the school bell rang and one by one, the students returned to their seats before the Business Management tutor begin his lesson. i do not know why i am here. i have little interest in Business, the very least actually. my father had always encourage (force) me to pick up some business skills since he will handling his shop to me one day. i am dead serious about this issue. i have no say in that matter, mother would always side father in this and when i stomp off to my room, she would knock on my door and reassure that what my father's planning for me is for the best of me. and after that, she will list down her expectations of me, to be a top business student with straight As in all my modules and the route she would want me to pick up. we have been through this so many times that i can recite it fast-forwarded or maybe turn it into a rap. however, im not really talented in rapping, im more inclined towards vocals and singing. just when i was getting into the grove of rapping, one of my classamate walked in. we were 15minutes into the lesson and he seemed not worried about his lateness.
"jung yunho, dont u think you should give the least respect for me? cant u try to be early for my lessons for at least one time? huh, just one time?!" Mr Kim looked up from his laptop that he was showing on the visualizer and eyed on Yunho.
"my apologies. i will try." he kept his sentences short. it felt as though he didnt want to talk to mr. kim any further.
"you! are u showing any form of disrespect for the teachers in this school? i have heard that u are always late for lessons and why is that so!?"
"nothing. just late." again, he kept this replies short. everybody's attention was on the tension. Mr kim looked at him and saw the latter coming towards my direction. i remove my bag from the chair beside mine and he filled in the empty seat. i could see the blood veins from the side of Mr Kim's eye. even a blind person could tell he is going to explode any time soon.
"mr kim, should we just start the lesson? please?" i pleaded. i do not want any unnecessary attention to be on Yunho again. i used my tender voice, hoping that it will smooth out the anger that is boiling up in Mr Kim. i think he realize he is garnering too much attention and it would be best if he just drop the case and continue with lesson.
"okay Jaejoong. i will not hinder any one of your studies. please pay attention to what i will be going through. it will be tested during the mid-semester week."
i turned my head to face Yunho. he just sat there staring onto nothing. i nudged him.
"hey. are u okay? reason that cant be told again?" i questioned him again although i think i will get the same answer again.
"oh, yeah. nothing much"
"i see. okay then." i replied and turned my head to face the screen. although my eyes are on the screen, my mind isn't. why is yunho always late for the first lesson? yunho has always been the laid-back and quiet person. we have been friends since we were 10; we were neighbour back then. i thought we have come into terms where no secrets are kept between one another but i guess, it was otherwise. we have this special friendship where no communication is required. when you know this person for 10 years, automatically you get to understand his habits, likings and personality, whether you want or not. it is only this bit of him that i do not understand, his lateness for every morning lesson. this is a bad thing as our grades are inclusive of our attendance and i definitely do not want that to pull down his grades where they are not great to begin with. i eyed over the corner of my eyes to check what he is doing, and again he is just staring into space. i sighed and returned my attention to Mr Kim.
the bell rang again. streams of students flooded the corridoor as they rushed to the nearest eartry for some snacks and treats. i stayed behind and accompanied yunho,i know he needs it.
"hey, want some thing light? i can get it for you."
"nah, its okay. im fine."
"did you hear what Mr kim said? the test is going to cover 10 weeks' lesson and i doubt a week study break is enough. dont u think so?"
"yes. i think so too."
i always attempt to lengthen my sentence in hope that the replies from yunho would correspond. it always fail but i am not giving up, not just yet.
"so which module are you starting first? the one you cant manage well or the one you are confident of?"
"i dunno?"
silence filled the air as i do not know what how to respond to Yunho's short replies. i stared hard at the latter.
"yun, are you getting enough sleep lately? it seems like your eye bags have gotten darker."
"i.. guess so?"
even since i got to know Yunho, there is always dark circles on his handsome face. i wondered why but did not question as i knew, the question will be avoided with short replies.
"did you use the eye cream that i got you the other time? i think is it rather useful for me so i thought it might be useful to you as well." once again, i spoke with clear concern in my sentence. concern which was beyond friends.
"i was lazy."
"YAH! do you know how much i spend on it?! how can you not use it and let it rot at some corner of your room?!"
"i will try it tonight."
"thats better." before i would continue their conversation, the Business Accounting tutor walked in the classroom with a stack of A4 size paper. the tutor place his teaching materials down on the tutor's table and wrote on the white board. -POP QUIZ-
the whole class showed their disagreement and displeasure of the pop quiz but the tutor ignored it and passed on the papers for everyone.
"i have warned you just last week to be prepared for one. those who heed for words will definitely have an advantage. you have one hour to complete this and your time starts now."
i glance over to yunho; he was staring at the papers and holding a black ball point pen on his right hand. i nudged him so that he would come to his senses and begin writing this answers. his body jumped a little by my action and he looked over. i pointed my index finger to the paper infront of him and signal him to start writing. he nodded his head and begin to write his particulars on the paper. i turned my head to face my own paper and started to fill up the blanks with the knowledge i'm taught. it was a rather easy paper for me, i thought.
