JEON
Man, why so stubborn? Just take the damn money.
I cling to him more. "I have no plan on loosening my grip until you accept my offer."
He moves face closer to mah hand. W-wait. Is he going to kiss me—! Feel mah skin tear.
"Sorry, but I can't accept it." smirking, he runs away.
I feel sharp pain in mah hand, red color drips from it. The heck, it's bleeding. I get the cloth from mah pocket and wrap handkerchief round it. The feeling sharpens to a hot pain.
Just how sharp his canine is? I swear to god, am gonna catch him even though he's handsome in that smirk!
Ain't see it before but some eyes look mah direction. So I hide mah hand in mah pocket and evaporate from them immediately.
I go through the entrance on the left side of the building. The ground's wood and wall's cream painted. This place, I remember on the tour, being a hot mess, but it's sparkling now.
No rooms front yet. Just a pure hallway of flags and swords pinned to the wall plus a pic of the school founder Kim Seong-su. Ol man behind the frame's looking pretty good cept the wrinkles and grey things. Also the gloom. He's literally piercing anyone crossing the way.
Tap... tap... tap...
Mah foot echoes an annoying sound as I creep down. The back of mah mind itches to take it off but damned school's thrusting shitty rules to us. Can't make a mess on first day. I just continue walking.
It should be somewhere here.
"Hmm... mmpph..." I hear.
What the hell's that?
The next thing I pick up is wet sloppy sounds. Hot goosebumps run over mah body I start trembling. Don't tell me it's what think it's.
Black hair, four eyes, and red cheeks, the office slut's filthy peach scent punches mah nose. Behind the corner, she's smooching a boy in maroon coat. Woah. This is so damn inappropriate. How in the world's that boy keeping up with her— Bleh!
"Cough cough cough cough." mah voice breaks.
I hide behind the wall. Shit. Her sniff's too strong.
"Don't run now," office slut says.
"What are you doing there?" she asks.
Shit. "I am very sorry for the inconvenience I have engendered. Your humble man," place mah left on mah chest, "just happened to be passing by."
She puckers lips out. Boy student looks to the right, making his eyes exposed to me. Eh?
"W-what are we going to do?" Jules, a.k.a. smooch mumbles.
Office slut smirks. "I told you. You should've been quiet."
On the other end, he turns tomato red. Man, I'll prolly do the same. Experienced PDA once... would never do it again.
"Oh, well. Not today. " she faces away. "But you're not bad, American Boy, you know that?"
She winks at me. Mah stomach explodes. Am not even pure American.
Smooch throws a look like an abandoned puppy or something. He looks back and bangs me glare and tails her.
Am not guilty though. Not really mah fault. Besides, ain't relationships like that prohibited? Like hell. Imagine french kissing a slut in her late 20s when you're, idk, 15?
Ah, whatever, have many things to be stressing. I walk down the opposite side where they go.
I reach two rooms. The one on left is storage while the one on right's glass door saying infirmary. I knock before opening the door.
Facing away, suit up in a white nurse dress, old lady stands there. She's busy at the shelf full of containers of different sorts.
"Pardon my intrusion," I break silence.
She stops what she's doing and faces me. Wrinkly face and gray hairs. Also, a little bit of blush and lipstick.
Hana?
"Ms. Choi. I am unaware that you are employed here."
Hana closes to me. "Long time no see." she pats mah head. "What did you come here for?"
Suddenly, her eyes lower mah hand. She gasps.
"Why is it wrapped in cloth?"
"I specifically come here for a treatment."
"Come on. Please take a seat first."
We walk to the table. I try not swinging arms side by side just to be decent and so am stiff. On the same hand, she's also tensed. Her steps are unstable like a wobbly rocking boat.
"What happened to you this time?" she says, her face's as white as the wall earlier.
I force a smile. "Do not worry about me, Ms. Choi. What occurred is not severe."
"My oh my! Don't tell me you're involved in a fight again?"
"No. I do not partake in such thing, Ms. Choi." ain't some hot-blooded fight-seeker.
"Had you forgotten what happened in middle school?"
"I apologize. I am afraid that I have no recollection of what you are saying."
"You really have a bad memory."
"I apologize."
"Well," she pats the table, "take a seat first."
"Thank you."
The table's similar to like one may see in office, wooden stuffs that can hold paper. She takes something from the shelf. This better be ain't painful or I'mma make a scene and be sceneful.
"I need to undress your hand, alright?"
"Please do what you believe is necessary."
She touches mah hand. A hot dull pain grows suddenly. I pull back.
"Does it hurt?"
"It does... My hand experiences a dull pain."
