At the end of the day just as everyone eagerly counts the last few moments of the day, Mrs. Han comes in and calls for me.
"Dylan Park, come with me to the office"
Mrs Han's heels carry the sound of her steps , as I follow her towards the end of the hallway.
Where we are greeted by two large mahogany doors.
After a quick knock, we enter.
The office is a pretty comfortable size.
The man inside, is taking a sip of tea in a comfortable manner .
He appears to be in his late 50's, the telltale signs of age are already showing on his face.
Every fiber of this man screams educated.
He has that, ' I went to xxxx University, so i'm better than others' look.
I never got along with those types. This is going to be .... hard.
"Principal, I've brought Student Park" Mrs Han announces, before swiftly departing.
"Good work Mrs. Han. If you could excuse us."
"Yes, sir"
I'm left standing a couple feet away from the door. As the elderly gentlemen addresses me.
"Mr Park"
Gathering my bearings, I try and stuff all my nervousness down throat
"Yes, Mr.... uhm Principal"
He chuckles at this sight of nerves, I guess he enjoys the feeling of control.
"Oh.... be at ease. You can just call me Mr Yoon"
"Yes, Mr Yoon"
He motions me to sit, before offering me something to drink which I politely decline.
"Welcome to our school student Park, how was your first day?"
"It's really great Mr Yoon." Composing my thoughts, " I feel... feel.... like I will make great memories here"
"I'm honored Student Park. " He is deliberately speaking slowly trying to dictate the tempo of the conversation, "So you must be a little curious as to why I called you into my office, correct?"
"A little, sir"
"Well I just thought I'd give you a little warning"
"A warning.... sir?"
"Yes." He says making an announcement, " This is a public school. So I expect you to behave like everyone else"
"Pardon?"
Did I do something to upset this old man?
Why is he threatening me on my first day.
Is he some kind of gangster?
"I know you are from the S Group, and I have heard that you are used to having your way but I will not be giving you any special treatment. You can count on that."
'Oh! So he thinks I'm a spoilt rich kid'
'I technically just became rich today, Its going to take quite some time to learn that skill"
"I understand... sir"
"Dylan," His eyes turn kinder, "I really want you to have an ordinary school life. You are still young right now but ....you will have a frustrating life ahead. Your money is something people can never get no matter how hard they work. That's a fact.
So I am sure you won't fully get what I am about to tell you. If you only rely on money, life becomes boring. The satisfaction you get from working hard... and achieving your goals is not something money can buy.
You probably will never have to work a day in your life, but I hope that you find something that you will truly love. And want to do for the rest of your life. I hope that you find that here. And at the least I hope you make a few good friends here and that you grow as a person"
"I will try sir"
"That was all I wanted to say, you can leave."
I'm a little taken aback, we've barely talked for 10 minutes and his kicking me out already.
I feel used!
He doesn't even care about my opinion. Ruthless man.
*hmph*
Heading back to the classroom, I see my fellow students are leaving.
I enter and begin packing up my things. I say packing up but it's basically just my empty backpack.
A few of my classmates then begin the new guy interrogation that they couldn't do earlier.
I have to admit, I would never want to be a Male Lead in life.
Standing under that spotlight all the damn time, is too much work.
I'd much rather be part of the secondary couple, our story is still interesting but way way way less drama.
After exchanging numbers with a few of them , we greet and part ways.
I check my contact list again and see that it has double in size. I now have 10 contacts. 10!!!
That's double digits. So this is how popular people feel? hehehe coool.
As I'm lost in my thoughts alone in the classroom, sitting on my desk.
The door opens abruptly.
This wakes me up.
I lift my head to see who it is.
Choo Bae!?
'What's she doing back here?'
'She looks a bit distressed'
'I wonder what happened'
After a brisk walk to her locker and rattling a few things, she moves her desk.
I give way, allowing her to pass.
Not long thereafter, I her whispering under her breath "where is it?"
Unfortunately , whatever she seems to be looking for isn't here.
She goes to leave. But before reaching the door, she abruptly stops and turns towards me.
She walks towards me.
And stops face to face.
I say face to face but the height difference between us two renders it impossible.
She would need to step on a crate to even reach my nose.
"Uhm, you"
"Dylan. My name is Dylan"
"Dylan , can you"
"Can I what ?"
I wonder where I'm getting all this confidence from.
I guess it's because the Ice Princess is looking way too cute in this moment.
I just feel like teasing her.
"Dylan, uhm if...you have any..... money on you.... Can you lend me some?"
