Every year there was a scholarship test that allowed 5 students from our high school to be exchange students and attend Royals High.
It was every student's dream to attend that school - even if it was for just one semester.
If you performed well, they would renew your scholarship.
This was basically a sad attempt of the school board to banish all the nepotism criticism that they get in the mainstream news. It kind of made us feel even more pathetic but we were all suckers.
There was not one student in my school who didn't try their all to secure a scholarship every year.
Woojin tried his best.
I tried my best.
Everyone did.
One of my closest friends goes into that school through that scholarship program. I should meet up with him.
That reminds me that I need to call him.
Woojin didn't get in this year either. It was his final try.
He tried the scholarship test for all four years of high school but he couldn't get in, even though he was one of the best students in our school.
He was just sour that even in his final year of high school when he really thought he would be a part of the Royals high, he still couldn't get in.
"Woojin you don't need the tag of Royals High to be validated. You are doing really good here and didn't you say some college abroad even asked you if you're interested in the early entry? Stop being so sad" I try to lighten the mood.
"Damn right I don't need their tag. I am sad that summer is over and school starts on Monday. Not because of that stupid school" he huffs and I smile.
"What about you? Did you check your email?" he asks as he gathers his things in his bag.
I laugh. "You didn't get in. What makes you think I would have. I didn't even bother checking the email" I snort and get away from the counter to go clean up the table in the corner.
We only have a couple of people in the cafe right now, most students from Royals High.
I preferred it this way because these students couldn't care less about the people around them.
If I wasn't wearing the uniform, I was invisible to them.
I liked being invisible.
It meant that I wasn't bothered.
I personally never faced any bullying from them, just sneers and scowls but I knew some of these students were brutal towards others.
I didn't want to know what being on the end of their burn felt like.
"You never know. If I am not wrong, you ranked 1st in your class last year. You also have a lot of extra-curricular activity certificates under your sleeves. They might have considered you" he shrugs and I roll my eyes at him in response.
I may be first in my class but Woojin was much smarter than me.
I could only rank 1st because Woojin was a year older than me.
If he had been in the same class as mine, I would have never been able to compete with him. Woojin and San were the toppers, always first.
One would think that would make them enemies, at each other's throat but surprisingly they were very good friends.
The three of us knew each other since childhood.
Our parents were neighbors before and we saw each other so much growing up in all the potlucks and functions that it somehow turned into the friendship we have now.
"Anyway, aren't you getting late to meet Songa?" I ask and his eyes widen.
"Shit, I'm heading out. Please lock up. If you need me for anything call me but I hope that you will not need me" he smiles and waves at me before gathering his final things and walking out of the cafe.
Yet again I feel that strange feeling in my gut.
Maybe I should hydrate?
I sigh and start cleaning up the tables.
I am hungry but it is only another hour. I can hold on. I didn't want to be the reason why Woojin and Songa break up.
God knows what I do not have to hear from both sides when they have their fights.
Songa was the same age as me, a year younger than Woojin.
He had a crush on her for the longest time so I was happy to see them together but when two of your friends get together, it also means you will be in the middle of all their fights, forced to listen to both their sides.
I definitely didn't want to hear about another fight because Woojin was late for their 100 days celebration.
The time passes by slowly, there are a couple more orders but none too hectic for me, and one by one everyone leaves. There are 5-6 people left in the cafe.
All students of the same high school.
I yawn and look at the large clock hanging on the end of the It is nearing the closing time. I look around to see the girl who ordered the milkshake and ice cream still sitting in a corner sulking and looking at her phone repeatedly.
The humane part of me is telling me to go and comfort her because it looks like she got stood up on her date but the rational part of me knows not to get involved and just mind my own business.
There was no need for me to be the punching bag for her because she got stood up.
Learned that the hard way.
"I am here" suddenly the girl waves her hands excitedly as she stands up. Her face breaks out in a smile and she looks pretty.
I follow her gaze.
The bell rings behind the entrance as a person enters the cafe.
Instantly there is a change in the atmosphere in the cafe.
The murmurs start slow, barely whispering, slowly but steadily increasing spreading around, and the lull of the voices increases into a dull roar.
However, the man whom I am assuming to be the topic of gossip seems oblivious as he holds his helmet in one hand and walks leisurely to the table where the girl is sitting.
He is wearing black combat boots, each thud on the floor a little louder than the other or has the whispers gone down?
His dark jeans are ripped but I know they cost much more than the best pair of jeans that I own. His white shirt is creased and crumpled but it still promises the lean figure underneath.
He completes his look with a maroon leather jacket.
When I look closely, I see very similar gold calligraphy on the left side of the jacket.
Is that the Royals High logo?
How odd?
As he passes me by, I am enveloped in a crisp smell of pine and something spicy, a little musky. I stagger a little as he walks by too close to me as if I am invisible in his line of vision.
I fail to get a good look at his face, too busy studying whether the gold lettering on his jacket was indeed Royals High.
I turn to look at his back as he moves with purpose towards the girl.
His hair is dyed pink and long enough that it could be tied up in a ponytail but currently, it is mused in the most stylish way possible because of the helmet I am assuming.
His pink hair is such a contrast to his rough aura but somehow its synergy works in his favor.
How does he make ruffled hair look so good?
He has this careless aura about him like he couldn't be bothered to put in any effort but it still makes him stand out from the crowd.
He reminds me of a lead from a teenage romance novel.
I am not the only one who finds him fascinating.
I look around and see everyone in the cafe staring at him.
The little crowd that I have in this cafe is all looking at him as well while they hush in quick whispers, stealing glances at him again and again as they continue their discussion.
I move to the next table, three tables in front of the girl in the ruse of cleaning it but I am just curious to get a better look at the guy who is causing so many whispers to float around.
The boy grabs the girl's hand dragging her away as she struggles to keep up with him and his long legs.
As I stand there, I see him coming toward me as he passes me by to get out of the store.
He is the most handsome guy I have ever seen in my life.
â¨â¨â¨