Teachers can be your friend too.

I felt determined today, staring at Namjoon so intensely that it could burn holes in his face if that was possible.

He was busy with the lecture. He wouldn't spare me a glance, so I furrowed my eyebrows and kept staring at him intently, and staring, and staring more, and waiting for the class to be over.

I wouldn't know just what came over me yesterday. My period hadn't started yet I felt like a demon ready to devour human souls. And then there was a moment of epiphany, I realized what was wrong with me.

Because I had already thought of him as a friend it was uncomfortable for me to see him avoiding me like that, treating others the same way when I thought we had formed a special relationship.

Of course, Namjoon was brilliant, he had skipped grades, became a lecturer at such a young age but he had some lackings in his head.

His friend was his friend. I was his student and for that very reason, I had a better position. I could be student, and, a friend too.

I smirked by myself, beyond amazed by my thoughts. Really I never would've thought Namjoon could be a good friend to me despite him being my teacher, until he started avoiding me.

Namjoon checked his wristwatch and called it a day. Everyone quickly took off their seats and started to leave, but I sat there calmly.

"Wow, what's wrong with your face?" Jungkook came and stood in front of me, blocking my view of Namjoon arranging his desk.

"You look so..., weird. What's with that expression?" Jungkook shivered by himself, observing my face with skepticism.

"Go. I have work to do." I grabbed my bag seeing that Namjoon was leaving the room. I bolted ahead to catch up with the tall guy.

"Oh, are my bandages showing?" I turned around and asked a surprised Jungkook just before leaving through the door.

"Ah, yeah. Wha-"

Not giving him another chance to talk, I started running through the empty hallway. After I had 'almost' severely injured myself yesterday, the remedy was to attach a few patches on my arms and legs (which were invisible for my jeans and shirt). There were two other cuts around my cheek area and the forehead and I had band-aids covering those places.

Hyemi was concerned when she saw me today. I was surprised Namjoon didn't even notice.

"Hey!" I ran up to Namjoon who was walking pretty fast on the hallway to his office, holding a few books in his hands. He didn't seem to hear me.

"Hi!" I breathed out, smiling at him as I walked by his side this time. He nodded, and slowered his pace to meet mine.

"How are you Soomi?" He smiled brightly at me for a second, then looked ahead again.

"I hurt myself." I piped, looking at his face eagerly to see his expression.

"Really?" He glanced at me again, and tjen he stopped walking. "You really did. How did this happen?" He scanned my face and asked in a worried voice.

He finally noticed! "I got into an accident yesterday. I was riding a bicycle and hurt my arms and legs too." I started rolling the sleeves of my shirt too show him the cuts, excitedly as if this was something fun.

"Wait, wait!" Namjoon gestured his hands at me to stop. "Are they still hurting? You need to be more careful!"

He got worried for me just like before.

"Be more careful next time. Though who am I to say, I'm a clumsy person myself." He sighed to himself. "So do you want a leave for that? I can excuse your next two attendance if it's severe."

"No! I just- I don't need a leave." I shook my head to the sides vigorously.

"You're okay then?" He asked, replacing the books to his other hand.

"Um, yeah."

What should I talk about next?

"Oh and I read that book. Omelas! It was amazing, really sad but amazing." I suddenly beamed at him, remembering about the book.

"Really?" A gentle smile spread across his full lips. "Try reading demian next time. I'm reading it now and it's pretty good."

"I will. I'm thinking of visiting the library you showed me and register myself there. So I could borrow books too."

I couldn't remember the last time I was this eager to talk. I was never a talkative person but I wanted to, today. And I wanted him to treat me like before.

"Do that. There are all kinds of book there," he retorted and checked his wristwatch. "I need to send my report to professor Cha." He looked up. "See you around Soomi."

That was it?

I stayed silent. He gave me another smile before he started to walk away.

Now I felt disheartened. I thought he would want to lend his book or help me with the library card or, at least show more care for my wounds. He would've definitely be like that even a few days ago.

Hopeless.

I was walking absentmindedly, dragging my left leg with me since my ankle hurt. Until I felt someone's presence beside me and looked up to find a familiar face, smiling at me like the morning sun.

"Why do you look so sad today?" It was Hoseok, grinning at me as he asked.

"What are you doing here!" I was shocked to find him in the campus.

"Nothing. I came to pick up my sister," he answered, letting out a soft chuckle. "And I also hoped to see you!"

"Ah, really?" I commented seeing him so cheerful and happy.

"I haven't seen you for so long and you were right, you hardly ever do reply to my messages." He gave me a wary look. "I thought you were joking."

"I'm like that. Warned you though Hoseok-shi."

"Yeah, it's okay." He shook his hand in the air, dismissing me. "Are you free tomorrow?"

"Oppa, what are you doing here?" A voice made us look back to see a furious Hyemi dashing at us in full speed. "I told you never to show up here. I'm an university student now! Wait-"

She glanced at our faces as she stood beside me. "You know Soomi oppa?"

"Yeah, I- What??" Hoseok hollered to the top of his lungs. "Oppa?? When did she become your-? She's a girl, Hyemi!"

He was utterly confused, like he ought to be.

"It's a long story," I told him, albeit he was still looking conflicted.

"How do you two know each other?" Hyemi asked me curiously.

"We, I...," Hoseok started stuttering. It was clear that he didn't want to talk about it, but he couldn't lie to her face too.

"We met in a gaming arcade," I replied on his behalf. "We played a few rounds together and he lost them all."

"Wow, that sounds like a great first meeting." Hyemi beamed, right now she looked exactly like Hoseok.

"Y-yeah." Hoseok bobbed his head up and down, and then looked at me, so I gave him a reassuring smile.

"What were you to talking about? Oh, I was actually looking for you." Hyemi turned to me. "Since we both have an off-day tomorrow I thought maybe we could spend the day together? Like hanging out in a shopping mall and watching movies and stuff?" She blushed a little as she suggested.

"Soomi wouldn't like those," Hoseok said scanning my face. "I got free movie tickets from work. How about movies with me Soomi?"

"Really Jhope oppa?" Hyemi drawled her words in disbelief. "She's my friend, who are you to-"

"She's my friend too! And I would've taken you with us but you hate action movies!" Hoseok stared back at her blood boiling eyes.

"Wait, wait guys. It's tomorrow?" I asked to clarify.

"Yes!" Both of them replied together, then gave each other a blank stare.

"I have a thing tomorrow. I'm sorry but it's really important," I mumbled to myself, making Hoseok groan loudly.

"Really?" Hyemi said with her tone sad. "Then it can't be helped. What is it, though?"

"I have to go somewhere to study English tomorrow. Even though that person doesn't want to teach me privately, I'll have to try my luck!"