Sehyun's POV
The Harmony festival began weeks later, the school's premises had changed from unrecognizable to even more unrecognizable.
A banner larger than the previous one hung proudly over the school gate reading: HANGYEOM HIGH HARMONY FESTIVAL,2020.' in bright shades of red, blue, yellow and green.
Rows of triangle paper pennants of diverse colors fluttered like free birds in the sky. Even the withered cherry blossom tree had it's share.
The worn out PA speaker blared non-stop bleeding my ears out with a jazz song that had been playing on repeat nonstop.
My guess it was our P.E teacher's idea.
It seemed to be his way of getting back at us for refusing to cheer him on.
Well, this was worse than what was done to him… I couldn't fathom why he chose to punish all of us for the crime of few.
The field was divided into color territories like a war was going on. Vibrant colours sparkled underneath the golden sky—Red, blue, yellow and green. Each team going extra just to outshine the other. Everybody stickers of different shapes on their cheeks and face representing their team. Well, everybody except me.
There was also a spot for a photo booth, decorated with paper thropies and random stickers. It was cute, I really wanted a picture… one with Sensei and I….just like the one we had that night.
Just thinking about it brought a smile to my lips. But, I haven't seen Sensei. That was why, I was checking out everywhere in hopes of running into him.
By chance.
I wasn't stalking him.
Right, Sensei was going to be an assistant medic today. He must be at the assigned tent. My feet changed direction almost immediately once the thought corssed my mind.
The medic tent wasn't that hard to find as there were a lot of female students lurking around.
Even more than usual.
What was going on? I wondered as I made my way through. Once I got a better glimpse of what the cause of the commotion was, even I couldn't help but stare in awe.
There he stood fixing his tent, doned in a complete white outfit—white shirt that flexed his muscles, long pants that draped perfectly over his lower body like it was taillored specially for him. His hair packed in a high ponytail seemed to be crying for release as they fluttered in unison with the wind that seemed to blow harsher than normal…. Or was it to further accentuate this perfect moment.
"A complete god!"
"Can't I be his assistant?"
"I think I'm having a panic attack!"
Although he had brushed off the scamming incident, I could tell he didn't want to get involved with such unruly company. That was why, I said nothing more.
"This should be a crime right?"
"I agree…" I mummur absentmindedly to the voice that spoke beside me. I wasn't aware of their presence untill I heard them chuckle softly under their breath.
I stiffened turning hastily to see who was beside me. A male student who was the same team as I was.
Yellow.
That wasn't the issue….. I didn't think I'd spoken or brushed past him a little before so, why was he speaking to me?
He took one glance at me and could already guess what was going on in my head. "I'm not gonna bite you," he says with an harmless grin.
"I'm the captain of the yellow team, Jaewook, we're looking for someone to join us for the tug of war." He says.
And that someone was me?
"I don't .."
Without giving me time to speak, I hear a loud yell. "Goodness! Jaewook, were did you find this gem?"
Gem? Who? Me?
What was wrong with this team?
I gazed over Jaewook's shoulder and saw a female student who belonged to the same team approach us. Unlike Jaewook who only had a yellow star sticker on his left cheek, she had painted her face yellow. Her hair flying in the wind as she half walked and half ran towards us made her less of a sport person but more like someone about to dance a local festival dance.
Once she came nearer, she flung an arm over my shoulder. "Hi! Have you always been in our team?"
Well, yes.
"He's a shy type Yeji, forcing a sentence out of him is gonna take a long while," i heard Jaewook say with a small snicker on his face.
He seemed to a senior like I was, probably in 2-4, that seemed to explain why he kept speaking that way. Such relaxed and casual manner.
Yeji glared at him, "manners? Don't upset the face of our team."
Huh? Face of our team? Don't tell me…..
"Right, it's just like you've summed up. You're officially the face of the yellow team. You have a really nice build, and a pretty face, the other girls will like you." Jaewook cut in once more.
It felt like I was being read. How did he keep doing that?
Yeji stood infront of me giving me an accessory look. "This won't do. Come with me, I'll give you a full makeover."
My belly churnned. Full makeover? Did she need a partner that bad?
I caught Jaewook's stare. He seemed to have done it again as he simply gave me a 'there's no way out of her makeover sessions.'
"You should've placed a sticker on before she caught you." He added walking beside me as I was pulled by Yeji.
Right Sensei…
I half turned but at someone point, he had left. Where to?
"Who knows, maybe to the teacher's staff room?"
Again Jaewook.
I bit my lower lip. I hated being read like this…. It felt as if my thoughts were being spied on.
It was creepy.
"It's not really spying, it's just that you're readable."
My body went rigid as the words slipped from his lips. I looked at him, and said once word. Just one.
"Stop."
He smiled triumphantly, "finally a word from you."
He looked at me. "How about speaking out so I wouldn't have to spy on your thoughts?"
How was that a justifiable reason?
His gaze lingered for a split second before he burst into laughter. He didn't say anything else till we arrived at the yellow team tent.
It was a complete hive of stickered beings. Believe me.
Hearts, stars, glitters there was not a single person who didn't have a touch of yellow on their face.
"A fresh blood!" One female who had just finished her sessions on another when we entered said once she saw me.
Yeji nodded. "Meet the face of our team…..uh, what is you said your name was again?"
I looked at her silently. I never said my name.
I heard a laugh behind me and didn't need to guess who it was.
Readable? We'll see.
"Lee Sehyun. My name." I turned to the rest of the stickered beings.
"Such a pretty name!"
"Has he always been in our school?"
"Is he a senior too?"
Yeji held out her hand. "Alright, chat with him later, for now we need to guide him past the ritual."
"But… we're out of stickers and paint." The female from earlier said.
I was so happy I could really clasp her hand and thank her for the deepest part of my heart.
"A shame…. What do we do now?"
Let me go, I don't want to take part of this madness.
"Glitter."
My eyes widened. "We have a bit of glitter, that will do right?"
That voice, it was becoming awfully familiar and upsetting. I spun coming to face with the annoying grin on his face like he was enjoying this.
He leaned in towards me, his grin widening, "what to do really, Sehyun, I'm not a person who gives up easily. So, I just can't stop untill I get what I want."
What you want?
He nodded. "Mn, a conversation with you."