After I visited the manga club with Miran, we headed back to our classroom. Just as we turned a corner though I bumped into someone who was carrying a big stack of papers.
"Ouch"
I heard a girly scream and saw that I had inadvertently bumped and knocked over someone.
"Oh, I'm so sorry! Are you okay?"
I hurriedly knelt to check if she was okay and started to gather the papers that spilled everywhere.
"Aw, it hurts"
"Where?"
"My ankle…"
"Oh no"
"I think I might have twisted it a bit when I fell…"
"I'm really sorry, can you stand up?"
Then the girl stood up and I realized she was noticeably short with a small build.
"Try to walk a few steps"
She was visibly limping.
"I'm really sorry. I'll help you go to the infirmary"
"But I need to bring these papers to the staff room straight away. School's gonna close soon"
I turned around to ask Miran if she could help but realized that she already sneakily disappeared. Man, that girl…
"You can't really walk though"
"It's okay. I think I can shake it off"
Then she tried to take a few more steps and although she was limping it looked like she could manage, but I felt guilty that my carelessness had caused this trouble for her.
"How about I help you carry these papers to the staff room then?"
"That would be great actually"
"Sorry I caused all this mess"
"It's okay"
I picked up all the papers off the ground by this point and the big stack was ready to be carried. It was rather heavy, but nothing Jenn couldn't handle.
"So what are all these papers?"
"Some stupid forms that need to be handed out to every class tomorrow morning"
"Right. You had to carry all of this by yourself?"
"Well, thanks for helping me"
"No, it was my fault. I'm sorry again"
We then walked together silently for a few more seconds, and she casually asked me while not really turning to face me.
"You are Jenn, right?"
"Huh, you know me?"
"I think everyone in our year knows you"
Well, I could understand why. Jenn really did stand out from the crowd in every way.
"I hope it's not in bad ways, heh"
"You are kinder than I thought, helping me with all this now"
"Oh don't mention it. I caused this trouble myself, didn't I?"
What did she mean by 'kinder than I thought'?
"So… you transferred to this school just recently right?"
"Yeah"
"How do you like it here so far?"
"I'm liking it more each day"
"Already made some friends?"
"Yeah"
Then she didn't say anything for a while and our conversation stopped there. We walked a few more minutes and arrived at the staff room, and left the stack of papers on a teacher's desk.
"Hugh, that's it. We are done now"
"Thanks for helping me"
"No problem. If anything, I feel guilty for hurting you"
"Can I treat you to something for helping me though?"
"Oh no, please, I should be the one who should be apologizing. What can I do for you?"
"I was just gonna get you a can of juice or something, no big deal"
"Right. Then let me get that for you instead. You just wait here for a minute"
Then I quickly ran to a vending machine and got two cans of cold apple juice.
"Is apple juice ok? Sorry, I should have asked first"
"I like it. Thanks"
Then we stood leaning against a wall in the hallway and drank our juice quietly. I still wasn't too good with small talk yet, but this girl seemed to be okay with that.
"Sorry, you knew who I was, but I don't even know your name yet"
"Eri"
"Nice to meet you Eri"
I greeted her with a smile but she was the one who first extended her hand to offer a handshake, which I happily took.
"I think I can walk better now. I guess we'll see each other around in school"
"Yeah, don't be a stranger when we do meet again"
"Sure. See you around then"
Eri left and walked off, but then turned around to wave her hand to me to say bye. I responded in kind.
Not bad, me. Now I'm even getting to know people outside of my class.
***
When I returned to the classroom I found that Miran had also left already, and now I was to be the last one to leave. Why didn't Uncle Tan call me yet? It was unusual - the first time actually- that I was told to wait at school, and even more unusual for Uncle Tan to just go missing on me with no contact.
Just as I was thinking that and looking at the time on the phone I got a call, but it was from Hana.
"Miss, this is Hana"
"Hi"
"We have a situation. Uncle Tan can't make it to the school to pick you up today"
"Oh, ok. Is he alright? I hope he's ok"
"He should be okay. We are just a little occupied at the moment"
"So are you coming to pick me up then?"
"No, sorry. Both Tan and I can't make it"
"I guess I would just take a taxi home-"
"No, Miss, please listen carefully"
"Ok"
"Do not come home today"
"What?"
"You must not come home today. Go stay somewhere else, lay low, and wait for me to call you again"
"What's going on? Mom's not home either?"
"Things will be explained in due course. Probably. For now, please find a place to stay for a few days"
"Er, that's like really weird. I don't get it at all"
"We don't have much time. Go stay with a trustworthy friend. Don't tell anyone else. It will be just a few days"
"A few days?! How about school?"
"You have permission to miss school until the situation changes"
"Hey, can I talk to Mom or something? You are just being way too cryptic"
"Sorry, I have to go now. Leave school ASAP and go stay with a friend. I will call you again"
"Hey, he-"
She hung up on me just like that?!
There was something weird going on, but I remember when I asked Dad about things his standard response was always 'Don't ask such things'. I wonder if I'd ever get the answers for this one, but for now, Hana really did sound serious and urgent. Perhaps something came up with Dad's work that both Uncle Tan and Hana should help out with? How about Mom then? Why wasn't she staying home? Heck, why couldn't I go home at all? And last but not least, just where the heck was I supposed to go?
I had to think and had to think real quick. Hana asked me to leave school as soon as possible. She was not the type to joke around. There must be a good reason why she wanted me to leave school and literally go hide somewhere for a few days. It was probably better I do as I was told and asked questions later, but I had no idea where I could-
Hang on, I got someone.
I then searched through my contacts and found Danbi on the list as we exchanged our numbers the last time she came over. She did say I should visit her sometime, well, let's just hope now is a good time for her too.
:Ring:
Please, pick up the phone.
:Ring:
Come on…
"Hello? Jenn?"
"Oh, hi, Danbi"
"Yeah hi, wow this is the first time you actually called me on the phone"
"Oh is it? Ha..ha.. Well, anyways"
"What's up?"
"Where are you now?"
"I'm by the shoe lockers, just about to leave for home"
"Oh great! Is it okay if I, er, go to your place today?"
"Huh? You mean like right now?"
"Yes, if it's ok…"
"Sure you can, but this is so random"
"I know right? Haha…ha… sorry"
"It's okay. Where are you now?"
"I'm still in the classroom. I will run down and meet you by the lockers now"
"Ok, cool. I'll wait for you"
"Thank you so much"
"No problem. Looking forward to it"
Then we hung up.
What I really appreciated was not just that she allowed me to come over, but she didn't even ask me why. As I thought last time, she was very kind.
But oh man… how was I gonna ask her later if I could stay at her place for a… few days! Actually, I wasn't even sure how long it would be. Was Danbi gonna accept that? Come to think of it I wasn't even prepared to stay away from home for a few days either. I had no change of clothes or anything like that.
But for now, Danbi was the best, and the only option I had.
Let's just go to her place first and hope that we can work something out.