"Then can you remove it your own? You'll feel less pain since you're aware of what you're doing."
"All right, ma'am."
Putting no force at all, I remove the cover. The moment mah wound exposed stings like shitty bees just laid eggs on it. Back of it's lined with teeth marks though blood's already dry.
"What's that?" she grimaces.
"Bite marks."
"You really did get into a fight!"
"As I said earlier Ms. Choi, I do not participate in cruel things." and do fights between boys include biting? The hell are we? Dogs?
"You told me the same thing back in middle school when you'd fought the one's teasing you."
"What is in the past has already passed. I almost lost my scholarship back then, and I would not allow myself to succumb to the same mistake."
She leans down and presses something the table. Then, the board flips. It becomes basin.
"Just tell me what happened already. You're making me worried."
"I just happen to be fribbling with a friend on the campus grounds when—!"
The cold feeling makes me pull away but her grip's steady. It ain't set free.
"Messing around?"
"Y-yes but worry not because we are not using any roughness. Apparently, he thought that biting would be amusing, and then, he left before I could even tell what he has done."
She clicks her tongue. "Who's that student?"
"He is my roommate, but I do not comprehend he intended to hurt me in the first place. Please, do not send him to the office."
She puts something bitter to the wound like bloody maroon oranges hell.
"Oh no. I won't do that. I'm not your guardian anymore." she wraps bandages around. "And you're going to be legal soon."
"Thank you. I am not obliging you to tend me, but I just wanted you to know that I will always pay my respects to you."
Smile shows her face.
"Sigh. Maybe I should tell your father that you'd grown to be a fine man."
I don't wanna see him. Wait...
"What?! You have knowledge about the location of my father?"
Thud
The tape falls from her hands. Her eyes so round she kinda looks like a puffer fish. Her hands are vibrating.
"Of course not. If I have, the first thing I would do is let you know."
"Please do not. I wish him to begone in any of my memories."
"You need to accept him someday, Jeon."
"Let us not talk about him, shall we?"
"Fine."
Dull pain reduces so I stand up. Really needing to leave or else be late for the ceremony.
"Thank you for your tendance on my injury. I am very sorry. As much as my heart desires to acquaint, I am afraid that we, students, have an opening ceremony. "
"I totally forgot about that. I kept you long enough."
I grab her body and press it against mine. She flinches but she accepts me. Just before I go.
"You've grown so much, Jeon. Don't be afraid to talk to me if anything's bothering you."
"I will, and do not be bothered because I shall visit you here as much as I can."
"Be careful on your way."
"Again, thank you for your tendance."
I wave mah unbandaged hand to her.
"Oh! I need to check your wound again tomorrow."
"Yes. Goodbye, Ms. Choi."
"Take care, Jeon."
I step out of the door. The way am passing's empty. Can't tell what, but something's sus bout her. She's distant. And also mentioned that damned old geezer. Shaking mah thoughts off, I speed up.
After some time, I sharp turn to the right of the hallway.
Many peeps crumpling down like they're in carnival.
"It's Richard!" peeps buzz.
Richard?
"Ooh! It's my first time seeing master!"
Pfft. Master?
Heads-up, straight body, and white hair, that Richard person or that master's walking in middle of the hall. Everyone's electrified to see him but somehow, his eyes watered down. Am not impressed though, got problems waiting for solving than him. First, where's that damned Matt?
In the corner pressed a tower to the crowd. I creep the peeps. Matt hasn't noticed me yet cuz he's busy in this master thingy.
I brush off his back. "Excuse me."
"Hmm... do you need something— Jeon?" he's gawked.
I grab his arm and smile. "Yes. I am indeed Jeon." and raise mah injured hand. "By any chance, are you seeing this entirely?"
"Why's your hand wrapped in that?"
Though tryna sound concern, don't know why he sounds half-assed.
"Ehem. Do you remember what happened earlier when we were walking inside the campus?"
"Earlier? Don't..." he cracks eyes open. "Don't tell me that's because of what I did."
"Exactly. My hand is wrapped in a bandage because you have taken your amusement far from what I expected."
He bows down. "M-my bad."
"Do not be bothered by this."
"Are you being serious?"
I nod. "Instead of being bothered, be kind and accept my offer for you."
"But I said I couldn't accept that. My allowance is enough for the month. Besides, I hurt you. Shouldn't I'll be paying you instead?"
"No. This is for the food earlier."
Don't be hard-headed.
"I know but still."
"Accept my offer and I will disregard anything that had occurred or else..." I curl mah dark brows.
He flinches half cm.
"Ok. I'll take it."
