Do you remember?
How you were the first to stand out from the crowd.
You. Park Jimin.
You were the boy who smiled. You were the boy who everyone loved.
You were the class joker. The mischief student. The carefree one.
I. Ha-Nari.
I was simply the opposite.
Class assignments were handed out.
It wasn't individual this time.
I found partner or group work difficult. I wasn't a social person to start with.
When the teacher announced that it was in pairs, I already knew I was going to be the odd one out.
Even though the class had even numbers, someone always found an excuse to make a group of three upon knowing that I was their partner.
I rather liked working individually.
I would be alone in my own ideas, free to make any choices.
I opened the small piece of paper, reading the number.
My eyes travelled across the room, finding everyone already in their pairs.
My eyes met those of another lone girl's.
She tossed away the paper in her hand. My partner must've been her.
My supposed partner walked over to your group.
How likeable were you Park Jimin.
You now had 2 girls by your side.
"Who hasn't got a partner?" The teacher called out, seeing me stand alone. She looked in my direction.
A feeling of dread overcame me. I felt the spotlight being turned to me.
And I was right. Everyone was now looking at me.
I felt the lump forming in my throat.
My eyes darted to my notebook, feeling the stiffness in my legs.
A thousand eyes were on me. They were watching me.
Each of them was watching me.
The air was cut short in my lungs. My lips quivered.
"I'll be her partner."
Your voice cut through the thick tension.
"I'll be Ha-Nari's partner."
My eyes shifted to you. Yours landed on me.
Your soft gaze captivated me. The slight dipping of your dark eyebrows and eyelids had me do the same.
The moment you took that step forward.
I heard the world silence at your move.
In that second, the crisp sound of your shoes on the wooden floor came to my ears.
I saw the world slowly melt away at your approach.
And all that was left, was your heartwarming smile.
You.
Park Jimin.
You took a step closer to me.
