011: LOVE AT FIRST SONG

"People don't change for love, love changes people!" - ItsNadiaToYou pov

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011: LOVE AT FIRST SONG

Seok-kyung pov:

I looked at the cupcakes intently while biting my lips.

I remembered how Eun-byeol would smile widely whenever we ate desserts.

Both her mom and my dad were strict with our diets, so I remember having fun eating with her secretly.

'Should I bring her cupcakes?'

'We can eat it during our break period.'

"Seok-kyung ah, we have to go now, let's go!"

I shook my head at him, "Go first; I'll meet you downstairs."

After I was sure he was gone, I went to the kitchen with the cupcakes and looked for something to put them in.

"Are you looking for something, Seok-kyung-ah?"

"None of your business."

I ignored her and continued to look for something to put these desserts to.

I also noticed her come in and take something from one of the cupboards.

"Here, you can put it here. . ."

I stared at it and took it from her hand, immediately washing the smell off in case. After sufficiently drying it, I put the cupcakes inside and covered them with the lid.

"Do you need this?"

My stepmother smiled while I stared at the bag she was handing me. I took it from her hand to put the box inside.

"Enjoy it with your friends."

I ignored her words and left the house without saying anything to her.

'Did she already leave?'

I messaged her asking if she's left her pad, and I got an immediate no. So I waited inside the elevator on her floor, waiting for her to open the elevator.

"Oh, Seok-kyung-ah."

"I didn't wait for you. . ."

I mentally cursed myself as I looked away from her.

"How are you feeling?"

I pursed my lips, trying not to show my smile to her.

"You're the one who had a breakdown, not me."

"I know. I'm sorry for yesterday."

"Are you prepared for the long quiz today?"

I turned to her, shocked, "Quiz?"

"My mom informed me about the long quiz everyone will be having."

"Aisshh!! This is so unfair!" I turned to the other side, hiding my irritation at Eun-byeol.

'This is why I don't like her; she always gets special privileges like these!'

"Hmm. . . Do you want to cut classes then?"

I turned to her, surprised.

"Eomma can't possibly fail me, so if I cut class today, the quiz will definitely be held back. What do you say?"

I smiled at her mischievously and nodded.

She giggled mischievously as we left the elevator together, riding in our own cars, messaging each other privately about where should we meet.

. . . . .

Eun-bi pov:

Seok-kyung and I agreed to meet on a wall near the entrance. I helped Seok-kyung get up first, using some stones and bricks to pull myself and jump through the wall.

A designated taxi driver is waiting on the other side for us as both of us leave the school ground without anyone noticing.

"Where should we go first?"

Seok-kyung had this childish grin the whole time since I told her to cut class with me.

"Hmm. . . How about we change out of these clothes first. . ."

I nodded to her as we talked about what clothes we would wear today.

"It's a bit cold, so we should also buy some coats."

"Should we go for a denim look today?"

I nodded at her suggestion.

. . . . .

"I like this one. . ."

I took another denim jacket similar to hers and put it on.

"What do you think?"

I faced the mirror as she imitated me, and we both winked at the mirror, making our own pose together.

"Let's take this."

The two of us took the tag on the counter. When she was about to pay, I stopped her from giving her card and gave the woman real cash.

"We cut classes today, remember? If our parents find out, both of us are dead. Let's use cash for today."

"But I don't have much with me."

"You can just pay me. I took it a lot earlier before we went to school."

She smiled at me as we headed to our next stop. The arcade.

The two of us competed in who's the better shooter and a better dancer. We even sang in the karaoke booth, competing to see who would get a higher score. The loser has to buy lunch for the next 1 month.

. . . . .

Seok-hoon pov:

I've been calling Seok-kyung repeatedly, but she's not answering.

'Where did she go?'

Even Eun-bi isn't here.

"If you buy me lunch, I'll tell you what you want to know."

I breathed deeply before taking Min-hyuk by the collar and pulling him somewhere with fewer people.

"You've been taking money from me for information less than the price, and now you want another payment from me. . ."

I smiled dangerously at him as he awkwardly smiled at me.

"I've been inconsiderate. Sorry!"

He handed me his phone with a photo of Eun-bi and Seok-kyung jumping from the wall.

"I bought this from a student who saw them; of course, I made sure the student didn't have any other copy but this."

"Where did they go?"

"Probably to lose some steam."

"In the middle of school hours? Seok-kyung wouldn't do it when she knows how important this time is."

