In the morning, I awake the same. Get up, put on coffee, and lay my head upon the table. Ryung and Hana walk in and after the first cup, we all start talking. Ryung starts off with, "Thank you for yesterday. It was the beeest present."
I smile at him, "Glad I could give you the best present then. How did you enjoy yesterday, Hana?"
"It was okay. I guess I could go there again."
She was looking away while saying that and had a small fright when she turned back to see me glaring her. "Hey, why are you looking at me like that? What did I do wrong?"
I halt my glaring and say, "Hmm, it's crazy that you thought it was only okay yesterday, when you were the one having the most fun. Even more fun than Ryung was having."
Her cheeks turn red from embarrassment before she looks away, "I didn't have fun. Only kids have fun there."
I burst out laughing at her which forces her to ask, "Why are you laughing at me? What I'm saying isn't incorrect."
Shaking my head, I say, "Nah, it's just... I enjoyed the theme park, does that make me a kid?"
"Yes, you're right."
"Oh, I didn't expect that."
Then we all start laughing and continue to laugh for a minute straight. The conversation peters out until it eventually stops, and we get ready for school. As we leave the apartment, I tell them "Byyyeee!" and the respond with a cute "Goodbye Heung/Oppa!"
I make it to school without any problems. Put on my inside slippers, put my shoes away, and head to homeroom to learn with Mr. Han. When I arrive at the door, I see he's working on todays lesson when I drop by.
Mr. Han looks away from his desk and says, "Oh, Choehabu, how did you fare yesterday? I hope you weren't too sick. Missing any more studies would be very bad."
"Thank you for your concern, I'm actually doing fine now. Seems like I just ate something that wasn't supposed to be eaten. I'm doing much better today, how are you?"
He nods his head, "I'm doing well in kind. Would you like to start our lessons."
I bow while saying, "Yes please."
"Then let's start."
Half an hour goes by before school starts. I'm learning more and more how to read and write the Korean language and it's one of the most fulfilling things I've ever accomplished. Class starts and Mr. Han walks up to the front podium. He writes something on the whiteboard and asks us, "Who here knows about the Broken Age? Yes, you Ms. Jin Ae." he says while pointing to a female classmate.
She stands up before speaking, "The Broken Age was a period in which Humanity nearly fell to the Beasts. Our ancestors dwindled to a few million at that time."
Mr. Han nods, "That is correct, Ms. Jin Ae. What she says is correct, the Broken Age is a time in which Humanity was driven to near extinction by the Beasts. At this time, we had not yet learned how to manipulate Mana, Gi, or even Aether. Many millions fell and were it not for the Great Hero, Kim Haneul, then we would've succumbed to the Beasts and their Endless night."
He stops for a moment for everyone to write down in their notebooks. I join in and start writing in mine. Once he sees that most are done, he continues, "Who here knows how Kim Haneul discovered these great gifts?"
Mr. Han looks at everyone but they keep silent. Can't say much myself, but I have a reason. Once he's waited ten seconds he continues with the lesson, "He discovered these gifts by felling a Beast after it took the lives of his friends and family, and nearly his own. Once he had discovered this power, he spent the rest of his life, roaming in pursuit of these Beasts and teaching others how to use this power. If he had not existed, then humanity would've been doomed.
"Open up your textbooks to page two hundred one, you shall learn more about both Kim Haneul and the Broken Age from it. I expect you all to be ready for discussion for class tomorrow."
And with that, Mr. Han stepped down from the podium and headed towards his desk in the back. I look at my classmates to see they've all already taken out the textbook. I look in my back and pull out all of mine, flipping through the pages to see if it's the right one. To think that I would still be a student in another world, what a cruel joke.
I only read through five sentences by the end of class, but that's five more than I could read last week. I pack up my stuff and head out to the field, but before I do, I grab my sneakers from the cubby up front.
On my way back, I run into the three Bullies that sent me to the nurse's office the first time. I try to ignore and walk past them, but they notice me and ask me, "Hey, where the Hell do you think you're going! We have something to settle first."
My walking speeds up to a jog. They call out from behind me before I start to hear them start running. I move even faster now, my heart beating hard and strong in my chest. Their footsteps are right behind me, slowly yet surely catching up.
I dash past kids in the hall, doing my best to not hit them while also sprinting at top speeds. I hear grunts and yelling and even a few curses as I run. I'm nearly at the doors to outside when my collar get grabbed and my feet fly out from under me. The next moment, the taste of iron fills my mouth as I get hit.
This is going to hurt.