"All right."
I throw the bucks into his pocket. I graze his thigh. Suddenly, feel mah stomach shiver. Mah body feels boiling hot and a strong want to touch him comes to me. I push back. Heck, stop thinking things, Jeon.
"Hmm? The crowd earlier is already gone," he says while looking the hallway, without a care.
Phew. "Yes. They must have entered the meeting hall."
"Right. Let's go. We're late for the ceremony."
As we enter, can't help to notice the students already sitted in place. In front, a humongous stage with wide monitors glued to the wall gives the same vibe and same sight from the campus tour. The only oddness be the lighting cuz they ain't flipped that day.
Matt spins head round the hall, darts eyes to everything in line.
"This hall is really elegant and grandiose."
"Indeed."
"It looks more like a theater than a meeting hall."
"That must be because the seats are leveled from the podium."
"But we have a theater here, right? As in a real theater?"
"The school does. My memory occurs to me from the campus tour."
"They provided a tour? Really? I should've gone."
"It would be great if you had, but the tour happened before you even arrived here."
On stage, fatty man's already blabbering bout something. His voice's loud but his body's sure soft.
"Matt."
"Hm?"
"I think it is the time for us to look for seats. Set your eyes to the stage. A speaker is already giving his speech."
"You're right."
"Let us go."
We roam round the upper place but can't find any space. All are filled. Can definitely ditch the ceremony but ain't gonna when he's here, so I tail him.
"Everywhere I look are students."
"Jip-Eun Sig Academy is a popular premier school famed in the entirety of Vex City. Thus, there is a great number of students that are enrolled here."
"The tuition is sure expensive too. But anyway, I never noticed this number of students in our dorm."
"Your observation is true. Not all students that are present here are living in the school's dormitory. Only those who came from afar are given the opportunity to be in the quarters.
"I see..." he looks straight. "These students must be rich."
"Most of them are wealthy, but the school also offers a scholarship program through a special examination. Only those who passed the exam are admitted to the program. Summarily, there are students from the lower classes too."
We continue walking. I find a seat the very far back of stage against this mess. I stop. This is fine. Can just look at the TV.
On stage, fatty man keeps on blabbering.
"Thank you for your speech, Mr. Haepon. Now, may we call on Mr. Lee, the vice principal of our school. Let's give him a round of applause!"
Clap Clap Clap Clap
The peeps do a loud clapping. They're precise, almost like they practiced behind the scenes.
A tough looking old geezer pops-up the stage.
"Good day everyone." his voice is gentle compared his look.
"I'm glad that there are many students admitted to our school. I expect all of you to respect yourself, your fellow students, and the faculty of this school. I believe that..."
Strange thought comes to me. Hold up. Is this?
"Jeon!" mah mom called out.
"Mary!" another voice said.
Mah chest's clumps up. Why now of all times?
"I need to learn proper Korean soon. You'll teach me right?" Matt asks side me.
I open mah mouth but nothing's coming out. Shit.
"Are you alright?"
"Can you stand? We should go to the clinic."
No. Can't afford Hana to get worried.
He gets closer to me then holds mah hand.
"Come on. I'll assist you."
Shaking mah head, I squeeze his fluffy hand instead.
"I... I am fine." I surprisingly say.
He frowns. Suddenly, he stands up. I put strength on mah hand and pull him down. We ain't going.
"Hey! Careful. Here, take my hand."
Shhh... fine, fine, you ain't gonna listen, aren't you? I grab it.
We walk down. Hall's actually empty or mah eyes just getting trippy. Soon, we reach the ground.
I tap him to stop.
"What? Are you feeling bad again or do you
want to take a break here? Well, it should be fine, and you don't need to worry because we have a reason."
I puff an air. Calm down.
"What happened? Is he alright?"
A familiar voice breaks mah peace. In return, mah heart echoes in mah head like a sledgebanger. Turn mahself to the voice. See the man in a coat. It's the old geezer blabbered onstage.
His eyes meet mine.
"Oh!" old geezer reacts.
"Good morning sir," Matt says. "As you can see, my friend is not feeling well."
I clench mah hand around Matt. Don't tell him!
"We're just taking a break here, and we'll go to the clinic after a while."
Old geezer nods. "I'll call the nurse to here."
Mah chest tightens to his words feels like gonna explode. This is it. Can't take any longer.
With clenched hands, I drag Matt.
"H-hey, Jeon! Running's not allowed in the hallway!" he squirms through.
Shut up.
"Jeon! Are you listening."
Feel a force from behind pulling me, but I push on.
