Baily

I heard the ranting and raving from outside the classroom – I just nodded with everything the girl was shouting with pursed lips.

'Baily is a snarky, cunning and mischievous cow! She's fat and ugly – has a weird personality and listens to emo and foreign music. She's not athletic and has a morbid sense of humour. I am not saying anything horrible about her – I am just stating facts and the truth.' She stated. I continued bobbing my head up and down. Now I feel tired.

'She's not fat or ugly!' Amy said in the subjects defence. 'She grew up listening to the genre of music she likes and at least she isn't a slut like you!' Amy began to shout blindly at the other girl who I think was Kayleigh – she's a bitch.

I looked in through the window of the door to see Kayleigh snap, she began to stamp her way towards Amy, arm raised to slap her as Amy braced herself for impact. I barely got there in time to grab Kayleigh's hand and twist it behind her back – shock emerged from everybody's face's, they hadn't notice me enter the class. Swearing stringed out of Kayleigh's mouth and turned to face me, her face red with anger.

'Who the fuck are you?' she snarled, struggling to escape from my iron grip. I began to laugh hysterically, tears springing to my eyes. I wiped them away slowly. 'Well?' she demanded.

'You know, you really shouldn't talk about people if you don't even recognise the subject of the conversation.' I told her tilting my head slightly to the left smiling.

'Baily?' Kayleigh's eyes widened and her face paled. 'N-n-no, it can't be. I would recognise you instantly' she shook her head furiously.

Had I changed that much? I knew I'd lost weight, I had to be told that apparently my baby fat had gone (I didn't believe them until now) and I had my last growth spurt – I'm now the small height of 5 foot 5 while everyone else still towered over me. Still; maybe Aunt Kuiki's efforts paid off.

Kayleigh looked into my eyes – everyone knew that my eyes were similar to cats' eyes; I was even asked if I wearing contacts! She gulped and backed away to her seat and put her head in her hands. 'Shit' was the repetitive word that left her mouth.

'Baily!' Amy cried and squeezed me tight

'Amy!' I shouted and hugged her back.

'You said you looked slightly different! But it's a full body transformation!' she gaped. I just blinked; not for the first time the question entered my head again – had I changed that much?

Miss Chanala entered the classroom and settles us down, she asked how I was and if I had received the information that I had to memorize for my A Level exams and if I understood it, and that if any of it was confusing, she was there to help anytime. I nodded and she directed me to my seat.

I noticed that everyone but me was sat in a pair, and that girls were giving me dirty, jealous looks – which I ignored. I've been bullied before, and I knew how to conceal my emotions effectively. According to the people who knew me – vaguely – I was a freak. Music tastes different and I preferred to sit in a corner or in a field reading a good book listening to music than go shopping and partying every weekend.

Miss Chanala started the roll call for the register, it began smoothly but was stumped at one name. 'Is Choi Min Ki here?' My head shot up. Choi Min Ki? I know that name so very well, though I doubt that it the person I am thinking of.

'Is he by any chance Korean?' I ask

'Yes' came the surprised reply. 'How do you know that he's Korean?'

I shrug 'Lucky guess' I murmured. I narrowed my eyes at the space next to me. Am I supposed to sit next to Min Ki? Is that the reason for the looks? Could this person be the person I want to meet the most in this world? More questions circled my mind until I was dizzy with confusion and anticipation.

'He said he would be late today and arrive at around break time.' Someone said.

We continued our lesson and I wrote down necessary notes for revision while wondering if Min Ki was the person I'm thinking of.

Break came too fast. I walked out to the yard to find my best friend charging straight for me. She jumped and wrapped her arms around my waist and I stumbled backwards to the ground with my air knocked from me. I lay groaning and rolling from side to side, trying to find my bearings.

'Baily!' Romye shouted. A lopsided grin set in place. All I could do was stare at her.

Ren

I walked into the yard, head down and staring at the floor. Someone barged into me shouting sorry as I looked up. I watch her run and tackle another girl to the floor shouting something that seemed nonsensical.

The girl who was tackled groaned and stared at the offender and swore at her. A quiet anger raged in her expression that I found funnily amusing.

'Romye, doing that hurts people.' She told her friend. Her voice was smooth, like velvet and soft – I couldn't quite hear the tone and timbre of her voice. Unfortunately I couldn't see her.

'I know, but I couldn't stop myself. I missed you so much Baily' Romye complained. She stood and reached for Baily's waiting hand.

'How are your knees?' Baily asked.

'They're alright. Doc says I need to do more physio and cut down on the exercise.' Romye shrugs.

They began to stalk towards the canteen, catching up for lost time it seems. I headed in the other direction towards Biology to drop my bag on my desk.

When I got there I noticed that someone had sat on my desk and already had their notes on one side of the table. Miss Chanala saw my puzzled face and explained.

'There's a student who was away for a period of time has come back to the UK and I need you all sat in pairs and you have a spare seat next to you. Sorry Min Ki, but she has to sit next to you even though you asked specifically to be on your own.' she smiled sympathetically. I nodded and left to go to the canteen.

I was intrigued by this girl called Baily. I wanted to hear her voice again, it was so quiet but full of emotion at the same time. It was confusing. And I don't know why, but there's just something about her that I want to know. I usually don't interact with others or really talk to them – but this girl with the soft and smooth voice lulls me towards her by her voice. I feel like a moth attracted to light.

Bell rings and I've missed my chance.

Baily

I trekked back to Biology, enthused at the idea of learning about the nervous system and every tiny detail of the neurons and synapses. I opened the door and traced my steps to my desk and looked up.

A pair of brown eyes stared at me and blonde wavy hair tied to his face by one of those long hair bands. His lips were pale pink and skin fair. But his wide chocolate eyes are what made me melt and feel warm.

I realized I was staring and shook my head and looked at him again. I shook my head again. I turned and walked out of the classroom and banged my head against the wall and stuttered back inside and took my seat next to my dream boy.

Ren

A girl I didn't recognise walked to my desk and looked up. She had an oval face and mid length, wavy, fire-like hair that had a fringe. Her lips were a tint of pink and orange, they look smooth and soft. Then I looked into her eyes. Her eyes overwhelmed me in a single glance. They were a cat like bottle green around the rim and a green/yellow towards the centre. I felt like I was falling into them.

She shook her head several times – breaking eye contact. I tried to find her eyes again, but she shook her head again and the looked at me. She turned and walked out the room and I heard a soft thump. She returned and was stumbling slightly while holding her forehead and sat next to me.

A faint smell of oranges and mint filled the air around me, then I realized that I had to breathe sometime today.

She took a deep breath and turned towards me. 'Hi, I'm Baily' she smiled nervously.

I caught my breath and my heart began to pick up its pace. This was her. The girl who had the soft, fairy-like voice, which seemed to cloud my mind. But now that I could hear her properly – I realized that her voice was not just soft, but had a strong ring to it. The strength wrapped me in a safety blanket while the softness gave me a dreamlike sensation.

'I'm Choi Min Ki.' I told her with as much clearness my heart would let me. I gave her a smile and looked into her eyes again.