitated him. "I'll let you rest. I don't wanna unload my family problems on you."

Jooheon was about to offer her more of the bench but she had already left. Seeing her like that made her really seem human, just like him. She wasn't the perfect person everyone thought she was in class. She had her flaws, too. Closing his eyes, he reclined back in his position with his arms folded over his chest. Studying for fun? He couldn't even imagine it.

~~~

Isla saw Taeil walk into their songwriting class and gulped. Why did he have to look so irresistibly good today? She forced herself to stare down at her notes and not drool over the godly image before her.

"Hey, you sleep okay?" he asked quietly.

Isla nodded. "Yeah." Normally, she would have reciprocated his question, but if she wanted this process to be less painful, she had to start distancing herself slowly.

"About yesterday, can we-"

She cut him off by cupping a hand over his mouth, and the girls around her glared in her direction.