57 "The Sweetest Person I've ever known..."

All the girls were listening to Mia. Especially, So Hee who was so much interested in such things.

Suddenly a figure passed by her, towards Mia. 'Oh! It's him.' So Hee thought. 'He is good looking…'

The guy stood beside Mia and as he was about to tell her the class, she said, "This is him, girls. My childhood best friend. The sweetest person I've ever known.

Do Jun!"

She introduced him with a huge smile and looked at him.

Other girls also looked at him, expecting an introduction or else a small greeting from him.

But Jun was just giving Mia a cold stare. And then without saying a word he just turned his back to go like he didn't even know her.

"Hey…" Mia called him.

Without turning back, he said, "If you ever introduce me like that…I don't know you anymore! And I am not interested in any of your friends so don't bother introducing me!"

"How rude!" So Hee said as she stepped towards him angrily.

"Hey, hey So Hee…" Mia came forward. "Don't misunderstand…He just doesn't like when I tell about him to others…"

"So what? Is it the way to talk to his friend like that? And about us also?"

"Please, calm down So Hee…Why are you getting so angry?" April said.

So Hee was still staring him from back.

"Let's go and see our classes…okay?" Mia tried to divert the subject.

"Yeah..yeah.." April also said.

So Hee finally looked at them and as they were about to go,

"1-B." Everyone looked back, hearing Jun's voice.

Mia got that it was for her, she just smiled while looking at Jun going away from them.

"And you said he is the sweetest person!" So Hee said with a sarcastic tone.

"He is….But he is just…not familiar with you guys…." Mia tried explaining.

"That's okay So Hee. Why are you making an issue?" April said.

"Issue? I am not making an issue." So Hee said.

"Does anyone want to go to their classes? Or are we going to stay here and argue for the whole day?" Ye Rin who was silent for all this time, spoke up.

And all the girls walked towards the notice board without a second word.

~

Mia and Ye Rin were in class 1-B.

April was in class 1-C while Hana, who joined them afterwards, and So Hee were in class 1-D.

~

The first day of high school started with a little bit arguments, but the rest of the day was a lousy one. Introduction to others, to teachers and discussion of syllabus….that's all.

The school was over. Mia was standing at the school gate, looking at the cherry blossom tree, which was standing beside the fence. The blooming season was at the verge so few flowers were still on the tree.

'This brings back memories..…'

"Hey, Mia!" A cheerful voice came from a distance; she turned back in the direction and found Ray coming towards her.

A smile appeared on her face as she saw him. 'Just now I was thinking about him….' She thought to herself.

He came before her, "Where were you? I didn't see you for the whole day." He said.

"Umm….Yeah…I was also wondering that…" She said.

"I didn't recognize you at first. This dress and you've changed your hairstyle too…"

"Hm…" Mia looked down while tucking her bangs behind her ear.

"….You look nice!" He said.

Mia looked up at him in surprise; her cheeks turning red a bit.

He realized what he just said. He quickly looked in the other direction.

Suddenly, "HEY! OVER HERE BUDDY." Ray shouted and started waving his hand in the direction he was looking. Mia also looked in that way.

'Jun?'

Jun was just out from the school building. And as he looked at Ray, he started walking towards him.

'Ray?...Jun?...How?' Mia was confused.

As Jun came closer he noticed Mia standing behind Ray. With a hint of confusion he approached Ray.

"Hey Ray…"

"Here Jun. Meet Mia. A very good friend of mine. Actually my first ever friend at this school." Ray introduced her happily.

Jun didn't say anything but looked at her with his usual expressions.

"And Mia.." Ray said further, "This is—"

"I know him." Mia cut through his sentence. "He is Do Jun."

Ray looked surprised. "How do you know him?"

Mia looked at Jun and raised her eyebrows and tilted her head. As if asking, 'Do you want me to introduce you the way I did earlier?'

Understanding what Mia wanted to say, he spoke up quickly, "She is…" Ray looked in his direction. "…my neighbor!"

Mia looked at him frowned.

"Oh! So you two are neighbors!" Ray said looking at both of them.

Jun nodded while Mia didn't do anything. 'Why did he tell that I am his neighbor?'

"So were you waiting for him earlier?" Ray asked Mia.

"Umm…Actually…"

"Yes! I am new in the city. So she is like my guide. She'll be showing me roads for some days." Jun said with a teasing tone and looked at Mia's pouting face. It was clear she didn't like it.

Looking at her face, it was hard for Jun to control his laugh. He shut his lips tightly.

"Oh..That's nice…" Ray smiled a bit.

"So how do you know him?" Mia asked turning to Ray.

"Oh! We are both in the same class, 1-C."

"Oh…"

"And it won't be wrong, if I say I am his first friend in this school. Isn't that right, Jun?" Ray went towards Jun and put his arm around his neck.

"Hm." Jun just hummed.

Mia's face got relieved hearing that. 'It's nice that he got a friend on the very first day…I thought it would be difficult…But its better that Ray is his friend now…'

"I am going now. It's getting late. I have to go to the Football practice."

"Oh, Okay." Mia said.

"Bye, then. See you tomorrow, both of you." Ray said and walked towards the school's bicycle stand.

Mia waved him goodbye and without even looking at Jun, she started walking.

Jun understood that she was mad at him. Controlling his laughter he started walking beside her. As he did that, Mia walked a bit faster and went ahead of him. Jun caught up with her and started walking beside her. She again increased her speed. He again paced up with her. But she did it again.

"Do you want me to run home now?" Jun asked.

"I am your guide, aren't I?" Mia said with sarcasm, without turning back. "So I should walk ahead of you."

"Ohhh…Really?" Jun said teasingly. "So where is your flag?"

"Huh?"

"You know the flag…the guides hold in their hands to show the way." Jun walked faster and caught up with her.

"And am I the only one tourist? Tsk Tsk Tsk….What kind of Tourism Company has only one customer?" And he started laughing on this. "Hahaha!!"

Mia looked at him. "You are the one who made me "guide", did you forget already?"

On this Jun started laughing even louder. Mia pouted again.

"Why did you say that?" She asked. Jun didn't answer and instead kept looking at her face.

'She looks so funny with this expression…' He thought.

Both of them slowed down their pace and started walking normally.

"And what about that? Why did you lie about us being neighbors?" Mia asked.

"I didn't lie. We are neighbors. Your Nana and my Grandma live next to each other, and as far as I know, that is what a "neighbor" is." Jun's light sarcastic tone, made Mia look at him with narrowed eyes.

"What?" Jun said as he saw Mia's eyes. "Do you expect me to introduce you, the way you did this morning?"

With a girly voice, imitating Mia, Jun said "…"She is my childhood best friend. The sweetest person I've ever known!! Lee Mia! Hihihihi"…" And Jun gave a smile just like Mia did this morning.

On this, Mia came towards him and hit him.

"Ow! It hurts!" He stepped away from her.

"This is what you get for teasing me." She came towards him and again hit him.

"Ow!" Trying to get away from her he walked faster, so she did too. Soon he began to run and so she also began to follow him running.

And at the end…She made him RUN home! Just like he said earlier!

~