Mixtape: A Nam Taehyun Collection

DISTANT STAR: PART ONE

I was a transferred student in Kyungbok High School. The school was known to have students who bullied other students who don’t have strength to fight back. As much as possible you should not get involved with any of those bullied so you can have a peaceful life in Kyungbok. One of those well-known bullies as they say in school is Nam Taehyun. They said he was part of the gang outside the school whom tortured students from other schools. But none of them ever witnessed him torturing him someone. They only based it on how he stared at people and what group he’s hanging out with.

“You’re new here, so you better not cross path with the Nam Taehyun. No one knows what he’s capable of.” My seatmate told me.

Well, I’m not that kind of person who meddles with other people’s business. As long as I can finish school then that’s it.

But things change when I had my first encounter with Nam Taehyun. I was taking a break after our P.E. class, I haven’t explored the school yet so I decided to walk at the back of our school. That’s when I saw him. He was all alone sitting under a tree, his eyes close, earphone plugs into his ears. He was having his own moment. If you look closely at his appearance he is really harmless. He actually had a face of an angel.

 “What are you looking at?”

I flinched on my spot when I heard him talking, looking directly at me. Don’t judge the book by its cover. He’s really scary.

“Nothing.” I said, walking off immediately as possible.

The next time I had an encounter with Nam Taehyun was in a convenience store. I was buying food in a convenience store where a group of students, which look like gangsters seated outside the store eating some ramen. One of them is, well of course, the Nam Taehyun himself.

I hurriedly pay for the food I bought. As I turned around, I was collided with someone. Guess what luck I have. It’s no other than Nam Taehyun. I can sense his deep stare at me which it really makes me uncomfortable. I scurried away as fast as possible.

I thought that was the last time that I’m going to crossed paths with Nam Taehyun. Guess what? My luck isn’t on my side.

I was walking on my way home from school when I saw group of students, which look like gangsters running so fast. They were like chasing someone or chased by someone. All of a sudden, I heard the beeping of a police car. I panicked on where I was standing, they might thought that I am one of them. Before I could ran off to the other side of the street someone dragged me and we ran off towards I don’t know where.

I leaned on the wall, trying my best to catch my breath. That was the fastest run I’ve ever done in my entire life. But who is this person that dragged me all of the sudden.

“What were you think--” I snapped at the person beside but was cut in the middle of my ranting when who it is and what state he is now.

The Nam Taehyun himself plus some bruises on the left side of his cheeks.

I gasped and knelt down beside him. “Are you okay?”

“Do you have to asked that? Really?” He snapped at me.

He has a point, but I’m asking him nicely. I rolled my eyes at him. I opened my bag to search for some first-aid kit. Who knows why I always have this in my bag. My mom told me brought this since I am such a klutz since young.

“What are you doing?” He asked.

“Do you really have to asked that? Really?”

He was struck when I answered him back. Oh revenge is sweet Mr. Nam Taehyun. I jump triumphantly inside.

I cleaned the bruises on the left side of his cheek and put a band-aid on it. He said a small thank you. Well, that made me smile. Who could’ve thought that the Nam Taehyun knows how to say thank you.

After that incident, I haven’t seen Nam Taehyun around the school even his shadow. I wondered what happened. But then like I said before, I don’t meddle on someone’s business.

I decided to go the school’s rooftop because our class is in chaos. They were preparing stuff for an upcoming event in school and the class officers were in the middle of arguing.

I’m in the middle of self-reflecting when I heard someone singing. Wow, that voice is a no joke. Who you are should be discovered. I tiptoe my way towards the voice. It’s really soothing. Oh goodness I’m going to marry this voice of yours.

There I found Nam Taehyun lost in his own world, singing his heart out. I melted right on my spot. This guy what’s with him. He could be an ideal type of everyone but why does he have to be a bully.

“How long have you been there?”

“Uh, not too long ago.” I stand a little bit far away from him.

He patted the spot beside him inviting to take a seat. I gladly accepted it and sit beside him, keeping a space between us.

“I didn’t know you could sing.”

“You know, the statement is kinda harsh.” He said.

I widened my eyes and looked at him, “I didn’t mean it that way.”

“I guess you’re one of those people who judge me because of what I look like.”

I feel guilty on that part. I judge him that’s true. But who can’t, everyone was talking about him that way.

He stood up and did a little stretch. “I should go now. You shouldn’t be seen hanging out with me. Remember, I’m the bad guy.”

Wow, that hit it straight to me. I stood up and called him before he could go out.

“Nam Taehyun!”

He looked at me, raising eyebrows.

“Everyone deserves a second chance. I know you’re not that bad, there’s a nice thing hidden deep in you.” I smiled at him.

He laughed then looked at me.

Did he just laugh? Did I make Nam Taehyun laugh?

 “I hope everyone can be just like you.”