Chapter 29
Never Let Me Go
The next couple of days rolled by, it almost felt like a typical day for me. It feels like it’s going to be a normal day but there will be odd yet mesmerizing moments, where I’ll have butterflies fluttering around my stomach and I would see rainbows and light when I see him smiling at me every morning as he wait for me by my locker. I tried to be a little indifferent about it because I didn’t want to seem like a preoccupied girlfriend but somehow, my brain doesn’t function well whenever he walks into the room.
Jongin’s detention was awfully frustrating. He spent most of his time, after school, cleaning the hallways and helping out Mr. Kwon in preparing the Performing Arts Center for a program to be held by a department. It really because Mr. Kwon can be really severe, he even asked Jongin and some of his ‘detention pals’ to help him out even during their free time. Jongin was, apparently, annoyed but he can’t really complain. He and Jung Hwa had been avoiding each other during their detention, he said to me.
During the last week of his detention, though, I’ve noticed he’s been cleaning the corridors along our newspaper office.
“I’ve been trying to get this corridor for days.” Jongin told me, holding the bar of his mop on his hands. “Mr. Kwon always assigned me to the corridor of Art Department. Until yesterday, I convinced him to assigned me on this corridor.” he beamed, pleased with himself. There were little sweats forming in his forehead and I find myself reaching forward to wipe them away. “At least, I get to see you.” he added and gently smiling at me. “Just leave the door open, okay?” he said, nodding his head towards the office’s door.
I chuckled and nodded my head. “Okay.”
“Hana! There you are.” I turned around and find my co-writer in the newspaper team standing by the office’s doorway. “Mi Young’s looking for you. We need to start working.”
“Yeah, I’ll be right there.” I said to him.
“Who’s that?” Jongin asked as I turned back at him. He was still eyeing the door from which my co-staff was standing at a couple of seconds ago.
“He’s my co-writer, Joon Myun.” I answered him. “You’ve seen him at the cafeteria a few days ago.” I reminded him.
“I don’t remember.” he said casually, his mouth pouting as he speak, almost as if he’s not aware he’s doing it.
He started mopping the floors again when I hid my smile because he looked adorable when he’s jealous—I know he is. While Jongin is popular to a fair number of girls in this school, Kim Joon Myun has his own horde of groupies as well. He’s swoon-worthy, very good-looking and smart.
“We’re just working together for an article for the next publication.” I supplied, giving him a reassuring smile. Jongin merely smiled at me weakly. “I should get going.” I said.
I was going to make my way back to the office’s door when Jongin grabbed my hand, “Leave the door open, okay?” he reminded me, almost urgently.
“Yes, sir.” I answered, stifling a laugh and then I went back inside the office, leaving the door opened.
For the past few days, Joon Myun and I were busy working on our article and brainstorming on ideas. I pretended I didn’t notice but Jongin would always sneak a look through the open door of the office whenever he’s mopping up the corridors or wiping the glass cases along the hallway.
“I heard you’re dating Jongin.” Joon Myun said one Friday afternoon as we started to draft the article.
I glanced over the slightly opened door of the office. Jongin was hurriedly cleaning the glass case across the office. It’s his last day on detention today.
“You heard right.” I said to Joon Myun.
“I didn’t know you like dancers.” he noted, grinning at me playfully.
I chuckled. “Yeah, I didn’t know that, either.” I said.
Joon Myun and I spent the next hour working again. By the time we finished, the sun was already setting. I was gathering my things on the desk when there was a knock on the door, I turned to see Jongin hovering by the door and I automatically smiled at him.
“Are you done yet?” he asked as he approached me.
“Yes.” I said, nodding my head and then I zipped my bag closed. “And you?”
“You can check out the floors outside and see for yourself.” he said, grinning as he reached my desk. “If ever I fail on my academics or in my dancing, at least I know I have a prospect in cleaning.” he said jokingly, making me laugh.
“Hana, look I found some—” Joon Myun began but stopped when he saw me and Jongin looking over him. “Oh, hey.” he said, rather gawkily and nodding his head towards Jongin, who's now wearing a straight expression on his face.
“Jongin, this is Kim Joon Myun.” I said after an awkward pause. “He’s a staff here as well.” I added, injecting more jolly tone in my voice. “And Joon Myun this is Jongin. He’s—“ I abruptly stopped, wondering if I should address
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