Chapter Five

Breaktime

"So, what are we eating today?" Hana asks excitedly.

"I want bread. What about you, Siren?"

"I'll think about it when we get to the cafeteria."

"We should rush, then, That place will be packed in no time"

A cute young lady peeps into their classroom and lets out a slight blush when she sees Siren. She takes a deep, full breath as she sets herself up to welcome her.

"She's here again," Lea murmured while looking at her.

"H-hello..."

Siren stops as she attempts to remember who she is.

"I-I'm Yujin."

"Oh, right."

They will begin strolling again with Yujin close to Siren.

"Yujin, have you eaten?" - Hana

"N-not yet."

"Then, you should come and eat with us. But we eat at the old building because Siren and Lea hates the crowd. Are you fine with that?" Hana asks as she wraps her arms on her shoulder.

Yujin gestures and looks at Siren as though seeking for her approval. Siren will remain silent and enters the cafeteria.

"She's always like that." Murmured Hana. "If you want to get close to her, you need to be used by it."

Yujin gazes at them like a child being recounted an intriguing story. She actually find anything about Siren fascinating.

"D-do you think she's good with me hanging out with you guys?"

"It's fine! And besides, It's great spending time with another person."

Lea looks at the cafeteria and sees it already packed. "Hey, we should get inside. It's already crowded."

2 days prior

"Guys, we will not be having economics class today so we're doing PE earlier today. Kindly wear your PE uniform and head to the gym!"

The unexpected declaration made Siren scowled. She feels sluggish today and is now intending to rest but now she needs to move and what's worse is that it's her most hated subject the most, PE.

"I would prefer not to go. You all go on without me." She lays her head on the desk as she shuts her eyes.

"Siren, you can't play hooky. We have an activity today." Peach said making her more aggravated.

"I don't care."

"Your grades are already bad. I don't think you would want to do PE in summer, right?"

She abruptly shocks up and scowls at Peach yet she just smiled at her. It went on for a minute until Siren surrenders. She stands up trampling her feet to get her PE uniform.

'So irritating.'

-

"Oh. Another class is using the gym."

Lea remarked when they saw a lot of students when they reached the gymnasium. Siren disregarded them and went directly to the seats where she intends to rest when unexpectedly a couple of cold hands wrapped around her left arm, hauling her back to their cohorts.

"Can you not touch me? What do you think you're doing?"

"I told you we have an activity today. It will be unfair to others if you'll just rest and we accomplish everything."

"I got it already. Cn you let me go now? In case you didn't know, your hands are so cold."

Peach releases her and gives her a smile on which she replied with a glare. She could still feel coldness of her hands on her arm that it gives her slight goosebumps.

'Did she hold a piece of ice? So freaking cold.'

"OK, so we will do volleyball. And since we can't use the entirety of gym I will group you into four and you will do the fundamental serves at volleyball. Got it?" The instructor's voice repeated as she call the name of each student.

"Next group, Siren, Peach, Amelia, and Dorothy. You go around there and practice."

'Great. As if this is not worse enough, now I have to team up with her. Just great.'

It went well shockingly until one of their colleagues tosses the ball strongly that it wound up in the other class. Since it's Siren's turn, she have no option but to get the ball back. She could see a commotion as she gets nearer

'Seems like Dorothy hit somebody.'

And, she's right. A young lady is perched on the floor touching the rear of her head. She immediately runs to her.

"I'm sorry, the ball must've hit you. Are you okay?"

The young lady gestures, still touching her head and is frowning.

'She' s cute.'

"Would you be able to stand? Shall I carry you to the infirmary?"

She gazes at her, tear-eyed.

'She reminds me of something...or someone.' She gazes at the young lady back, appreciating how adorable she is. 'That' s right. A puppy. She resembles a cute, little puppy.'

Siren gradually came to the rear of her head and delicately kneaded it. Her eyes widen as she watches her.

"It must've hurt, I' m sorry." Siren apologized tenderly, still rubbing her head. The teacher finally realizes the commotion and interferes with them.

"Are you sure you're alright?" The teacher asks again. The girl just gestures but is sniffing like a youngster. "And you, go back to your class."

Siren gestures as she snatched the ball on the floor and returns to her classmates leaving one final look at the young lady.

"Siren, what happened? Is she OK?" Asked Dorothy.

Siren nods. "She hit her head but she's alright."

"I will apologize to her later."

"We should continue. I want to finish this quickly." Siren said as she serves the ball once more.

Their PE class finished and Siren is on her way to their classroom she was halted by the girl that was hit by the ball earlier..

"Uhm... C-can I be talk you?"

"Sure. Is your head OK now?"

The girl nods modestly. "Thank you for earlier. By the way, I-I'm Yujin. I'm from Class 4."

"It's no big deal, We're just glad you were not badly hurt. And, I'm Siren. I'm at Class 7."

"S-siren..."

"Hmmm?"

Yujin fidgets, seemingly wanting to say something but is holding herself back.

"What is it?"

Yujin takes a deep breath as she talks once more.

"I like you, Siren."

"Huh?"

"I said I like you!"

"Really? Thanks."

Yujin took a look at her with disarray in her eyes. "Huh?"

Siren shrugs her shoulders as she talk again. "I mean, you want me to be your friend, right? If that's the case, the it's fine with me."

Yujin continues to stare at her, her eyes full of confusion, making Siren also confused.

'why is she looking at me like that? Did I misunderstand it?'

