Thanks for adding this to your favorites and for following sherychery7 :)

and thanks so much! this chapter is for you my dear :3 hope it's alright :) thanks for the feedback regarding the cover photo too :D

thanks for the follow JasZ1991

thanks for the continuous support veeegee :)

thanks chelita \m/

Chapter 10:

Harder than Solving for x

As their Physical teacher, Mr. Shin enters the room, every learner in the room immediately went into silence. Nobody ever wanted to go into his nerves, as for he is known in exploding with his short anger management hold and shouting at his students if he did lose control of his anger, even if he tried desperately not to.

The class was smooth, as Jun Pyo tries his best to prove himself worthy than Jan Di with all of the equations being given, but as for Jan Di, she didn't care even if she knows perfectly what he is up to. One thing that she only care about is to solve every problem quickly so they can move on to their next subject, longing for the lunch break that had seemed to be far in her grasps of longing desire.

"Alright class, listen." Mr. Shin said in front, before ending their class. "I will be giving you your project this quarter and it'll be by partners. I have already listed who you will go together for this project. I don't want to hear any complain regarding this partner projects, alright? If ever you have personal issues regarding your partners, save that for later. Everyone understand?"

All of the class exclaimed their loud agreement with their teacher.

"Alright, listen carefully and I don't want to repeat any of your names and your partners.

Duho and Park

Ha Jae Kyung and Woo Bin

Jun Moko and Ha Sho

Eli and Madison

Sasori and Tuhee

So Hee and Yun Jin Sung

Yi Jeon and Song Ji Hyo

So Yi Jung and Chu Ga Eul

Geum Jan Di and Jun Pyo

Seo Jeoung Min and Park Mi-ah"

As their teacher goes on to announce the set of names partnered for their quarterly project, Woo Bin slowly looked at Jae Kyung upon hearing their names, as she glared at him back. He gulped, I hope this turns out to be good than I expected. He lost his nervousness when he heard Yi Jung and Jun Pyo's names and to whom they are to be partnered with and silently laughed over them. Ga Eul froze when she heard her name being called out and announced to be partnered with the least person she expected to be partnered with and looked slowly at her best friend who is sharing the same fate as her.

"I thought of who you will be your partners, most especially who you share the same performance in my subject to be fair. Now, i'll be discussing your project and it's submission."

That statement telling them being partnered to someone who they share the same performance in class made the boys of the f4 sunk. They all have one thing in mind, they're not in the same level as ours. nevertheless, they still needed to abide by the rules if they wanted to pass this subject, and eventually to graduate with flying colors.

The project was a little bit simple, they only needed to search a good article of minimum of five and approximately ten pieces and create a model that goes together with every article. Those who will pass a great project will have theirs put into Science Week Exhibit, and plus points of course. Now that is something that the f4 will surely want since it will greatly help them increase their grades, but how could them if their partners are also going to increase as much as theirs?

Never mind, I'll find another way to pull my grades higher, Yi Jung thought quietly to himself, planning for a victory.

"I want all of you now to go to your partners and start talking about your projects. I'll give you only fifteen minutes before our class ends."

Ga Eul was surely hesitant to walk over at Yi Jung's seat, practically she was sure about the hate he has for her even though she doesn't really know why, but sure that he does hate her, or not fond of her if the word 'hate' is too strong.

They looked at each other's direction and locked at each other's gaze. Ga Eul did not tried to smile as Yi Jung returned his gaze on his notebook, writing something. That was the sign that Ga Eul took to approach him, since he seems not interested to go over her place and start discussing. Time is running out and their teacher had asked them to write in a piece of paper their first plans, to make sure that they have all talked about it.

"hey, uhm, so what are your plans?" Ga Eul tried her best to sound nice and approachable to him so that they won't start any argument if ever he feels like starting one.

He didn't faced her but continued writing on a paper. Ga Eul patiently waited for something, a reply or a smirk, or even a frown if that would work. But for her despair, nothing came out into her new partner, and so thus her patience paid off. When she was about to open her mouth and tell him that it'll be useless if they don't work together, Yi Jung then started talking but not looking at her, "how many articles you wanted for us to have first?"

Ga Eul felt delighted to hear that he is still interested in working their projects together and halted the idea of discussing the matter of working together over a subject or their project. She have decided to take eight, "so that we can equally have four each articles to search for first and since it's not too much and not much less. So what do you think?" asked Ga Eul with a delighted tone.

Well she's right about that. But he has other things in mind. How about I try testing her patience while working on this project then? He asked himself.

"Alright, that's alright for me. Can't you handle five? I can perfectly handle that, besides, it'll be an additional for us in our grades if we have many to pass."

Yi Jung's tone was a bit sarcastic for her taste, but she kept her nerves down, not wanting to spark even a little fight between them. "I don't mind doing five, it's pretty fine with me." Trying to answer him calmly, "I just chose eight becau-"

"Yeah I know, then eight it would be." He cut her off. She arched a brow, and felt that if their plan fails, she surely feels she's going to be blamed hardly for it.

