"You don't have to walk me to my class" I pleaded again but he shook his head.
I could feel everyone staring in our direction and it was the last thing I wanted right now. I just wanted to lay low and get through my day but like it would happen.
It was like everyone in this school knew the importance of the leather jacket but me.
Like I knew that the people in this maroon leather jacket were important but I didn't actually know why. I wanted San but he was still stuck at practice.
I wanted to ask Taehyun how he got off practice early but I didn't dare do that. He probably would have looked at me like I was stupid.
That was his usual reaction anyway to whatever came out of my mouth.
"I was walking in the same direction anyway, so it is not a big deal," Soobin said with a smile.
This is probably the first time I notice his dimples and I wonder how I missed them before?
His smile was pretty.
Yuri, get your head straight.
I scold myself as soon as that thought crosses my mind.
As for why Soobin was walking with me was because when I got up from my seat and told them I needed to leave for class, he asked me where I was going and then invited himself to come with me.
I just didn't know how to tell him no.
I should really learn to say no.
It would make my life much easier.
As we walked down the hallway, I felt everyone staring in our direction. This time it wasn't discrete as it was in the cafeteria.
People openly ogled at us.
It felt like the spotlight was on us and my skin was burning because of the light.
To say I felt uncomfortable would be an understatement.
However, Soobin was unfazed.
It was as if he was used to it.
His face held a neutral expression but not emotionless. It was polite and he nodded to some people who waved in his direction.
In my view, he resembled more of a politician with a practiced smile knowing exactly what to say rather than a high school student.
Maybe he was the son of a politician. Was there a current politician with the last name Choi?
There were plenty.
It would make sense if he belonged to a family of powerful politicians. It would make sense why he wore that maroon jacket.
Also, about the maroon jacket, I have yet to see anyone else wearing that.
Maybe they don't always wear that?
I mean Beomgyu and Kai did not wear it at the lunch table and Taehyun didn't wear it the first time I met him so yeah, maybe they didn't wear it always.
But it made knowing whom to stay away from even harder.
How many people have I pissed off without even knowing?
I am definitely doomed, right?
I put that thought aside for the time being.
I don't have to think about this right now.
I just wanted him to not be near me because people's gazes followed wherever he went and I didn't want to be in people's eyes.
Nothing good was going to come out of this.
So the faster I can send him his way is better.
Although it still boggles me as why he wanted to walk with me.
Maybe, because he wanted to keep eyes on me and make sure I wasn't causing them any more trouble or something.
I don't know but I didn't want to give myself migraine thinking about it.
I don't realize I am staring at him until his head turns in my direction and he passes me a smile again.
I look ahead.
"So, if you can tell me how I should send you the uniform, that would be great," I say trying to make conversation to fill the silence and also divert my brain from his smile.
"I told you, that's a gift. I don't want it back" he shakes his head.
"But the uniform is really expensive and I cannot accept that from you" I try to reason with him.
"But why?" he stops in his track and looks at me with curious eyes.
It is as if my words don't make sense to him at all.
I feel frustrated going in circles with him.
"Because â because I don't know you. I can't accept something like this from a stranger. And plus, my uniform's fine. It did not stain or anything" I gesture to the uniform I am wearing.
I didn't want to create a scene given how many eyes were on us in the hallway but I was growing really frustrated.
"So if you get to know me then it is okay to accept?" he asks with a playful smile on his face.
I would say it makes him look cuter but it just annoyed me right now.
Just because he is cute does not give him a free pass to annoy me.
"No, that's not what I meant. Just please, I want to give it back. I am sure the damages to the store were much more and you had to pay for it alone. So please, I am sure you've already done enough.
"You don't have to worry about the store. I got it handled" he shrugs.
"Exactly. You covered that so you don't owe me another uniform" I try to reason with him and his eyebrows scrunch up and his lips form a pout.
I oscillate between looking him in the eyes and holding his stare to staring at his lips.
Both are highly distracting.
"It's not because I owe you. I did not like seeing you cry. I just wanted to help. That's it" his voice comes out in a huff as if he's wearing thin on his patience.
Same Soobin,
Same.
"Can you just please forget that you ever saw me cry? Please. It's not the first impression I would want to have on anyone" I groan and cringe relieving the scene in my head.
Why does he have to remember me crying?
"You looked cute" he chuckles, his dimples showing again.
Why was a noticing his dimple now and not before?
Is it because of the proximity?
I take a step away from him as if his dimples will lose their effect on me if I am far enough.
He notices my movement and a small frown adorns his lips and his dimples are no longer seen.
"Why is it so hard for you to accept?" he asks, a little bit of annoyance lacing his voice.
I don't want to annoy him.
I don't want to get on his bad side even though I should have been already due to our first interaction.
I suddenly imagine the same happening with Yeonjun and I get shivers.
He would have skinned me alive till now if I had spilled coffee on him.
I need to handle this matter as calmly as I can.
"Soobin, I am sure you had the best intentions when you sent me the uniform, even though I am skeptical as to how the store let you have my information, but that's beside the point here" I try to focus on what I want to say.
"What I am trying to say is, even though I am thankful for your thoughtfulness I cannot accept that because my uniform is fine. If my uniform was damaged, I would have accepted the uniform but mine is fine, so I feel guilty accepting this and also not paying you back for the damages to your clothes" I try to make sense.
Not once did I mention or suggest that I would pay for his damages because I can't.
I'll have wrung my savings dry to compensate for even one piece of his clothing.
"But I don't wear a skirt and the store will not refund it" he shrugs.
My answer is just a groan.
He smiles again, showing his deep dimples and bunny teeth.
Ugh, why does he look so cute even when he is annoying?
"I'll send the invite to your house by tonight. If there's any other problem you face, just contact me. You have my number right?" he asks once we are in front of my class.
Yes, I did have his number.
It was in the card I received along with the dress.
But did I ever intend to use it?
Absofreakinglutely no.
In spite of my decision to never use his number, I still give him an affirmative nod.
"Great, I'll wait for your text then" he smiled at me with those goddamn kind eyes and bunny teeth as he walked away, done with this conversation.
This was a very long day already.