Opus 3

'Boyfriend?'

Her smile went out like a light.

'That Yune is your boyfriend?'

'Uh...yeah. Why - '

'Are you even on the girls' basketball team?'

'...No. I'm not very good at sports.'

'I thought so. Poor Yune.'

Jessica's face softened once more as she turned away from me towards the court.


"Airi?" My head snapped to attention. Oh. Had I been off in my own world? "Sorry Yu! I was just remembering something and I guess I just..." Yune sighed. "So you haven't listened to a word I said?" I smiled up at him apologetically. "Could you repeat it for me? I promise I'll listen this time!" "I guess there's no helping it," he said with a half-smile. "I was telling you that there's a new student in my class, a boy who seems to be related to those two new girls in your grade." This piece of news had my attention in an instant. I couldn't believe I'd zoned out on him. "His name's Tom. Nice guy inspite of all the family problems." "What family problems?" I queried. This might explain his sisters' absolutely abominable attitudes. "His parents divorced and he chose to live with his dad, but apparently his dad didn't want him around for his last year. Some new wife or something. So he was shipped out to live with his mom and sisters."

I lowered my head trying to imagine what parental rejection would be like. Oh wait. I'd already experienced that - Yune's mom positively loathed me. "You know what else?" said Yune suddenly. "Hm? What?" Yune stopped and turned sideways to face me. His mouth curled up in a mischievous smile. "You won't have to sigh and miss me so much in Jazz Band anymore. Tom's a tenor saxophonist. And he's really good." My face flushed red. "How do you know stuff like that..." We'd stopped in front of my house now and Yune gave me a goodbye peck. 'Poor Yune'...

"Wait!"

Yune jerked, surprised by my outburst. My hands tightened around the handle of my bass case. "Yu..do you -? Do you ever..." It was no use. I couldn't get the words out. Immediately Yune's hands were cradling my face. "Is this what's been bothering you the whole day?" he said seriously. "I...I just want to know if you think I'm lame for not playing basketball." Whew. It was easier if you said it fast!

"Hmph."

I looked up at Yune. He turned away and 'hmphed' again. Was he...laughing? The colour rose to my cheeks again and I growled, "Yuuu!" Yu now burst into full-scale-fits of laughter, his eyes crinkling up as he held his sides. But just looking at him like that made me cool down. "I don't," he finally breathed. "You play the bass, and the piano. And most importantly, there isn't anyone else in the world like you." Yune took my hand then and squeezed it gently. "Makes me feel so lucky that I have the limited edition," he whispered. Tilting my chin with his other hand, he kissed me.

I wished this moment would last forever. Everyday I tried not to think about how close Yune's graduation loomed but the one thing you don't want to think about is invariably the one that occupies your thoughts the most. So it was with Yune's departure. 'I've got 4 months left!' he'd tell me. But his face would pale a little.

Especially now that Yune was applying for Mechanical Engineering.