Chapter Text
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The first school semester ended quickly this year. As usual, every student went running home to start summer break after the final bell had rung, teachers' included.
The classroom windows are open when the gentle wind blows in, moving the white curtains softly. The air has the scent of fresh honeysuckles, and it's relaxing.
"Nari, what are you going to do for summer break?" My friend, Sora, asks when I begin packing my things.
"I'm not sure," I admit, sliding my textbooks into my backpack. "After school, I'm going to meet Areum and Jiwon at the cafe. What about you?" I stand from my desk.
She nods softly as if she's glad I decided to go out. Her short, brown hair bounces cutely when she nods.
"That's good, I'm glad you're not just hurrying home. We're going overseas for the whole summer, so we leave as soon as I get back." She smiles, which shows her dimples
"Oh... that sounds like fun," I say with a fake smile, trying not to let my true feelings show.
She waves off my words without catching on. "Come on, my home is here in the city. I don't like leaving on airplanes, boarding cruise ships, and driving in fancy limos around the world." She says with a quiet sigh.
Sora always bragged, even when she was around her friends. Sometimes, she did it without even thinking. However, I don't know if I believe that or not. I'm used to her ways though, so I just ignore it.
"Anyway, enough about me," she places her hand over her chest. "Did you ever find a roommate?"
We both turn to the opened classroom door when a few freshmen run by in the halls.
"Nope, I'll just have the house to myself." I swing on my backpack, letting it hang on one shoulder, while I move my long, dark hair to the side.
"That's too bad... I know you get lonely in that massive house," she pauses for a moment as if thinking.
"Hey, why don't you let me take your backpack home? Since you're going to hang with them, I'll drop it off for you. Besides, it's on my way. I know it'll be troublesome carrying it around all day, especially with those twenty-pound textbooks inside." She pats my shoulder, and I release my grip and hand it over with a soft laugh.
Sora's only issue is bragging, but it doesn't make her a bad friend. I don't know where I would be without her.
I already feel weird only carrying my small purse, but before I can say anything, she starts talking first.
"I'll drop it off in your room before I head home. I still remember where you hide the house key from when I used to sneak over." She laughs and leaves the room so that she won't be late. "I'll see you later!" She shouts while rushing down the hallway.
When I leave the empty classroom, I walk slowly down the somewhat empty halls. I bypass a few students who decided to stay back and help the remaining teachers clean up.
As I pass by other classrooms, I wave to my teachers and the students I recognize.
I come to an abrupt stop at Mr. Jung's classroom. I pause and look in through the door window. I still can't believe he just left without so much as a word to anyone. He was, after all, my homeroom teacher.
Rumors ran crazy through the school when he disappeared. Most of the stories were too insane to be true. Some of the more logical ones said he couldn't fit the role as a teacher and ditched, but I knew that wasn't it.
He was one of the best teachers here. The way he taught his classes was sincere. He was someone who cared about his students and their education. He was different.
I turn away from my old classroom and continue walking down the hall.
When I go downstairs, I wave at a few friendly faces once I replace my shoes at the entrance lockers of the school building. When I leave the school grounds, I feel a wave of relief wash over me. Another semester is gone, and now I just have one more semester left to go.
Once I begin walking on the streets of Seoul, I notice it's as crowded as ever. The afternoon sun shines over the city, illuminating a sense of peace for the nearing future. Everyone is too excited to call an end to the busy day and get home to their loved ones.
I see multiple people from different schools walking along the sidewalk with groups of friends. They're all laughing and making plans for the summer.
Keeping to myself, I walk down the sidewalk.
Accidentally, I bump shoulders with someone, and I quickly turn around and apologize.
"I'm so sorry," I bow politely, but instead of hearing a shout or a hateful remark, I hear a laugh.
"Hey, a pretty girl like you shouldn't be apologizing to anyone." That catches me off guard, so I slowly straighten up and look at the stranger.
He has a warm, contagious smile that fits his features nicely. He has piercings in his ears, has a small freckle underneath his bottom lip, and a nice skin tone. He has black hair, wears a fancy, red uniform from one of the top schools in Seoul, and a group of boys are a couple of feet ahead who are waiting on him. They all look so popular and rich.
"Hurry up," one of the boys calls when they start walking again.
"I'm coming," the boy in front of me turns around to speak to his friends, then turns to me again while still keeping his smile. "Sorry for bumping into you. I hope I'll see you around sometime."
Before I can say anything, one of his friends rushes up, grabs his shoulder, and pulls him along. However, he turns back a couple of times to look at me before he rounds the corner of a building. Then he's gone.
That was definitely odd, but before I can think too much about it, I suddenly remember I have somewhere to be.
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A few blocks later, I open the door to the cafe. Walking into the cute shop, I step forward and let the smell of coffee, freshly-baked muffins, and tea hit my nostrils.