"I'm sorry, Did I misunderstand it? I-"

"No, No! Y-you're right! I... I want to be friends with you... Is that okay?"

Siren sighs in relief. "Sure, I guess?"

Yujin's face lights up that Siren almost wanted to hug her.

'She really looks like a puppy, So cute.'

"Also, you look so cool when you rubbed my head. I... I like it."

'I only did that because she reminded me of that puppy in the playground.'

"That so? My sister use to do that whenever I bumped into things. I'm glad it worked on you too."

Yujin only nods, and so, silence enveloped them once again.

"Siren-"

"Our class is about to start. Aren't you returning?" Siren scowls at Peach who just showed up out of the blue.

"Can't you see that we were still talking? Or Or your manners flew out when we played ball?"

Peach overlooks her and welcomes Yujin.

"It seems like we are in the same year." Yujin nods. "Then I think we should go back to our classrooms."

"O-OK... Uhm, Siren..."

"What?"

"Can I... go home with you later?"

"Sure."

Yujin's face once again lights up as she flash a smile that Siren nearly squeezed her cheeks if she hadn't controlled herself.

Then, I'll see you later!" She gives a big wave as she runs away. Siren then walks away, totally ignoring Peach.

"It must feel good to have a new friend."

"What is it to you?"

Peach shrugs her shoulder. "It's highly unlikely for you to make a new friend so it should be considered as an achievement."

"Just what are you trying to say?!"

"Nothing. Congratulations on your new friend, Siren." Peach grinned at her as she entered the homeroom leaving Siren bothered.

"She knows how to get on my nerves." She sighs loudly to ease her irritation. "So annoying. Tsk."

End of flashback

"Is she mad?"

Yujin murmurs while taking a look at Alarm who is occupied with eating bread.

"She probably remembered something bad. Just let her be." Lea answers nonchalantly.

"It's amazing. You must know each other very well."

"We've been together long enough to figure out what she's thinking because what she feels and what she says are different."

"I'm here, you know." Siren intrudes on their discussion. "Are you fine being here? Your friends? Won't they look for you?"

"It's fine. Besides, I want to be here."

"Are you sure?"

Yujin smiled and gave her a nod.

Sren gazes at her for some time before eating again.

"I... I hope it's fine that I hang out with you guys."

"Idon't mind." Siren replies. "And besides, we're friends... right?" Yujin smiles as she takes a look at Lea and Hana who both gave her a merry grin.

-

It's now 7 PM and they are still at school completing the designs for the upcoming school festival. Siren can't resist the urge to look at the entryway each time.

"What's up, Siren? You've been looking at the door for quite some time now."

"She's not waiting, right?"

"Who? Yujin?"

Siren gestures. "She said she'll be waiting for me.I forgot to tell her that we will be staying late here"

"It's impossible. It's been two hours. She could've gone home."

She glances at the door once again before she stands up..

"Where are you-"

The light is now off at Class 4's classroom yet some way or another Siren suspects that somebody may still be there so she opens the door and sees someone sleeping calmly on her desk. She tasks a deep breath as she moved toward the dozing young lady.

'You really waited, you dummy.'

"Yujin..."

"Hmmm?" Yujin gradually opens her eyes and screams when she got invited by dimness. Siren quickly envelops her by a hug as she quieted her down.

"Are you scared of the dark?" Yujin nods, her entire body shuddering. "Why did you wait here? "Then why did you sleep here? You could have just come to our classroom or you could tell your classmates not to turn off the light..."

'They realize their classmate is still here but they still turn off down the light. Tsk.'

"I-it's okay... They must not have realized that I'm still here and they didn't know that I'm scared of the dark so it's fine."

Siren stares at he contemplating on whether to believe it or not.

'But then again, it's none of my business and as long as she's alright..'

"I'm really fine. Sorry for worrying you."

"Is that so? Then good. You should come with me then, We'll be staying here till 8. I forgot to tell you earlier, I'm sorry."

Yujin nods quietly as she still clings to her arm like a koala. Lea and Hana run to them as soon as they reached the classroom.

"You waited? You should just go home!" Hana exclaimed.

"It's fine. I fell asleep so I didn't notice the time." Yujin answered with a big smile.

"Sit beside me. Help us too while you're at it." Siren said as she hands her a scissor and a colored paper. "Just traced the pattern."

"O-okay."

They work in peace until it reached 8 PM.

"I'm so tired! Good thing it's the weekend. We can take a rest!" Hana whined as she stretches.

"Are you finished? Give that to me so we could go home." Yujin nods and hands her the paper. "Wait for me. I'll just give it to them."

"Yujin, are you two on the same way?"

"Yup. We live in the same neighborhood. I was surprised when I found out too."

"Then... Do you walk with Peach?"

"Peach?"

Lea nods. "Her." She answered while pointing to Peach who is talking with Siren. "She lives in the same area. You don't come across with her?"

"Uh... No. I-I haven't seen her."

"Is that so?"

"Why would Peach walk with them? You know how annoyed Siren is with her."

"Are they fighting?"

"Nope. Let's just say they're not on good terms. I mean, Siren doesn't like her. We don't know why, either. It's better that you don't ask if you don't want to make her mood worse."

Siren suddenly appears grabbing Yujin in her arms, her expression grim.

"Let's go, it's already late."

"Hey, wait for us!" Lea and Hana almost run away to follow them. Peach follows them by her gaze, her expression also grim.