Junwook stayed by my side as we headed off to lunch after our fifth-period study hall. Mina found us and politely introduced herself to Junwook. Junwook did the same in return.

   Once seated, Niku immediately greeted the new kid by slightly leaning over the table and pushing his shoulders back, almost like intimidation. Niku was pretty muscular considering he loved working out. Almost every day, he stays after school just to lift weights in the school's weight room, or to run the school's track. To an outsider, Niku would seem cold and a little intimidating, but he secretly fanboys over relationships and anime.

   "Jaehwa, you mind introducing us to your friend?" He raised an eyebrow to my direction, a rascally look on his face.

   I ignored the expression and introduced Junwook. "This is Junwook. He came here right after winter break."

   "Ah," Jongmin nodded warmly.

   I noticed he was wearing his basketball shirt, indicating there must be a game tonight. Jongmin plays on both junior varsity and varsity as an extra player. I wonder if he knows Sagang well.

   "It's nice to meet you. I'm Jongmin." Jongmin's hand fell onto Niku's shoulder. "Don't worry about Niku, he just likes to act tough."

   "Act?" Niku repeated.

   "Yes." The thing that I like about Jongmin was that he was the good guy of our class, the one with the best grades, but he has his moments of pure savageness.

   Junwook showed a small smile while flicking his head to move his bangs away from his eyes. Yooni also gave a short introduction for herself.

   Junwook didn't talk much at the table, only listened to us talking and joking around. Whenever something funny happened, he would join in, laughing genuinely.

   "I like your friends," Junwook admitted while we left the lunch room. "Thanks for letting me sit with you."

   "It was no problem." I nudged my elbow against his arm in a friendly manner. "I don't want you being alone in the library during lunch anymore, okay? You can eat with us."

   "That means a lot." Junwook's rare but bright smile shined as he started to walk away for his next class.

   Mina was already by my locker, books in hand. She was always in a rush to get to her next classes with plenty of time before the bell rings.

   "Wow, Mina." I let a mischievous grin play on my face. "Someone seems excited to get to math."

   She studied my hinting face, but didn't seem to understand.

   "Or should I say Seok-"

   "SHUSH!" Her hand flew to my mouth in a cat-like reflex.

   I chuckled from behind her hand, moving it away. "We should give him a nickname."

   "Yeah? Like what?"

   I closed the locker, but not before grabbing a couple Reese's for the last two period of the day. I began tearing open the foil to one. "I'm not sure, but we need something just in case we have something to say about him, but don't want anyone else to hear."

   "Whatever." Mina rolled her eyes playfully.

   We walked into the math classroom to see a substitute behind the teacher's desk. Usually, when our algebra teacher is out, he gives us easy assignments that we can do in pairs.

   "A sub?" I smirked at Mina. "Maybe this could be your chance to talk to him. By the way, did you ask him if he wanted you to tutor him?"

   "I did... not." Mina bit the inside of her cheek while I gave a disappointed look. "I was nervous, okay?"

   "Well, now you can make up for it."

   Yooni was already in the room, sitting in her normal spot behind my desk. Eunsung sat in the one to her right.

   Eunsung threw his head back with laughter after listening to something Yooni was saying. A smile was spread across her face as well while she brushed her long, ombre hair behind an ear.

   "Deiji, did you hear that?" Eunsung asked his girlfriend, who was seated on his other side.

   She leaned closer to Eunsung, raising an eyebrow to ask what it was. "I wasn't listening."

   Before Yooni could retell whatever she said, the substitute walked to the front of the class. She was a heavy-set woman that literally no one liked. The instructions told us to work on a homework assignment out of the book. Partners were included in this assignment.

   "Yooni, do you want to work with me and Deiji?" Eunsung invited.

   "I think she said partners," Deiji quickly cut in. "I'm pretty sure that means two, silly." A cheesy grin surfaced on her face as she flipped a long, perfectly curled strand of hair over her shoulder.

   Eungun's expression dropped a little. "Oh, sorry Yooni."

   "No, it's perfectly fine," Yooni reassured him. Her smile seemed forced. "I don't mind, really. I wouldn't want to be in the middle of your time together."

   "Yeah, it's really a shame," Deiji shrugged her shoulders. She stood up from her seat and grabbed Eunsung's hand to take him to the other side of the room.

    Yooni looked at me, her lips pressed together in a thin line. Her voice dropped to a whisper. "I really don't like her."

    I mouthed a response: me too. I never really talked to Deiji, but from what I've seen and heard, she's a snob.

   I glanced around the room until my eyes landed on Mina's cupid, Seokcheol. He didn't seem to have a partner. When I took a look at Mina, she already had an eye in his direction.

   "Sorry, Mina," I started, a little louder than needed. "Yooni asked to be my partner, but I see someone else available." I gave a nod towards Seokcheol, who was hearing my conversation.

   Mina widened her eyes at me. I was probably going to be scolded, but she'll thank me eventually. I see true potential in this relationship, it just needs a little push.

   Both of them stayed in their seats just staring. It was getting pretty awkward, if I say so myself. I nudged Mina's elbow with my arm, hoping for her to at least blink.

   "Just get up, use your legs, and sit next to him," I ordered under my breath. I could see and hear Mina gulp before nervously standing up. "Good job, now off you go."

   Yooni and I watched her hug her books and walk over to where Seokcheol was sitting. "Hi," I could just barely hear her greet. Seokcheol looked at her with a warm smile. "Do you want to work together? I mean- uh, on the homework assignment."

   "You're evil," Yooni whispered to me. "But a genius."

   "She just needs a little push," I whispered back. "Look at her now."

   Our attention was focused back on the two just as Mina dropped her pencil. Seokcheol began to bend down to grab it for her, but Mina was also in the process of reaching for the pencil. They're hands brushed against each other, making them stop. After a cringe-worthy moment, Mina snatched the pencil, sitting up at straight as a board. Her face was dusted with a deep red.

   "Okay," I slowly exhaled. "Maybe she's still going to need a little time to get used to it."