Until It's Summer Again

1. Summer now?

Park Seongheo, is an all-time idiot. All he knows is how to make fool of himself, nothing else. I agree he is good-looking and good at studies, tall which I hate personally, he is... what do you say? A whole package, yeah that's what he is. Me? Am the shadow, with the higher grades but less appreciation, average looks, "average" height too, but I do know that am more mature than he can ever be. I have known him for 6 years; we met at a basketball court outside the city.

I knew how to play, but lacked height; he lacked skills but had the perfect height. So, you can imagine how it went. He became my student, and I became his-

Seongheo kept his arm on my head and said, "Oi armrest".

I looked up at his annoying grinning face, shining like some pearl in sun, nope nothing good happened to him, he's always like this. I get so sick of this face.

Lies

I just let out a sigh and turned to him, fixed my glasses, but before I could say a single word Seongheo just ruffled my hair and ran ahead to greet his other friends. "Yah Jonghi! Wait for me monkey!" He said running u to this Jonghi, our other friend, well mostly his, am not so close with neither him nor do I want to be, he's more annoying than Seong.

Seong grabbed him by the neck as Jonghi just yelled and punched him for that, I just let out a sigh and followed them from behind.

Unlike Seongheo, I don't like people specifically. He just goes around making new buddies everywhere he goes, just like some human magnet. I just don't want some nuisance to roam and walk around me, Seong? He's different, he's not a nuisance to me unlike others, and he's just another thing, a friend actually.

Yes, a friend, as a preference, for me it's more like unrequited....crush? I won't call it love, cause it's just too simple, plus it's all temporary, after all, it doesn't make any sense at all. Does it? He like girls, plus it's not like I can be with someone like him, the chances are like counting stars, time-wasting and never-ending, once we go to our own separate paths, and stop seeing each other, it would fade away, it's no big deal. It's just how it should be.

Class hours just go by learning the same stuff every day, how is it that we never move on from what we actually learn, it's getting big trouble. Another bell rang when I finally had the urge to just lay my head on my desk and close my eyes, ignoring everything around me.

It's easy for me to forget the world exists, but hard to ignore this one.

Seongheo rested his own head on the desk, I tried to ignore it but I can feel his deep and hot breathes hitting the back of my head. Just him being this close can make my heart skip a beat or two, it's getting more dangerous each day, at this rate I might end up-

"I know you're awake, stop pretending now..." Seongheo whispers.

His voice, no matter how many times I have heard it before, just changes when he talks to me, maybe am the only one who notices this, maybe am just assuming things but it's all I can think about when it's just unrequited, it makes me happy somehow.

I pretended to sleep anyway, I don't want to eat lunch yet, yes I have a very small appetite, but Seong eats a lot, he eats three times more of what I eat...

All those thoughts drove me to real slumber, Seong's voice faded with my consciousness. I don't usually fall asleep at this hour, but the summer breeze and the silence just had me through.

Another bell rang when I finally opened my eyes to hear the class filled with all kinds of noises. To regain my eyesight I slowly rubbed my eyes, I looked behind to see his seat empty, he went for lunch why isn't he back yet, the teacher might show up before he can.

Seconds later, he entered the class through the back door, he was alone, now when I see that his other friends were already inside the class. He sat down as he saw me looking at him, he just flashed his usual smile and asked

"you awake?"

Why ask when he can clearly see my eyes wide open. I just gave him a nod and turned away. Not long after that, I heard a loud thud on my side of the desk that's when I saw the canned choco milk next to me. I just looked away and said.

"You shouldn't bother about this, I can't have it now"

He just shrugged and smiled.

"Then just have it when you can"

"This idiot"

Park Seongheo, how can I imagine us being apart if you keep on acting like this?

I just grabbed it and rolled it in under my desk and got back to whatever I was doing.

Literature, Mr.Cha our literature teacher entered and greeted the student before he grabbed his book and started to read out some phrases.

"Oh, my lover

who had pure eyes;

oh, the silver scales

that occupied your eyes.

Tonight snowfalls.

Oh, my poor lover

who wrapped my neck

with a white towel and washed my face,

a sacred quiet descends

upon the lonely planet.

I close my eyes

to remember the time

your hands washed my face"

I didn't hear what he said, I was lost in my own world, and I just heard the words.

"It's about love"

I turned my head back to see Seongheo lifting his right hand up, looking at the teacher.

Love..?

"True, it is about love, and I know you all are blossoming in the hearts of your loved ones right?"

One cheesy word from Mr.Cha and everyone started to whine and make disgusted voices and faces. Stop lying I know all of you enjoy this kind of talk.

