Aug 20, 2011 20:45
Eun Aera walked into the classroom, the air filled with a curious buzz. She took a deep breath and walked in, smiling to everyone she made eye contact with. She stood beside the teacher and smiled pleasantly at everyone, while Miss Park introduced her. "This is Eun Aera, and she shall be joining us in class 2-B. I hope everyone makes her feel welcome." she then turned to Aera. "You can have that seat over there. Ethan! Raise your hand so Aera can see where she can sit beside."
Aera looked up to see a boy with jet black hair that fell over his eyes raise his hand and she walked towards him obediently, keeping her head down. She knows that it's important to make friends on her first day; but she was very nervous! She sat down and, still feeling the looks of the other students, flushed slightly as she got her pen and paper out. She felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned and saw the same guy who raised his hand.
"Hey," he whispered, minding the teacher. Aera liked the timbre of his voice. It was smooth and deep, so she leaned in closer. "My friends and I eat the the rooftop. You wanna hang around with us?"
Aera nodded her head, suddenly shy. He grinned at her and took out his hand. "Ethan Calago at your service, ma'am."
She smiled at him sweetly and shook his hand. "Eun Aera, nice to meet you."
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She was rather startled when she saw the people he hung around with. There was Hyoyeon, who had so many piercings in her ears that it was a wonder she could even lift her head, which was dyed blonde. there was also Jaejoong, whose tattoos can be seen even through his white shirt, but he had a very soft face. And there were more people, but they all treated her like they've known her for years.
She was just coming back from another dinner time spent with her new friends when she passed a group of girls in the corridor. They stopped talking as soon as they saw her and glared at her. She wondered why as she hurried past to meet Ethan in the maths room for tutoring.
She wasn't the best mathematician, so she was worried if she'd be up to scratch with her new school and all. Ethan was apparently the best in the school. There were so many things she liked about him already; he was kind, playful, teases her but is not unkind... and he gives her beautifully warm feelings every time he smiles at her. She smiled at herself before entering the maths room.
He was casually leaning back on his chair's two back legs and grinned at her when she came in. When she bowed, he set the chair down on its four legs and greeted her well. "So you wanna get started?"
"Please," she said, and smiled sweetly. She scooted her chair a bit closer to him and leaned over to see his examples. They were half way into the session when she flicked over to the next page. She frowned when she saw a small sticky on the page, with the words, 'Can I keep you?' written in Ethan's neat scrawl. Her eyes went wide in surprise and looked at him wildly. He shrugged at her.
"I'd like to make you my girlfriend," he muttered, looking down on the note. "I quite like you."
Aera paused for a few moments before she grinned widely and rested her head against his shoulder. She smiled against his shirt and said, "Okay."
Ethan was quite taken aback, but he too smiled and kissed the top of her head, wrapping an arm around her shoulder and squeezing her closer.
They didn't know that they were being watched by a group of extremely jealous fan girls.
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"Ahh, sorry babe," Ethan said apologetically as he let go of Aera's hand. It had been two months since they had started dating, and they were already very well known throughout the school as the 'Lovely Couple'. Ethan with his handsome looks and good charm, Aera with her pretty face and kind personality. "I need to go to swimming practise. It'll take hours so you'll have to go home without me," he kissed her lips briefly and cupped her cheeks. "Will you be fine without me?"
She punched him playfully on the shoulder. "Of course I will! I don't depend on you all the time!"
He smirked at her and gave her one final kiss. "I intend to rectify that matter." He stepped back and waved at her as he ran off. She smiled after him, like a love-sick fool and headed towards home. It was only a ten minute walk away but she hasn't walked home alone since she started dating Ethan. She was already very lonely without the warmth of his hand through hers.
Suddenly she had the sense that she was being followed. She used the side mirror of a nearby car to see who was following her. It was the same group of girls who had glared at her. Come to think of it, she's seen many of them before and they had never given her the warmest of welcomes to their school. She kept walking, her pace much faster now. She hoped she'd reach the train station and lose them there. As soon as she reached the small alleyway that was the shortest cut to the train station, she was roughly pushed next to a dumpster.
