Ariana
I AM LATE!
I'm running through the school grounds and corridors, whooshing past the students. They throw me weird looks. But I don't care—I bet I need to run faster!
I remember last night very well. How I teased Anna about Kye Yon and how she teased me about Nathan.
Nathan. The thought of him didn't let me sleep last night!
I can't understand what's wrong with me—I'm thinking about Nathan alot. It's wrong. It's very, very wrong!
Because I've never thought of someone else like this before. And maybe it feels more wrong because he's… close to her.
"Slow down. No trains are getting missed." I hear someone's lazy remark and my footsteps falter for a second only to see who said so.
Kye Yon.
Standing in the corridor, leaning to the wall like he owns the school. Well, he practically does…
His sleeves are rolled up to his forearms and he's reading a book about—organicchemistry? Yikes! But this guy..urgh!..this is so illegal to be this much handsome!
"NOO!"
"OWW!"
THUD
Gosh!
I rub my forehead and open my eyes only to find myself in a horrible scene possible to mankind!
Nathan's fallen on the ground and I'm up on him. Up on NATHAN!! Our faces are mere inches away. Shit!
I got too busy drooling over that cold as hell guy to notice this boy in my way. And now I can't unnotice him. He's—gorgeous.
I keep staring into his eyes, forgetting how to blink, forgetting about the place or the time or anything else.
"What are you both doing!" Anna's shout brings me back to reality.
I dunno if I want to thank her or spank her for ruining my enjoyment of shamelessly falling upon her friend and staring into his eyes. But I got my motor skills back and get up with such a sudden force, I nearly split my head from my neck.
"I said, 'No trains are getting missed'." Kye Yon said to no one in particular and went inside his classroom. He's in section 2.
Anna glared at him and then at me. I looked at the ground.
"I was in a hurry! I thought I'm—" I tried to explain but she cut me off.
"Whatever you thought, I bet it was so gross!" She snapped. Then throwing Nathan aside, she takes long strides and says to me in a whisper, "Kathy saw it all!"
I gape at her words, wide-eyed. "What?!"
"Yes!"
"What'll happen now!"
Anna furrows her eyebrows and stares blankly at the grounds. Then she says, "Nothing will happen. I'm here."
Yeah of course, she's here, Anna Norris. Even fear fears her!
"Are you guys gonna tell me anything or not?" Nathan asks.
"I didn't know you're interested in gossips!" I said without realising what I said. Top on that, to whom I said and when that knowledge clicks me in, my mouth shuts instantly.
Nathan grunts, "Of course not."
Great, Ariana. Brilliant—You're now officially a joke!
***
"Today I'm taking a surprise test." Mr. Choi declares.
Fuck!
I curse under my breath and stare at Anna. She seems unmoved by the declaration. Topper for a reason!
"Those who don't want to give the test can go out of the class." He declares again.
"Wanna go?" I mouthed to her.
"Shut up."
I roll my eyes.
The teacher gives us the question papers and I nearly scream looking at the very first question. Trigonometry! I feel dizzy now.
"Hey," I kick on her foot. "Hey!"
"Shh! Sir will hear us!" She hisses at me.
"I don't care! And I also don't care about this test! I'm going out!"
"What! No you can't—"
"Students," Sir cuts her off, "You'll change your seats before answering."
"What!"
"No!"
"How can he!—"
"Goodness!"
A rumble of shocked experiences wave over the classroom.
"Silent, silent." Sir says in his calm tone. "Ariana, stand up."
What the hell!
I stand up abruptly, looking at him with a nervous expression.
"Go, sit beside Miles."
"Miles who?" I stare at the teacher with confusion.
"Nathan." Anna whispers beside me.
Hiik—
I hiccup and gape at sir. But I can't help but sit beside him. Sam stands up to let me sit. And sir makes him sit beside Tiara. I almost laughed at that.
Mr. Choi makes random students sit with random students except… Anna.
"Will she sit alone?" Nathan asks me. I had almost forgotten that I was sitting beside him until he spoke. And suddenly I became too aware of his body heat emerging towards me. I felt my cheeks burn a little.
This is too inconvenient! I shouldn't feel shy of him! He's my friend for goodness's sake!
"Uh… I don't think he's gonna leave her that easily. There must be plans for her too."
And as soon as I've finished my sentence, sir goes out of the classroom.
"Where did he go?" Nathan asks me again. But a minute later, he gets to see his answer instead of hearing it.
The teacher comes back into the classroom followed by another student. The whole class gasps with amazement. I put my palm onto my mouth.
"Song, go sit beside Norris." Mr. Choi instructs him.
"Jesus Christ!" Nathan mutters under his breath.
"You know him?" I can't help asking him.
"Obviously." Nathan looks at me and nods. "I've known him for ages! Song Kye Yon."
"But how?" I asked again, being curious.
"Our dads were best friends. How do you think I know Anna and also know that she can't stand him?"
Realisation hits me. Probably—they're all childhood cuties. Just billionaire vibes.
I notice Kye Yon glare at Anna before finally sitting on the bench. Anna slides to the far end of the bench and he also slides to the opposite end. They maintain almost a foot gap between them.
Sofunny! I actually like both of their chemistry!
***
An hour later, Mr. Choi exclaims while roaming in the classroom. "This is the best surprise test ever!"
"Blah!" I mutter.
Nathan laughs silently at my reaction.
I smile an awkward smile. God, I keep forgetting about his presence beside me the same way I keep forgetting about the formulas!
"SinA is the complement angle to Cos—" My pen falls down. A regular move made by me everyday. I curse my movements and bent down to get my pen from under the desk. And while getting up, my head hits the desk. Not again! But wait… why is the desk so soft? Don't tell me—Ahh!!
"You were about to bang your head again." Nathan says while looking at my face. His hand is still placed upon my head. I look away.
"Uh… thank you.." As I thank him, he slowly retreats his hand and focuses on the test again with an unbothered face.
Butterflies
Thousands of butterflies swarm across my stomach. I hastily start to write whatever random formula comes to my mind. My heartbeat fastens a beat, jangles with each other and a creep of red spreads through my cheeks. Oh how stupid I am to blush only for a touch of his hand!
"You're so cute." Nathan states suddenly.
I feel like I might explode. My heart beats rapidly. "I .. uh-um.. thanks!" I finish my sentence with a rush and laugh an awkward laugh. Nathan laughs heartily in a low voice.
And his dimples steal my breath away.