JEON
"We're finally out," Matt says.
"Now, we just need to—"
"Jeon!"
Turn mah head to the voice. Two asses are walking up, one in baggy clothes and one with sling bag. Mah chest tightens.
"Tsk. Look who's here," the one in baggy clothes says.
What they're doing here?
"Hello guys."
Ass #1 steps closer."Oh! Look, think Jeon got a new man."
new man... new man...
His voice rings inside mah ears. It stings. It hurts. Need get outta here. I grab Matt's arm and run.
Of all damned times, why are they here? Ain't they got enough before?
Before, it was the usual air, very much noisy but nothing's rough. Peeps walked the front. I crept down the hallway.
In front of me, Chul and Yong-nam cruised the way am taking. Should've known they're here. I braced mahself on what's cooking and without facial expression, I passed them.
"Wait a minute you gay," Yong-nam, a.k.a Ass #1, said.
I dragged mah feet away.
"Oi!"
Felt hands on mah shoulder. Then, a force pulled me to face them. The heck?
"Think I'll let you go easily, huh?" Chul, a.k.a Ass #2, asked.
I rolled eyes the back of mah mind. "What do you want from me?"
Ass #1 frowned but Ass #2's stupid enough to grin.
"Let us pass the exam."
"How can I possibly do that? I am not a faculty member nor a staff?"
Ass #2 sheepishly smiled. "Don't beat around the bush."
"We know you're not that dumb."
"Sorry, but I believe I need to leave since our club is set to have our evaluation in 10 minutes."
"Not so fast, faggot."
I swear, if ain't for scholarship, already have beaten the shit out of you.
Tryna force a smile. "Have you forgotten to announce something?"
"Give us the answers in exam."
"You are planning to trick the teachers? Pardon, but I wish to be excluded in that kind of activities."
Ass #1 shook his head, Ass #2's still grinned. He shot look to Ass #2.
"Really?"
"Then maybe we have to tell everyone in this campus that you're attracted to men."
"I see. I have no problem with your proposition."
"You really have no shame, aren't you?" Ass #1 shouts.
Nothing's wrong bout that, but, oh well.
"If you don't give us the answers tomorrow,"
What?
"I'll spread around the campus that you have a relationship with a senior."
Something in mah stomach dug deep like mah intestines were being licked. Ass #1 smirked me, and I middle-fingered him, but only in mah mind.
"I am listening," I said.
But they ain't have evidence, right? They don't. The—
"Jeon!"
The image becomes clear. A crackling sound enters mah ears. In my front, the blue field's on.
Notice the peeps walking round us and they sidetrack me. The place around me is moving. H-huh? Am in public?
A-and running?!
"Jeon!"
I turn. Matt?
"Please stop running."
I can't. This field is...
Crack Bzzz Crack Bzzz
electric field. Can even feel it tingling mah hair.
Suddenly, the pain in mah chest tightens more and mah knees feel jelly. I drop on cold hard ground.
Buzz!
Rapidly, the surroundings turns blue. They echo the blue light of mah currents. I grip the ground and close mah eyes. Don't wanna be club fed, am too young for that.
Seconds pass. But nothing booms away. Instead, the blue field fades away in air.
Huh?
I feel hand in mah back.
"Jeon! Are you alright?" Matt asks.
I speak but ain't words coming out.
"What happened here?"
A sharp husky voice cuts to mah ears. Goosebumps appear all over like the field does earlier. H-hold up. That voice...
"Jeon?" the husky says mah name.
I look up. The boy in front me's familiar. Next to him's his girlfriend. Feel mah chest pounds harder, mah skin rushes hot, mah vision spins.
Why now?
The weight on mah eyelids too much so I give in.
Winter air sent chills to mah bones. I shook. Can't see nothing cept the asphalt buried in sheets of snow that's barely seeable.
"Seonbae! Seonbae!"
Looking back, I saw mah hubae in swimming club running me.
"Good afternoon. Do you need something from me?"
"Yes!" he straightened. "Gunwoo seonbae asked me to call you."
Eh? He could've texted or phoned me but... "Gunwoo seonbae have arrived?"
"Yes! He is. The competition just ended."
Yeah. I know. Don't lecture me.
"But I only saw him on my way out and the other members are not around." he puts index under his chin. "That's... that's what I think. But I might be wrong."
"All right. Where is him?"
"He said he'll be waiting in their clubroom."
"I see."
I gripped the string of mah bag and walk.
"Bye, seonbae!"
"Goodbye. Take care on your way home."