"Just let them be. . . She's with Eun-byeol anyway."

"As long as she's with her, nothing bad will happen to Seok-kyung."

"I'm still a bit worried. They'll get caught the moment Seok-kyung uses her card."

"Like I said, trust in Eun-byeol. She's more reliable than you think."

I smiled cryptically at his words, 'I know. . .'

'Please take care of each other. . .'

. . . . .

Seok-kyung pov:

The two of us played all day in the arcade, enjoying ourselves in the karaoke booth and taking selfies in the photo booth. We even watched a comedy movie together.

'She's not a bad company.'

'I wonder why she never showed this side of her before?'

'Is it because she doesn't like my brother anymore?'

'If she wouldn't change anymore, I'd prefer it if she dated my brother now.'

'Should I try pushing her to my brother again? I can make Min-hyuk turn her down, then make my brother comfort her.'

"Come on, the band is starting."

She pulled me to where the music was resonating from. The lunch boxes I've bought are still in my hands. We've been too busy playing. I haven't had the chance to give this to her.

"gilgo gin siganeul eodum sogeseo

hemaedaga bicheul mannan deut" (Song from true beauty)

I keep thinking of odd things these days.

I keep thinking, when did Eun-byeol change and why?

How is it possible for her to change suddenly, but I think I've also changed.

I think I'm also changing, all because of this song and this guy.

My eyes, my ears, and every part of me focused on him as if I was magnetized to him.

The sound of his voice and how he looked at the audience made me see only him, hear only him, and focus only on him.

I held my stomach as I felt like there were butterflies in it.

At the end of his lyrics, he stared in my direction and smiled.

"Who is he?"

. . . .

Eun-bi pov:

'Ohh! Isn't that. . . Seo jun?'

I mouthed as he performed with his friends.

'he's back. . . .'

I don't know whether I should be happy that he looks fine or should I worry that he's back.

I smile and sway my hands in the air, along with the other girls who got charmed by him. I turned to Seok-kyung and saw her totally focused on him too.

I was shocked by her current reaction. I didn't think she'll notice if I took a picture now, so I took my phone, turned the flash off, and took a photo of her very red face.

'Yah! You better take responsibility for this, Han Seo-jun!'

I smiled as I looked at him with an infatuated look. Seok-kyung's eyes shined as she looked at him, with this smile plastered on it.

'Her cheeks will fall out if she doesn't stop smiling.'

'She totally love-struck.'

'And out of many boys, she chose to actually like this guy?!'

"Who is he?"

He probably noticed me since he smiled in our direction. The song ended, and she suddenly shied away when she saw him walking toward us after setting his guitar down.

"Yo! Han Seo Jun."

"Yo. . .Eun-b. . ."

"Yes, it's me, Ha Eun-byeol."

"When did you come back?"

"Recently. . ."

I eyed him hard before letting him go. 

"So, did you come to see me perform?"

"Of course not! We're here for the fountain dance. You are simply a side dish."

"That hurts."

I felt someone nudging me, so I smiled at Seo-jun widely.

"Ahh. . . By the way, this is my friend, Joo Seok-kyung. . . Kyung-ah, this idiotic-looking guy is an old friend of mine, Han Seo-jun."

"Ahh. . . Hi! I'm Joo Seok-kyung."

"Hi!"

"Are you still staying here for the fountain dance?"

"Of course. We came here for that, you know."

I noticed her looking a bit hopeful, so I smiled and asked him to stay.

"We haven't eaten yet, so if you want, join us for the fountain dance, then let's all get dinner. Your friends can come too. . ."

"I like that idea."

"Do you mind if I stay?"

He leaned toward Seok-kyung and asked her with a smile.

I shook my head in disapproval as I noticed him already knowing his effect on her.

"No. . . You can join us. . ."

'This is a new version of Seok-kyung. . .'

. . . .

His friends couldn't join us because it was a bit late already, as it was already 7 pm, but he stayed to accompany us. He and Seok-kyung kept talking while I focused on the fountain dance and took a video of it.

'I'll send a copy to Kyung later since I am quite sure she's not really watching any of it.' and probably tease her so much about it too.

I also sent a message to Seok-hoon earlier in the afternoon to cover for us since we'll be late. He replied with an okay sign and told me that he'll be staying in the cafe as an excuse to study Seok-kyung.

'So the parents are taken care of already.'

. . . . .

Seok-kyung pov:

So Eun-byeol and Seo-jun-shii are friends. I can't believe my luck. I thought I'll only be seeing him today but to be able to talk to him is a bonus.

