Archive of Our Own

“A new student?”

Summer break was over, which meant term two had started. The classroom was buzzing with loud chatter.

“I saw Mr. Kim speaking in the teacher's office,” said a classmate of mine. She was giggling with her friends all huddled around one desk.

“Boy or girl?” Asked her friend.

“A boy! And a cute one, from what I saw!”

“A pretty cute head? How is a head cute?”

I thought about her words as they both spoke. I always wanted to wear my hair in a ponytail during the summer months, but I looked better with it down. I’d suffer the pool on my shirt instead of letting the sweat damp strands of my hair stick out around my neck.

“Long hair down her back… looks cute… that’s my type.”

I itched the back of my neck and settled at my desk just when the door opened. The class shuffled into silence as our teacher, Mr. Kim, walked towards his podium.

“Settle down,” he spoke loud and clear, waiting until the chatter subsided, “firstly, I would like to welcome you all back from your summer break. I hope you’re all just as excited as I am for the start of our new term. What better way to start than to introduce you all to a new student?”

The quiet chatter picked up again. I watched the kids peeking over each other as he walked into our class. I couldn’t tell if he was looking at us or the floor. His dark hair fell over his eyes. He held onto the strap of his backpack with intense grip. He turned his body to face us once he reached Mr. Kim.

“Everyone, please give a warm welcome to your new friend Jung Wooyoung. He has moved here from the countryside. I expect you all to show him what a great reputation our school has, understood?”

We all collectively answered Mr. Kim. He then looked at Wooyoung expectantly.

“You may introduce yourself.”

I watched this new student, Wooyoung, shift from one foot to the other. He didn’t lift his gaze to meet anyone’s eyes. His hand gave another firm clutch to his strap before he let it fall at his side. He took a bow.

“Nice to meet you.”

That’s all he said. We all looked at each other with an awkward tension in the air. Mr. Kim clapped his hands to clear it, directing Wooyoung to the empty desk between my tall, lanky friend, Yunho, and I. I sat straight, waiting to say ‘hello’, but he didn’t look at me. Not even when Mr. Kim called me out.

“Class president, I will leave you with the duty of giving our new friend a tour of the school.”

“Yes sir.”

I looked back at Wooyoung sitting quietly at the desk next to mine. His bag sat between his legs now. His gaze stayed glued to the top surface. I gently reached over to tap my pencil on his desk.

“There’s a hook on the side,” I told him, giving a polite smile.

Nothing. He simply hooked his bag and resumed his gaze, even when Mr. Kim began the lessons for the day. I looked over to Yunho. He shrugged, curving his mouth to the side. I did the same. We both turned our attention away from the new kid and back to the board.

“This is the gym,” I walked towards the double doors. Skidding and dribbling could be heard from the other side. It was lunch period and, as Mr. Kim instructed me, I was busy giving Wooyoung a tour.

“The gym stays open for any kids who want to play during lunch, but the basketball club likes to take over most days.”

Nothing. Not even a nod. The whole tour consisted of just me talking to myself. I would’ve felt like a lunatic if he wasn’t accompanying me. My smile faltered but I didn’t let his behaviour bother me. I followed his gaze towards the window. He was looking at the boys playing soccer outside.

“If… the gym’s not available, we have our back field,” I smiled again and approached the window, “there’s a track field as well, though to be honest, I haven’t really seen anyone use it, outside of the track team–”

“Oi, y/n!”

I looked back to see Yunho walking over. His dress shirt was unbuttoned, showing his black tee underneath. His hair was damp and his cheeks were just a tint rosy. He was followed by a smaller girl.

“Oh, Yunho! Mirae!” I waved to them.

“You still walking him around?” asked Mirae.

“Yeah, but we’re almost done, I think.”

“We haven’t seen you all lunch. How about we help so we can at least hang out?” she asked.

“Oh, su–”

“I’m good.”

The three of us looked at Wooyoung, surprised by his comment. We watched him pull out some earbuds. He slipped his hands into his pockets and walked away. We watched him disappearing down the hallway, not saying a word to any other kid.