The snow's slippery as hell, but I ran cuz hadn't seen him for so so long. After a while, the door greeted me. Photography Club.
Knock knock
The door opened where a shadow stood.
"Jeon!" Gunwoo said.
Short before, I found mahself in his chest. Damn. Missed this smell. So good.
He wrapped tighter. "I miss you. You have no idea how much I longed for you."
"Actually, I also have. But I do not contem—!"
Something warm and wet touched mah forehead.
"Hehehe." he patted mah head. "You can quit the formal talking now. Nobody will judge you."
"Do you realize that we are exposed to the public, Mr. Park?"
He loosened grip. "Oh. I almost forgot. It's just I'm so excited to see you again!"
He lemme go and banging the door, he pulled me in.
"The hell, did you lock it?"
His eyes became big, but they quickly changed to his tame expression.
"Now, you are yourself again."
"You asked for it, didn't you?"
"Yeah. I like it when you talk to me naturally, no inhibition and sins."
He pulled in a kiss. His lips felt so light I couldn't help but shake. Crap. I missed this taste. The same ol mint gum.
I pulled from his lock.
"W-wait. Did you win the competition?"
"Tsk. We have all time? Why don't we have our talk now?" lips grazed mah neck.
"Here? Eh? The heck!"
Textbooks were close to mah chest. To keep decency, I walk with straight body to the hallway. Peeps looked me. Get phone outta mah pocket but couldn't see any dirt on mah face so I wonder what they're looking at.
I reached the outside of the school. Ice flakes fell from above. On the other side, Gunwoo faced away mah direction. I ran.
I patted his upper back.
"Gunwoo seonbae."
When he turned, noticed his face was different. Furrowed brows and bitter smile were showing.
I flinched. Meeting our eyes, he gnawed his lips.
"Why are you here?" he asked.
"I messaged you earlier, seonbae."
In his hand, he held his phone.
"You have not read it yet?" I asked.
Water formed in his eyes. I reached mah arm to him, but he slammed it.
His molars gritted each other.
"Don't touch me. Get away from me."
"What is wrong? Is there something bothering you? You can tell me."
"How dare you spread rumors about me?"
Rumors? "I did not do such a thing, especially to you."
"Liar!"
Slap!
The sound echoed. There's nothing I felt cept the burning feeling in mah cheek.
"I don't want to be with liars like you." with burning eyes, he left.
Peeps round me talked. As the cold numbed me, mah mind couldn't think nothing but his words. H-he said he don't want me anymore.
Bright light stings mah eyes. I open them. Yellow ceiling's what I see. On mah left is a window and the light's entering there. Heck, am dreaming again.
Knock knock knock
"Jeon, are you awake? It's the first day of school today."
That voice's definitely Matt.
I look the time. It's 6:55 am.
6:55 am... First day of school? Heck, am late!
"Yes. Yes. I am awake now. Thank you for your concern."
"There's a program today at 7:40, right? We're going to be late."
"I will be ready in a few moments. Do not bother yourself about me."
"I'm just going to buy us food. Do you want something in particular?"
"Salad sandwich would be great."
"Ok. I'll let you prepare."
I stand up mah bed to grab the towel, but it ain't lying on the ground like usual. Hold up. Something's different here.
"Jeon!" the voice inside mah head said.
There's a blue field round us. Outside it, people walked. Then Matt touched mah arm.
Something sour hits I can't stop from cringing. Did I faint yesterday and he entered mah room?
He entered mah room?!
Crap.
Looking round, sheets are crumpled as ever but the beauty products are disgustingly organized. On the cabinet's handle, the towel hangs. Shit. This is so embarrassing.
Ugh. I'm gonna be late with this blabbering.
I bolt to the bath and bear the icy water, I ran out of soap and so use Matt's lemon smelling body wash. After bath, I go back mah room.
Knock knock
"Jeon, I already got us food. I'll hand it to you later, ok?"
"Yes." I wear black sock on the left. "Thank you for including me in your purchase." I put on the navy blue on the right.
"No problem."
I fix mahself.
Suddenly, mah phone rings. On the screen shows an unknown number. I pick up.
"Hello? Who is this?" I ask.
"Jeon. I'm hoping to meet you after class." the voice sounds deep but soft the same time.
I shudder. Is this... is this him?
"Hello? Jeon?"
Mah chest tightens again.
"Hello? Hello? Jeon, I understand if..."
I press the red button.
Mah hands are shaking and can feel pain in mah head.
Why now of all times?