At Ara's house...
Ara's POV...
"How's the lesson, Dear?" My mom ask me as she looks at me going upstairs.
"Good. I'm gonna go shower first!" I tell my mom with a normal tone, though I'm not really in the best mood right now to have a lot of intteraction.
"Ok." My mom amswers as she continues to read her magazine.
I enter my room and take a quick warm shower. A warm shower always makes me feel better whenever I'm feeling down. After 10 minutes, I eventually exit the shower and wrap my body with a towel. I put on some comfy pajamas and dry my hair. As I continue to dry my hair, somehow the weird feeling keeps surfacing back.
I know I shouldn't feel like this, but I can't help it. Maybe I'm still upset about Matt? I should learn to be happy by seeing someone else's happiness.
I know I sound selfish, but I just feel like it's complicated. My first crush was obviously Matt, but I'm just gonna have to let go of the fact now. He's dating Kate and they're happily in love. I shouldn't be sad for that. I should be happy that the person I like had found the love of his life. Well, that's what I want to think about.
And then there's Junghwa...wait, what am I even thinking about right now? I shouldn't even think about him right now in a dramatic mood. Reality check! He's dating my cousin, Hana! I should be happy for that. Silly, Ara! Don't let your heartbreak make you feel anything more stupid.
Just then, my phone suddenly rings. I check to see who is calling. It was Grace. I turn off my hair dryer to pick up her call.
"Hi, Grace!" I pick up the call from my best friend.
"Hey, Ara! What's up? I thought I'd just check up on you," says Grace through the phone.
"Nothing much. I haven't done any of my homework though," I say casually.
"Same here. Luckily the homeworks aren't as crazy as last week," Grace says with a laugh.
"Hahaha, yes," I say.
"So, how's your piano lesson today?" Grace ask me.
"Pretty good. Jungwa even taught me a new song," I say casually.
"Quality time with Jay Hwang I see?" Grace teases me.
"Yeah right. My cousin eventually pops up in front of his house. I shouldn't make her think that Junghwa and I are something," I tell my best friend through the phone.
"Haha, I was just joking," Grace adds. "By the way, are you still gonna continue your piano lessons? I mean, sorry to ask but.."
"Of course I'll continue. Damn, I didn't just take lessons so I could impress Matt. I love music, Grace. And piano is definetly my favorite instrument," I say.
"I didn't know you actually liked the piano though," Grace says.
"For your information, I've always wanted to learn how to play the piano! After knowing that Junghwa was actually good at it, I thought why not I ask him to tutor me. Of course, with a good deal," I answer in a totally chill tone.
"Well...good to hear that," Grace says.
"Yeah. Well, I'm gonna continue drying my hair. Bye, Grace," I say to her.
"Bye, Ara," Grace says.
The next day, at school...
At the cafeteria....
"How was homework? Did any of you get any trouble?" Zach ask before he starts to dig in his mac and cheese.
"Number 5 was a little difficult though," Ara says before taking another bite of her sandwhich.
"I'll say," Junghwa adds, before taking a sip of his orange juice.
The whole lunch break is more silent than usual. That is, until Matt and Kate walks up to the group.
"Hey man! What's up?" Peter ask Matt as he gives the guy a high five.
"I thought I check out on you guys," Matt says with a cheesy smile.
"Seriously? We're flattered," Zach says in a sassy tone.
"Well, I'm also gonna introduce you guys to my girlfriend. Guys! Meet my girlfriend, Kate. We actually started  dating from 3 months ago, outside of school. Well, now she's in the same school with us," Matt says as he winks at Kate who is standing beside him. Kate let out a shy giggle.
Ara starts to stare at the happy couple, making her friends glance at her a few times.
"Well, we gotta go first! Bye guys," Matt says.
"Bye guys," Peter waves goodbye at the couple.
After school...
Ara is walking with Grace, Peter, and Junghwa in the hallway. Zach needed to talk to the teacher first, so it's just the four of them.
"You sure you ok?" Junghwa ask me in a worried tone.
"I'm fine! You don't have to ask me on repeat," Ara says to her best friend, while trying her best to form a small smile.