After some seconds, I notice the place change. Mah chest still feels tight. I stop running.
There's light force on mah back, stroking me.
"Hey, are you alright?"
"N-no... huff... I am... hah... not..."
"Well, they must've some medicine in the clinic. Let's go there."
No. And give me a sec.
I sit on the dead floor. Mah back rests the wall.
"You can't walk? Ok then. I can carry you to the clinic. Is that alright?"
Really? Your body's thin and am pretty built yet you're carrying me? Heh.
"Hmm? What's funny?"
I shake mah head. In a moment, mah throat feels dry. I get something from mah pocket and show him.
"Is that a medicine?"
I nod.
"I understand. Are you gonna be fine here?"
This is much better than staying close the hall or going the clinic.
"Ok. Wait for me."
Away, he walks briskly.
Since nothing to do, I close mah eyes and give in to darkness.
After some hours, noise of footsteps shakes mah own darkness. Is it Matt already?
"Um... are you alright?" a high pitch girly voice.
Must be a year younger. I bobbed mah head.
"O-okay then." she walks away.
Yeah, definitely freshman. She ain't that assertive yet but pretty sure she's gonna change after hanging out with garbage shits.
Keep mah eyes closed. Mah head feels kinda heavy. I wanna sleep.
"I'm relieved that you're still there."
Front of me's Matt. He has water bottle in hand while eyes fluff me down.
"Here. I thought you're hungry." he waves bread in the air.
"T-thanks..."
I reach the bottle. But he charges to me like cat woman. I take back but the wall traps me. Mah chest begins to pound again. His face close to me. Black eyes are shining, looking so deep think can drown in it anytime.
He puts the bottle between mah lips and tilts it. I chug down.
"Alright. Where's the medicine earlier?"
I grab the pill and place it mah mouth. Then, he does the same thing again.
"Ahh."
"Hey! Are you alright? Your face is so red right now."
I dart mah eyes away. "Y-yes."
"For the meantime, you should take a rest."
I smile. "Thank you."
He smiles back. "It's nothing."
Ahh! This is how am gonna die. Heart attack by killer smile.
While chilling, a white hair appears behind him.
"Hmmm?" a boy says. "What do we have here?"
Wait, isn't this the Master they're talking earlier? Since he ain't dark, I'mma call him whitehead.
"Flirting is prohibited inside the academy, is that right?" he asks the boy side him.
"Yeah. Look, faggot's face is red." the boy side him points me.
At other mind, whitehead's spooky eyes shoot Matt.
"Huh? We're not flirting. I'm just helping him because he's sick." Matt says.
"Oh. Look who it is, Master. This is that bastard."
Whitehead growls. "Tsk. You're the one from the cafeteria earlier."
"Yes, that's me. I'm sorry for what happened earlier but please leave us alone."
What's up with here?
"What an idiotic ignorant you are, oegug-in." whitehead insults.
Slave boy smirks. "You shouldn't be with that boy. He's nothing but trouble." he's pointing me.
Trouble? I don't even know you.
"I remember in middle school, he pu—"
"I don't want to hear it." Matt's voice's steady. "Just leave the two of us alone, shitty braggart." he's directed whitehead using his index.
Whoo. You really got balls. This ain't what you see everyday. Think I'mma call him braggart from now.
Braggart raises eyebrows, his eyes bulging out.
"You are really ignorant."
In moment, he lifts hand. The air round him becomes darker for a second, then a weird force kinda tingles mah skin. I look around but nothing's seeable. What the hell?
"You are lucky. However, we will meet again one day, and I'm to show how ignorant you really are." braggart says.
"Just call me whenever."
"Pon, we're going."
Slave bobs head. "Yes, master."
The two mood breaker walks away. Matt turns back.
"Are you alright?"
I stand the ground. "Yes. I am feeling better now. Thank you."
"It's nothing."
His eyes look the vacant hallway. "Hey, do you know who it was? I mean the arrogant boy?"
"I believe you already heard his name around the campus. The name of the tall boy with white hair is Richard. Numerous details are flowing in my mind currently, but we rather reserve the topic for another time as the classes are set to begin soon."
"Well, they gave us a 15-minute break."
"What did you say?"
"You aren't listening to the vice principal earlier."
"My apologies."
"Yeah. I thought so. You're really pale and sweating beads. You aren't replying to me either so I thought you're not feeling well. What happened to you?"
"I will tell you once we returned to the dormitory."
"Is it a surprise?"
"It is. For now, I believe we should go for our class."
He gives me the bread and I keep it. We walk the hallway.
Now, what I need to do's to ditch that old geezer down. I'll get him this year.