"Over here, Nari!" Areum waves her hand impatiently from the high table by the windows.
I walk towards her and start pulling out the high stool. "Hey," I sit on the opposite side of her and notice the empty seat in front of me. "Where's Jiwon?" I ask curiously.
"She's running a little late, but I went ahead and ordered your drinks if you don't mind. I have them memorized." Areum grins cutely while taking a sip out of her cup and handing a freshly brewed cup of coffee to me.
"Thanks," I take a sip, letting the warmness and relaxing taste engulf my senses. I shut my eyes and enjoy the first sip before opening them and placing the cup on the hard surface of the tabletop.
When I place the drink down, I notice Areum's attention seems to be elsewhere. Her elbow is propped on the table, chin resting comfortably in the palm of her hand, and her eyes scan the outside world when people walk by the large window.
"What's wrong?" I give a certain look, and she shakes her head.
"Nothing," she admits a little too quickly. She's hiding something. When I give a mischievous grin, she defends herself again. "What? I swear I'm fine." She crosses her arms over her chest.
"Okay, whatever you say," I add and take another sip of my coffee. Not a second later, Jiwon shows up and starts apologizing while out of breath.
"I'm sorry," she takes her seat next to Areum, pushing her bangs back from her eyes. I could see the sweat rolling off the sides of her face, and I could tell she was trying her hardest to make it on time.
"It's fine, Jiwon," Areum sighs because she's used to her lateness.
Jiwon takes off her black, circular glasses and cleans the leans with a light blue handkerchief.
"So," Jiwon begins quietly, putting on her glasses once again and moving her braided, brown hair to the side with a tad of nervousness. "What's the problem?"
Areum narrows her eyes and scoffs. "Why do you both assume something is wrong—"
"Because you invited us here. Plus, we can tell you're upset about something." Jiwon says softly. "You might as well spill the drama."
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"Areum, calm down, you're making a scene." Jiwon tries to remind her. She hides her face in embarrassment from Areum's outburst.
"He's such a jerk!" Her voice becomes louder with each passing second. She reads the text aloud that her boyfriend sent her earlier today.
Before realizing it, she kicks the table, and her coffee spills over me. It soaks through my black uniform and even drips off of the edge of the table and onto my skirt.
"I'm so sorry, Nari!" Areum jumps up from her seat once realizing what she's done. She hurries over, grabs a couple of napkins, and tries to clean the mess before it dries on my clothes. However, it's not coming out.
"It was an accident, so don't be upset." I stand from the round table. "I should get home and clean this," Areum stops me before I can take a step.
"No, I'll pay for the coffee and your school uniform. We'll get it clean professionally, and it'll look good as new. Come on, let's get you out of those." Areum lays the money on the table and grabs both of our arms, pulling us out of the small shop and onto the streets.
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Areum ended up taking us to her
favorite clothing stores. She bought pants, shirts, and shoes for me to make up for the accident. I tried to tell her it was too much, but she didn't listen and paid for everything with her father's credit card.
"I'm really sorry," she bows apologetically before we split ways and head home for the day.
"I told you it was fine," I reassure her with a smile and hug.
I'm wearing casual clothes. My shirt is an expensive, blacktop that hooks around the back of my neck, which makes it appear to be a choker piece. I wear white jeans—I'm not a jeans person, but when someone is offering to pay for my clothes, I don't complain—I wear a pair of black heels that are killing me, but again, I try not to let my pain show.
Areum's family, just like Sora's, is extremely rich, and she wears outfits like this all the time. However, I don't, so I'll admit I feel out of my comfort zone.
I tucked the dirty uniform into the shopping bag. I was surprised that I convinced Areum to let me wash it myself and not one of the maids at her house.
We stopped walking at the three-way intersection, each route going different paths throughout the city. We didn't say much when we stopped, just quickly said our goodbyes before we left. We had spent the whole day catching up in person, and if anything else were to happen, we would always text.
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It takes about thirty or so minutes before I start seeing the familiar faces of the shop owners near my home. The small stores on my way there make me smile every time.
I see a group of kids running by me. I can tell they're going to buy ice cream. The way they tightly hang onto the few coins in their palms gives it away.
To answer my assumption, they start screaming what flavor they want as soon as they open the shop's doors.
I watch the kids jump up and down in front of the counter through the store window. I laugh and step forward, walking up the hill towards home. I never understood why everyone was so happy to come straight home, and that day, I thought the same.
'It's no use in being cheerful when no one is at home waiting for you.' I think when I walk to the top of the hill and see my home before me.
I'll always remember this day. The smell of sweet honeysuckles, because school had ended, and the children running to buy ice cream with the coins in their small fists.
I will recall all of it, especially the car that's parked right next to my house and the man that stands right beside it.
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