Joochan was absent.
I stared at the chair he was supposed to sit on, glaring at it even, though I knew looking at it won't make him come to school.
My notebook...
Of course, Joochan just had to be absent. The universe hated me so much, it wanted me to suffer so bad.
I hide my face in my hands, sulking.
Did he open it yet? Did he already see my drawings?
Did he already know that I like him?
I sigh, shaking my head. I hope he still hasn't opened it.
But I got curious. Why isn't he present today? Out of all the days?
Did he get sick? Hurt? What has happened?
I knew Joochan wouldn't just disappear and get absent like that. It wasn't like him, it's clearly out of his character.
The more I think about it, the more that I become more stressed, and so I try my best to distract myself by looking at some (un)interesting things inside the classroom as the teacher babbles about some formula shit that I probably won't care about.
◑
"Goodbye class," the teacher greets and the students reply back to her enthusiastically even though exhaustion was clearly seen from the students' faces, glad that the school day is already over.
The school bell rings and everybody stands up, going to their group of friends to hang outside school together, going to the restroom, or fixing their things.
I, an anti social, having no close friends at all, stay rooted on my seat, sneaking a glance at the chair on the left.
It feels weird that Joochan isn't here.
Because of him, I'm a mess right now. I shouldn't be that bothered because he got my notebook, but it wasn't just any other notebook, it was my notebook filled with doodles. Of him.
I cover my face again and grumble. "God, stop." I say to my head, trying to stop my brain from thinking about it anymore.
The embarrassment I'll get if he did read it will kill me.
"Ugh, please no," I moan into my hands, imagining different scenarios of me ending up dying out of embarrassment if he knew that he liked me. I continue to groan out loud.
I stop when I hear a voice. "If I were from outside, I'll assume somebody was doing something inappropriate in here."
I look up to see an empty classroom but Bong Jaehyun leaning on the wall beside the door, arms crossed, lips curved into a thin amused smile, his eyes crinkling in adorable way as he looks at me.
"What?"
"I was about to go outside when I heard you moaning and making weird noises. So I just watched you do just that." He laughs, his shoulders moving as he does so, which is so adorable.
"Well I'm happy that I entertained you," I say sarcastically, although my cheeks were burning, definitely flustered.
"Aren't you leaving? Or are you staying and continue what you were doing a while ago?"
I stand up, collecting my things and dump it inside my bag, slinging it over my shoulder. "I'm leaving."
"I don't have anyone to be with today, so I'll just come with you," Jaehyun moves to my side as we come out of the classroom.
"Whatever you say," I shrug, walking together inside the campus.
It was strange, to walk with someone well-known in the school. Jaehyun is a part of the university's varsity basketball team, and he's the most valued player. Because of that, alone, girls are swooning at his feet. Not to mention, his grades are high.
I wish I can walk with Joochan like this, too.
"What's your name again?" Jaehyun asks as we walk, cutting out my thoughts.
I look at him sternly. "Are you kidding? We've been classmates for two years and yet you don't know my name?"
He scratches his cheek. "I didn't have a reason to memorize your name, so..."
"Because I'm a nobody, I get it." I roll my eyes. "Feels good to be famous, right? Many people know your name."
He shrugs. "So? You haven't answered my question."
"Han Minhee." I look to the side to see him smiling, whispering my name - not to mention, cutely - but I brush it off. "Anyways, we're here now, that was a nice walk I think, see you tomorrow."
Jaehyun waves at me and he leaves me standing there, alone again.
A thought comes to mind. What if I go visit Joochan?
That didn't seem like a far-fetched idea. I know where his house is, and it's not that late yet, so why not?
And so, with that thought in my mind, I start to walk to the direction of Joochan's house, curious to know why he wasn't present, and maybe, possibly, get my notebook back.