partners ⁀➷ k.sw ✓

5

next morning

I got out of bed earlier today, so I can eat breakfast. I usually leave the house around 6:00, so I woke up at 5:00. When I finished changing into my uniform and everything, I brought my phone and backpack downstairs.

I placed my backpack on the couch and my phone on the dining table. There was rice and side dishes on the table, along with a note.

"I had to go to work again for another shift, I'll see you tonight -Mom"

I sigh, growing a little worried. My mom already worked a night shift last night and now she has to work again.. she must be exhausted. I haven't seen her all night and morning, so I miss her. I sit down at the table and begin eating, taking my time since it was still early.

I was playing Animal Crossing on my phone until Eric texted me, so I went over to the message app.

ericpoopoo: morning hyunnie

jihyunnn: hellu hellu~

ericpoopoo: you're up early today! well, you always wake up early, but you're awake at 5 am

jihyunnn: i wanted breakfast

ericpoopoo: sadly i won't be coming back for another week.... :c

jihyunnn: you bitch!! why??

ericpoopoo: stuff is going on so we delayed it

jihyunnn: :( you suck

ericpoopoo: hey hey, but you still love me <3

jihyunnn: in your dreams

ericpoopoo: how offensive

read 5:20 a.m.

I frowned, feeling sad. Eric wasn't coming back for another week; he was supposed to come back tomorrow. It's saddening, but I guess I understand why his trip is delayed. I'll just have to wait another week to see my best friend.

The food tasted way better since my mom made it; I haven't had her breakfast in so long, she's always on night shifts and doesn't come back till the next night.. I'm grateful she had the time to make me breakfast.

I wasn't looking forward to working on the project with Sunwoo today, because of what happened yesterday and the weird things he had said to me.

"Don't make me leave..."

"You're different! You're a real person"

"You don't have many friends, do you?"

"Judging by the way you act, you get flustered over the littlest things. You never talk to anyone unless it's for school."

"I understand why, though. I heard the stories about you in freshman year."

I frown, getting angry. I seriously didn't like how he figured me out so easily; everything he said to me was true. I didn't have much friends, because of the past. I don't talk to anyone unless it's for school purposes, and even small gestures like a hug makes me freaked out.

Sunwoo figured me out already and it was annoying the hell out of me. What's it to him, anyway? He just wants to rub it in my face. He was only being nice because he pities me, and I hate that the most.

For some reason, I couldn't get him out of my head; I kept thinking of possible reasons how he figured me out in a snap of a finger, and if he's the person I think he is: a stuck up, selfish, rich privileged student. I keep telling myself that he is, but some things about him throw me off guard. He got excited over meat in seaweed soup, and he basically fangirled over the fact that there was bubble tea in a can.

And not to mention, his smile. Whenever he smiled at me, it looked like a sincere one; not the cocky, narcissistic smile that every other boy has.. it seemed genuine.

Looks can be deceiving, that's what I tell myself. He may seem different, but I can't fall for his tricks. He's strictly just my partner for a project and that's it. I shouldn't be flustered over him like this.

I sat at the table for what felt like 30 minutes, and surprisingly it was. When I finished the food, I washed the dishes. By the time I was done washing the dishes it was 6:00. I was just in time, luckily.

I brushed my teeth again in the bathroom and fixed my hair, then put on my socks. I wore my backpack over my shoulders and put on my shoes, my phone in my hand. I rushed out the door, locking it and hurrying over to the train station near my house.

Luckily I got there just in time for the bus to come. The bus takes you to the school, so you can request a stop and be dropped off in front. It takes about 50 minutes to arrive there for me, which is good because class started at 7:20.

I got off at my school stop. I walked inside the building, with my AirPods in so that I couldn't hear the noisy students. I went over to my locker, placing everything I didn't need inside and so on. I close the locker, locking it back up.

Out of the blue I feel someone tapping on my shoulder. I turn around and I couldn't believe my eyes: it was Eric. Plus Sunwoo and the other 9 of them. They were all standing behind Eric, looking at me.

My eyes widen to see him, and I immediately embrace him into a hug. He hugs back tighter, laughing against my shoulder.

"You said you weren't gonna be back until next week, you stupid!" I exclaim, letting go.

"I tricked ya." Eric winked at me.

"Don't wink at me." I make a disgusted face at him.

I can feel Sunwoo's stare on me, so my eyes land on him. He notices that I caught him staring, so he widened his eyes and looked away, flustered.

The rest of Eric's friends seemed intimidating; they were all good looking, yes, but you can't forget what type of people they really are. I'm not sure how Eric's friends with them; he's been friends with them for years. I guess I should respect his friendships.

"Meet me at the lockers before lunch." Eric says.

"Will do~" I say, going to class.