Chapter 6
End of school.
Kai walked over to Asha as she packed her books.
"Hey. So we're supposed to go serve detention together, right?"
Asha paused slightly.
"Together?"
"Hmm. The teacher said we're serving detention together," he explained.
"No, I don't think he meant together. I think he just meant we both got detention, not that we'll do it together. You serve yours, I serve mine."
"Oh… but it would be okay if we served together, right? I mean, we both got detention so—"
"No," Asha cut in quickly. "It's not okay. I have to go."
She rushed out before he could say anything else.
At the library
"Hi. I was told to serve detention here. Is there anything I can help with instead of just sitting?"
The librarian looked up.
"Oh yes. You can help arrange the study shelves. I've been wanting to get that done."
"Okay, thank you."
Kai moved to the shelves and began organizing quietly.
A few minutes later, a group of girls rushed into the library.
They spotted him immediately.
"OMG, it's really Kai!"
"He looks so good… like a work of art."
"He looks even more anime in real life."
They giggled and walked toward him.
"Hi Kai," one of them said. "We're grade 11 students… and your fans. Can we take pictures with you?"
Asha, who was arranging books nearby, slowed down slightly as she listened.
Kai shook his head politely.
"Sorry. That's not appropriate."
"What? It's just pictures. What's inappropriate about that?" another girl protested.
"I haven't officially debuted yet. I'm still a trainee. It wouldn't be right for me or my company."
He stood up.
"Please excuse me."
He walked away from them and returned to the shelves where Asha was working.
The girls stayed behind, stunned.
"Wow… he's so rude."
"How can he treat fans like that?"
"But I still like him," one of them said dreamily, watching him leave.
7:50 PM
Kai and Asha finished their detention.
Outside, night had already fallen.
They boarded the same bus.
It was crowded, and there were no seats left.
Both of them stood, holding onto the pole for support.
After a while, Kai noticed Asha struggling slightly.
"I think you should sit down," he said.
"I'm fine," she replied immediately.
"Okay."
His tone was calm, almost unreadable.
He moved past her and took a seat.
Asha frowned slightly and looked away.
Moments later, Kai looked up at her and smiled faintly.
Then he put on his earphones.
A soft song played.
He began singing quietly.
"I don't know who loves me… and I don't care, it's a waste anyway… this romantic feeling, I feel a little scared… sweet and bitter chocolate… the ending taste is always the same… sorry, I'm an anti romantic…"
His voice was low but clear.
Asha's expression tightened.
She shifted away from him, clearly irritated, and moved to stand somewhere else on the bus.
Kai continued singing as if nothing had happened.