Today I was assigned to be on cleaning duty. 

This is my first time doing it after two weeks here. I asked the trio what I needed to do while on duty. 

“I just held the mop and chatted with the others until everything had been cleaned. It works every time.” Jin-woo slapped Nam-il on the shoulder for giving such unhelpful, harmful answer. 

“You just follow what everyone did. You will be okay.” He answered instead. 

“Do you want me to stay a little bit to help you?” Ki-sung offered. I declined the kind offer. I don’t want to burden my friends, and I want to get to know the other classmates too.

I did what Jin-woo told me, watch and follow what the others do. To my surprise, the other classmates on duty all talked to me nicely and told me what to do. They were so kind. We even chatted a lot while working. They asked many questions about the culture in Germany, how the school is and how I feel about being in Korea. I am in the centre of attention yet again. 

###

Dohan saw a tall, bright-haired guy at the corner of his eyes, leaving the school compound. He was initially playing mobile games behind the class building, but the subject caught his eyes. He watched the guy from between the trees until he turned the corner and vanished from the school gate. 

“Is that the German guy you talked about?” A bulky, tall guy behind him asked.

Dohan directed his eyes to his screen again. “Yeah.”

“He’s quite big. If he knows some fighting skills it would be hard...”

“No, just leave him alone.” He responded instantly. 

The guy frowned. “Didn’t you say he annoys you?”

“Right.” 

He vigorously tapped his phone screen with both thumbs, shooting other opponents in a virtual battle. “He’s still new here. Let’s give him some space.” 

He finally delivered a headshot, winning the battle. He smiled. 

“Let him love it here first.”

###

On recess the next day, the boys brought me to the school's store. It was like a mini convenience store. They then wanted to bring me somewhere different to eat and relax, but were torn between three places. 

Jin-woo wanted to go to the rooftop, Nam-il wanted to be at the side of the school field and Ki-sung suggested the secluded spot behind the left wing of the school building.

"Isn't the rooftop dominated by bad kids? Are you trying to get us to join them? Are you their recruiter?" Nam-il asked the owner of the 'rooftop opinion’. 

Jin-woo sighed at him. "Whatever. The side of the field is noisy, and packed with people at recess. You just wanted to watch the girls there, didn't you?" 

Nam-il scratched the back of his head, shyly grinning. "How did you know?"

Ki-sung shook his head. "These guys." 

In-ho and I watched the drama unfold before us. 

"I don't like noisy places." In-ho put in his thoughts. 

Thus, Nam-il's idea was rejected. 

"I'm…not good with high places." I then added, which slides Jin-woo's idea off the table.

Ki-sung excitedly willing to show us the way. 

The spot is indeed pretty secluded. We almost can't hear the sound of other kids at the school. The greenish trees are heavily shading the five of us. 

We sat on the bare grass. The mid-spring breeze greeted us at times. It smelt like soil, but there was a light sweetness to it. This is nice. I like it. 

I gaze upon each of them. They are such good friends to me despite our differences. We laughed together, teased each other and stole each other's food. 

It must be nice…if I can continue my senior year here. I want to see these guys longer. I want to graduate with them. My eyes then locked at one person.

In-ho.

He is a good friend. I really enjoyed his company. He made me feel like staying in Korea altogether. It will be the hardest to part with him later. 

He is…a great friend.

I blankly stare at my bread. 

Friend. I took a bite. 

Our friend. 

Somehow I'm bothered by it. 

By friends, doesn't that mean we are all friends to him? I…don't really like that. I know it sounds weird, but I deeply wanted In-ho to look at my direction in a different way—a special way. 

After all, he is special to me. 

We then packed our things to return to class. As we walked, I reminisced about the moments I had with In-ho, just the two of us. 

I wonder if In-ho was as excited as me? 

I remembered that my heart pumped faster back then. I got nervous whenever I saw him. 

Is that normal for a special friend?