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Jimin was trying to avoid Nina.  But it was harder than he had anticipated.  He was running late for his first class the next day when he ran smack into her as he dashed around a corner.

“Oof!” Nina exclaimed as the stack of papers she was holding got smashed up against her chest along with a slender chest that stole her breath.  Her arms got caught between his chest and hers.  Pain radiated up her arm, causing her to release the papers.  As Jimin jumped back, a cascade of paper leaves fell to the ground, spreading out around them.

Jimin glanced first at the floor littered in literature then up at Nina’s face.

Not again! This girl was going to think he was an absolute klutz!  A ballet dancer, indeed!  Where was his grace?

“Nina!  I’m so sorry!” he exclaimed.

They both bent simultaneously to pick up the papers. 

“Ow!” Nina yelled as she grabbed her head.

Now he’d managed to bash her brain with his own.  Was he turning bright red?  He bent his head and began to scramble furiously to collect all her pages as he mumbled another apology.  He didn’t want her to see his flaming cheeks either.

Nina rubbed her forehead as she stared down at his bent head.  Why did she get the feeling he was hiding from her?

“Did I do something to offend you, Jimin?” she murmured as her heart raced. 

Where had she found the courage to ask him such a question?

Surprised, he glanced up at her.

“What?  No.  I –”

Just then the bell rang.

“I gotta go.”  He shoved the papers into her arms before running down the hallway.

Nina stared forlornly after him.  She clutched her mess of papers close to her chest and wandered slowly towards her first period.  She had no desire to listen to her teacher drone on for forty-five minutes.  She had little hope that the woman would be able to take her mind off of Jimin.

Why did she feel so drawn to him?  He clearly had no affinity for her.  Every time she ran into him, he ran off.

But an hour later, as she was headed towards her next class, it seemed as though an invisible force kept drawing them together.  She had just bent to get a drink out of the water fountain when she was shoved from behind.  She ended up with water all over her face.  She stood up as water cascaded in a steady stream to drip from her cheeks down onto her sweater vest.

Jimin stared in horror at the girl he had just collided with.  Someone had shoved him from behind a moment before, and he had gone flying into her.  Nina.  Again.  Why did he keep running into her?  And where was that handsome guy she was always clinging to in math class?  Jimin saw them together only in that one class.  Every time he ran into Nina elsewhere she was alone.

“You don’t have a brother, do you?” he murmured.

Still dripping, she stared at him.  He wasn’t even going to apologize for getting her soaked. 

“Yes, I do.”

He breathed a sigh of relief, then he suddenly grinned at her.  “You do?  That’s great!”

She felt as if someone had sucked all the air out of the hallway as his face lit up.  He had the most beautiful smile.  And his brown eyes were so intensely gorgeous.  But she felt confused.  Had her lack of oxygen deprived her brain of its understanding?

“It is?”

He nodded.  “Sorry I got water all over you.  Someone shoved me from behind.”

He stared deeply into her light brown eyes.  They were so beautiful.  Sparkling and kind.  He’d remember those eyes anywhere.

He swallowed.  “I need to go.  Can’t be late for my next class.  See you later!”

Then he disappeared again.

——————–

He spotted her one more time that day.  He was on his way to his last class when he saw her entering the girls’ restroom.  He didn’t linger in the hallway.  He knew he would see her in class in a moment.

A couple minutes later, she entered with the tall guy again.  She looked first right then left before she stood on tiptoe and kissed him on the cheek.  Jimin felt his heart sink.  There was no way this guy was her brother.  Jimin felt all the hope that had arisen in his soul earlier die a quick death.  He made his way to the back of the classroom and sat down, laying his head down on his desk and closing his eyes.

Why was he so upset?  It wasn’t like he even knew this girl.  Why did he care whether or not she had a boyfriend?  Why had he nursed such high hopes that she might notice him?

He kept his eyes closed until he heard her voice speaking suddenly directly in front of him.  His eyes fluttered open.  She was sitting right in front of him!  And her boyfriend was seated to his left!  This guy bent towards him.

“Excuse me.  Would you mind if I sit in your seat so I can sit near my girlfriend?”

Now her boyfriend was kicking him out of his seat?!  Unbelievable!  

Jimin nodded and stood up, trading places with the guy.  As they passed each other, he said, “By the way, I’m Tae.”

“I’m Jimin.”

“Nice to meet you!” Tae grinned and sat down in his chair.  “This is my girlfriend –”

“Class!” the teacher suddenly spoke over him.

“—ina,” Tae finished.

Jimin glanced at Nina.  She smiled at him but didn’t say anything because the teacher had begun to ramble on.  He sighed.  She did have a boyfriend.  Now he knew for certain.  He was just going to have to survive this class.  Then he would make a beeline for the door before either of them could talk to him again.  How awkward would it be to talk to Tae when Jimin had a little crush on his girlfriend?  Now he had two people to avoid.  Which was too bad.  Because Tae had seemed really nice.  And Jimin could really use a friend…