-
the bell rang and it marked the end of today. i shove my backpack across my shoulders and turn to my right, Yunho is sleeping, again. he is always restless and tired whenever i see him. i sighed and poked him slightly.
"hey Yun, hey.. the class is over. hey.."
"huh. what?" Yunho replied grumpily as his precious sleep was disturbed.
“the class is over. Come on. I will walk you home.”
“ah. Okay.” He stood up, stretched his arms and took his sling bag. He headed towards the door while i hopped to catch up with his pace.
“how was the test? Was it manageable for you?” we were walking down the buzzing street of KimJung Avenue. It was across his apartment, KiShinBang Dong.
“yes. Lets hang out here.”
“why? I thought you were feeling tired just now during lesson.”
“not anymore. Lets walk.”
“alright. That reminds me, i need to buy socks for my sisters. They keep losing them! I don’t know why.”
“Cause you have too many sisters Jae.”
“i know right! But i manage to survive well, just that, i’m a bit feminine. Don’t you think?”
“you are, but im comfortable with that.”
“i know you wouldn’t mind. In fact, i think you liked it!” i playfully smacked/punched Yunho’s shoulder. Yunho lips break into a small smile.
“yes yes. Socks are that way.” He pointed his index finger down the street. I can see that he is loosening up each minute.
we reached the street stall selling all sorts of socks; high or low cut, thick or thin, colourful or plain, cartooned or popstars.
“How many pairs do you think i should buy, Yun?” Yunho faked a pondering face and replied, “8 pairs? 1 for each?”
“i thought so too. help me pick some of them. Why am i doing all these when it is supposed to be a lady’s job. Gosh!”
“cause you are a good brother and you love them.”
“i do...” my thought faded off, and to you too.
After we have finished selecting the sock, we headed down to the nearest coffee house and brought coffees to enjoy the crowd rushing home to their families.
*POV changed*
“can i have a Caramel Frappe and a Green Tea Latte please.” Yunho placed his orders while Jaejoong was busying twittering on his blackberry.
“sure. One minute please.”
They waited patiently at the counter for their drinks. This coffeehouse was one of the quietest and cosy one out on the streets. It became one of their favourite hang-out places after school and they always had their usuals, the ones that Yunho had ordered.
“sir, your drinks are done. Thank you for waiting and enjoy your drink.”
“thanks” Yunho mumbled to the staff and head off to their usual table. The table was situated near the glass panel that over sees the busy street. It was a perfect place to people watch and get lost in thoughts. Jaejoong followed closely behind Yunho, eyes still on his BB. Yunho took this seat and placed down their drinks; Caramel Frappe for Jaejoong and Green Tea Latte for himself.
“you should create a twitter account for yourself. It’s so much fun!” Jaejoong spoke, with his eyes still locked on his BB.
“i am lazy to create one.”
“how about me creating one for you. It’s easy.” Suddenly, Jaejoong burst out laughing, “you should totally see what Junsu tweeted to Yoochun! He wished that Chun was a girl!” Jaejoong continued to laugh by himself. yunho just sat there, staring what was beyond the huge window pane. he was tired. but, he just cant to fall asleep. this has been hunting him for years and it is slowly draining his remaining energy away. he is suffering from long-term insomnia. it happened to him when his granny passed away 4years ago. he was very close to his granny that her death became a huge blow for him. after since then, his sleeping habit was disturbed and it got worse day by day. for everyday, he could not fall asleep till 7am but his school starts at 9am. he did not want to disappoint his granny last wish which was for him to enter a prestigious college. in order to achieve that goal, he will and must attend school by all means including having his precious sleep taken away. he did not let any one know his illness, including his best friend who is sitting right in front of him. he sighed and continue to stare out the window, in hope that the hurried footsteps of the traffic will bring him into sleepy-land. on the other side, Jae acted like he was busy on this BB but he wasn't. he was observing yunho's every movement as he is puzzled as to why yunho seems more lethargic day by day. he is determined to find out why. before the both of them knew, it was time for dinner.
"hey, its already 7pm. i need to be home for dinner." Jae lied while he shuffed his phone into his bag.
"okay. lets go" both of him finished their drink and headed out. Jae insisted in sending yunho back as he planned something. he reasoned to yunho that the cafe was near his place so it is convenient for Jae to send him back. when both of them reached yunho's house door, yunho stepped in and bid his goodbye. Jae reminded still, plotting a plan within his mind.
TBC.
author's notes: how how how was it? it the response is good, i will continue. hahahaha