"Alright, 15 mins is done and pass your papers. No papers, that means would won't be doing your projects."

Ga Eul quickly looked for a paper to write on, but Yi Jung handed her the paper with their names on it and the plans that they've just started. She was happy to see that he managed to write her name, thought thinking if they can survive working together on a single project.

This is going to be a long, hard project to work on, Yi Jung thought though Ga Eul didn't mind. She bare in mind that she needed to act professional in front of him, not caring about his personal issues with her.

As she heads back to her seat, she took a look at the guy who she was having problems with, who is currently busy working with his notes.

"I wonder if we can pull this together?"

She is about to find out. She looked for her friend but giggled as she saw Jan Di and Jun Pyo arguing over something.

She smiled and thought to herself, they just look cute together. I wonder if they can also get along together with this impossible project?"

At least she suffers the same fate with her best friend. She immediately went with Jan Di after class, walking her to the gym for her now usual practice training every after class. Ga Eul took this chance to talk to her about their recent new project partners who they don't even know if they can handle with. Jae Kyung didn't walk with them of course, having a different way on her own on her way back her home. As Ga Eul struggles to hold on to her books in her arms, she still kept on having a conversation with Jan Di by her side.

"Well, he is not that bad. Though I sensed something with the tone that he just used when he said that why can't we have just ten articles when both of us can handle it anyway."

"what did you said then?"

"That I chose eight because it is not too much and not too less, and we can still manage to do other things aside from our projects."

"Let me get this straight first, he did asked you first how many articles you wanna work on with, right?"

"Yeah" Ga Eul replied, looking at her friend if she is getting mad at her or something, she gets completely protective over Ga Eul and doesn't want anything or anyone to hurt her.

"then you have the right to be followed! He asked, you answered. Just ignore his tones, he feels he's the king. Maybe he is trying to make you feel guilty?"

"Over what?"

"That he is trying to emphasize that you are wrong about choosing eight and that you should have just chosen ten?" Ga Eul looked down at the floor as they have reached their canteen for Jan Di to buy some bottled drinks and a snack for Ga Eul.

"Maybe, but I don't care. I'll just forget about it. We'll stick to eight!"

"that's right! Fighting!" and they both raised their hands, "Fighting!" shouted Ga Eul back happily.

They started to walk again towards the gym, until Ga Eul remembered something that she should tell Jan Di.

"Jan Di-ah, I believe I haven't mention something to you yet." Ga Eul looked at her books and embraced them even tighter.

"What is about Ga Eul?" Jan Di asked, looking worried over her.

"Well, yesterday, while I was walking back home and passed by the tiny bridge at the park,"

"which one?" Jan Di butted in, asking.

"The one that has a koi pond beneath it." Almost laughingly answered by Ga Eul. She just simply love the simple things that Jan Di cracks up in between of serious moments.

"oh, alright. Go on then." Jan Di smiled apologetically, as Ga Eul continues to talk.

"Well, I looked at the pond then I saw Ji Hoo playing his violin nearby. Before I even knew it, he fell right away at the pond. I tried helping him get up and fix himself, so he treated me with an ice cream in return."

"yah! Now that made me want an ice cream too!" Jan Di pouted, looking incredibly jealous of the ice cream. "why did he even fell into the pond when it seems to be a non-slippery place."

"That's what I didn't understand too." They slowed down a little as they are nearly approaching the gym, so just they can finish their conversation.

"well, did you ask him?"

"actually, no. I forgot." Ga Eul think it over and she realize that she did forgot to ask.

"You forgot? Why would you even forgot to ask?"

"I don't know, maybe because I was carried away by the ice cream." The two laughed and held hands.

"You know what's weird, Jan di? He didn't even bothered changing his clothes and didn't mind being soak into water even I told him for a couple of times that he'll get sick but he is just persistent and didn't changed." Ga Eul growled, remembering how hard headed the guy was.

"Well, maybe it's one of his weirdness. It'll be more awful if he just removed his shirt in front of you and not wearing anything." Jan Di teased her.

"Yah! like that would happen!" Ga Eul retorted, "I'll run immediately if he does that! People might think other things if he did that."

"truly, they may."

They stopped in front of the gym, but still did not ending their conversation. "You know, he said he even heard that I do cheering and track, which I find it weird and eerie."

"Why is that?"

Ga Eul looked at her a little bit bothered, "Who in the world would have tell him that?"

"I don't Ga Eul-shi, I just hope that they are not talking about you with his foolish friends."

"I hope they don't, just like how we talk about them." The both of them giggled and hugged each other and said their farewells, as for Ga Eul, she can't just feel safe and happy without Jan Di in every aspect of her life.

As she heads home and passed by the park, she quickly remembers of the conversation she had with Jan Di and the past scenario here with Ji Hoo, she wondered if she could ever still be friends with him too. As for her, he doesn't look that bad and weird.

Before continuing to head home, she stopped by the ice cream parlor near by the park and walked home serving herself a strawberry ice cream in hand. She smiled on her way home, remembering the surprising and unexpected scenario that she just had with Ji Hoo before.