It always made Hobi sad, seeing his hyungs leave for elementary school.

They get to go together, but I'm all alone in kindergarten.

Hobi got out of the car and waved goodbye to Namjoon, Jimin, Tae, and Kookie before going inside the school and into his classroom.

Hobi had a lots of friends in the class, but he didn't really feel close to anyone in particular. He was constantly getting in trouble for laughing during class, but the teacher never actually punished him because he had such a bright attitude.

"One plus one is two. One plus two is three. One plus three is four. One plus four is five. One plus six is seven. One plus seven is eight. One plus eight is nine. One plus nine is ten," the teacher said, and the class recited it back. Then she wrote the problems on the board.

1+1=2

1+2=3

1+3=4

1+4=5

1+5=6

1+6=7

1+7=8

1+8=9

"Hoseok, please come solve the next problem on the board," the teacher said, smiling at him, and Hobi smiled back, taking the chalk and staring at the numbers.

1+9=?

Hobi swallowed and smiled tightly, clenching the chalk.

Ohnononononono

This teacher just changed the game on me!

What the heck?!

I ran out of digits!

Why did it have to be math?!

Why me?

Why now?

"Hoseok? The answer, please?"

Hobi froze, gritting his teeth. "Um...it's..."

1+9

1

+

9

One

plus

nine

1+9=19 he wrote, circling the answer and turning to his teacher nervously. "One nine," he said, turning and holding out the chalk to her.

She took it back with a trial. "Nice job, Hobi."

Ah?! I was right?!

"-but it's incorrect."

Oh. Right.

She carefully erased his 19 and wrote 10 instead.

What. The. Frick.

1 is 1.

0 is nothing.

How do you add 1 and 9, which is bigger than 1...

And end up with 1 and nothing?

Isn't that less than 1 and 9?

Why?

Math?

I don't?

Understand?

Hobi went back to his seat and put his head on his desk.

1+10=? was the next problem she wrote.

Okay, well if 1+9 = 10, then 1+10 should equal 20.

A different student took the chalk and, smiling, wrote in 20- nope. 11.

Why even-

Hobi wished one of his hyungs were in his class so he could ask them to explain. He was scared to stop the class and ask the teacher because he'd look stupid, and he was afraid to ask his friends because they would laugh at him.

Everyone else seems to understand it but me. Why can't I understand? Why is it so hard?

Hobi managed to survive through the first half of classes until lunch, when he sat with the other boys from his class.

"Hobi! You're so lucky! Your mom packed you pretzels!" one of them exclaimed.

Hobi smiled but didn't correct them. He didn't want them to treat his dad weirdly just because his dad made him lunch when everybody else had lunches made by their moms. "I know, I'm so lucky," he said, laughing and feeling a little guilty. I'm sorry, Daddy. I'm not embarrassed of you. I just don't want them to make fun of you.

"Can I have some of your pretzels?"

"Sure," Hobi said, smiling and sharing. Oops, I forgot to save some for myself...

"Ah! Hobi! Your sandwich looks so good!"

"Do you want to try it?" Hobi asked, smiling. It's important to be nice in order to make friends.

"Oh, really?! Thanks!"

Hobi kept sharing his lunch until the bell rang and he blinked, realizing that he hadn't eaten a bite, but when he looked down at his bag, it was empty.

Oops. I forgot to eat again...

But it's important to share with others so that they'll like me, right?

I should be nice and generous and polite so that they want to be my friend.

Hobi smiled, smoothing out his paper lunch bag that had his name written on the front in black marker. Then he folded it and tucked it back inside his backpack, ignoring the rumbling in his stomach as he stood up and smiled.

A little bit of food for friendship. That's a good trade.

He went back to class.

His stomach rumbled loudly once and everybody laughed, but Hobi laughed with them.

Now they're laughing with me, not at me.

Hobi smiled.

One day, maybe they'll share their lunches with me.

Hobi smiled.

I can't wait for that day.

The bell finally rang and Hobi ran out of the classroom, leaving math behind as fast as he could, and ran out to the front of the school, looking for the car he recognized and grinning before hopping in.

"HIIIII!" he yelled, and his siblings rolled their eyes while Tae yelled, "HIIIIIIIII!" back.

Namjoon smiled. "Seat belt, Hobi."

"Right, right," Hobi said, clicking his seat belt and smiling while giving Namjoon a thumbs-up. "I'm buckled in now, Daddy!"

Namjoon smiled. "Did you have a good day?"

Hobi smiled, bobbing his head up and down. "I made lots of friends!"

I think they're my friends.

Right?

Hobi's stomach rumbled again.

"I heard a dinosaur!" Tae yelled.

"Aish, relax, Tae. Growing boys are always hungry," Namjoon mumbled before winking at Hobi in the rearview mirror. "It's okay. It's just a sign that you're getting bigger."

Hobi smiled back before looking out the window. He felt guilty again. He thought of Namjoon staying up late every night to make their lunches and getting up early to write their names on their bags, sometimes adding little drawings or doodles.

And he'd given that away.

Tomorrow, I'll eat my lunch.

For sure.

But...

I guess...I can share my pretzels...if anyone wants some...and I can't say no if they want some of my sandwich...and...