“Did you bore him that much?” Mirae asked, giggling.

“I’m not sure…”

“Don’t let it get to you,” said Yunho, “he doesn’t seem like a social guy.”

“I guess.”

“Come on, lunch is almost over. Let’s go watch the boys play with the little time we have left,” said Mirae, slipping her arm around mine. I laughed as she pulled me away.

“Why don’t you both show the same enthusiasm for me?”

I could feel Yunho’s eyes rolling as he followed behind us. Yunho should know. My friend was a great soccer player, but he didn’t need us to cheer for him. He already had his own fanbase. Besides, my eyes were already set on someone else.

We pushed through the gym doors and found ourselves a spot on the bleachers. There was already a match happening on our half of the court. A group of boys dribbled and passed, taking shots in the basket. We weren’t the only ones watching.

“Hongjoong!” We heard cheers from around us when he got a basket. 

He turned back to look at the audience and smiled when he saw me. He waved, as he always does. I felt my cheeks warming up but I did my best to hide it and waved back at him. His friends brought his attention back to the game. I continued to watch him running, dribbling, shooting, sweating. I shook away my thoughts. He was laughing at the end of the match.

I watched him jog over to us and we walked down to meet with him.

“Hey guys!”

“Hey.”

“Guess you made it just in time to watch us win.”

“You keeping an eye on us?” asked Mirae.

“Of course I am,” he placed his hands at his hips as he caught his breath, “y/n is always watching my games. It’s odd if she’s not here.”

I felt my cheeks warming up again.

“I had to show a new kid around,” I told him.

“A new kid?”

“Yeah, Jung Wooyoung. I guess he moved over summer break.”

“Teach said he’s from the countryside,” said Yunho.

“I wonder if all country boys are rude,” said Mirae.

“He’s rude?” Hongjoong’s eyes got wider when he asked me.

“I don’t think so. He’s just not really talking to anybody right now. But it’s only his first day,” I assured him.

“Well, if this new guy gives you any trouble, you let me know. Knock some sense into him.”

Damn. My heart.

“Thanks, sunbae.”

I watched him grab his water bottle and regroup with his friends. He waved over at me again as he left. Mirae giggled, nudging me before she linked her arm with mine again and we walked out. We made our way back towards our classroom before the lunch hour finished.

“You know, if you keep calling him ‘sunbae’, he’ll never know you like him,” said Mirae.

“I’m not really hoping for him to know,” I told her.

“What? Why? You’ve been crushing on him since forever!”

“Can you keep it down please, Mirae?”

“Yunho, you’re on my side right?”

“Don’t bring me into this.”

“I’m just saying, y/n, you’ve known him for years right? At some point, you gotta tell him how you feel before some other girl comes and snatches him.”

“Are we going to keep blocking the way or can I get into class?”

Mirae and I froze when we heard that voice. A girl with long dark hair looked straight at us.

“Well?” She crossed her arms.

We moved away from the door and heard her sigh as she walked past. We watched her take her seat and brush her hair back over her shoulder.

“God, I hate Sihyun,” said Mirae, “always so rude for no reason. No wonder she’s got no friends. Anyway, back to brighter topics. As I was saying, Hongjoong—“

“He doesn’t see me that way, Mirae.”

“How do you know? He’s always so considerate of you! Right, Yunho?”

I looked at Yunho, who gave a shrug.

“He’s considerate of everyone,” I said. That’s partly why I liked him. Hongjoong was just that type of guy.

“You’re hopeless.”

“Maybe I am.”

Mirae sighed. Yunho gave me a look that told me he understood me, but I kept it quiet. The three of us slipped back into our classroom for the later half of the day.

The final bell of the day rang and school was over. Yunho and Mirae lived in the opposite direction of me, so we parted ways at the front gate.

“Ready to go?” asked Hongjoong, when I arrived at the gate.

Damn.

My heart was a fool.