"Sorry. It's just..you look disappointed at the cafeteria," Junghwa says to Ara.
"I'm fine," Ara says with a smile on my face, even though she wasn't really smiling deep inside.
Junghwa lets out a sigh. "Well, if you say so. Let's just go so we can start our lesson."
Ara nods at Junghwa. The two then waves goodbye at Grace and Peter before walking to the car park.
At Junghwa's house...
As the lesson goes on, Ara starts to get better as she picks up from where they left from the last lesson. Though she hasn't memorise all the keys yet, she is definetly getting better.
"Someone is surely a soon-to-be prodigy," Junghwa says with a cheeky tone.
"Let me give you a quick tip. Sometimes it's pretty hard to memorise all the keys. But if you memorise the sound they make, it will make it a lot easier," Junghwa says, before he starts to press each key.
"How do I do that?" Ara ask with curiousity. She didn't quite understand.
"You just have to let the melody get into your heart, and by that the sound of the keys will get stuck in your head," Junghwa says. He then starts to play the piano to give Ara an example.
"Is that even possible?"Ara ask. She thought that his statement was a bit cheesy, and she didn't quite understand.
"Of course," Junghwa says as he finish playing the piano. "Your turn!"
"This sounds silly, Junghwa," Ara says.
"Try closing your eyes everytime you hear a new sound. Each sound is different. Think of it as different type of friends. Try imagining that every sound is a different friend," Junghwa says.
"Ok," Ara says. She try to do what he just told her. She close her eyes after she listen to a sound. Surprisingly, it actually works. She gets better in memorising the keys.
"You're doing great," Junghwa says as Ara continues playing the piano.
"Thank you," Ara says with a confident smile.
An hour later...
"That's for today," Junghwa says as he is about to exit the music room. "Let me take you home."
"Sure," Ara says as she follows him out of the music room. The two then exits the house and enters the car.
As Junghwa continues to keep his vision on the road, Ara thought about breaking thw awkward silence.
"So..how are you and Hana?" Ara ask as she turns her head to see Junghwa. She noticed how focus he looks when he is driving. She starts to admire his side features.
I didn't know he looked quite good from this side. Ara thought.
"Good. Things are going well," Junghwa says while having his vision on the road.
"Ohh....good," Ara says as she slowly turns her vision back to the road.  After a few minutes, the car finally arrives at Ara's house.
"We're here," Junghwa says.
"Thanks for the ride," Ara says as she steps out of Junghwa's car.
"No problem. See you tomorrow," Junghwa says as he waves goodbye at Ara.
Ara watches as Junghwa's car leaves her neighbourhood. After that, she walks inside her house, only to see a familiar girl talking with her mother in the living room. It was Hana.
"Ara, you're back," says her mom.
"Yeah," Ara says as she turns her vision to Hana smiling at her. She smiles back at her.
"I thought we could do our homeworks together," Hana says all of a sudden.
Ara smiles at the girl with long wavy hair. "Sure."
Hana smiles and gets up from her seat. The two girls then walks upstairs to do their homework.
A few hours later...
Ara's POV....
I'm in the middle of doing my homework in my room along with Hana. She insisted that we do our homeworks together since she also wanted to talk to me about Junghwa. Seems like she wants to know more about him.
"So tell me more about this Junghwa guy," Hana says as she continues to do her homework.
"Well, we've been friends since middle school. He is an only child. Though he can be annoying to his friends at times, he is very helpful and is an all time mood booster," I say at the thought of the childish boy.
"Well, I think he is a funny person," Hana says with a small giggle.
I roll my eyes. He is pretty funny though. I have to agree with Hana on this one.
"Yeah, he's hilarious," I say.
"So how is your piano lesson? Is he a strict or fun tutor?" Hana ask.
"Believe me when I say that he's a better tutor than he is as a friend," I say in a sarcastic tone.
Hana lets out a laugh. "How about as a boyfriend?"
"Well, you're gonna have to find that out. But so far as I see, he seems to be a gentle guy," I say.
"He's a gentleman," Hana says in a dreamy tone.
Yup, this girl is in love.
As I continue doing my homework, I couldn't help but remember about Junghwa's words about an easier way to memorise the keys.
