Friend, Our Legend: Beginnings, one
“Have you seen that freshman already?“
“Which one do you mean? There are a thousand of them!”
“You know, that tall guy with the huge eyes… he’s got quite a tan. Oh, and he’s wearing a dark polo shirt. You’ve got to know who I mean! He’s the hot topic among all the trainees! I think they’re getting shown around the building right now.”
“Oh my God!” - another girl jumped in the discussion - “I know which one you mean, Nana! I almost bumped into him before getting into class! He’s gorgeous!”
Reluctantly, I lifted my head out of my sleeping position and squinted dozily. What are those girls making a fuss about? It's only ten in the morning, for goodness’ sake.
“Girls have you heard; the freshmen are just about outside our classroom! Maybe we can get a look at ‘em!”
Half of the girls in our class got up out of their seats and ran towards the window to press their faces against it to have a good view. Is that dude really that handsome to react like this? I sighed. Right, today is Freshman’s Day. Exactly one year ago, it was my first time in the SME building too, as a fully accepted trainee. We had been given a tour, had been shown the whereabouts of the classrooms, instructed about the company’s values and our schedules. Time flies way too fast, huh.
“Ah, hyung, you’re finally awake.” Kim Kibum, my classmate and closest friend here at SME showed up from nowhere and handed me a sandwich. “Thanks”, I replied and took a big bite. “Have you seen ‘em?”, Kibum pointed at the girls at the window still agitatedly waiting for the newcomers, while fixing his hair. “Everyone’s excited about the newcomers. Aish, I hope there’ll be some more guys of my age this year, last year was horrible. And hopefully we can talk more about fashion-“
I smiled weakly and turned my head towards the wall clock. Break would be over soon. It was quite possible the freshmen would be attending our next subject, vocal training, my favorite. Suddenly I began to wonder about that guy the girls have swooned over before. Was he a good singer, by chance? As if speaking of the devil, the bell rang exactly at the same moment. The girls by the window ran back to their seats as our teacher entered the room, gesturing to the class to rise up from their seats.
“Dear students”, he cleared his throat, “once more it’s Freshman’s Day, and I beg you to welcome your future classmates and show your best side.” That was the signal for the said freshmen to come in. I knew from experience that newcomers get divided into groups for the first day, so that’s why “only” hundred of them were here, filling the whole classroom nevertheless. Out of curiosity (and to relieve some of my boredom, to be honest), I searched the timid crowd for the rumored handsome guy, which was easier said than done. Out of this hundred people, who was he?
“Nana, Nana, there!!”, I heard the same two girls from before whispering. God, that was becoming a pain in the ass. They were tugging the addressed girl’s sleeve, which complained that she couldn’t see him. “Of course you can! He’s right there standing in the front!” Giggles. Annoying, but helpful. Instead of listening to my teacher’s speech, I searched the crowd again - and, no mistake possible - hit pay dirt: there was a tanned, slender guy my age who stood out. He wore a dark polo and put his hands in his pockets. I sighed again - was he lucky to be that damn tall. Slowly, I felt less dislike for the girls standing in front of me. I eyed him more closely. He had a small face and huge eyes, right - seemed to concentrate fully on whatever my teacher was babbling. I didn’t like him. Instantly. And the hell I cared if it was envy - I know guys like him only got chosen by the company because of their looks. No, I didn’t like him. I never will.
But then he looked at me.
I stood there frozen and thought that guy must have read my mind. Why the hell did he have to look here!? He focused his eyes - those cow eyes - on me. Even if I wanted to avert my face, I couldn’t. What did he want!?
This was… just… just… I don’t know?...
I just silently watched as a faint smile lit up his face - and gradually, it turned into a wide, beaming grin, causing the creases around his eyes to deepen. Unable to move as I was, for a few moments, we continued to stare at each other.
Eventually, after humbly bowing his head, he turned it away towards my teacher again, smiling to himself. And I…
Oh, scratch that.