A change of heart

Sehun’s POV
I’ve waited five stupid days for this stupid day to come along; Love Day. Ever since I came to this school I’ve always hated this day. I wonder why so many people think it’s fun. But this year, I was actually anticipating it. Hyunae said she was going to “show her gratitude”, whatever that means. Every year on this stupid day, girls from all year levels would try to give me gifts. Exo, BTS and Got7 always get the most gifts on this day. I would always have no space to cram the million of boxes in my locker. It was always so tiring.

Yugyeom’s POV
I shakily hold the tiny bag in my hands. Should I give it to her? What if she doesn’t want it? I peek inside the bag and stare at the chocolates I bought Hyunae. Today is Love Day and I don’t usually give presents to people. I wait at Hyunae’s locker while I think of what to say to her. I realise how much my hands are shaking. Why am I so nervous? She finally arrives and opens her locker. “You’re at school early.” She says without looking at me. “Yeah...” I mumble. Calm down Yugyeom, you’re just giving her some chocolates... Hyunae notices the paper bag I am holding in my hands. “Is that for someone?” she asks while shoving books into her locker. “Uh...” What do I do? I can’t keep calm and I don’t know why. “No, I’m just holding this for Jinyoung. I’ll be going now bye.” I start to leave but she stops me. “Wait Yugyeom!” She says. She rummages through her backpack and takes out a small red cellophane bag with a tiny ribbon tied at the top. “This is for you.” She says with a smile. My lips become dry and my heart drums against my ribs. “Oh...Thank you.” Is all I manage to say as she hands it to me. “Home made cookies, made with love.” She laughs. “This is to say thank you for looking after me when I was down at the sports carnival. Also, thanks for being my first friend here, Yugyeom.” She ruffles my hair. “I need to go now, I have other people to show my appreciation to.” As she turns around I my arm stretches out to her, but I don’t grab her. Dammit. I couldn’t give my gift to her... I look down at the bag that was meant for her and sigh. I’ll try again later today.

Hyunae’s POV
“These are for you wonderful ladies.” I say with a bright smile. This is the first time I get to give gifts to people as a sign of love. It’s fun. Their eyes sparkle as they unwrap the bag and reveals home made chocolate chip cookies. “Thank you!” Cho says as she hugs me and sways me around. “Thank you!” Mimics Sojin and Miyon simultaneously. Haneul sighs and looks at me. “I’m ruining my diet for you.” She says through a smile as she bites into the cookie. “We also got you something.” Cho smiles. They drag me around the corner where Jinyoung is holding a small cake. It’s as if he was waiting there the whole time. It is a chocolate cake with ‘Get well soon’ written on it. “Your foot must still hurt while you walk.” Miyon says sadly. “If I didn’t sprain my ankle then you wouldn’t have gotten pushpins in your shoe and –“ I cut her off. “It’s fine Miyon. It’s not your fault.” She pouts but says nothing. “Thanks for holding my cake, Jinyoung.” I laugh. “Glad to know you’re getting better.” He smiles.