Flashback...
"Try closing your eyes everytime you hear a new sound. Each sound is different. Think of it as different type of friends. Try imagining that every sound is a different friend," Junghwa says.
End of flashback...
Ok, now is not the time to daydream about some words your best friend/tutor just told you. Am I daydreaming about the words, or him? Wait...Kim Ara what are you even thinking? I really need to focus on my homework now.
"We're actually planning to go see a movie tonight," Hana says as she continues to do her homework.
"Oh really...that's nice," I say casually, but it's a bit weird that he didn't tell me he's gonna go out with Hana again tonight. Well, he didn't have to tell me anyway. Not that it matters.
As I continue solving my math homework, suddenly my phone rings. It was Grace.
"Hey, girl! What's up?" I ask Grace through the phone.
"Hey! Zach and I thought we could hangout together for dinner tonight. How about it?" Grace ask me.
"I'm kind of busy right now, since I'm doing my homework," I ask.
"Oh come on! Just for a few hours?" Grace says.
I let out a sigh. As much as I didn't want to go out, I was starting to get bored doing my homeworks. "Fine."
"Yes! Now you better get yourself ready cause Zach will be picking in a few minutes," Grace says with excitement.
"What? That's too fast! I haven't even finish my homework," I say.
"No buts because Zach is on his way to your place now," Grace says in a sassy manner.
"Umm..ok. I better rush! Bye, Grace." And by that I end my call with Grace.
I turn my head to see Hana focusing on her homework.
I let out a sigh at the thought Zach will be arriving soon. I gotta rush.
"Sounds like you have a date?" Hana ask in a playful tone.
"Nope. My friends just asked me out to dinner, that's all," I say. "I guess I have to rush. Sorry for leaving so suddenly."
"Hey, don't be. I was gonna leave earlier anyway since Junghwa almost arrive," Hana says as she starts to put her books and homeworks back in her bag.
"Really?" I ask her.
"Yup. He didn't tell you that he was picking me up?" Hana ask.
Sadly, he didn't. I don't have to he sad though. He was probably just too excited for the date with Hana.
"Ah, no. I guess he was too excited to see you, that he forgot to tell me," I say with a smile, though deep down I was a bit disappointed that he didn't even bother to tell me.
Hana forms a small smile on her face. "Let me help you get ready for your date."
"No! I have to finish my homework first. Besides, it's not a date," I say.
"No way, Ara! I'm not gonna let you go out with your dream boy looking like that," Hana says as she looks at me from head to toe. Makes me feel a bit intimidated.
"Ok, but let me just finish my homework first," I say with a small laugh. With that, I walk back to continue doing my homework.
I eventually finished all my homeworks. I already told my mom earlier that I'll be going out with Grace and Zach tonight for dinner, which she didn't mind. I check the time on my phone. I better take a shower now and get ready, since Zach will be arriving soon.
After a quick shower, I put on my pajamas and start doing my make-up. I wanted to look fresh tonight, so I decide to go with light colours, and of course, my favorite lip gloss, which was a light peach colour. Hana insisted that she style my hair and also help me choose an outfit.
After I finished with my make-up, I put on a white dress that falls above my knees which Hana had chose. I exit my room and walk downstairs to the living room, where my mom, Hana, and Junghwa are sitting on the couch while talking. The three of them eventually notice me.
"Well, well, look who's going on her first date?" Hana approaches me with happy eyes.
"Hana," I say in a whiny tone. "I told you it's not a date."
"Haha, just teasing you," Hana says with a wink.
"Omo, Ara...you look so beautiful," says my mom.
"Thanks, Mom," I say with a smile.
My vision then turns to Junghwa who stood up from the couch. He walks over to me and Hana as he have his eyes on me. He obviously looked surprise at my new look.
"I'm surprise to see you all dressed up," Junghwa says.
Hana smiles and glance at Junghwa. "Never forget to look at yourself."
Junghwa just let out a smirk as he turns his vision from Hana to me. I stare at him while feeling a bit nervous inside. Somehow I just find it awkward for him to see me all dressed up not looking like anything I am. Is he even impress by my looks? Silly Ara, why does it even matter?
To be continue...