It seems the grading deities have decided to interrupt my mental breakdown at the idea of any of these guys being interested in me.
The laptop makes a noise letting me know I have an email.
Checking the screen, it's from the school.
When I scan the details, I hesitantly smile, then do a quick switch to a translating program to run the email though it to verify.
I passed.
****
'Chughahada! Chughahada! Chughahada!' The voices over Jin's phone shout as he relays the good news about my grades. Seriously, I don't think any of them are aware of their stage-trained volumes. I might actually be able to hear them from the HYBE building if I turned off the phone and opened a window. 'They want to celebrate your grades.' Joon clarifies, smiling warmly. I look at my phone calendar, eyes widening as I realize I have a holiday party to go to tomorrow.
Well, more of a k-pop marathon, but still...
'Guys, I know you have a break, but I am getting together with some classmates tomorrow to hang out, so I need to go to bed soon.' I say, looking out the window at the street lights lighting up the darkness of an early winter evening.
The nods and stretches as they gather themselves before bowing and leaving to head out themselves are warm and only slightly hesitant, as if they'd do more if they could.
Once the door is closed behind them I look over the mess of the day, clean up the scattered cups, debris from food, and close my laptop.
It's only as I'm getting ready for bed that a text comes up on my phone.
KS: So who are these friends you're going to see tomorrow?.
Some classmates who interoduced me to the world of k-pop. We're going to have a k-pop marathon! :Y/N
KS: I thought we introduced you to k-pop!
You introduced me to BTS. They introduced me to Blackpink, TxT, Got7... :Y/N
KS: wait, you listen to other k-pop groups now?!
Only kinda. You guys are still my favorites by far! :Y/N
KS: ...are any of them guys?
Three girls. They're serious fans of all of the bands I'm being shown tomorrow, so no boys allowed. :Y/N
KS: So all your friends at Woosang are girls?
I got kinda skeeved out when the guys were being greasy towards me the first couple of days at school, so no guy friends besides you guys. :Y/N
KS: Skeeved?
Unsettled or creeped out. :Y/N
KS: Ah! Thank you! I understand now!! Btw-who's your bias?
I'd have to say BTS, duh! :Y/N
KS: Mmmm... bias is usually an individual person in a group, not a group as a whole.
Tough. That's my answer. :P :Y/N
At that point I plugged my phone in and turned off my light, settling under my covers to get a good night's rest.
I have friends to hang out with tomorrow!
****
Morning starts with a phone call.
'We're about to start the intro to TxT! How soon are you getting here?' One of my language classmates asks.
Remembering they're in the dorms, and the bus schedule, I frown.
'I just woke up, and the bus won't be at my stop for another twenty five minutes. So... if I pick up coffee at the shop near the school, about an hour from now?'
With a bit of griping from their end I get their coffee orders and quickly get dressed to get going.
****
By the time I've arrived at their dorm the intro to TxT was been gone over twice, and they're resetting the video to introduce me to BTS' hoobaenims.
I think I got that right.
After the first third of TxT's music and videos the first round of food is ordered and I can see where their sunbaes influenced their art and design.
There's an argument over whether Yoongi has gone unrecognized in any of their music production, and if Yeonjun has started taking contemporary dance lesson because of his adoration of Jimin.
My opinion: no, and yes. Yoongi seems like he'd always take credit for his work, and taking more lessons to strengthen their craft just makes sense.
It's still up for debate, however.
By dinner we've compared the different award shows productions from 2015 on, with the competitions between the different bands being drooled over, then lightly mocked as the advertising ploy they were.
To be fair, the ploy worked wonderfully.
It's almost midnight when we get into Got7 and Blackpink. When the drama made up by the newsies over dating is hashed out, I can't help but laugh.
Then I have to explain the non-Asian view of famous people, and how they're allowed to have relationships and families. It's more than a bit shocking to me that this side of reality is stifled so much, but then I wasn't raised in it, so I can't really judge what's fair or not. My viewpoint is too far outside to be able to understand the reasoning for it.
Not that they don't try to explain it to me. The concept that tradition and family is the root of their culture isn't exactly unheard of.
I just listen, smiling and nodding as I try to follow and understand.
I'm not sure I will ever get my head around the idea of a culture that loves spice in their food so much, but dislikes spice in their language and entertainment.
That brings up another point: swearing is almost taboo here.
Not that swearing is unheard of, just that even euphemisms for swears are frowned upon.
****
By the time the sky is starting to lighten up, the sun on the rise, we're all stretching and slowly getting up to help clean up the mess of our marathon k-pop viewing.
The cup ramens, snacks, drinks, blankets, pillows, hairbrushes... everything gets picked up and taken care of.
I say my goodbyes and head out to get the first bus of the morning back to my apartment.
****
PJ: well, do you have an answer?
YOU ARE READING
Number Neighbor
FanfictionNew country, new apartment, new life, new school, new phone... who dis? A random number texts you as you're unpacking. Exhausted, lonely, you decide that it's as good a way to make a new friend as any.
