The 4th CRIME

Chapter 8

I know I shouldn't be doing this but I can't help how this girl has me wondering about the kind of person that she is. She's so silent, so distant, so cold and so aware- it's unnerving. Her eyes have this look like she knows something about me that I don't even know about myself. Her facial expression is always the same, even when she's asking me a question or even when she's irritated. 

The only way I know how she really feels is when she raises her eyebrow because that seems to be the only feature that moves. 

"What's one thing that everyone can do except you?" I asked her, randomly. After I had laid my head on the table and she was silent. I was hoping she'd give me something or say anything that can help me piece together the type of person that she is. 

"Think really hard..." I said softly as I stood in front of her desk and she was silent, her eyes watching me before she furrowed an eyebrow. 

"And please tell me the truth," I added as I ran my hand through my hair and then hoped she'd say something. 

"I," she paused, "I can't ride a bicycle." 

"No," I gasped out, shocked as I stared at her, "no ways!" I denied for her, "are you serious?" 

She nodded, "I've never had a reason to ride a bicycle before. I can ride a horse, I can drive, I can ride a motorcycle and I can drive a truck. I just don't know how to ride a bicycle." 

"I used to travel to work with a bicycle every day, back at home," I told her, shaking my head, chuckling as I thought of how privileged she must be to not be able to ride a bicycle. 

She was silent after that, like she always is. Silent but watching me with observant eyes, her face stoic as I tried to initiate more conversation but she was silent. 

It's been a week of detention between the two of us and I'd be lying if I said I was enjoying this. The girl intrigued me but she bored me. Not that she wasn't interesting but she didn't tell me anything, she only spoke for five minutes and then kept quiet. 

I miss the sass and attitude she used to give me than this silence where she's respectful to me and refers to me as Sir. 

By the time I get to school I find her already waiting for me by the English Room. I started to feel bad so I now come to work ten minutes earlier so that I don't seem inconsiderate. I wait inside the class for her with a cup of coffee which she'll occasionally accept or decline and then she'll help me with notes. 

It's amazing. It's like having my own rich assistant that I don't have to pay. She didn't complain, and it was beginning to eat me up about making her my class assistant but I was going to push this for another week and then give her extra credit for all of the work that she's put in. 

After school she walks into my class five minutes after the bell has rung and walks to her seat, greeting me as usual and then silent until I force her to talk. I know it might irritate her but I can't stand silence. 

For some reason I can't help but get excited every time I come to school. It's like I was going to see my favourite toy, or favourite character. It's like reading a book, a mystery, and you're trying to uncover all of these secrets within the book, trying to crack the character, what's going to happen and when and how. 

I wanted to know about her, all I know is that she's Natalya Hutcherson the daughter of a well-known power couple Joseph and Jacqueline Hutcherson who when I asked other teachers about, had paled and snapped at me to never mention those names and then ran away from me. When I checked online, there was nothing except the net worth of the family which was standing at $35 billion. 

Yes, I just said 35 billion. 

Just seeing the family's net worth already told me that this was not only the richest family in this school but this family is more powerful than most presidents. 

The interesting thing though, there was absolutely nothing about what Joseph or Jacqueline Hutcherson do. 

I saw the net worth and thought alright, either they're royalty, someone's an heir or heiress to a rich family member or they run a huge business. The image of the family that came to mind was shrivelled old people who'd decided to adopt or I don't know had their own kids, I don't know what I was expecting when I searched for their images. But I sure as hell took a step back when I saw the family portrait that was available on the internet. It was the only picture that I could find and it screamed "we're too rich". 

I'll try to create the best image I can. Pearls, diamonds, mahogany and print, I thought I was looking at a painting of an ancient royal family that ran the world. 

It's hard to ever look at someone the same way when you've realised something as huge as the fact that they were the richest family in Russia, or you know one of the richest families in the world. 

The problem is, which I have strayed from or rather that I've began to explain in depth is that I can't get this young lady out of my head. It's a problem when I'm marking papers because I'll save her paper for last, and the urge to get to know what she's written, no matter how plain and direct it is just pushes me to finish marking in a matter of a few hours. 

