Wednesday came. Bianca was both excited, but yet nervous. In High School, subjects become more advanced and advanced. But it would not seem to be much trouble, since she knew how to tackle everything…so far.
During Namjoon’s class, Bianca and Bahiyyih secretly had their conversation. But they could never make it loud, though. Otherwise, they would have gotten detention.
“So what do you do at the Photography Club?” asked Bianca.
“To make it short so that we are not too distracted,” said Bahiyyih, “We give out a prompt, then we give out some examples through a slideshow, and then after that, we send out everyone to a certain place to take the photos, so that we could learn how to edit them.”
Bianca knew about how to edit photos. But she could never present it to anyone! She felt the nerves rising all the way up her spines.
What if…my ideas don’t work?
And then, the bell rang. All of the students were running down the halls for lunch. Bianca then struggled to find the classroom where the Photography Club was held. While she looked again, Bahiyyih found her.
“It’s in Mr. Joon’s class.” she said.
“Oh,” said an embarrassed Bianca, “I guess I didn’t read the resume right, I guess.”
“No, no, you did. I think because you are new here, you weren’t given a proper tour, since you had to start class right away.”
Bianca nodded and followed Bahiyyih.
The club began, and Bahiyyih and Jungwon introduced their organization.
“I am Bahiyyih!”
“And I’m Jungwon!”
“And we are your leaders for our Photography Club!”
Only Bianca gave the first applause. Everyone else stood quiet. Bianca became a bit resentful. This made her feel that she was not once respectful to her club.
Amateurs!
“So to get started,” said Jungwon, “We are going to watch a demo video about how we function a camera, and how we properly take the photo and edit it into the best quality possible.”
“And last but not least of it, we are happy to announce that the school faculty has chosen this club for the Visual Arts Contest at the end of the year!”
Again, Bianca was the only one to applaud. Bianca scowled.
Am I the only one that is actually enjoying this class?
After watching an at least fifteen-minute demo video, Bahiyyih and Jungwon passed out their prompts and their assigned locations.
For Bianca, she was assigned to go to the national Cherry Blossom park and her assignment was to find one thing in nature. But Bianca was not very sure about finding the one thing in nature. Certainly, it would not be ever so difficult for her to find it.
“I am certain to find the one thing there is in nature, even if it takes me all day to find it!” she vowed silently to herself.
*~*~*~*~*~*
Meanwhile, Jake and most of his friends were sitting together on the floor near Mr. Yoongi’s classroom. Jake’s best friend Park Sung-hoon noticed the students rumoring about how talented his violin skills were. But Jake did not say anything about it. That concerned Sung-hoon.
“Jake,” he said, “Why aren’t you addressing these rumors about you? It’s getting pretty concerning.”
“There are rumors?” asked Jake, “I never get any rumors. Strange, isn’t it?”
“I guess” said Sung-hoon, “But as a good friend of yours, we must keep each other safe, and that includes many assumptions that we tend to make, even if it’s only dubbed ‘one simple mistake’.”
Jake nodded and replied, “I will try to address these supposed ‘rumors’ to calm the state down.”
Bianca then walked past the boys. Jake then stared at her for a long time. But then, Sung-hoon tapped on her shoulder.
“What was that about?” he asked.
Jake stammered and struggled to answer. He wanted to tell him and Bianca about how he feels. But he didn’t want to spoil anything. He didn’t want everything to collapse into ruin.
“I–I…I like this girl.” he blurted.
Sung-hoon dropped his jaw and sat Jake back down. He could not believe that his own best friend actually had a crush after many years!
“After so long,” Sung-hoon began, “After the school SIJH was fined for reckless care and child abuse, and after the whole pandemic began and passed…you, Shim Jae-yoon, have a crush on a girl???”
“Yes,” said Jake, “I officially do.”
Sung-hoon rejoiced. Bianca took notice and ran away to Namjoon’s classroom. The bell then rang and lunch had ended. It was time to get back to class. Still, both Sung-hoon and Jake rejoiced because their feelings were enlightened.
Bianca spaced out during the whole class. But Namjoon let her come back to her senses. He gave a winning smile.
“Something more important to think about?” he asked, “You seem to be tired and brainless.”
“It’s nothing, really.” said Bianca, “I still have too much to process in my big brain.”
“I know what it is,” said Namjoon, “Watch this!”
Mr. Namjoon then wrote down an old quote. Seemingly enough, it looked Shakespearean. Bianca tried to figure out what he was even implying on.
“Can you read this?” Namjoon asked.
“Yes.” said Bianca.
“What does it say, then?”
Bianca then read what was on the board. Most of the students thought she was either in love or she was trying to “find” love. What do you think she read? The answer is this:
"Hear my soul speak:
The very instant that I saw you, did
My heart fly to your service; there resides,
To make me slave to it!"
- (The Tempest. Act III, scene 1)
“Bianca is probably having a crush, but she is having a hard time knowing how to explain her love for him. I know a lot of you could relate to this.”
The students agreed. But Bianca did not. Bianca stood still frozen.
“What makes you think I have a crush?” she asked, “I never had one since I was not yet thirteen.”
“When you are in high school, usually the biggest or the smallest crushes on schoolmates tend to happen. And funny enough, Jake’s mom happened to stop by in my class and said that Jake had a crush.”
