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Cale shifted his butt on the bus passenger seat, two row from the driver seat. It's cushioned but firm, with just enough comfort for a short ride from the station near his home to the school. He inhaled the freon filled air from the air conditioner, and fixed the headphone on his ear, as he subtly peeked the rear view mirrow in the front of the bus. Cale's eyes spotted the black haired boy, innocent face, awkward body gesture–like he was contemplating about something to do or not to do that could affect the whole world. Or maybe he was just constipated.
But this scenario has been repeating for these few days. The boy always got in the same bus as him, eventhough their shuttle came regularly every 5 minutes. And Cale always came as late as possible, just in time he could arrive at school before the gate closes. No, it's not coincident.
How could Cale not notice? The constipated face and nervous body gesture when Cale arrived at the station. The not so subtle glance that followed him from the time he got into the bus and all 20 minutes trip to the school. The long stare when Cale strode the hall to his class as they parted ways (not like they walked together in the first place).
Cale knew who he was. He was pretty famous even among the seniors. And with the reputation the boy has–the dilligent and kind-hearted, scholarship student from class 1B–it's more likely for him the be the type of student who arrive when the class still locked. It was obvious that the boy waited for him every morning and what his goal probably was.
An idea suddenly popped out in his mind. As the bus was coming closer to their destination–the nearest station to school–Cale leaned down on his seat, completely blocking himself from the driver's eyes on the rearview mirror so he wouldn't get called out.
The bus slowed down before completely stopped. The chattering of highschooler filled Cale's ear as many of them stood up from their seat and they flocked to the front of the bus and got off. Cale glanced at the student passed by, one by one, until his eyes catched the certain black haired boy. He grinned.
The boy looked like he was looking for someone, his head kept moving in attempt to peek the people in front of him one by one. At the last moment, his head finally turned into Cale's seat and he froze.
Busted, Cale thought.
The boy's mouth gaped like a fish deprived of oxygen. Opened and closed in attempt to let a voice out—but nothing, he felt his throat dry, he was nervous. Why didn't Cale stand from his seat and get off the bus?
"Hey you! Get off the bus now if you don't want to be late!" Cale heard the driver shout from his seat.
The boy jumped in suprise. Cale laughed inside.
Now what will you do, Choi Han?
Will you finally talk to me or even drag me out from the bus, so I won't be late?
Choi Han glanced at Cale who was still showing no signs of moving.
"Hey boy! Hurry up, they are closing the gates."
Cale felt a hand yanked his wrist. "I'm sorry, we're coming!" he heard Choi Han’s hoarse voice. "Come, sunbae-nim, we can't be late!" this time, he stuttered a little, because he was talking to Cale.
They got off the bus in rush and ran towards the gate, with Cale literally being dragged on his wrist. Cale paid attention to Choi Han’s fluttering black and shiny hair, his broad shoulder moved up and down, and his breath was loud and steady even when they were running. He must be good with sports.
They made it on time.
"You have—hah, quite a strong grip.." Cale commented when they were catching breath (actually, he's the only one who was ragged). Choi Han startled and turned his head to their joined hand, and he realized he still holding Cale's wrist. He let go of Cale's hand in instant. Cale could see the boy's ears burning red.
"S-sorry!” he choked. “It's almost the first period, sunbae-nim!" and with that, the boy sprinted in hurry to the building, never looked at Cale even once. He left dumfounded Cale alone in the yard. Cale chuckled as he watched the figure get further away.
Maybe he should make the first move tomorrow morning.
"Hyung-nim, have you ever been stalked before?" Cale asked. It was after school, Cale was lying down on the couch inside the student council room, with only a certain blonde was present. Alver, as a busy student council president, was typing something on his laptop with vigor.
"No? What is this about?" Alver asked. The click clack sound from keyboard could still be heard. "Nothing."
"A boy has been waiting and following me in the morning for this past week."
"What?" Alver glanced from the corner of his eyes. "Do you know him?"
"Not personally. But he's pretty popular in the school."
"Maybe he just wants to be friends?" Alver suggested.
"I think so too. But the thing is," Cale sneered. "He is too shy to talk to me. I mean, he only stared a hole at my head during the bus trip, for.. what, eight days now?"
"Sounds like he has major crush on you. Or he is a creep."
"Do you think so?" Cale wondered. They heard a knock on the door. "Come in." Alver answered and the door opened.
The black haired boy Cale was talking about walked into the room.
"Pres-nim, I brought all the questionnaire from 1st grader.." his voice trailed off when he noticed a certain red head was leisurely lying down on the coach in front of Alver.
"Choi Han! Thank you. Please put it down here." Alver looked up from the laptop on his lap. Choi Han frozen still, eyes glued to the red head Cale. Cale smiled at him. What a surprise. It was really fun to see the flustered boyish face.
Looked like he doesn't need to wait for tomorrow.
"Pardon this slacker over here. If you have anything to discuss, please sit down here right next to me."
It was like the moment from this morning reoccured. Cale could see Choi Han's pupil was shaking and mouth agape. Red crept out on his face from his neck.
"Choi Han?" Alver asked. "Are you sick? Your face is red."
Cale laughed internally. He got up from his lying position. "Please, don't mind me and do your business." Cale waved his hand and took out his phone. He could see Choi Han gulped and finally sit down beside Alberu.
They talked for a while, but from the corner of Cale's eyes, he knew Choi Han stole a glance toward him here and then. "Alright. Thanks once again, Choi Han, you should go home now and rest. Are you sure you're not sick?"