He asked me many questions while we watched the fountain dance, like where I go and my hobbies.

He also asked about my favorite dishes. He also asked if I liked his song earlier.

"So seo-jun shii, do you usually perform here?"

"Just when I'm in the mood."

"But you go to Cheong-ah too, huh. . ."

"Why?"

"Ah. . . nothing. I just thought how nice it would be if we could meet in one school."

'I also think so too. . .'

"Ah. . . The dance ended. . ."

I turned to the dance, and it was indeed finished. I wasn't able to watch it. I felt embarrassed about being too obvious about my feelings for him.

"Yes, it did. So let's go eat dinner."

Eun-byeol replied with a smirk.

'She noticed!'

'This is so embarrassing.'

She looked at me with a raised brow and a playful smirk playing between her lips.

"I'm hungry; what should we eat?"

"It's already late, though."

"Ahh, don't worry about it! I messaged your brother to cover for us."

"Let's go then. I know a good place for dinner."

Seo-jun happily said as he both put his arms on our shoulders and led us to the direction of our dinner place.

. . . .

Eun-bi pov:

"Good night Kyung-ah. . ."

"Yes, thank you for today."

I smiled at her delighted look as I entered my own pad and immediately lay on my bed, tired.

I closed my eyes, resting my tired self, 'I guess this is enough rapport.'

"She isn't so bad. She's just. . . . unhappy."

"Joo Seok-kyung, maybe I was too biased with her that I didn't see any of her pain properly."

"If Seok-hoon is being beaten by Joo Dan-tae, I'm sure she's experiencing the same thing."

"B*STARD!"

I was about to sleep when I received a call from . . Seo-jun?

"What does this guy need?"

I answered to a very happy Seo-jun.

On the phone:

SJ: hey!

EB: What?

SJ: Why are you pretending to be Eun-byeol?

EB: None of your business.

SJ: I actually called because of Seok-kyung. . .

EB: First name basis in just one night.

SJ: (chuckle) can I have her phone number?

I frowned, keeping my silence.

EB: Seo-jun, don't play with her. She's. . . . She already has too much on her plate.

SJ: HAHAHAHA! am I really that low. . . ?

EB: Not her. She's already too unstable. If you do anything to hurt her, I will cut that "little" partner of yours!

SJ: YAH!!

EB: See you when I see you, Han Seo-jun.

End of phone call. . .

After I ended the call, I stared at my reflection in the mirror in front of my bed.

'I'm already lying and deceiving her enough, don't add more of us to the list of people lying to her.'

'She doesn't deserve that much pain, Han Seo-jun!'

. . . .

Seok-hoon pov:

I smiled while I watched Seok-kyung eat.

She's happier.

Since yesterday.

'Is she happy to go on a date with Eun-byeol?'

'I'm happy that they're finally getting along with each other. One less problem for me.'

The two leaned on the elevator as it went down.

"How was yesterday?"

"Hmm. . . It's fun!"

"You should've at least left a message. I was worried when I didn't see you at school."

"Oppa. . . I kind of like Eun-byeol now. She's different."

"Ahh. . . Yes, I noticed it too."

"We should visit Eun-byeol more often. She's staying alone in her pad now."

I only nodded as she continued chattering about what they did yesterday on the way to school and even after reaching school.

"She kept losing on the basket shooting, so she'll be treating me for 2 weeks to lunch."

I listened throughout as she told me everything. I've never seen my sister this happy in a very long while.

'Thank you, Ha Eun-bi.'

I patted her as we reached the door of our class.

"Let's talk about it later. We're already here."

"Eun-byeol. . ."

She called for her first when she saw her inside while Eun-byeol looked very sleepy.

"Good morning Seok-kyung."

"You look. . ."

"Seok-kyung. . . A present will be arriving later."

"Huh? Present? You bought something."

"Umm. . . you'll see."

She only smiled at my sister and went back to sleep.

We all took our seats when the bell rang, and our homeroom arrived with the news.

"Guys, we all have a transfer student, so quiet."

A flashy guy with a decorated school uniform that isn't Cheong-ah's came in with a smirk. He turned to Eun-byeol, who was only looking bored at her, and then to my sister, who had a wide smile.

"Han Seo-jun!"

She stood up and smiled more widely as he smiled back at her.

"Anyone! My name is Han Seo-jun. A transfer to the piano department."

. . . .

TO BE CONTINUED