NOTE: "Italicized" is Korean speech

Chapter 4: Jaime

Fourth grade was a year of new changes. It wasn't only because Kelly was placed in a higher grade, but the fact that she was placed in the same class as Jaime.

She didn't like Jaime.

Kelly preferred that he had remained in San Diego, but, for whatever reason (Mr. Rodriguez said something about business, but she didn't get it), Jaime and his family came back to Los Angeles. It was a peaceful year until his return.

It wasn't even a surprise to see Jaime unchanged. He went from an obnoxious and loudmouth seven-year-old to an obnoxious and loudmouth nine-year-old. Naturally, Kelly did whatever she could to place some distance between them—she pretended that they were total strangers and attempted to keep out of his range of sight. Unfortunately, her plan failed when he brought to school his grandfather's churros.

This would be the first and last time she would sit next to Jaime Ramos for this year and the following, Kelly vowed. (Or the second to last if Jaime kept his promise of bringing Mr. Rodriguez's oatmeal cookies.)

While it was hard to avoid Jaime at school, it was even harder at home since the Ramos moved into the neighborhood. The weirdo frequented Mr. Rodriguez's house, so it was hard to bother visiting the elderly man anymore. After all, how could she enjoy visiting what with Jaime hollering at her face "Smelly Kelly is so smelly!"

One day, Tatsuya came over. Ever since he gave Kelly a birthday present, they became somewhat close. No, not friends exactly, but perhaps something similar to it. It wasn't like they really hung out either—he just spent time at her home to join Sarah in watching Kpop from time to time. Apparently, Tatsuya found it to be all rather entertaining, much to Kelly's confusion. It was just people singing and dancing, after all.

Mom and Sarah found it to be kind of endearing how a little Japanese boy liked Korean popular music. Dad didn't have much of an opinion about anything. And who knew how the Himuro couple felt about their son being so interested in Kpop? Though if they allowed him to come over so often, they probably didn't mind it too much.

Jaime must have seen Tatsuya come in because ten minutes after his invite, the doorbell was persistently ringing. Shortly afterwards, Mom led Jaime into the living room.

"A sight for sore eyes," muttered Sarah, who promptly retreated to her room. Kelly wished that she could do same, but she was already spotted by Mom and Jaime.

"Look, Kelly, Jaime came to see you," Mom said with a bright smile.

"Hey, Kelly," Jaime chirped.

"Uh, hi," Kelly replied.

"I'll go bring snacks," Mom said before leaving.

Jaime went up and shoved Kelly to the side, situating himself on the couch between her and Tatsuya. Kelly wanted to retaliate by pushing him off and then resort to actions of promised violence, but reigned herself in. If Jaime was still the same dunderhead that she was certain he was, then he wouldn't hesitate on "rough-housing" with her. Not to mention Tatsuya being here.

"What are you guys watching?" Jaime asked, looking at the television. A line of girls were dancing on stage, donning bright colored outfits and perfectly applied makeup.

"Korean pop music," Kelly and Tatsuya intoned simultaneously.

"Seems boring." Jaime leapt out of the couch and thrust a finger in Tatsuya's face, who flinched at the abrupt and invasive movement. "What's your name?"

"T-Tatsuya…?" Tatsuya answered. He cast a helpless glance at Kelly.

"I'm Jaime. C'mon, let's play soccer."

"B-but I—"

"Tatsuya plays basketball," Kelly interjected. "And, anyway, don't drag him anywhere he doesn't want to go."

"I'm not," protested Jaime. "I mean, why would he want to stick around here and watch," he paused to look back at the screen, "whatever this is? Since he's a boy like me, I would know that he would want to play soccer instead of watching this."

"Basketball," Kelly said.

"Soccer is so much better. Let's play soccer."

"I think basketball is more fun," Tatsuya mumbled. "And I actually want to stay here…"

Jaime, of course, didn't hear what the other boy just said. "My sister has soccer balls that she could give us to play, I think. She's on the soccer team in high school and she's really good. Y'know, for a girl. But she's not captain, so I guess she isn't that good."

"Can't you just go away?" Kelly said, exasperated.

"Why are you always so mean to me, Kelly?" Jaime whined. "I give you my churros and yet you always have to pick on me."

"Well, if you weren't so annoying, then there wouldn't be a reason for me to be so mean," she shot back.

"And why does Sarah always disappear whenever I'm around?"

"What? It isn't obvious?"

"Geez, Smelly, no need to be so nasty."

"Don't call me that!"

"Smelly Kelly, Smelly Kelly, Smelly Kelly!"

Tatsuya suddenly smiled. "Smelly Kelly? Oh, they rhyme!" Tatsuya giggled, but quickly stopped when Kelly directed her glare at him. "W-we're writing poems in class, so I just…"

"You go to our school? I don't think I've seen you before," Jaime butted in.

"He goes to a different school," Kelly said.

"Shush. I wasn't talking to you, Smellster."

"Would you just—!"

It was Mom's arrival that stopped Kelly's growl. The woman came back with a large plate full of ice cream mochi and balls of rice dough filled with sweet red bean paste. "It's hot outside, so I bring something cold and sweet," Mom informed the kids.

"Oh, I remember these the last time I came here!" Jaime exclaimed, grabbing two mochis and cramming one into his mouth.

"Thank you, Mrs. Kang," said Tatsuya.

"Yeah, thanks, Mom," Kelly chimed.

"You're welcome. Let me know if you need anything else," Mom said, and then left. Kelly and Tatsuya then turned their heads over to where Jaime was standing, finding him cradling his head.

"Arrgh, brain freeze," he moaned.

"Um, I know his name, but who is he…?" Tatsuya inquired hesitantly.

"He's Mr. Rodriguez's grandson," Kelly sighed. "Mr. Rodriguez said that he suffers from some kind of attention illness."

Tatsuya frowned worriedly. "A-an illness?"

"Yeah. He's always saying that Jaime has the attention span of a fish, so I think it's an illness."

"My friend Marcus's mom always says that about him too," he gasped. "He must have that illness then!"

"Does he act like Jaime?"

"Um, no. Definitely not."

"Then he's not sick."