She looked up, terrified, into the eyes of a cold stare. "You little bitch," she hissed. "Who do you think you are, pretending to be his girlfriend?"
"I'm not pretending anything," she bit back. "And I'm going home." She tried to push past, but was violently thrown back against the wall. She grunted and looked up at them. ""What do you want?" she whispered in defeat.
"Stop your relationship with Ethan," another girl from the back said. The other nodded their head in agreement. The woman in the front, who seemed the be the leader said, "And don't you dare tell us we're responsible for your break-up. Because I heard he hasn't even said he loved you once. So," she smirked. "You can stop pretending."
Aera shrank back in defeat. No, that was true. Not once did he say anything along those lines. As the girls left, satisfied with their approach, Aera was left to think about what had happened. They were right in a sense; Ethan didn't really say he loved her. But he does spend every moment he can with her, and he has been the sweetest boyfriend so far. But does he really want to take it a step further and tell her she had a place in his heart?
Her own squeezed in pain, making her shut her eyes to keep the tears she had hidden. She wanted to know. She just had to.
As soon as she got home, she spent hours thinking about it. Should she call him? It seemed childish just to think about it; after all, she was blissfully happy before they turned up. And why should she let them ruin her happiness? But then... she was also in need of clarification. She wanted, no... needed to hear the words from him. So that she knows that she's really loved, not just some random arm candy to show off to his friends.
Her phone rang, just as she made up her mind. Her mind went berserk and completely lost her train of thoughts. Should she? Shouldn't she? She decided to pick up her phone anyway.
"Hey!" Ethan's voice said cheerily through the speaker. Her heart ached just at the thought of his face. She sank to the floor and clutched her chest. "I meant to call you during half-time, but coach is being a dick today and said there was to be no break. He's pretty mean to us right?"
"Yeah," she said weakly.
"I have a massive pain in my neck from doing sit-ups," he complained as she heard him stretch about. "I must've pulled something or did something to my neck. But it's really painful and-"
"Ethan."
"Oh, yeah?"
"... Let's break up."
A few moments of silence reigned. Then, he quickly said: "Where are you?"
"I'm at home," too broken to say anything else, she hoped he won't ask anything else.
"Wait there. I'm coming."
She frowned at her phone before turning it off and throwing it under her bed. She wrapped her arms around her and rested her head on her knees. She wondered if she can get through tonight without crying or making a complete and total fool of herself. It was her decision to end it, and it was probably going to be her fault if he's angry at her. So she has no one to blame but herself. But... she really wanted to hear him say I love you instead of 'I like you' and 'You're important to me'. They were words that melted her heart, but not enough to touch it in a way no one ever had.
The front door banged and she jumped. She quickly composed herself and went towards the door, wiping her eyes and nose along the way. She opened it and was quickly swept into a fierce hug by a very cold, very sweaty and incredibly emotional Ethan. Aera felt herself sniffle and tears started to flow.
"Don't break up with me," he said in an achingly devastated voice. "Whatever you don't like about me, I'll change it. I don't care how much I change of myself, I just want you to stay by my side." he held her at arm's length and found his eyes were swelling with tears. "Don't you dare tell me you're giving up on me for another guy."
"No, it's not like that!" she quickly said, tears flowing freely now, with no hope of stopping.
"Why are you breaking up with me?" he demanded. His grip on her shoulder tightened. "Is it because of my friends? I know you're intimidated by them. Is it because I'm smart, and everyone tells me I should dumb down? Because you know I love you Aera. Trust me when I say that," he caressed her cheek lovingly and pressed his forehead against hers. "Aera, please don't do this. I love you."
She cried a fresh flood of tears and wrapped her arms around his neck. "I love you too. I'm so sorry."
He gripped her even tighter, returning her hug with a fiercer squeeze. "I'll tell you that everyday from now on. I promise."
She smiled against his shoulder. They really didn't need anything else; the realisation made her feel stupid for listening to those malicious women. From now on, it was just her and Ethan. Every day, for the next lifetime.