The first note slips in. Silent, smooth, like money being sent into a vault. It's white, and crisp. Encased in a red envelope.
Yuri had always been popular. Straight-A-student, perfect smile, appearance coming right out of a fairyland. He was the whole package. Every breath he took in, every brush of his golden hair, it made people swoon.
He wasn't unfamiliar with the occasional love note in his locker, but he read each one. He admired each one. He kept them safe, like the golden boy he was. Until the note that was slipped in on exactly October 21st, 2023.
It had no trace of love, nor did it hold any depth. Just a few simple words. Words that were almost as if they were left there, meant to be unanswered.
"Good morning! You can do it! You'll pass today's pop quiz. I know it."
It was simple. It was clean. There weren't poorly cut out hearts taped all over it, there was no glitter, there was no gift. It was just a few words, but despite the shock on Yuri's face, it was refreshing to see. A simple note of encouragement from somebody unnamed. It was nice to be recognised for something other than his looks, but as nice as it was, Yuri couldn't figure out who this mystery person was. He didn't recognise a single part of it as somebody he knew, but all of a sudden he felt time slow down around him. He turns to see the new student walking in. Fluffy black hair, facial features like an angel, cute clothing. He looked clean, fresh, and bright. Could this be it? The person who was thoughtful enough to write an encouraging note to a stranger? Whoever it was, Yuri didn't want to let it go. He knew he had to find this person.
"Yuri? Dude, what happened to you, stop staring into the void like my dad after 5 beers." Said Sowoon.
Sowoon, Mika, Yuna, and Haru had always been by Yuri's side as his best friends.
Sowoon and Haru, the boys of the group, were always trying to act tough despite their pathetic nature deep down.
Then there was Mika and Yuna. The boys never did get them. Makeup, K-dramas, squealing over cute magazine boys...how..strange.
Yuri snapped into reality to all his friends staring right at him like beagles.
"Huh..what?" Yuri sighed. "Stop it you creeps."
Yuna pouted and crossed her arms.
"Why? You're the one who keeps staring at the new kid."
"No i'm not.." Muttered Yuri, but his eyes kept flickering to him like magnets. The way he moved, the way he smiled..there was something about him that was..different. Refreshingly different. Haru watches all of this commotion with a slight frown. He glances over at the new kid.
(He's cute..no wonder Yuri likes him already...) Haru thinks. He knew he had always liked Yuri. Everything about him. His hair, his eyes, the group photos hanging in his locker. This had been going on for years. Haru had always stayed by Yuri's side. Even when things fell apart, but now? He had started to lose hope. Yuri had his eyes on somebody new. Somebody he barely knew at all..and it hurt. Haru cuts in.
"Hey, come on. Stop teasing him, you lot. We're all shocked by the perfect new kid. Classes are over now anyway, let's go down to the cat cafe!"
The group cheered and headed down to the school gates, but Yuri hesitated. There was something different about Haru today. His awkward gaze, the slight movements in his hand, twitching like a bug. Yuri knew him too well to believe it was all fine, but he didn't push it. Not for now. Not until he knew more. He didn't even know what he wanted to know about. The note, Haru, the new kid that stunned the entire school..but he had to know more. He had to know more about the things that were left unanswered, like a whisper in his ear, but he didn't have time to be having such mysterious thoughts yet. His friends were walking down the street to the cat cafe already. Leaving him and his thoughts in the dust.
"Hey! Wait for me!"