Two

The unfriendly attention from the students proved to be only temporary and when I entered the cafeteria I was nearly long forgotten. Eunwoo seemed to be the only one excited with my presence. He handed me a tray of food, still wearing his sweet smile and sparkly eyes. The cafeteria was filled with chatter and laughs and voices, the noise making me incredibly uncomfortable. Eunwoo and I found seats at an empty table. I picked at my food, not interested nor hungry. Meanwhile Eunwoo was stuffing his face happily and I was envious of his big appetite. I was already thin as it was, yet I was rarely hungry.

Ignoring my food, I looked up and scanned the room, looking for Jangmin. He still hadn't returned from the bathrooms and it was making me anxious. Had he run away? Was he in trouble?

"Soohyun! Didn't you hear me?" Eunwoo's voice made me look down in surprise, seeing that two students had sat at the table. The girl had long straight black hair that fell past her waist. I recognized her as Jangmin's deskmate. The guy, a tall dude dressed in a pink sweater; looked very childish and cheery with fluffy hair and big eyes. I gave them both a nod.

"Hello."

"In case you didn't hear me Soohyun, these are my closest friends. Sanha and Baeksoon."

"Hello! I hear you're new to public school. Have you really been home schooled your entire life?" The guy named Sanha leaned forward, looking scarily intimidating. I blinked and pulled away,

"Yes.."

"Stop scaring her Sanha" Baeksoon tugged her friend back by the arm. He sat back and gave her a pouty face,

"What? It's just a question."

"Do.. do you guys know where Jangmin is?" I spoke up suddenly, gaining attention from all three students. Eunwoo dropped his chopsticks and looked around suddenly,

"That's true. He disapeared."

"Oh you mean your boyfriend?" Baeksoon asked, and my eyes widened at her question.

"He's not my boyfriend, he's my twin brother."

"Twin brother?! Awesome." Sanha's eyes were sparkling. I looked back at Eunwoo who was wearing a thoughtful expression.

"You don't think he decided to run away, do you?" His eyes flicked back to me and I blinked as they met mine, startling me for a split second.

"um.. uh.. I don't think so. I don't think he'd run anywhere without taking me."

As if he knew we were talking about him, Jangmin walked through the doors of the cafeteria, grabbing a tray and heading towards our table. I was shocked at the state he was in. A bruise on his cheek, blood pooling around his bottom lip.

"Oh my gosh! What happened to you??" Baeksoon covered her mouth with a hand. I quickly pulled out a chair for my brother and tried to read his face. Had he gotten into a fight? Did he fall? His expression told me nothing and he only proceeded to eat his food, not saying a word. Sanha, Baeksoon, and Eunwoo were speechless, each one looking equally surprised at the scene. I turned back to my own food; the light and happy feeling gone. I wanted to ask Jangmin what was wrong, what happened, and how he was feeling. Yet ever since the incident we hadn't been able to talk freely like we used to. It was heartbreaking, the further we drifted from each other.

At least he's eating something...

A moment passed in awkward silence.

"Well I heard you guys moved from Seoul, what's it like there?" Baeksoon did her best to start a conversation but to hear her speak about the move from Seoul only made me more anxious.

"Um, It's.. It's nice."

"It's better than here; the streets are always bursting with people. There's always something to do, somewhere to go, something to see. It feels brighter there, freer." Jangmin didn't look up from his plate as he spoke.

It was true, all that he said. I felt the same way. Seoul was a happy place in our memories. A place where we ran together through the streets and bought snacks. We'd ride the morning train and see the river, go help out the old man at the dock. There was never a dull day, never a day when the sun went behind the clouds. But here, it felt like I was suffocating. It felt like I was trapped underwater, constantly fighting to breathe; drowning. Maybe it was because Mother was no longer here, there was no more of her beautiful voice singing in the morning to wake us up. No longer could we pick flowers alongside the roads with her, go fishing, and shop all evening at the mall.

Now, it was as if the sun itself was blotted out. We woke up to the yelling of our Uncle, a man we had never even met before. Staying in an unfamiliar house. It was hard, my mind still hadn't processed anything. Everything happened and just like that; we were orphans.

"Oh.. sounds wonderful. I've always wanted to visit." Eunwoo must've noticed the sadness in my brother's voice because he looked less enthusiastic.

"Yah! Why are you crying Soohyun?!" Sanha was staring at me with wide eyes. I put my hand to my eyes, finding tears on my cheeks. It was happening again. As quickly as I could I wiped them away.

This was so embarrassing.

Suddenly I felt Jangmin's hand slip into mine under the table. He squeezed it gently as if to say sorry for bringing up Seoul. I managed a smile at the three other students.

