Before one could even blink, It was the end of the student financial year, and it was time for them to withdraw their dividends.
The Korean CSAT had come and gone.
Every year around 600 000 students sit the College Scholastic Ability Test, a grueling, eight-hour set of university entrance exams.
For a single day the exam becomes the priority of the entire nation.
Work starts an hour later, enabling students to get to their testing centers on time; planes are grounded during the listening portion so as not to create any extra noise. Younger classmates flood the streets to support upperclassmen. Parents pray together that the many hours of study their children have put in will pay off.
When the CSAT results come out, it is quite natural that some people would be happy while others would be sad.
I trembingly dial the last digit, much more nervous than I should be having gone through this before, as I await for a mechanical voice to ring out from the receiver.
*Register Number 131195. Score: 398*
'Did I mishear that?'
I hang up and dial the number again checking whether it really is my result: 398!
IT WAS TRUE!
My first choice for University was Seoul National University (SNU) of Finance and Economics.
The admission rate for which is .5%. Ten times lower than even that of Stanford or Harvard.
It was no doubt that I had passed the minimum admission score.
In my previous life I once too met the minimum admission score, I did not however meet the financial requirement.
Before I can even think to call Hora my phone vibrates in my back pocket, answering quickly and excited voice blasts into my ears, "Dylan, I got 360! 360!"
Genuinely happy for her I say, "Congratulations, who knew my girlfriend was such a smarty pants. I guess she has more to her than otherworldly visuals"
She laughs, "And you, how did you do?"
"I got ... 398"
"398! Dylan did you say 398?" screaming so loud, I have to move the phone back a couple metres.
"Yeah, 398. I only got one question wrong. Aren't you proud?"
Before I can hear her answer to my question, I'm listening to the conversation between her parents and her " ..Hora:Mom, Dylan got 398. Mom: Wow! let me talk to him for a bit."
Hora's mothers voice then comes from the receiver, "Dylan Well Done on your score! I'm so proud"
I choke a bit, awkwardly blushing, I guess this is how parental affection feels. "Thank you Miss Bae"
We chat for a bit before I remind Hora that I will be picking her up later.
I check my phone and see various texts from classmates. Just as I'm busy answering them all two more arrive.
*New messages from VP Lee and Jae-ass"
Jaebum: I got 370 :P, how much did I beat you by?
He is even annoying over text.
398, I send him back.
That will keep him quiet for a bit.
I read the other message from VP Lee.
We have probably spoken a total of only 3 times throughout the year.
From what I can tell, he is quite the caring fellow, even taking care of dead friends child.
VP Lee: Dylan my boy, how did the exams go? Don't worry if you didn't do well. Remember you the S groups son, results don't really matter.
I laugh, this old fellow is really casual when it comes to abusing money and power it seems.
What a good role model!
I text back: Uncle, I did pretty well. I got 398.
I check Jaebum's reply, he has texted back a rather crude emoji followed by : You are so annoying!
Not long after, VP Lee called, he thought I made a mistake but after a few reassurances he finally let up and told me well done.
I also told him of my plans to go to SNU and he was highly receptive of the idea.
The next Monday a big deal was made about my result in school.
This firmly cemented my title as the most annoying kid. Not only am I handsome but also studious.
It is only naturally that the others were gnashing their teeth at how unfair it was.
On the day of the graduation party everyone in class showed up.
Dressed casually instead of wearing their school uniforms, it reminded me of the day we went to the amusement park. To think an entire year had passed just like that.
Now that the tenseness of the CSAT was gone, everyone enjoys themselves with good food and drinks.
The private restaurant room soon becomes engulfed in song and dance.
Its completely degenerated from a school affair into an all out crazy bash.
The Vice President of the class, who was the one wearing the thickest pair of glasses, suddenly slapped his hand on the table, causing everyone to go quiet all of a sudden.
His blurred vision and flushed face betrayed how drunk he was,
To think that, the most upright student in the entire school actually snuck in alcohol!
This is the typical case of alcohol making a coward brave.
I wonder who he is going to confess to.
His loud voice suddenly erupts "Dylan Park!"
'Huh'
'Me?'
'Is he...?'
My thoughts are interrupted "Dylan Park, Damn you. I .... think I !" He struggles to get anything else out and becomes increasingly emotional until he somehow ends up crying.
Despite the struggle of snot and tears on his face, he went on, "I can't give up! Dylan, I like you. I like you way more than Choo does!"
'So he is' As I'm about to laugh it off. "I'm thankful but...."
Various voices interrupt my rejection.
"Hayoon! It was me who wrote you that love letter in Grade 2. I like you" said Jimin who sat in the first row.
Hayoon nods and continues eating on the chips.
"Minseo, you are really really cute! Please marry me!" says another random character.
Minseo just ignores him and pretends that he was talking to someone else.
The girls all remained very calm despite the onslaught of love admissions.
The dutch courage that the boys had at this point all but dissipated in the face of their brutal rejections.
A slender girl with fair skin, chestnut colored hair and a oval shaped face, stands.
Glasses clanging, chairs scrape as she makes her way over to me.
It got strangely quiet in the room.
Motioning for me to lower my head, I oblige under her command leaning down.
She grabs onto my face as I come face into contact with eyes. Her most striking feature.
They are almond-shaped and dark in color. In my whole life, I have never seen eyes like these before.
I get lost in them every time I look into them.
*Smooch*
She kisses me softly on my cheek.
Pointing at me she then states her claim,
"MINE" she says as she stares down the vice class president before returning to her seat as if nothing happened.