Don't get my words twisted, I'm not in love with the girl neither do I love her, I'm just intrigued, fascinated, tantalised (if I'm taking it too far). 

"Chang-woo," I heard Mee call out excitedly as she stepped out of the bedroom, "how do I look?" She asked me with her eyes gleaming as she looked at me. 

She was looking beautiful. A plain black dress with simple heels, her hair was in a ponytail and she had the usual red lipstick she put on because she knows it drives me crazy. 

I'm a man with a weakness for the colour red on my pale special lady. The way it's so bright on her skin tone has my toes curling- red lingerie, red lipstick, red cheeks, red shoes, red heels, red, red and more red. 

I stepped forward, unbuttoning the first button of my shirt as I smiled, wrapping my arms around her, "like a meal," I responded as I trailed butterfly kisses on her neck and she giggled, putting her hands on my bicep to stop me. 

"Chang-woo, stop it. Let's go now," she said to me as she pulled away, a smile on her face as she looked at me with knowing proud eyes, "we have a reservation." I handed her fur coat and draped it on her shoulders.

I nodded, extending my arm and she placed her hand on my bicep as she walked besides me and we walked all the way outside the apartment building and to my car. I opened the door for her, rushing back to my side as I blew on my hands on and Mee turned the heat on. 

As usual Mee and I spoke the entire way to the restaurant. We spoke about whatever we could speak about. We talked about time, our relationship, work, jokes, home and everything in between. 

"So what are we going to do when we get home?" Mee asked me, her voice turned sexy as she ran her heel on my lap, under the table. 

I poked the inside of my cheek with my tongue, something I did when I was excited. 

"I've got red lingerie on underneath," she began, "and-" 

"Mr Kim," I heard an excited voice greet and I turned to see one of my students. She’s a sweet young girl by the name of Sandy who is actually adopted by a family of Russian lawyers. She was very comfortable with telling me her story and unashamed of whom she is. 

"Sandy," I greeted with a smile, shaking her hand that she had extended to me. 

She was dressed very fashionable in a huge fur coat that reached till her knees and stilettos that I was sure only the rich could afford.

"This is my girlfriend," I introduced when I felt Mee's foot moving away from my crotch as she smiled up at the girl. 

"It's so lovely to meet you, Miss," she smiled back, her English sounding perfect and I was proud of her, "I'm sorry for troubling you both, I just wanted to come over and greet you. Enjoy the rest of your night." 

She waved before she walked away from us, and I looked back at Mee, the moment of magic now lost. Oh well, it'll come back when we go back home. 

"What's wrong?" I asked Mee, noticing her sour expression all of a sudden. 

"We've been together for 7 years, Chang-woo," she said and I sighed realising what this conversation is about, "how have you not made a decision yet? I'm tired of being called Miss and I'm tired of being called girlfriend!" She complained, raising her voice as she moved the fork against her plate with anger. 

"Mee, I'm taking my time because I want to make sure that when I do, I've got everything in order," I tried to explain and it was true. 

I love Mee and I want to marry her. But I also know the kind of person she is and the kind of lifestyle she lives, and I just want to give her my best. She doesn't know this, but I'm only a month away from finishing off my payment to a beautiful house in South Korea and that's when I'm going to propose. I've been saving for some time, for the perfect ring, and then after the ring, think of a proposal then think of a gift to her to show her how serious I am. 

After that, I need to be ready for the wedding. I know she's going to immediately start shopping for dresses and suits, venue, decor, all of that and I just need to make sure that I can make all of her dreams come true. 

She doesn't understand because I don't tell her what's going on. I've kept it on the down low and left her to stress about us and very soon she'll be happy. 

"Until when? How much longer must I wait? I'm not getting younger, I want babies!" She whisper yelled from across the table, "I want a family!" 

"I understand that Mee, and I want the same thing," I spoke calmly to her and she rolled her eyes, "please don't rush me. I will only take action when I'm ready, so stop fussing and let's enjoy the rest of our night, ok?" 

She glared at me, putting her fork down delicately and then picked up her coat which she had draped over her chair, "I'm going to the car," she said as she stood from her chair and walked away. 

I groaned as I put my head in my hands, looking down at my barely eaten plate of food as I looked after Mee. This is going to be a long wait. 

~~~