"What a bright morning," Yeorin commented.
The morning sky was bright, painted with clear blue skies, the clouds were scanty and hard to even locate. As birds chirped, the wind blew gently, casting a warm touch on everything and everyone it encountered.
Yeorin stepped out of his dorm room with uttermost readiness for classes today, he hadn't totally forgotten what happened the last week - the kiss from Han Ri Ta, but he decided to act like he had. For no reason, Yeorin continued to smile slightly, he smiled like he met the girl of his dreams in his dream.
Yeorin was different today, he wasn't in his regular dark-colored outfits, today he put on beige straight pants and an ivory sweater with the inscription "2904" printed on it in black. Underneath the ivory sweater was a white T-shirt which hanged underneath the ivory sweater. Deviating from his usual style today, he decided not to put on his favorite sneaker _ Nike, or Adidas, today, he went with a high black and white "Converse All Stars".
Even though he was feeling uncomfortable in his chosen color, he still strode with elegance, his hands were tucked in his pocket to hide his growing nervousness.
All eyes were on him and he knew it. It was something he was used to, but the comments his ears could pick up were quite different from the usual, he used to have comments like, "He's cute but I'm scared to meet him,"
"He looks like a snub."
"I don't trust handsome guys with dark colors, their hearts are always the same."
But today was different, he still heard some hate comments about him but if juxtaposed with the good comments, the good ones would come out on top.
As Yeorin walked to class, he couldn't help but notice the curious glances from his classmates. He was used to being seen as aloof and intimidating, but today, he felt a sense of freedom in his lighter attire. He smiled to himself.
In class, Yeorin took his usual seat, the last seat to the right, on the 7th row, but instead of burying himself in his notes, or staying quiet and observing the class, he found himself participating in class, he was making suggestions and dishing out his opinions, he was participating in the class discussion. His contributions were insightful and thoughtful, and his classmates looked at him with newfound respect.
After class, Yeorin felt a slight touch run across his shoulder, he turned curiously, only to catch Seol-A's face smiling at him. He peered deep into her eyes and they both stood there for a while.
"Stop looking at me like that," Seol-A demanded.
"How am I looking at you? You're the one with your arms around me," Yeorin replied, his countenance different from the usual - quiet, cold, and obnoxious look it always had.
"Wae (what's wrong with that)? Do you think I'd kiss you because my arms are around you?" She teased, "Naneun Seol-A-iya, Jin Seol-A, Han Ri Ta andwae (I am Jin Seol-A, not Han Ri Ta).
Seol-A and Yeorin both broke out laughing at Seol-A's joke, reminding Yeorin of what happened last weekend.
Seol-A took her time to study his face, and his clothes, "You're looking different today, what's with the beige and ivory today? You normally dress up and look like a dark Angel, do you have a blind date?"
Yeorin smiled slightly at Seol-A, trying to comprehend her words, dark Angel? So that's what she sees me as? He wondered. His thoughts were still playing when Seol-A's voice intruded on it, "Mwo (what), what's so funny that's making you smile? Are you trying to seduce me with your smile because it's cute?"
Yeorin smiled widely, he was about to reply to Seol-A when another classmate approached them. Her eyes were large like an anime character's, her hair in a short bob, dyed ice blonde.
"Annyeong (hi), her soft voice broke the friendly banter between the Yeorin and Seol-A, making both of them divert their attention to the intruder.
"Oh... Lina right?" Yeorin Asked.
The girl's eyes sparked with awe, how does he know my name? She asked herself. Trying to maintain her composure, she replied, "Nae (yes), Yoo Lina," she introduced as she stretched her hands out for a handshake.
Yoo Lina was a new student, she got admitted late and used her father's connections to start the semester after 3 weeks. This was the sixth week and she just noticed Yeorin's presence the week before during one of their classes.
Yeorin smiled, he could see the nervousness in her eyes, he looked around the class and he could see her friends behind her waiting, he smiled and shook her hands, smiling slightly at her.
"I'm Yeorin, Mun Yeorin. But I guess you know that already." Yeorin said.
"Lina chuckled and her face blushed, "Yeah, I do."
Yeorin took a little time to study her face, "Handupeon (your phone)," Yeorin said, smiling slightly at Lina.
"My-m-my phone?" Lina stuttered trying to comprehend the situation, quickly she reached for her back pocket and handed her phone to Yeorin.
Yeorin hesitated for a moment before typing his number. "For study group purposes only," he joked, trying to sound casual despite his racing heart.
Lina nodded, with a smile of victory playing over her lips, "Okay, I'll give you a call soon Mun Yeorin."
Yeorin nodded in approval, "Alright, Yoo Lina, nice meeting you."
Lina smiled and walked back to her friends waiting for her, "what are you guys saying, he seems welcoming. He smiles a lot too."
"Smile? Yeorin smiled at you?" One of her friends Carmen asked, "Are you a shaman? He doesn't talk to anybody other than Seol-A."
"Who's Seol-A?" Lina asked.
"The girls with him, they seem to be dating," another friend of hers Mimi said
"I don't think so, no one would allow her boyfriend to dish out his number like a meal on a menu to a girl while she's present," Lina argued.
Carmen and Mimi snickered, "Wait, you think he likes you?" Carmen asked mockingly.
"Well, he knows my name and he gave me his number without me asking him, so...yeah I think he does," Lina said. She turned back and waved at Yeorin with a smile, and Yeorin waved back at her with a slight smile.