"Sure i can ... but I won't"
Confused by my unusual response, her pupils dilute for a second.
She looks like a little deer in headlights.
And little does she know, I'm about to be the car heading straight for her.
"Why?"
"No business man just gives his money away right?"
"I guess, but whats that got to do with me?"
'Everything my dear, everything'
"Hahaha lets make a deal?"
"A deal?"
"Yeah, an equivalent exchange. You need money right , what will you give me in return?"
Dear readers at this point in time, you might be questioning what my motive is right now?
Why am I not just doing her a favor like a good guy and help her because she asked me? Well there's your first mistake. From all my 'research' on how to deal with women, I've learned 4 important lessons:
1) ACT LIKE A GROWN MAN AND NOT AN IMMATURE KID
2) NEVER GET SERIOUS UPFRONT
3) FORGET THE NUMBERS
4) BE A HUNTER.
And right now, what am I doing? I'm being the hunter stalking my prey.
You got to make the unsuspecting lamb come to you, so that when you pounce its so much more satisfying. Understand?
"I can pay you back tomorrow" She answers confidently.
Should I tease her a bit more or not? A bit more.
I feel like my devilish nature is coming out right now.
Must be that time of the month. Men have it too apparently, it's called menstruation.
"That doesn't interest me. I have money. Give me something that I want."
She nervously plays with her fingers before asking shyly
"What do you want?"
"Now you are asking the right questions. Ms Bae. Firstly, how much do you need? and why?"
"$5. I lost my bus card. So I can't get home"
"Oh poor thing.... Now I can answer your question. What I want is you.... ?" She looks at me with displeasure before her facial expression changes into something of mild surprise when I complete the sentence. ".....your cell phone number"
"You want my number?"
"Yeah, I do for whatever price you value it at"
"Why? And why don't you just ask? Why you got to be such a jerk about it?"
Seems like plan is working. She's even talking back now.
"Because its fun, so how much?"
I really seemed to have rattled her with those words. She thinks for a second
"$10 000! can you afford that?"
'Only 10 G's? I'd have given you my entire bank account;
"Sure, I only have $2000 on me , I'll transfer the rest, what's your bank account number"
"Seriously?"
"Yeah so hurry. before I change my mind"
I take out my wallet and hand it to her. She opens it, obviously expecting me to be bluffing.
Once she see's the stack of notes, in my hand. Her voice breaks as she questions in disbelief.
"You really.... have.... carry $2000 in your pocket?"
I shrug and ignore her question. The answers pretty obvious. I mean the evidence is right in front of her.
She just looks at me like she can't process what just happened . I think she's malfunctioning.
Technician! Come fix Choo-dol !!
".....Weirdo"
The way she just spoke was just absolute tsundere.
So cute.
If she were a conman, I'd willing give her my company let alone my soul.
"So deal?"
Looking unwilling she nonetheless relents.
"Yes"
She grabs my book on the table and starts writing down her number.
I then hand her my stack of bills but she only takes 1. I look at her confused.
"I only needed $5, keep the rest"
I smile, put my wallet into my back pocket, but before she can leave I grab the notes from her hand.
"Hey what are you doing? We had a deal!"
"I know and that's why I'm fulfilling it"
"What do you mean?"
"Follow me"
I grab her wrist and tug her hurriedly out of the classroom, through the hall down the stairs and to the parking lot ,all while she protesting asking where am I taking her.
She's definitely not happy with the sudden skinship.
"Tadaa!"
I point toward my bike, and hand her my helmet.
"Get on!
"I'll be your driver today"
*Silence*
I repeat again, just in case she hasn't' processed what's going on right now.
"I'll be your driver today"
"No, Thank you"
"Your cell number is worth $10 000 right?"
"Uh huh"
"Well you see, based on our deal If you take just $5, I would still owe you $9 995"
"No you don't"
"A contract is a contract, if either party fails to meet the terms they are in breach. If you don't accept my payment, then you're the one breaking the contract.
That can have terrible effects, you know. I'm not trying to scare you but you can end up owing me money."
Legalese, the language of scum bag lawyers.
I had to deal with them from the age of 14. They are able to turn white into black and black into white.
They do not only have silver tongues. Some of theirs are even gold-plated. During all my time dealing with them, I've picked up a few things.
"So to solve this situation, I've come up with a solution. My time is pretty valuable, so how about I drive you home. Your own personal driver Dylan Park! It should be worth $10 000. I'm confident I can get some people to pay up even more.
You therefore have two options Cho Bae-sshi ,
1) Get on willingly or
2) I force you on .
So what's it going to be?"