A smile filled my face as the three of us ventured towards food.

Today’s menu was rice, kimchi, and bulgogi (marinated beef). I wasn’t sure why the menu was extravagant. The usual dishes consisted of rice and some side dishes, maybe a soup if we were lucky. But hey! I wasn't complaining.  After getting my tray of food, I sat at the usual table with my friends.

Yoon took the first bite; the corners of his lips lifting slightly. “This tastes good.”

“Yeah, I wonder what was the occasion,” I replied.

Eunji chewed and swallowed her food. “That’s so true, who knows? Maybe our school got a sponsor or something. Or it’s a special occasion for the principal.”

She smiled. “Either way, our tongues are getting blessed.”

Yoon nodded before placing a huge spoonful of food in his mouth. The three of us, were no doubt, very happy about the lunch decisions today. 

“Oh yeah,” I commented. “I’ve been meaning to ask you guys this. Today when I introduced myself, Mr. Joo asked me about happiness right? Since I was taken aback, I completely bullshitted my answer and was expecting a negative response. But instead, everyone acted like I was the new Shakespearean. What’s up with that?”

My two friends blinked in confusion, recalling back to the moment. Eunji placed her finger in the middle of her forward, signalling that she was thinking.

“That’s true… You aren’t the type to say anything deep with meaning.” Eunji scratched her head. “When I think back to then, all I remember is seeing the sunlight against your face and I think I saw sparkles? I’m not sure, you just looked really pretty and the words you spoke seemed intellectual which was why I clapped.”

Yoon nodded. “It was the same for me.” After a moment, he grit his teeth and his ears reddened. “Not that it means um anything.”

Eunji giggled. “It was weird. Almost like a scene from a drama, you know? The whole shala-lala-lalala music with the flowers and sparkles in the background.”

That was incredibly weird to hear. Till this moment, I was still in confusion to my new entity. And I was discovering more about myself by the second.

To play along, I flipped my hair back. I didn’t want my friends to become involved in this mystery. “I guess I’m that beautiful. Praise me you peasants.”

Yoon rolled his eyes. “You’re crazy.”

I winked. “And you love it.”

“Whatever,” he murmured. His eyes looking down on the tray.

While eating good food and conversing, the time passed quickly. When I was about to eat my last spoonful of rice, I noticed a boy strutting up to our table. The funny part was that he was looking straight at me, with no intentions to take his eyes off. Did he even blink? I felt like a mouse being targeted by a hungry eagle. A terrible analogy but it does make a point.

When he came close, he stood in front of me and mustered his best smile, one that most girls would fawn over. For an average high school boy, he was well above the line of standard. Not as attractive as Mr. Joo or Yoon, but admirable from a distance. 

“Hello,” he greeted.

I looked at Yoon and Eunji with a confused expression, before returning a smile, except mine was faltering. “Hey…” I looked over at his name tag to read his name. “Jinwoo? What’s up? Do I know you?”

He laughed awkwardly while scratching the back of his neck. “We don’t…” He winked. “But we can start getting to know each other.”

Oh no.

“I personally don't like beating around the bush. I’m not sure how you only caught my eye today but do you want to go on a date sometime?”

Eunji was trying to hold her laughter, while Yoon was staying poker faced.

I fiddled with my fingers. “Um well-“

He interrupted me. “I promise that I’ll make it worth your time. After all, a beautiful girl like you deserves everything.”

I snorted, blurting the first words that came to my mind. “So if I was ugly, I wouldn’t deserve the same?”

His mouth parted slightly, eyes opening with shock.

Was I too harsh? I wasn’t used to being asked out, especially out of the blue by a stranger, so I had no experience on what to say. I debated on following up with another statement to soften the blow, but my words had minimal impact as his jolly smile returned.

“But you’re beautiful,” he insisted. “So does that really matter? You bless the eyes of everyone around you. Which is why you should have everything that you want.”

That was so... Cheesy, dear lord.

The smile I once had shriveled up into a frown. "Oh, I see."

"Also there is a wonderful restaurant I've been wanting to dine at. Money isn't an issue for me but I just couldn't find the right girl to pay for," Jinwoo mentioned. His eyes glistened as he bit his lips, most likely trying to be seductive. "I believe I found her today."

It's embarrassing to admit but for a split second [really really split. I promise.], the free food aspect was very tempting. There was nothing better than eating without worrying about how broke you were. But as a human being with common sense, I knew that Jinwoo was flaunting his money to convince me. 

What devilish tactics - to use the free food card.

"So what is your answer?" He asked before biting his lip, yet again. He seriously needed to stop that habit, it looked like he was trying to eat himself. Cannibalism was not attractive.

The answer immediately came out of my mouth. “Yeah about that. I’ll pass, thanks.”

The smile on Jinwoo's face quickly disappeared, and his eyes began to narrow. “Wait a minute. What did you just say? Why?”

Was he really asking that question? We'd never spoken until today and the way he spoke was entitled. Perhaps, his way of speech worked with other girls but it didn't with me.  

I pressed my lips together. "You're not my type... Sorry?"

The cafeteria silenced and everyone watched as the scene unfolded. In front of them was a live action scene full of drama. They could not take their eyes off.

"Come on, give me a chance. I promise it'll be a great time." He leaned in closer, his silhouette clouding over me. With the tip of my fingers, I slightly pushed him back while leaning away at the same time. "Yeah, no thanks."

A frustrated sigh escaped Jinwoo's lips. He proceeded to grab my arm, pulling me towards him. The sudden touch made me flinch and the strength of his hands hurt me. Okay, now it's getting too personal.  I scoffed with clenched fists, getting ready to fight. But before I could react, Yoon stood up and grabbed Jinwoo's wrist, forcing him to release me.

“Hey bud, don't grab her like that. She said she doesn't want to date you. Deal with it."

Despite my arm being released, Yoon's hand continued to grip Jinwoo's wrist, his veins accentuating from the strength. Jinwoo shook his arm to get Yoon to stop but it did not work. Jinwoo's face reddened with anger.

"Listen," Jinwoo barked. "Don't butt in. This is between me and her so get your bloody hands off of me."

Yoon didn't budge. "I wasn't going to cause I know Minha can handle you herself. But there is no way in hell I'd let you get violent with my friend. So, when I let go, you better fuck off."

Jinwoo looked at Yoon, and then back to me. The riled up emotion in his eyes firing. "Fuck you both." And with that, he left, leaving everyone in the cafeteria utterly shocked.