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Man… Those three months went by fast! I can't believe it's the first day of classes again!
I also can't believe that I'm in my senior year either. One more year and I'm finally a high school graduate!
I enter our classroom, smelling fresh and clean. The chairs are new too! It feels nice just by sitting on it. The school must've done a general clean up during our vacation. What a shame though. They could've done that when I first entered this high school.
As I look around, I hear Goeun and Jieun enter the room and call out my name. I smiled and waved as they went to their seats.
I was by the door when a girl who I've never seen before suddenly entered the room.
A new student? This should be interesting.
I wanted to introduce myself to her but she looked shy. I decided to let her be and went back with…
Wait… what was I doing?
It's like she made me forget everything the moment I saw her.
I felt my heart race. What is this feeling that I feel for her? Infatuation? Happiness?
I'll find out soon. I shook it off for now. Probably means nothing.
The new girl was sitting right in front of me and it was hard focusing my attention on my teacher.
She was a distraction. But a pretty one.
I haven't seen her smile yet so I couldn't say anything about it. Her hair however… Her hair was wavy. She's also a brunette.
Huh. I never realised how pretty she is until now. I can tell that she's talented as well. I mean, a pretty girl is a talented girl, right?
As classes ended, Goeun and Jieun approached her like the nice girls they are.
Wait no, come back you two! Don't leave me here all alone in my seat.
Lord help me please.
They talked to her…
And the girl… looked at me…
Our eyes made contact…
And that's when I finally saw her smile for the first time.
My hand raised on its own, waving at her…
And she waved back.
Months have passed since our first meeting. The classroom had a seating arrangement change. She was placed behind me. And ever since that day, she started throwing paper plane letters at me and attaching sticky notes on my back.
With how annoyed I was, I threw her stuff back at her. I didn't mean to, but how can it not get annoying when it happens to you almost everyday?
But no matter how much I get annoyed and irritated with her, all she does is smile at me. She laughs when she's in a better mood.
How can that be? How is she not intimidated by me with the way I treat her when she does the things she does to me?
Because deep down, I don't mean all the horrible things I do to her.
I like her. But I don't know how to tell her.
At the end of the day, she was always on my mind. I see her with her friends, happy as she always is. One of them being Jieun's girlfriend and the other being Goeun's crush. The youngest one I assume is Jieun's sister, Sujin. Does this girl ever get sad? Or maybe she does and she's just hiding it?
Ah… I shouldn't be thinking too much of her or else I'll just end up hurting myself.
But I can't. I can't get her out of my head.
I have to tell her soon before it's too late.
A few months have passed. Finally, Valentine's day arrived.
I arrived a bit early in school that day to work on schoolworks that I wasn't able to accomplish last night. As I was about to enter the classroom, I peaked by the window and noticed that someone was already there.
It's her. But, for once she doesn't have a smile on her face.
What's going on? Even the first thing in the morning, I always get greeted by the smile on her face. Why do I feel like my heart had shattered into a million pieces when I saw that her smile had faded away?
What's bothering her? Should I ask? What should I do?
My seat was in front of hers, so she couldn't help but notice me coming in.
She looked at me with sadness in her eyes.
"Oh… hi. You're early today" she said.
"So are you. Are you okay? You don't look like yourself today."
She stood up and handed me a paper plane.
"For once, try opening it." she said.
"What?"
I'm scared. What does she mean by that?
More importantly, what's written in this paper?
I unfolded the paper plane, and I can't believe what I'm seeing.
I read what was written slowly and softly.
"I… like you?"
I looked at her and finally her smile grew back. Not a joyful smile, but a smile of appreciation. A thank you for finally reading one of her paper planes.
"Those paper planes and sticky notes… Is this what you've been trying to tell me for the past few months?" I asked.
"I'm sorry I couldn't tell you verbally. I may look like a sociable person, but I get shy sometimes especially when it comes to you."
"But why? Why did you keep trying?"
I can see the tears in her eyes. I started to tear up as well. It hurts seeing her like this. But it hurts even more knowing that I caused her sadness.
"I'm bad with words but I'll try my best. We may not talk a lot, but a voice inside me told me that one day we'll get along. The day when we locked eyes, I felt my heart race as if it was love at first sight. The rest of my feelings are indescribable. I kept trying because I believe that we-"
I've heard enough.
I cupped both sides of her face and kissed her.
Tears started flowing down my face. Seconds later I felt her tears running down my fingers.
Neither of us wanted to pull away. But oxygen was mean to us, forcing ourselves to pull away.
I lowered my head as we pulled away. I can't look at her with my pathetic looking puffy eyes. My hands were shaking as I rested them on her shoulders. She placed her fingers on my chin, pulling my head up.
"Eunseong." She calls out my name.
"Seoyoung."
"We'll make this work, right?"
For the first time, she finally gets to see me smile.
"Yes. And if we don't, at least we tried."
"Well, you kissed me first, I doubt you'll ever get tired of me."
Seoyoung laughed afterwards.
Lord, I hope I won't ever get tired of her. Because honestly? She's the best thing you've ever given me.
My angel, Irene.
Cho Seoyoung…
I'm sorry I took so long. Thank you for not giving up on me.
I love you. And I always will.
Happy Valentine's day to me indeed. I finally got the girl I've liked since day 1.