Saturday, May 5, 2012
Chapter Two: Apprehensive
Labels: Fanfiction: Unsatisfied, IU, Lee Gikwang, Yang Yoseob
Gikwang was chosen as the light effects for the first half of the play, so while the second half started, he was able to take a seat by the sides with the other students and watch. Being a volunteer for the school play gets you free pass through the backstage and the auditorium, free ticket, too. But he has to keep a careful watch in case his job gets messed up by accidents, by pure misstep that can get him blamed until he graduates.
Throughout the second half of the play, two students that sit behind him were teasing the play. They must be first years. Gikwang would think. First year students here never know the traditional. They don’t know respect at all.
When he simply can’t stand their loud chattering and bickering, Gikwang turned around and glared at them through his spectacles. “Shut it.” He sighs.
The first years stare at him as he turns back around, glad that they obeyed. But it didn’t last long, the peacefulness. Just when IU got to the singing part on stage, the first years started talking again. Gikwang rolls his eyes. He really dislikes it when people don’t show respect, when they pretend that everything around them is not important to them, not something that they should need to take part of.
This society is a failure. People are all selfish. Gikwang thought. He can’t stand it. What’s the use of democracy if people indulgence it? Shaking his head, he leaves his seat and heads for the backstage. It’s almost ending.
It has gotten to the scene where IU(Belle) and Yoseob(The prince) dances in the room, surrounded by all the other characters.
Certain as the sun
Rising in the east
Tale as old as time, song as old as rhyme
Beauty and the beast!
Tale as old as time, song as old as rhyme
Beauty and the beast!
Gikwang hears the students sing, he watches everyone hold their hands and takes a bow for another successful year of the famous play, or showcase you can call it. Suddenly, he catches a glimpse of IU tripping into Yang Yoseob’s arms. It was weird, but the action caused loud wolf whistles from the audience.
No one is ever going to let go of that scene again, when he wraps an arm around her, lightly getting her back on her feet.
Having no interest and knowing that this will be the only thing they’ll be talking about in the backstage, Gikwang heads off to the opposite way of where he was going. The stage slowly fades behind, along with the loud applause with each step he takes. Out and out and out.
________________________________________
It was true, on the Monday of the last showcase; IU’s accidental fall has made it to the headlines of the school’s weekly paper. Gikwang doesn’t care at all, he doesn’t have the heart for it when after the play—another more important thing is coming up. The student council president election.
He has been anticipating since the start of the new semester, when he was asked to run the election. He felt respected, finally by his classmates. And noticed, too. He was never noticed. Not when he was the only one that got an A+ in physics, not when his body started growing stronger, allowing him to have a fit body not many guys have in his class. He’s a nobody, and through the election, everyone in the school will know him.
“Mr. Lee, a moment please?” His teacher calls him to the front of the classroom just after the bell has rung.
“Yes?” Gikwang replies politely.
“I think we should let Yang Yoseob get prepared for the student body council election.” The teacher tells him. Gikwang’s eyes widen.
“But…I thought I was the one…?”
“Well, Yoseob has a higher chance of getting elected, with him acting successfully in the school play as a bonus.” His teacher explains her way of thinking. “You can always support him with your thoughts.”
“Like a pacemaker to Yoseob?” Gikwang grits his teeth.
“Some things are not always in our will.” She gathers her books and walks out of the classroom to the next class. “The next class is about to start.”
Is being popular that important? Gikwang calls out in his heart. He follows the teacher’s footsteps and walks out of the classroom tiredly while dragging his body behind him, not wanting to care about anything anymore.
A girl bumps into him, and she slips, but steadies herself just in time. “You can still run for the election you know.”
Gikwang steps dead in his tracks. “How?”
"I am here to tell you that there is another way. It’s not for everyone. It’s not the only way. It’s not the easier way. Actually, it is more likely to be the harder way. But I guarantee you it is the best way. It is simply this – follow your dreams." She places a hand on his shoulder, turning him around to face her. It’s IU.
“Great, like that’s going to help.” He mutters.
“Hm.” She shrugs and slips into Gikwang’s seat in the classroom. And with her eyebrow raised, she smiled at him.