"Ahhh~ what Mr.Cha that's too cringe who does that now anyway"

He just laughed it off, "I know, I know, I was once a teenager too, you can fall in love but no dating in school hm?"

"Now you're just being mean"

Everyone laughed at that and got back to the lesson we started.

Mr.Cha read it out loud again, now I can focus on its words.

Emotions and love, it's the last thing that Seongheo can ever care about, he cringes and makes weird faces when anyone talks about it.

Will he ever has someone he would actually like at this point?

"Yes, you"

I quickly lifted my head up to see Mr.Cha pointing his finger at Jonghi.

"Please read it out loud, Mr.Im"

He just let out a deep sigh and grabbed his book, and started reading the poem. What was I thinking...? I must be out of my mind?

Jonghi, with his clear and deep voice, started to read it out loud. His voice can be heard so evidently, even though we sit so far apart from each other.

You can clearly tell by the way he was reading it, that he was forced to do so. Am not in the position to judge him by his looks or what I hear about him but I heard he's bad news and it's the perfect reason for me to stay away from him.

He sat down once he was done, but before Mr.Cha could continue

"Mr.Cha Kyungsoo, your presence is required, at the office" we heard through the speaker.

"Guess I have to pay them a visit then, you all, stay quiet and don't step out, I will be right back, Class president I am leaving you in charge"

"Understood sir"

He left, leaving his stuff behind as if he will return. As soon as he left, Seongheo tapped on my shoulder and stated,

"Yah you can have that now, you know he never returns once he exits?"

I just gave him a frown and shook my head, he gave me a weird, what? Pout; tell me he doesn't look like a lost dog. I shook my head again. He tried to say something, but before he could, I just shoved some bundle of pages on his face. He grabbed them looking a bit confused, "a short study material, read it and stop bothering me" I told him.

"But I don't need this? Wait, hey come on! Have it!"

"No"

"You never listen to me"

"I don't need to"

"Unfair, here I always listen to you"

"Then listen to me now and read"

"I- OKAY fine"

Turning my head back, I saw him focusing on the script I gave him,

He does listen to me huh?

Whatever

Time passed by, and yes as predicted Mr.Cha never returned. School hours were over. We grabbed our stuff and started to pack. Bell rang, everyone started to exit the room. So chaotic, and loud, messy as well.

I stepped out too, turned my head to see Seongheo, with his friends, we usually don't walk back home together, not cause we live far away from each other but because he has other stuff to do after school, mostly its either basketball practice or club work. I never cross his path on my way back home, nor do I wanna, doesn't matter how much I like Seongheo, I don't want people to think am some stickup clinger that follows him everywhere.

Leaving the scene, I was on my way home, because that's what I do. I sat down on the bench at the bus stop.

I saw my bus arriving soon enough, it stopped, I boarded my bus. Just as I sat down I felt someone sitting down next to me. And it's the same jerk, Jonghi.

"Why are you sitting here?"

He turned his head with that cold expression of his. "Do you see any other empty seat?" He was right the bus was unusually packed today, "Okay, then" I said turning my head towards the window.

"You're quite stupid for a person with good grades"

What did he just say?

"Now, don't get flustered by that and glare at me"

"Am not"

He turned his head to me, "Your puckered lips and frowning face says something else"

Enough talking, I will just this big head. Soon, my station arrived, I got off the bus. I started to walk down the streets just to notice that, Jonghi was walking right behind me.

Without looking back, I stopped in my tracks and asked, "Now why are you following me?"

He walked past by me and stopped before he looked back and said,

"I moved into this neighborhood today, I wasn't following you, dimwit"

Yeah, he had to say that. We walked through the alley, far away from each other, don't wanna talk to this creature, nor he's someone who will stick up a conversation with just anyone. He has those piercings and crooked uniform, he's someone who causes a lot of trouble, huh, I don't like his kinds, and they are the real pain in the butt.

"Hey, that's your house?"

"I just said I don't like your kind!"

"huh?"

Ah, did I just that out loud? Of course, his face says I did,.... well.

"What are you saying? I don't want you to like me anyway"

"Shut up"

I walked past him.

"See you at school dimwit" He left.

I just entered.

I still remember, Seongheo telling me, 'it must be nice having a big house'. It's nice when it's empty and quiet, I am so glad they are away, far away for now.

Dropping my bag on the bed, I went in for a shower.

"I am hungry..."

Just after shower, I just grabbed my wallet and walked out of the house. No one is home to cook, mom and dad are always on business trips, and I don't know how to cook.

The convenience store has the best cup noodles. I just grabbed the smallest one and sat down at a random table. Peacefully, I was eating peacefully minding my own business until this creature came to interrupt me.