Everywhere I walk, the school is buzzing. Girls trying to figure out how to get Exo, BTS or Got7 to notice them and boys trying to figure out how to get the girls to notice them. It’s really funny if you ask me. I push my way through a crowd of hectic girls who are trying to give their gifts to Exo. “Excuse me.” I try to say over their shouting. Someone steps on the back of my shoe and I trip, but someone catches me. I look up to see one of the Exo members, I think. Some girls stop screaming and stare, others continue with their shouting and shoving. “Uh, thanks.” I say. He helps me upright and I try to find my shoe which has slipped off in the crowd. I squeeze through the crowd with only one shoe on. Eventually the crowd will disperse and I’ll be able to find my shoe. The Exo guy followed me out. “Is this for me?” He asks, snatching the bag of cookies from my hand. “Ah-“ I start. But he rips open the bag and starts munching on the cookies. “It’s...not...for...you...” I mumble. Just great. I only made enough cookies for seven people; Yugyeom, Cho, Miyon, Sojin, Haneul, Sehun and Jungkook. Now this guy comes and starts eating the one for Sehun, what am I mean to do? “These are good.” He says as he finishes the last cookie. “You’re the new girl right?” He asks me. I nod, I don’t like this guy; he ate my cookies. “Yeah, Hyunae, right? You’re in my Biology class.” He continues. He scrunches the cellophane into a ball and attempts to throw it into the bin. But the cellophane is too light and it sways in the air and lands nowhere near the bin. The guy clears his throat and rolls his eyes like its no big deal. “I’m Joonmyun.” The guy smiles. He might as well be talking to himself because 1) I don’t like him, and 2) I’m waiting for the crowd to leave so I can find my shoe. “I’m a part of Exo. The leader in fact.” He smirks like what he just said is meant to impress me. The school bell rings and the crowd of girls slowly walk away, leaving the Exo members stunned and breathless. I see my shoe being kicked around by the people walking pass. “Nice knowing you, uh, Joonmyun. Got to go.” I say without looking at him and make my way to my shoe.

Sehun’s POV
Saved by the bell. I shove the many presents in my arms into my locker, not caring if they crush or crumple. As everyone walks away, I notice one random shoe on the floor. What the...Why is there a shoe on the floor. I don’t know why, but I have the urge to go and pick it up for no reason at all. As I walk closer to it, I see Hyunae rush over to it and slip the shoe on. Oh, that’s Hyunae’s shoe. OK. I turn and – “Hey Sehun.” Hyunae says. Dammit. I turn to face her, “...Hey.” I say bluntly. She walks up to me, “Pretty hectic day today.” She laughs. “Yeah.” I answer. “Someone’s popular with the girls.” She says and tries to nudge my arm but I move away. “Yeah. Class is starting. Bye.” I say and walk off. I take my math books out of my locker. I take a small white box wrapped with a blue ribbon out of my locker and look back to where Hyunae was standing. She’s gone. I wonder if I should still give it to her.

Hyunae’s POV
Cho tells me that it’s “Love Day tradition” to go to the maze after school. But she says it’s only for people who want to find lovers. “I don’t want to find a lover.” I say to her as she tugs on my sleeve. “It’ll be fun!” She says. I roll my eyes and smile. The principal hires a maze which is specially designed for Love Day. How much money does this school have? You go there after school and go through the maze to eventually exit in one of the five exits. The person of the opposite gender who exits with you is supposedly your soul mate or whatever. “I don’t understand how that makes them your soul mate...” I say. “You’ll understand if you come and try it out.” Cho says. “Jinyoung and I have exited at the same last year. After that we started talking and look where we are now.” She smiles cheekily. Miyon nods excitedly. “When Namjoon and I were dating, we exited the same time.” “I still don’t understand...” I say. “Just come!” The girls say simultaneously. Miyon’s face turns cold as she death stares someone. I turn to look at who she’s staring at. “That’s her.” Miyon says in a hush tone. “She is the one who sabotaged your marathon.” Miyon almost growls at her. “I hate her so much after what she did.” Miyon says. “Is she being punished?” Cho asks. Miyon nods; “After school detention every day for five weeks and she has to help the teachers and students prepare for every event in the next five weeks.” I force a smile. “But it’s not enough.” Miyon mutters.

Sehun’s POV
“You ARE coming to the maze this year...right?” Chanyeol asks me. I shake my head. “Why not?” Baekhyun asks while slamming his palms on the table playfully. I sigh; “Girls...” I say quietly. “This is the chance to get over your fear of girls.” Baekhyun says, looking inspirationally into the sunlight.
“It’s not a fear...” I say.
“It’s more a hatred.” Chanyeol says.
“I don’t HATE girls...” I retort.
Baekhyun and Chanyeol look at each other. “You hate girls.” They conclude.
I sigh.
“You can find your destined one today, you know that right?” Chanyeol says.
“This experience can help you, Sehun.” Baekhyun says, while trying to hold my hand.
“What are you doing.” I say, pulling my hand away.
“You should come to the maze.” Baekhyun says.
“Fine. If it’ll get you guys to shut up.” I say while rolling my eyes. The boys hi five in happiness and grin at me. Maybe this is a bad idea...

