Let's be friends!

On Jun's advice, Kang Soo shifted Ani to Daegu Senior high School but this thing was kept hidden from Ani as Jun did not want her to know. She got ready for school and looked at her reflection in the mirror. "Dad, I have decided that I will work for your dream. I will study hard, get good grades, and then will clear SAT to enter Seoul National University. Keep your blessings with me," said Ani to herself. 

"Ani," called Sung Woo from downstairs, loudly. She walked to the mini couch there, picked up her school bag, and walked out of the room. She came running downstairs when Sung Woo told her to slow down. Ani smiled and did so. Once she reached down, she turned to the kitchen and saw her brothers already prepared everything. She sat on the chair around the table when Kang Soo served her the breakfast. "Eat slowly," he said. Ani thanked him and started eating.

"I am getting late. So, I am leaving early," said Sung Woo. 

"He has to perform a surgery in the early morning," said Kang Soo, looking at Ani. "All the best, Oppa," Ani wished him when Sung Woo came to her and planted a kiss on her forehead. "See you in the evening," he said and then walked out from there. 

"I will drop you at the school/ When school will be over Woo or I will come to pick you up," stated Kang Soo. 

"Oppa, I am grown up now. Do not worry about me," said Ani with a tiny smile. 

"But Jun was telling me that you are such a naive kid who started crying when she did not find a vehicle for home one day," asserted Kang Soo. Ani stopped eating hearing this. "When did he say to you, Oppa?" Ani questioned. 

"Yesterday," Soo replied. 

"He called you to talk about this. It was his mistake that day. Uncle Dowan told him to pick me up from the school but he had to go with Myung Hee and because of him I ended up that way," muttered Ani in an angry tone. 

"But he told me something different," said Kang Soo and slightly laughed. 

"What did he say?" Ani inquired curiously. 

"Nothing. We are getting late. I will tell you some other day," stated Kang Soo and continued eating the food on his plate. Ani went into deep thought. "He called Oppa just to tell this thing. He indeed does not like me a bit. He did not even call me and asked me how I am. Dad used to say that he is the perfect man in this world and if I ever get into trouble, I have to call him immediately without thinking anything. But dad did not know, Jun always ignores my call." Thinking all about this she sighed. 

"What happened? What are you thinking?" Kang Soo asked. 

"Nothing, Oppa," answered Ani and quickly ate her food. After they were done, they left for Daegu High School. As they reached there, Ani stepped down the car. "Call me once your classes will get over. I understood that you will go on your own to the home still drop a message to us. That way we will not be worried," pronounced Kang Soo. Ani nodded and waved at him before going inside the huge entrance. 

As she was walking, many students were looking at her. This made her somewhat conscious. "Is there something on my face?" Ani wondered and took out her mobile. She looked at herself in the camera when she was hit by someone and she fell on the ground. "Oh sorry, I was in rush," voiced a guy who then helped her in getting up. He had a helmet in his hand and his hairs were messy. He apologized to her again. "Oh, you got a bruise on your knee," he said.

"It is fine. Could you tell me where the staff room is?" Ani questioned softly. 

"Yeah, sure. Come with me," said the boy. Ani nodded and followed him. They reached the staff room when Ani thanked him. "No problem," said the boy and walked away. Ani went in and found her homeroom teacher, Mr. Jang Hoon. She greeted him when Jang Hoon told her to sit on the chair. She took the seat. 

"You have got good grades, Cha Ani. It is pleasure to get such a student. Kang Soo and Sung Woo also studied at this school. They were a brilliant student of those times. I used to study with them," said Jang Hoon and smiled reminiscing the old days. Ani smiled upon hearing him. When the bell rang, they went to the class. Ani was getting nervous as everything was new for her there. As Jang Hoon slid the door away, every student in Class XI A stood up and greeted him. He told them to sit when Cha Ani entered in. 

She stood on the podium when Jang Hoon said, "This is a new student who is shifted from Seoul High School. Please introduce yourself." Ani nodded. "Hello, I am Cha Ani. Let's be friends," she said. 

"Welcome Cha Ani," said the students in unison. She smiled when Jang Hoon told her to take a seat. She saw an empty seat. She went there and saw on that seat a boy was also sitting with his head down. She put her bag on the table and then sat on the chair. The class maths started and Jang Hoon told them to take out their notebooks. Ani did so and took out the notebook. She put her school bag aside and put the notebook on the table. She was jotting down the solution in her notebook when the boy turned his head towards her. 

"You?" Ani mumbled as her eyes fell on him. It was the same boy whom she got a hit in the morning. Hearing her voice, the boy opened his eyes and looked at her. He straightened up and rubbed his eyes. "I did not expect you to be in the same class as me," the boy said. 

"Me too," Ani replied. "I am Cha Ani," she introduced herself to him. The boy blinked his eyes for a few seconds. "I am Dohwa Jin" the boy introduced himself. Flying chalk came in his direction and it hit his cheek. "You are again started talking," Jang Hoon shouted from the front. 

Ani did not expect such a thing. She almost opened her mouth to speak when Dohwa got up from the seat and bowed his head. "I am sorry, teacher" saying this he walked out of the class. Ani was shocked by all this. The class resumed again when a girl who was sitting ahead of her said, "Do not sit on this seat. That guy is not good so keep a distance from him."

"What? Why?" Ani questioned. 

"He almost killed a guy from the other class last week. It was a big incident," stated the other girl. Ani could not believe her eyes. She gulped and looked outside the class where she saw Dohwa who was standing quietly. After a while, the class got over. Till recess classes went on like that but Dohwa did not come inside the class. After Ani came from the canteen eating her lunch, she started talking with the new classmates when Dohwa came back and sat on the chair. The girls went back to their seats when a girl named Eun Ae called her name. Ani got up from her chair and went to her. 

"Ani, you should not sit beside him. There is another vacant seat so, you should take that," stated Eun Ae. 

"Ahh, it is fine," said Ani. A loud thud sound was heard by all the students there. She turned her head and saw some boys were surrounding the table where she and Dohwa were sitting. One of them grabbed Dohwa's collar which startled her. She stepped ahead when Eun Ae caught her wrist. "Do not go there. They are bullies," said Eun Ae in a low voice. 

"What?" Ani mumbled and saw the other boy was slapping Dohwa's cheek. Ani released her wrist from Eun Ae's grip and went towards her seat, "Get aside," said Ani. Those boys looked at her. When they did not Ani pushed a guy and sat on the chair. "Dohwa, you told me earlier that you will give me a school tour," proclaimed Ani and looked at him. 

The guy who was holding Dohwa's collars released him and left from there. His fellows followed him. Dohwa could not believe that Ani saved him. Ani then stood up and walked out. Dohwa followed her to the ground where she sat on the bench. There was silence between them when Dohwa broke the ice by saying thank you to Ani.

Ani looked at him and gestured to him to sit on the bench. Dohwa did so. "In Seoul high school, no such thing used to happen," asserted Ani. "But now I am at a new place where I have to learn many things. I do not know why a kid like me able to say such a thing there," she further said and smiled. 

"Let's be friends," said Ani with a smile and forwarded her hand towards Dohwa. 

"You should not-" Before he could complete those words, Ani grabbed his wrist and joined it with her thus, they both shook hands. "I am your friend from now on," said Ani with a bright smile. 

~~~~~~

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