“Well…who does he have a crush on?”
“No one will tell me. And it’s probably better if it stayed that way. No one ever likes a rumor or rumors. Anyways…”
School then ended with confusion for Bianca. And then, as she was walking down the aisle of the lockers, Jake and she were passing in different directions. Bianca stopped for a moment and watched Jake go. She then began to twirl her hair. Namjoon took notice and then stood right beside her.
“Don’t have a crush, do you?” he asked.
Startled, Bianca turned around and said, “How can you notice things when I can’t? In fact, how come everyone notices things when I can’t?”
“In another person’s point of view, better known as a perspective, it’s easy to see things that others don’t see. I know you are crushing on Jake, but you don’t seem to know Jake very well.”
“Well…I don't know if he is the right one or not, since he is rumored to be one of the talented students in school. I also personally think he is cute and attractive, but I don’t know if he thinks I’m okay just the way I am.”
“I think you are perfect just the way you are. Besides, boys don’t want girls to change themselves. To score a man like Jake, always be yourself no matter what.”
*~*~*~*~*~*
On the weekend, Bianca was walking in the national park. She then spotted Peach Blossoms blending in with the old tall chestnut trees.
It was while she was looking in her photos when she spotted a figure with a carmel brown object.
It was a male and the object was clinging all around his shoulder and neck.
Bianca zoomed in closer at the figure in the backdrop. At first she could not tell who it was and what he was holding. But then, something brushed against Bianca's ankle. Bianca flinched and saw a piece of paper flying away.
Quickly, she ran and successfully retrieved the paper. She then sat down at the bench and observed the paper. It had many music notes. Bianca was not a musician, but she knew that this piece was pretty difficult to process. But without content, Bianca thought of Jake.
What if Jake is right here? What will I say? What will he say? What then?!?!
And then, someone walked up to Bianca. But she was busy observing the rest of the photos that she took.
He then said, “Excuse me, but have you seen a sheet of paper?”
“It’s right there. Careful, the winds are very strong nowadays.”
But the boy was Jake. In school, he was rumored to be a natural prodigy, without anyone to control him. Not even once did his mother or father force him to do anything!
Bianca shot her head and then saw the backside of Jake walking back to his spot. He seemingly had a music stand for his music sheets. She watched him begin his piece and recognized the tune.
Zigeunerweisen from Pablo de sarasate. It is beautiful, but it is just so difficult even for him to master! How is he good at this?
The piece includes the highest notes ever. Yet Jake had some sort of passion for it. But by the second half, your fingers would have to have some sort of hypermobility in order for your fingers to hit the fastest notes.
But Jake didn’t have hypermobility at all! Nor did he have any passion for this piece. He liked to play the violin, but he always hated this piece. For some reason, he thinks that it’s the ticket for the spoiled spirit of a pretentious prodigy to occur.
Meanwhile, Bianca could not help but watch him practice. But it didn’t seem like practice. It was more like a performance. He didn’t even stop at once to correct his playing.
Because she had to find something in nature for the Photography Club, she then, without the flash, took a few snaps of Jake playing his violin. But Bianca was already having a little bit of trouble leaving this beautiful sight behind. She could not even look away. When Jake ended the piece, Bianca sped away in a jog.
The next day, Bianca was looking for Bahiyyih to let her know about the photos that she took. But she wasn’t in Namjoon’s classroom. But then, while she was walking out from the classroom, she found Bahiyyih and Jake together! Bianca could not believe it!
So that’s why she didn’t respond to my messages! She has a crush on Jake as well!
Bianca frowned. For almost two months into the school Independence Academy, she had a crush on Jake. But then, she found Bahiyyih with her crush.
I guess I will never have a chance with him, she sadly thought.
During lunch, Bianca ate alone in the school auditorium. She kept envisioning the moment Bahiyyih and Jake were together. This made her sulk and space out for a long time. That is until she changed her position, putting her hand on her chin.
“Sometimes, I wish he noticed!” Bianca mumbled, “It just feels stupid to not talk to someone that you really really like and then they pass on to another girl! It’s just not fair at all!”
“There you are!” said Jungwon running down the steps to join Bianca, “Where have you been? We’ve been looking for you all day long!”
“Really?” asked Bianca, “You have? I haven’t really gone anywhere.”
“You disappeared. Bahiyyih said that she saw you with Jake and then completely ignored them.”
“Ignored them? Why would I do that?” asked Bianca in irritation.
Jungwon laughed at Bianca’s saucy attitude. But Bianca did not seem impressed at all.
I’m not jealous, that’s for certain, Bianca thought with a scrunchy expression.
*~*~*~*~*~*
“Jealous?” asked Bianca, “Jealous?! How can I be that way, I barely know that boy! Mummy, your joke is not funny at all!”
“But Bianca,” said Mother, “Don’t you like Jake at school? You used to come home with a smile and now you are not.”
“That’s because…he is with another girl.”
Mother was confused. She then sat next to Bianca on the couch, patting her on the back.
“I know it’s hard to find a pretty boy you like with someone that also likes him. But…there will be other guys similar to him. Just…wait for the right time to happen.”
Bianca nodded.