English class seems to never end and it was really boring with a short bald man in his late fifties teaching. He had this protruding belly which made him look really funny.
"I think Miss Klein really finds it hard sleeping at night and always end up dozing off in my class. She really takes my voice as a lullaby." The short baldy seemed annoyed seeing Claire soundly sleeping during his lessons. Well this wasn't the first time after all.
"Miss Klein! Miss Klein!" He called out but it seems Claire was already riding on a very huge dinosaur in paradise.
The short baldy sighed and dropped his textbook noisily on the table but that didn't budge Claire. Tracy looked over to her friend still sleeping. She stretched her hand over, shaking Claire vigorously. Claire brushed Tracy's hand off a few times. Duncan who sat behind Claire kicked her chair.
She jerked hard and woke up when she felt her chair being kicked. Her eyes fell on the short baldy who was discontent with her behavior. She slowly wiped her face with her palm and got up.
"Sir did you call me?"
"Of course I did... You dozed off in my class again."
"Yeah." Claire answered with a bored look.
"She is also admitting it."
"Well I can't deny it either."
"You, what's wrong with you?"
"I didn't have enough rest yesterday. I've been working hard recently."
"On what?"
"I want to pass my English test so I stay up late to learn." Slight coughs were heard from most of the students.
"Really?" The short baldy asked which showed clearly that he didn't believe a thing that Claire said.
"Why, can't I also stay up at night to learn?" Claire asked arching a brow.
"Well is a surprise for me to hear Miss Klein really learns."
"Of course I do. Well sir if you continue asking me questions then I think your precious time will be drained in the gutter."
"Sigh... You may sit." He said. "So hopeless." He mumbled as he prepared to proceed his lessons.
***
Fun in the world seemed to be over for Claire. She laid in the sofa gazing at the ceiling like a lifeless chicken with her legs on the headrest. The room was quiet with Tracy laying in the bed busy on her phone and Max sitting lazily in the arm chair with his eyes closed. The only sound which could be heard was the tapping sound made from Tracy's phone. Their long peaceful moment was interrupted with a knock on the door.
"Who is that?" Claire drawled lazily still laying in the sofa with the same posture. "Whoever you're just come in. The door isn't locked."
The door opened and the person slowly stepped in.
"Helllloooo." The person greeted in a slow voice which sounded like a tease. Claire's head shot to the door and she immediately got up glaring at the person who was none other than Duncan.
"You..."
"Did I interrupt anything?" He asked looking around Max and Tracy who were a little bit surprised.
"What the hell are you doing here?!" Claire questioned.
"Well..." Duncan plopped down on the sofa sitting as if he owned the room. "I came to demand your signature." He grinned.
"You're still on it huh? My answer is still no. As I said earlier, this will happen only in your miserable dreams. So just get the hell out of here!" Claire hollered pointing to the door.
"No need to scream. I'm just right here." Duncan complained making Claire roll her eyes. There was a long hiatus with nobody ready to break. Duncan just arched his brow with a smile on his face as he looked up to angry Claire.
"Sigh... Let me make this clear to you." Claire broke the silence. "I'm not signing that damn contract. Get this processed in your grilled brain."
"Hmm. I'll just have to wait for a while. Like I said, you'll come begging for the contract. So for now it's a bye, my beautiful... servant." Duncan said triggering Claire's anger.
He turned to leave but was attacked mid step from behind. Claire jumped on Duncan's back savagely pulling his hair in all directions.
"Call me by that name again you stupid headless chicken!" Claire gritted her teeth still pulling Duncan's hair making him scream and wobble around the room trying to peel Claire off him but she just clung on him like a damn monkey.
Max immediately run off and peeled Claire off Duncan. He held her waist tightly not allowing her to get away.
"Thank your stars. Otherwise, you would have found your nasty hair right under your smelly feet!"
"You are really insane!" Duncan yelled looking at Claire with bloodshot eyes.
"Of course, I know I'm insane." Claire snorted. "From the moment I first saw you, I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life avoiding you!"
"Oh really. Then suit yourself. Because I'll be your worst nightmare."
"I'll tear you apart DD!" Claire tried freeing herself from Max's grasp but she couldn't.
"Save your breath goddess... You'll need it to blow up your date. I'm leaving already." Duncan sneered then packed himself out of the room.
