"To whom it may concern," Jaehyun starts, tightly interlocking his hands. "Please let MM pass."
"Did you just...pray?"
"Yeah, I just did and you should be flattered. I'm a non-believer."
The proctor in front rearranges the examination papers, banging them on the table to flatten them. "The exams will start in five minutes."
I can do this, I can do this. I repeatedly chant in my head. I've worked so hard, and I've learned so much from both Jaehyun and Joochan. I think my hardwork paid off. Please let me pass.
I look to my left, and Jaehyun gives me a grin. I shoot one back, although quivering. But Jaehyun really wasn't the one I am looking for—it's Joochan. I stare at his face (strangely it made me relax a bit) and smile to myself. I know he wasn't looking at me, but I'm sure he wants me to pass, too.
The proctor finally started distributing the bond papers. My heart is beating so hard that I'm afraid it would pop out any second. My thumb and index fingers holding the pen are shaking from nervousness.
I'm sure Bomin is feeling the same way, too, I think, which kind of reassured me. With that thought in mind, I finally receive the paper and start answering.
◐
"Hell week is done!" I shout as soon as I got out of the suffocating room. Three consecutive days of examinations really drained my energy (and my brain cells).
"Do you remember the 34th question?" Jaehyun asks Joochan when he caught up with the two since he got out a little bit later. He really took his sweet time reviewing all of his answers. "What's your answer? Let's say it together. One, two, three..."
"A." / "C."
"Goddamnit!" Jaehyun screams in frustration. "I was debating between A and C, too. But I wasn't sure so I went with A." He turns to me and asks, "How about you, MM?"
"I answered C," I reply after trying to remember the question. "I kind of vaguely remember Joochan mentioning it one time."
Jaehyun blinks, apalled. "I actually thought you were going to say you didn't know the answer, or you just went with your intuition, or you guessed, or something along the likes of those."
Minhee smirks. "Are you scared that I might be correct? You scared that I'll be smarter than you?"
"Of course not!"
"Hyungs! Noona!" Bomin calls out from the end of the hall, bolting towards the three. "How were the exams?"
"We should be asking you that question," Joochan rolls his eyes. "How was it?"
"I think I did fine. I'm positive I'll pass them." Bomin lets out a cheeky grin. He runs up to the two boys and sling both of his arms on their shoulders, bringing them down. They both grunt over how rough Bomin was. "Let's go eat outside."
"Your treat?" Joochan queries.
"Naah, noona you treat us."
Jaehyun shoots their junior a glare. "Hey, how dare you ask MM—"
But I just shrug and smile. "Sure, I'll treat you all."
The three of them paused for a whole duration of three seconds. It was quite the sight. But were they really that shocked that I accepted that? It's just a simple treat, nothing less.
"You sure you're still Han Minhee?"
I roll my eyes. "Duh. In the flesh."
"And you want to do a good deed?"
"Hey, I'm a good person!" I snap at Jaehyun who was clearly stifling his laugh. "I'm just straight forward, that's all."
After more bickering and laughter, we decide on where and what to eat. We finally arrive at a BBQ House since a certain someone - aka Bomin - was craving some. (We took a ride in my family's car since I called the driver beforehand and since he thought we were already going home he made his way towards the house. We didn't even notice until halfway on the ride, and so we settled with a restaurant that was almost near our house.) It was fine with the group since we all love BBQ anyway.
Of course they picked an expensive restaurant. This was the perfect chance to leech off of me. But I'm not complaining. They deserve it.
I thought that I had to at least pay them back for coming into my college life. College was bland at first - I had zero friends - my crush was so far from my reach, and I didn't even dream of becoming close with two of the varsity basketball players in our school. But fate softened up to me and actually gave me a life - one that I will forever treasure.
Bomin bolts to have his seat beside the window shouting ''shotgun!'' (even if we weren't in a car). He wanted to sit there so that he won't be on the receiving end for orders such as ''get me some water'', ''ask for some tissue'', and "get the bill'' because he's a lazy ass. Sometimes he still acts like a child. But it what makes him likeable, really.
Jaehyun follows the younger and sits in front of him. Aw, there goes my chances for sitting beside Joochan.
I didn't want to choose where I should sit first. So I say to them, "I'll go and order." I point to the menus placed tidily on the table. "Go and pick what you want."
"Okay, noona!" Bomin proceeds to speedily scan the different meals on the menu. "I want samgyupsal, kimbab - ooh, we need soup! add in the kimchi jigae - also bibimbab, and..." He lists them down, going on for minutes. "...samjang and tteokbokki. Does that sound good?"
"You should've said you wanted to order everything." I roll my eyes.
"If I said that, would you have been willing treat us in the first place?"
"No," I say after careful deliberation. "But, if we can all finish it, then how can I say no?"
Jaehyun chuckles. "I'm sure I can finish three servings of pretty much everything."
"Hey, don't get greedy," I laugh, too. "Anyway, I'll go to the counter now." I set down my things on the table (since my seat was undecided yet).
Joochan was still standing. Doesn't he know to sit? Maybe he's still choosing where to sit be-
"I'll come with you."
My heart literally stopped for a second. Butterflies errupted in my stomach even if I didn't want them to suddenly burst inside there. Joochan was unbelivably quiet today but hearing him say that justified that in my mind.
We both make our way to our counter and enumerate the dishes we want served on our table. The cashier person raised her eyebrow and asked "so it's everything?" and Joochan answered with a simple nod. With that, we go back to our table after paying for the order.
I go back to my dilemma: who should I sit beside with? Both Bomin and Jaehyun had expectant looks on their faces. Do they want me to sit beside them that bad? Wow, I feel like a celebrity.
"Noona, I want you to sit here," Bomin pats the space beside him.
"No, MM should sit with me," Jaehyun huffs.
"You spoiled brats," I mutter, but a slight chuckle escapes my mouth. "I can't just split my body into two so I can sit beside you two."
Joochan who was still standing suddenly sat down beside Jaehyun (who was shocked as I am), huffing. "Problem solved."
What?
"...Okay?" I say, my voice rising up. That leaves me with Bomin, I guess. I finally sit down. Bomin immediately lunges in for a hug. I hug him back, of course, because he's a sweet ass child. And who doesn't like hugs?
I look at Joochan to see that he was grumbling about how he regretted his decision whatsoever but I didn't quite understand. Jaehyun said something about how I shouldn't sit beside a leech but I ignored him.
Looking at the three, I smile wistfully. Life blessed me with three idiots and I'm loving every moment I get to spend with them.