"Oi dimwit I thought you were filthy rich what are you doing here eating cheap noodles"

"Do I have to be poor to eat noodles?" I want him to leave.

"I am offended" he laughed it off.

I kept eating, while he stares the eyeballs out of me. Seriously, get out of here.

"You eat really weirdly"

I... chocked, on, my, noodles.

"Get out of here, leave me alone" Is all I can say while am still breathing for life, that creature just laughed at me.

"Come on you're eating cheap stuff, no wonder you're so thin"

I finally calmed down, took my cup, and walked away from there. He followed, of course. After I paid for it, he just grabbed my hand and dragged me out of there, I tried to brush him off but can't, obviously, I can't, he's like 3 times bigger than me.

"Oi, what are you doing? Leave me alone"

"Shush dimwit and just follow me"

"Why should I listen to you-"

"Just trust me, I won't hurt you"

Fine, if he does something funny I can just chop his head off.

Why would this creature drag me back to my own house?

"Tell me, Im Jonghi are you lost or you are just stupid? Why would you drag me back to my house?"

"Oi am not stupid and I do know my way back home"

"Alright then, thanks for dragging me home, you should get going"

I was ready to go in, but he stopped me, why.

"What do you want now?"

"Let's make a deal"

"I don't want to"

"Doesn't matter, I will make food for you, and you will help me pass my test"

"I just said I don't want to-"

"Let's go in"

He walked in anyway.

He walked around, looking just everywhere he could go.

I just grabbed the doorknob and went in as he followed me from behind.

"I feel bad for you, so today am gonna cook you the perfect meal a person should"

You can clearly hear him bragging. Who told him to do any of this; I can't even send him right away. Whatever it is.

"Do whatever you like" I said leaving him there, while I walk upstairs to prepare for the classes. I sat on my desk, leaned back on my chair, and worried for him a bit but brushed those thoughts away quickly.

20 minutes later, I got distracted. I went downstairs following the unfamiliar smell that filled my room. Did I reach the kitchen to find Jonghi wearing the apron, smiling? at the pot that was in front of him. I think he heard my footsteps he turned his head towards me, that's when his smile got wider and brighter.

"PERFECT! The food is done and you're here, just take a seat on the table", he said pointing at the dining table. I just went there and sat down, as he took his big steps and brought in something in a bowl and plate.

"Bon appetite monsieur" he places the plate down in front of me, looks like....fried rice? We had rice? How did he find it? He places the bowl down next. It was soup, how did he, and most importantly we really have this stuff at home?

"Oh don't worry I added some of my groceries too"

"Thank you for the food"

"Ahhh don't mention, just go ahead and eat it," he said with his smile.

It's hard to eat when you stare the eyeballs out of me idiot. I just grabbed the spoon and took a good scoop out of the fried rice......it's actually, good. Really good.

"How is it?"

"Good"

"Really? That's a relief wahhh" he said and sat down on the chair that was placed opposite to mine, he looks like he just won a lottery. What a kid.

I took a sip of the sip out of the soup too, everything is so good, and I haven't tasted anything like this in years. I was about to take another scoop before I looked up to him.

"What about you? Aren't you going to eat?"

He just shook his head. "It's for you, I already had my dinner"

I just shrugged, more for me. Not so long after that, he started chuckling. I looked up curiously.

"I feel like a mother right now, it feels so satisfying to watch you stuff your face like that"

Ignoring his words I kept eating.

"Yah, you were returning home alone, I thought you always stick up with Seongheo, don't you guys travel back home together?"

I stopped eating to answer.

"Our houses aren't close"

"Ehhhh liar, I know he lives just 5 or 6 blocks away" He finished his sentence with a scoff. He knows a lot, is he a stalker?

"He's busy with other stuff"

"Right, basketball. Ah, talking about basketball I heard you were the one who taught him how to play?!?"

Half chocking on my food I looked at his monkey face

"What?! He said that?"

Again with his annoying laugh. What's so funny anyway? We don't have leakage of laughing gas around here now do we?

"So I was right! Shit man I never thought I would be actually right. I mean yeah he's tall but poor man use to suck at it, no wonder he improved a lot since he met you"

So he figured it out by himself huh, what was I expecting.

Now I am just wasting my time, I cleaned up the table as fast as I could.

"I think it's getting late"

He just smiles and stands up. "I should get going then, walk me out?"

I just grabbed his jacket and started to slowly push him to the door.

"Ahh slow down I won't run away"

Please, I want you to.

I just stopped at the gates. Waiting for him to bid a bye.

"If you ever feel the hunger again"

He rummaged his hands inside a pocket and took a pen out.

"Give me your hand"

"I don't need your number"