"I'm fine, Pres-nim, thank you." Choi Han nodded and got up from his seat abruptly. "Then, Pres-nim, s-sunbae-nim, I'll leave first." without waiting for the answers, he walked out of the room in rush.
"What's wrong with him?" Alver wondered. Cale, on the other hand, was amused. "He's not usually that nervous even in front of me. Ah, he left his travel pass."
"Give it to me, hyung-nim, I'll return it to him." Cale took the card from Alver's hand and got up, he sling his backpack on his shoulder, and left without saying goodbye.
Where did he go? Cale asked himself as he was running down the school hallway. He turned around in the corner. “Ch—” There he is!
Cale spotted the black haired boy with navy backpack at the hallway door. “Hey! Choi Han!”
Hearing someone called his name, Choi Han turned around, only to see Cale sprinted at him. In instinc, Choi Han ran away. “Noo! Hey, wait!” Cale desperately gaped.
“Why do you have to run—”
“Fuck, he’s so fast!”
Cale felt his chest burned and he was so out of breath, but he still running. He saw Choi Han turned to the field and getting further away. Annoyed, Cale prayed for his throwing skills that were never honed, and threw his bag with all his strength towards the boy.
It landed a few meters behind Choi Han, and the loud thud stopped him. Cale gave up and lay down on the grass. “Brat!” Cale cursed as he was catching his breath. That was enough exercise for a week.
A moment later, the black haired head popped out in the corner of his eyes, face all red.
“H-here your bag. Sunbae-nim. ‘m sorry.” He murmured. “I told you to wait.” Cale said, still annoyed. “You’re so damn fast.”
Choi Han plopped down beside him, head down and sad like a drenched puppy. After regaining his strength, Cale sit up and handed him the card he’s been holding to.
“You dropped your travel pass. It’s the second time, you shouldn’t have rushed out like that.”
“Calm down. I won’t bite you.” Cale mumbled. Choi Han looked at him with glistening eyes.
“T-thanks. It’s because I get so shy and flustered around you, sunbae-nim.” he said, eyes shutted. “You’re so pretty and cool and I’m just an awkward first grader—” he rambled on and looked like a trembling puppy in front of a tiger.
Cale chuckled.
Choi Han blinked. “—and I’m sorry I’ve been following you this few days..”
“Yeah. I know.” Cale cut him. “What's so hard about asking me to be friends?”
“H-huh?” Choi Han’s eyes widen. Cale stood up and patted the boy’s hair. It's soft and fluffy. It was so fun to see the boy all nervous and get swayed by him. He's cute.
“From now on, you have to sit right next to me in the bus.”
“Huh?”
Cale clicked his tongue. “Don’t huh-huh at me. Answer!”
“Y-yes, sunbae-nim..”
“Alright. Call me Cale.”
Choi Han stuttered. “Cale-nim..” he said shyly. His ear and neck were as red as boiled crab now, Cale practically could see steam from his head. Choi Han threw both of his hand to cover his face. Cale laughed inside. It made him want to tease Choi Han more.
“Let’s go home now.” Cale pulled Choi Han's backpack in gesture for him to stand up. The boy was still in daze. He stared at his hand as it started to tremble. Cale talked to him? And told him to sit next to him at the bus? Was this a daydream? Are they friends now? He is friend with that cool and pretty sunbae Cale?
Choi Han was busy in his mind and didn’t notice the said redhead was already steps ahead.
“Oh come on! At this rate, we'll arrive home at midnight!”
Choi Han lifted his head and saw Cale, looked annoyed but still so cool, his sunbae-nim he had crush on. Snapped from his buzzing mind, Choi Han beamed and followed Cale in light feather footsteps.
“Yes, C-cale-nim. Let’s go home!”
He needed to practice on calling Cale without getting all flustered.
Cale stood up from his seat. He always left the bus last. He didn't want to get sore standing and waiting for the other students who lined up to get off the bus. It was enough time anyway to walk from the station to the school gate without being late. No need to be in rush.
“Hey, redhead, I think one of your friend dropped his wallet.” The driver said, and he pointed at the bus entrance. A black simple wallet laid there, alone and seemed out of place.
Cale picked it up and waved a thanks to the bus driver. He checked the information inside the wallet on his way to the school gate. There's a photo of a family and a photo of a black haired boy with a dog. He has a nice and bright smile.
From the student pass, that thing belonged to a first year named Choi Han.
I think I’ve heard this name somewhere. Cale thought. Well, doesn’t matter, I’m gonna drop this to school guard later—
Someone bumped into him.
A innocent looking boy with puppy eyes that was in verge of tears. “I’m, I’m sorry!” he apologized in rush and all ready to leave.
“Hey, wait. Are you looking for a wallet?” Cale asked. His face was similar with the photo on the student id he was just looking at. The boy turned to face Cale. “Oh? Yes!”
“Here. You dropped it when you got off the bus.” Cale handed him the black wallet. The boy looked so relieved, and he bowed again and again. "This is a gift from my parents. Thank goodness!"
“Once again, thank you so much, um” He peeked at Cale’s uniform, and then at his face. He stuttered. “..s-sunbae-nim!”
Cale flashed a bright smile and saw the boy getting more flustered. Ah, another young one fell for his beauty.
“No need to be in rush. You should be more careful next time.” he said in his most charming voice.
“Y-yes, sunbae-nim.”
“Then, see you around.” Cale waved at him and walked away, leaving the boy in frozen state. He was definitely a dilligent puppy student. And a family oriented boy. And a dog lover, perhaps?
He's cute. Just his type.