"I'm alright, just..."

"Allergies. She gets them a lot around this time of the year." Jangmin told them. I felt a rush of relief and squeezed his hand back.

It was back to class after that, sitting in the uncomfortable seat and leaning over; writing and writing. My head hurt from staring at the problems over and over, the teacher's words ringing in my head. Jangmin had gone to the nurse's to treat his wounds. He still hadn't told me what had happened.

I thought that the day would never end. I was finishing a problem when I felt something hit the back of my head. I turned around, startled. One of the class's louder students was sitting in his seat, smirking at me. A crumpled piece of notebook paper lay on the floor. I dropped my eyes and turned back in my seat; trying to ignore the urge to cry. Why didn't he like me? What did I do wrong?

Again the paper ball hit my head but this time I bit my lip and pretended it hadn't happened. I clutched my pencil in my hand, feeling angry. That student deserved to be yelled at.

"Soohyun! What are you doing?" Eunwoo whispered desperately, breaking me from my daze. My pencil was broken in half in my palm. I felt tears on my face again. This was stupid. Pushing back my chair I stood up suddenly, surprising the entire class.

"Soohyun!!" The teacher snapped at me, yet I ignored her. The student sitting behind me was still grinning like an idiot. I felt my blood boil and hurled the broken peices of my pencil at him, storming from the room.

I can't do this anymore.

I ran through the halls, desperate to be alone, desperate to be anywhere but here. I wanted to die, I wanted to be gone from this place. I felt my feet carrying me up the stairs, up to the rooftop.

"Soohyun! Soohyun wait!" I heard Eunwoo's voice calling me. I ran faster from him. This was so embarrassing; I didn't want to live another day.

Flinging open the rooftop door, I felt suddenly more relaxed at the cool air. I fell onto my knees, dropping my face in my hands. I was sobbing, I was sitting on the school roof sobbing. I had never cried like this when mother had died. It had been just a white shock, a deep sadness. Now, I couldn't keep it back. It was if floodgates had been opened and a everything was coming out.

"Soohyun." I didn't look up to see him, yet I knew Eunwoo was standing there. I didn't want him to see me, I didn't anyone to see me. Wiping the tears with my shirt sleeve I tried to regain my composure.

"Go away Eunwoo"

I guess he didn't want to listen to me because a moment later he was squatting down before me, peering into my swolen eyes. I avoided his gaze.

Youre so stupid Soohyun... Why do you embarrass yourself like this?

I had been so sure I would be the best student, good at making friends and getting good grades. Maybe I wasn't fit for school.

I felt Eunwoo's hand rest on my hair. He patted my head gently, his adorable smile spreading on his face again,

"Goodness, look at you. Your hair's a mess." He tipped his head, trying to look into my eyes again. I stood up and pulled away from him, hastily wiping my tears. Eunwoo just stood watching, his hands in his pockets.

"I'm sorry about Myungjun, he teases all the girls."

Now that Eunwoo said it in that way it made me even more embarrassed. I was overreacting, I was being a such a baby, and I hated myself for it. I tried to fix my hair,

"No; I'm sorry Eunwoo, I shouldn't have reacted like that." My voice was still choked with tears though I was trying to keep it level. Eunwoo suddenly stepped towards me, putting his hands on my shoulders and looking into my eyes. I blinked up at him in surprise. My heart was thumping in my chest, so fast I thought it was going to explode. Then he smiled, making my stomach do flips, how did he manage to make me such a mess? Why did I feel so hot? Why did my cheeks feel so warm?

Grasping my shoulders, he pulled me into his chest. I sucked in a breath, shocked at the sudden action. I heard his heartbeat. It was beating quickly, so quickly that I wondered if his was going to explode too. Was he okay? He had just run up three flights of stairs after me. He patted my back,

"It's okay to feel sad." He said softy. I didn't realize I was holding my breath until he stepped back, his eyes sparkling. I breathed in shakily.

It was only a short hug, but it had felt so warm. I couldn't remember the last time I'd hugged someone. I stood before him, bewildered. A few minutes before I was angry and sad and upset. Now, I felt warm, I felt happier, I felt thankful.

"Let's go back to class, I'm sure Mrs. Jang has plenty of punishment points for us." He grabbed my wrist and pulled me with him, wearing his bright smile again.

"Punishment points?" It sounded scary. Eunwoo laughed,

"Hey, you ran away from class; remember?"

Strangely enough I felt like laughing too at the situation. Was this Cha Eunwoo a wizard? He seemed to spread warmth with a single smile. Yet I was thankful, I was thankful for that smile.