“I’ll catch up with you guys later.” I call to my friends. “I have to see my math teacher...for...er...extra help.” I lie. They shrug and continue walking off. “We’ll pick you up at 5!” Baekhyun shouts back at me. I wave. Sure, sure. I race through the crowded hallway. I hope I make it in time. I zig zag through close bodies, careful not to bump into anyone. I make it to the hallway near Hyunae’s locker, it’s empty except for her. I tightly grip the shoulder strap of my backpack. Should I give it to her? She sees me and quickly shoves something in her bag before smiling at me. Now that she’s noticed me I have to say something. I hesitantly walk towards her. “Are you heading to the maze?” She asks me. “Are you?” I ask. She nods as she looks down at her backpack. I think about my backpack, or more specifically, what’s inside my backpack. The item I spent so much time thinking about, and searching for, will my efforts go to waste? I tear my backpack off me and rip it open before I can think twice about my decision. “T-This is for y-you.” I stammer before I even have the box in my hands. “Hmm?” She asks. I hand the small white box to her, I remember wrapping the ribbon around it myself. I fussed about it so much, because it needed to be perfect. “For...me?” She asks, surprised. “Y-Yes.” I choke. She seems to blush a little. “Is something the matter?” I ask. She delicately unties the ribbon before answering. “No one other than my female friends have gotten me anything. I didn’t expect anyone to get anything for me because I am new. It really touches me.” She says with a light smile. She opens the box and wraps the phone chain around her index finger and holds it up to her. Now I suddenly feel that my present is ridiculous. “Wha-“ She starts. But I cut her off, to stop her from embarrassing me. “It’s a phone chain of a trophy that says ‘always number one’ because I knew how much you wanted to win the marathon but...you know...” I trail off. She instantly attaches it to her phone. “I love it. Thank you Sehun.” She smiles again. I feel my cheeks warm. “Thanks for thinking of me and getting me a gift.” She says. “I wasn’t thinking about you.” I blurt in defence. But she laughs. I avert her eyes. I am about to walk away when she reaches into her own bag. “I got something for you too.” She says and takes out a small cellophane bag. “Choc chip cookies. I made them myself.” She smiles as she hands them to me. “It’s to say; thanks for letting me borrow your biology book on the first day, and thanks for helping me when I was down at the sports carnival.” I hold them gently, so I don’t break the perfectly round cookies she has baked. “T-Thanks.” I stutter through chattering teeth. Calm down. You don’t hate girls and you don’t fear girls. I feel my palms drench with sweat and turn around. “See you at the maze.” I say quickly and walk away. As I walk off, I look at the bag of cookies. I hold them gently and delicately, unlike the other gifts that are stuffed in my locker.

Yugyeom’s POV
I hold the bag close to my chest and feel my heartbeat rattle against it. I stand with my back against the wall near Hyunae’s locker, overhearing her conversation with Sehun. In the end I couldn’t give the chocolates to her. Sehun beat me to it. And of all the people, Sehun? Sehun should be the last person on Earth to give anything to a girl. Exo, Got7 and BTS all know that Sehun acts negatively around females. My thoughts are broken by the sound of Hyunae’s locker slamming shut; she’s about to leave. I should give my gift to her. But I can’t move, my legs are too stiff and my muscles won’t budge. I’m embarrassed, scared even, of rejection I guess. What if she doesn’t like my present? What if she doesn’t like my show of love? Love is a strong word...let’s say interest. What if she doesn’t like my show of interest? What if she likes Sehun’s present better than mine? So I stay leaning against the wall, regretting what I didn’t get to do as Hyunae walks away with Sehun’s gift on her mind when really it should be my gift she’s thinking about.

Notes