"You..." Claire called but he was already gone. Max dragged Claire to the sofa and helped her sit. Claire was hyperventilating due to extreme anger. Tracy brought her a glass of water after she has cooled.
"Uhm, Claire what did Duncan mean? What contract does he want you to sign?" Tracy asked Claire as she kneeled before her.
"Just forget it. It's just a stupid piece of shit... I think I need to go. It's almost two. Thane might already be here." Claire got up and took her backpack packing her dobok neatly in her bag. She threw her bag over her shoulder and started to leave.
"Uhm, Claire." Tracy called. "Let me see you off." She said approaching Claire. She went out with Claire leaving Max behind to watch over. The two chitchat on their way. They saw Thane standing by the van at the lobby as they walked out wearing a black T-shirt and black cargo pants with black boots.
"Hey, Thane." Claire lifted her hand in the air for a high five which indeed he answered with a straight face. Tracy halted before Thane grinning from ear to ear.
"Hi handsome." She waved at the mannequin before her. But as mentioned, Thane just stood there. He turned and dragged the door opened gesturing to Claire to enter. Claire shrugged at Tracy who seemed to feel a little dejected. Claire jumped into the van and waved at Tracy. Thane also got in and closed the door as the driver drove.
***
"God, what sin did I commit in my previous life to receive all these murderous treatment." Claire nagged as she sat all alone at the sitting area of the taekwondo school.
It was already closing and everyone has left. Claire just plopped down in the sofa after receiving intensive training from Ji-Hoon. She felt very worn out. After regaining some energy, she removed a packet of spicy chips from her bag and started to munch on them slowly as she leaned on the sofa and stared blankly at the ceiling.
After sometime she felt the other empty part of the sofa sink in, which meant someone has sat on it. She turned her head to the left still leaning lazily in the sofa. That's when she saw a boy, the same boy she sat beside yesterday in taekwondo class, sitting beside her busy on his phone.
A chip dangled at the corner of Claire's lips as she stared at the handsome guy beside her.
He had sea blue eyes as well as brown golden hair which was neatly combed with some strands dangling on his prominent forehead. His skin was fair like a typical Asian. He had a sharp jaw line which made him look quite serious. His eyebrows were well trimmed and shaped. He had long lashes which made him look sexy. His Adam's apple was very visible when staring at his long neck.
He just wore a formal white shirt with white jeans and white kicks which made him look like an angel.
"Stop staring." The guy said without looking at Claire which startled her. She quickly pulled the chip into her mouth with her tongue. He stopped playing with his phone and turned to look at Claire who still sat like the world was hers.
"Aren't you going home?" He asked.
"Me?" Claire asked pointing a finger at her nose.
"Who else is here apart from you and I?" He said frowning a bit.
"Oh. I'm just tired and resting a bit."
"Arthur. I'm Arthur." He introduced extending his hand.
"Claire." Claire shook his hand.
"So you are from Golden Gates. I heard it's outside the city." He said pointing at the crest on Claire's coat.
"Yeah. It's a really large landmass outside the city. It's a private school and having an admission as a common person, it'll be really difficult. They follow the classes of human. They want to prevent any form of disturbances. Such a prison." Claire sneered in disdain.
"But this isn't how they dress." Arthur smiled looking at how Claire has dressed.
"Oh, I bet you wouldn't like the way they dress. The tie always chokes me, and I don't feel comfortable tucking my shirt in my skirt. And those long socks makes my legs itch. You know." Claire explained frowning making Arthur to chuckle.
"You're really funny."
"I'm not. I'm just stating the obvious... But aren't you also going home?"
"My driver will be arriving soon. I'll just wait for him."
The two continued to chat when suddenly Claire's phone dinged. She took it and realized someone has emailed her with a video. There was a caption under the video which said, 'Peekaboo'. Claire knew only one person would say this word. She played the video...
"Shit!" She immediately took her bag and sprinted towards the entrance.
"Hey! Where are you going!" Arthur yelled.
"I need to go. I'll see you tomorrow. Bye!" Claire hollered and dashed out towards the lobby. She went straight to the van. Thane immediately opened the door and Claire jumped in. He also boarded the van and the driver stepped on the accelerator.