Yeorin left the class finally, he and Seol-A became thick as thieves in a very short while. On stepping out, Yeorin was approached by a group of students who asked him about his thoughts on the latest assignment. He engaged with them, sharing his perspectives and listening to theirs. It was a strange feeling, being part of a group, but Yeorin found himself enjoying it.
Seol-A was hit by surprise. Yeorin's abrupt turn from cold and quiet to cute and cuddly over the weekend was alarming, she knew people of his caliber, people like Yeorin always went out with the biggest smile on their faces when they had a whole lot going on in their lives, it was like a mask they put on, something that shows what people want to see, so they don't get too intrusive.
Seol-A felt a little urge to ask him about it, but the thought of it being able to change his mood also struck her, what if he doesn't still tell me and eventually he becomes gloomy again? What if the question takes away all the smiles on his face? It might have been a facade but the students were starting to see Yeorin in a different light and Seol-A didn't want that to end. She knew what she had heard them say about him.
Yeorin was making connections with people, one he knew wouldn't last. Seol-A was right, he had a lot going through his head, he had to put up a carefree attitude to make people think he was alright. The incident with Ri Ta was still looming in the sky like the clouds in the day, he was still feeling bad about turning down Yuna, he was still thinking about his forthcoming shoe launch, and to compound all of that, he had a series of assignments to work on.
Seol-A noticed Yeorin's hands tapping on his thighs as he was talking to some students, he was nervous, he was trying to leave the conversation but he couldn't just walk out on them just like that.
Yeorin saw Ri Ta standing by the window, staring at him with an unreadable expression. He kept up a straight face as she approached him, his hands clenched as they rested on his thighs.
"Hey," she said, as he approached her. "You look different today."
Yeorin shrugged, feeling a sense of nervousness. "Just felt I should wear it," Yeorin said.
Ri Ta raised an eyebrow and smirked, "You look good in everything you wear, you know?"
As Seol-A stood aloof, she sighed heavily, thinking of what sinister plot Ri Ta could have come up with this time. She's not even meant to be here, her department was at the other end of campus, why's she here? Seol-A question inwardly.
Tension started to rise around Yeorin and Ri Ta, the whole ton wanted to see what was going to happen this time, would she kiss him again? Would they eventually come out to the public that they're together? Many thoughts ran through the minds of the students, what about him and Seol-A? Who is Yeorin in love with?
The surrounding crowd continued to murmur giving Ri Ta momentum to misbehave, she continually played with Yeorin's hair as she engaged him in a chat, she adjusted his clothes and played with his face. Yeorin shifted his weight, trying to create some distance between himself and Ri Ta as she playfully adjusted his collar.
Seol-A felt like she could hear the thumping of Yeorin's heart, she could tell how uncomfortable he was just being around the crowd and now Ri Ta has joined in the merriment, exploiting his abrupt gaiety countenance.
At the other end of the hallway, Bora, Jo Jo, and On Dam appeared, watching the scene between Yeorin and Ri Ta from afar.
Bora felt a pain in her chest, one she couldn't explain. For some unknown reason she hated the fact that Ri Ta was playing with Yeorin's emotions, "she's really something else!" Bora sparked.
Shocked, Jo Jo and On Dam tilted their gaze toward Bora, "Why are you annoyed? Do you like the guy?" On Dam asked.
Bora sighed and kept mute, watching Ri Ta display.
"Do you think Ri Ta is for real with Yeorin? Jo Jo questioned, "It started off like this with Song Mi back then in high school, all she wanted to do was prove that she was irresistible."
Seol-A was scared of Ri Ta but she knew Yeorin was in a fix. Seol-A summoned up courage and walked towards Ri Ta and Yeorin.
Seol-A strode over to Yeorin and Ri Ta, her eyes flashing with a warning. "Hey, Yeorin, we need to talk about that assignment," she said, her voice firm but friendly, as she expertly extricated Yeorin from Ri Ta's grasp.
"Yeorin, you're too tall, gosh," Seol-A said playfully, trying to wrap her hands around Yeorin's shoulders again.
Ri Ta's eyes flashed with frustration, she held Seol-A by the hand, "Mwohanya (what are you doing)?"
Seol-A shrugged, "Nothing, Yeorin and I have somewhere to be and we're late."
"Eodi (where)?" Ri Ta sparked.
Yeorin looked at Ri Ta and removed her hand from Seol-A's cloth, "let that be our business."
"Andwae (no way), I want to know," Ri Ta's tone turned serious.
"Keopi, mmm (to have Coffee, okay)? Keopi Han Ri Ta."
Bora, Jo Jo, On Dam, and everyone were all left in awe. Rumors started erupting from that instant about Seol-A and Yeorin.
On Dam patted Jo Jo on the back, "Seems like you're gullible Double J, it doesn't seem like nothing to me."
"Yup," Bora seconded, "they're into each other that sure."
Lina, was immediately heartbroken, all her thoughts of Yeorin's affection towards her immediately vanished into thin air.
"Believe me when I talk next time Lina," Carmen said.
Seol-A interlocked her hands with Yeorin and gave a fake smile to Ri Ta, "Ciao ciao (bye-bye)," as she dragged Yeorin away.
Seol-A and Yeorin were outside the hall when Yeorin's phone buzzed, a message from an unknown number popped up, "I'll see you soon Yeorin."