Stepping off the bus, I began the familiar walk towards the school, the crisp morning air filling my lungs. As I approached the entrance, I spotted Ok Hye-In standing by the gate, her figure silhouetted against the bright sunlight. I walked up to her and greeted, "Good morning, teacher."
Ok Hye-In turned to me with a warm smile. "Vlad, good morning," she said. "Today is your first day, so let me guide you to your class."
I looked at her, a question flickering in my mind. Had she been waiting here just to meet me and show me the way? I felt my heartbeat quicken, an unfamiliar sensation coursing through me. It was the first time I had ever felt pursued by someone, and it was strangely exhilarating.
I looked at her and smiled and said " Thank you, teacher "
She looked at me and gestured for me to walk with her. I fell into step behind her, and as we made our way through the school grounds, I noticed many of the school girls stealing glances at me, their eyes filled with curiosity and interest.
Soon we reached the classroom and she entered the room. I followed behind her and as I entered the room I saw Hong Shi-Ah was sleeping at her desk and Bo-Bae and other girls and boys were looking at me.
Ok Hye-In invited me to introduce myself to the class. I did so briefly, and she then directed me to sit at the empty desk by the window. I noticed that this placed me right next to Seo Ji-Ho.
As I took my seat, I saw Bo-Bae nudging Hong Shi-Ah awake, her face alight with a mischievous grin. She gestured for Hong Shi-Ah to look at me. When Hong Shi-Ah did, her expression changed, a hint of surprise and admiration flickering across her face. I smiled at her, and she quickly looked away, a soft blush spreading across her cheeks.
The lecture began, and I noticed Ok Hye-In glancing my way several times as she taught. Before I knew it, the class was over, and she exited the room.
Moments later, Bo-Bae and her friend approached my desk. Bo-Bae looked at me with a friendly smile. "Thank you for your help earlier at the bus," she said.
I smiled back at her. "It was no big deal," I replied. "I just couldn't stand seeing that uncle treat that pregnant woman so poorly." I added, "You also did a great job speaking up for her. It was really brave of you."
Bo-Bae and her friends introduced themselves to me. Among them was a tall girl named Hwang Young-Sun, who exuded confidence and had a striking appearance. Their other friend, Um So-Mi, was also notably beautiful.
I introduced myself in return, and we chatted for a few moments before they headed back to their seats. I then excused myself from the classroom and made my way to the bathroom, where I have to meet Hong Shi-Woo who is locked in one of the stalls.
As I entered, I heard a voice from within. "Excuse me," it called out, "Could you please open the door?"
I quickly walked to the stall and unlocked it. Hong Shi-Woo emerged, looking pale and withdrawn, his eyes fixed on the floor. He had the demeanor of someone who was carrying a heavy burden, and I couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy.
I approached him and introduced myself. "Hello, my name is Vlad," I said gently.
He looked up briefly before casting his gaze downward again. "Hello, I'm Hong Shi-Woo," he replied softly. Then, he added in a low voice, "Please don't tell anyone you helped me. If they find out, they might target you too."
Seeing his distress, I felt a genuine desire to help him. Additionally, I couldn't help but consider that befriending Hong Shi-Woo might provide an opportunity to cross paths with Jung Da-Jung. If I visited him at his home, I might just happen to bump into her along the way.
I walked up to him and asked knowingly " Who is the one who did this to you? "
Without another word, Hong Shi-Woo hurried out of the bathroom, just as the lunch bell rang. I spotted him walking towards the cafeteria and decided to follow. After grabbing my lunch, I joined him at his table.
He glanced at me as I sat down. I took a moment to ask, "Why are they bullying you?"
Hong Shi-Woo glanced at me, his expression guarded. "Mind your own business," he muttered, a hint of fear in his voice. I looked towards the cafeteria entrance and saw Goo Ja-Sung and his group walking in, heading straight for our table.
Goo Ja-Sung sauntered up to Hong Shi-Woo and placed a firm hand on his shoulder. "Well, well, look who has a friend now," he said, his voice dripping with mockery. He turned to me, his eyes narrowing with a mix of jealousy and hostility.
Goo Ja-Sung was carrying a basketball, and with a smirk, he attempted to bounce the ball off Hong Shi-Woo's head. I reacted swiftly, intercepting the ball before it could make contact.
Standing up, I held the ball firmly and looked Goo Ja-Sung straight in the eye. "Apologize to him. Now," I demanded. "Do that, and I'll let you walk out of here unharmed. But if you don't, I promise you won't be able to use your hands for anything for a very long time."
Goo Ja-Sung and his gang exchanged amused glances before bursting into laughter. "Apologize?" Goo Ja-Sung scoffed. "You want me to apologize to this loser? You have no idea who you're messing with."
Just as the tension escalated, a teacher's voice rang out from behind us. "What's going on here?" he demanded. Goo Ja-Sung and his gang quickly dispersed, leaving the cafeteria without another word.
I sat back down next to Hong Shi-Woo and leaned in, speaking in a low, serious tone. "You know, if you don't stand up for yourself with bullies like them, they'll just keep coming back for more. They'll think you're an easy target."