drama⚘⚘ nomin

zero

When our teacher announced the task for the next ten weeks, I looked down immediately. Working with someone else had always been something I hated, and the less it were, the worse it got. Now we were supposed to work in pairs to rewrite one of Shakespeare's works and make it suitable for the 21th century. Ten weeks. I could do it on my own in two, but of course, nobody ever cared about my opinion.

I glanced over to Hyuntae, Daesook, Jinsong and Minseok. As expected, none of them looked at me. I didn't even know why they still called me their friend when they never even bothered to talk to me if it wasn't about homework. They could just tell me to fuck off. I'd be happier with that. Instead, they give me a small spark of hope that they could be friendly one day leading to nothing but disappointment.

But I guess that's my place in this class. The person everyone forgets after graduating, the person nobody ever cared about. That's me. Na Jaemin. Nobody wants to talk to me except when it's about homework. And I'm stupid enough to give in, every single time.

I hate working with people and they hate working with me. Still, I always end up getting forced into a group where I get ignored. But that's life, I guess. In the end, you'll always be alone.

"Now, tell me who you want to pair with," Mrs Kim's voice interrupted my thoughts. I didn't even bother looking up at her or anyone else, knowing all too well I'd be the last one left.

She called a few names and the students replied with a name, followed by happy screaming. Why do they keep acting like that? It's just a stupid school project nobody cares about.

"Lee Jeno." Oh, our favourite boy. Is there anyone as popular as him and his friends at this school? Of course not. Everybody knows them, everybody likes them. Even people in places like me. I don't bother to like anyone at this place. Not even those you should like. I'm invisible to every single one of them.

"Na Jaemin." I stopped covering my book in circles and looked up with widened eyes. Did he really just call my name?

I wasn't the only person confused in this room, even Mrs Kim seemed startled.

"Could you repeat that?" she said. Yes, please. I think my ears don't work.

"Na Jaemin," he replied with the same calm voice as before. Holy shit.

"Is that okay for you?" Mrs Kim asked me.

"Uhm... Yeah," I stuttered, feeling uncomfortable with everyone watching me, shocked and disgusted. Mostly disgusted. Great, now they think I stole their prince from them. I didn't even want to say yes, but what was I supposed to do? Decline? You don't decline something when you're like me. You don't dare to say anything more than asked from you.

Well, seems like The School Prince™ and I are a team now. That's going to be interesting.

04/17/20