Secrets

Chapter 12: New people, new changes

Man Bok's POV

I waited at where Sa-na and I were supposed to meet and it seems like she's running late. My patience is running out and Mom's frequent calls and messages are driving me nuts. I look at the most recent one.

Mom: How is your trip? Have you taken your medicines? Have you fainted? Text when you get the chance, arasseo?

LOL

She still thinks 'LOL' means 'Lots Of Love' and when I try to explain, she tells me,

" Darling, I'm your mom. I know what LOL means. Now stop pestering me and help me with the dishes".

Il Jung didn't even tell us where he was going when he left with Hwa Sung. I feel like he's drifting from us. It feels weird to not have Il Jung around, giving advice, helping out and just plain listening. I miss him. He's always with us but never with us. I scan the grounds once more and see Sa-na walking towards me.

Finally!

I tried getting Mr. Oh to switch partners but the effort was futile. I explained to him why we cannot be paired up. I even used diagrams! But all Mr. Oh said was, " The aim of this presentation, aside from opening the student's eye to the beauty of life in Busan, is to help students get along with each other. Now run along to your partner and complete the assignment". The problem with Mr. Oh is that he treats us like little kids.

"Ugh! Why am I stuck with you? "

"I'm not exactly jumpy about this, am I? "

Lee Talahai's POV

I waited at the parking lot. This essay really means a lot to me because apparently, I need to 'keep my grades up', according to my dad. It's not my fault. I'm a straight A student. Well, aside from Mr. Oh's class. In my defense, that man scores with an iron grip. I really need tutoring, but apparently, every time I ask, Hwa Sung's always busy with something. I told her not to get involved with Marcello and stay low for the time being, but that pabo(1) is too stubborn to listen. With the kind of s**t she's messing with, she's gonna get herself killed. It's really dangerous. I just hope she can be safe. I hope Soo-ahh can protect her. She thinks she needs no one's help, but she does. We're only close because of our parents and even with that, I don't know how deep she's gotten with that s**t. It's not too late for her. It's never too late.

"Talahai? "

I look up to see Mi-na leaning against a wall and chewing gum. Mi-na is one of those classified under Gothic. She doesn't care about anything, not even her grades. She blows her gum and it pops in my face.

"Well let's get on with it, shall we? "

Lee Taehyung's POV

I'm really hyped about meeting So-ra. I'm glad I've got two whole weeks to know So-ra. I mean, what are the chances I'd get So-ra as my partner?

1/39 chance. I mentally rolled my eyes.

I spotted her with Nam Young and her group of 'friends'. I was annoyed because I had to go get her from Nam Young. I was almost there when Jaehyun stopped me.

"Dude, can you help me fix my computer? I think it's caught a virus or a bug".

I was frustrated, but I couldn't take it out on him. It's not his fault.

Do not punch him, do not punch him, do not punch him, I repeated like a mantra to cool my temper.

Why not? It would be fun.

Nope. Just agree and go meet So-ra.

"Sure. Later this evening? "

"Thanks bro. I owe you one". I gave him a tight-lipped smile even though all I wanted to do was punch the living daylights out of him.

I finally went over to the girls. I didn't like how Nam Young smiled at me.

" Well, if it isn't Lee Taehyung. What have you come here for? ", she said in a high-pitched, sickly sweet voice. It kinda sounded like Hwa Sung's when she's really mad. I actually cringed.

" Actually, I came here to fetch my partner. So-ra? "

She looked down at her feet and blushed. She looked so damn adorable.

"Of course, of course, enjoy yourselves", Nam Young said in that voice again though I could tell she wasn't really happy.

" So, shall we? ", I brought my arm out once we were out of the building.

Man Bok's POV

We visited a couple of places and surprisingly she learned a few facts. We both didn't bring cameras, so we had to use our phones. To be honest I really had a lot of fun but there's no way I'm telling her that. We decided to do the essay part later. We saw a grocery store and I decided to get some cookies for me and some stuff for the rest.

" I'm going shopping. Wanna come? ", I asked.

" Sure, why not? "

The first thing I noticed when we went in were some boxes of Oreo cookies. Taehyung's favourites. I took 5 boxes and threw them into the shopping cart. He owes me for this. After about 25 minutes of shopping, we walked up to the clerk, a young salesgirl who found more interest in painting her nails than actually selling. After 5 minutes, I finally run out of patience and was about to speak up when Sa-na decided to speak out.

"Ahem"

"What? ", the girl looked up at us.

" Well, hello there ", she gave me one of those flirty smiles. I hated it. I always say that a girl only looks beautiful with a genuine smile. Like Sa-na's. I paid for the things, to Sa-na's chagrin. There was a piece of paper with a number written on it. I glared at the salesgirl before taking the plastic bag. Her eyes widened, looking taken aback. Guess she's not used to being rejected. She, in turn, glared at Sa-na who looked adorably confused. I just wanted to pinch her cute puffed out cheeks.

What am I saying? I'm supposed to hate her.

How can you hate her? She's the epitome of cute.

Okay, so not hate but maybe dislike.

The only thing standing between you and her is your pride. On both parts.

I glance at her, knowing deep down that my subconscious is right. None of us would admit out loud that the other is smarter. Perhaps bickering is the thing that makes us have a 'relationship'. Now that I think about it, all our arguments are stupid.

"What are you staring at? "

I didn't realize I was staring at her. I blinked rapidly to get rid of the embarrassment.

"Is there something in your eye? "

I keep on blinking to try and get control but I can feel myself slipping out.

"Okay, are you trying to start a fight? 'Cuz if so, it's working".

I blink rapidly trying to hold on to the little control I have, but it's a lost battle. I finally slip away quietly.

Lee Talahai's POV

Okay, so this is not going to work. It's been four hours and Mi-na has done nothing but stare at me and blow her bubblegum. The sound is suddenly becoming my least favourite sound by the minute. I have been been doing the work - alone - while she has been staring at her phone screen. I'm bothered. This is going to be very important in our assessment and I do not want to fail. She hasn't shown interest in the project at all. Mr. Oh will kill me if my dad doesn't kill me first.

"Can you at least concentrate? ", I finally decide to speak up.

" Wae(2)? Does it bother you? ". Is she serious?

" As a matter of fact, it does. And I would be much pleased if you stopped chewing the gum. ".

"Then it's a good thing I'm not here to please you. ".

" Look, I really need this. My grades are dropping and this-", my hand hovers around the paper, "-is very important to me".

" Yeah, right. Nerd".

Wait, what did she call me?

"Everyone knows you and your little group of friends are nerdy snobs who think they're better than everyone else. Do you think you're the only one with bad grades? Don't forget that if you fail this project, so will I".

Oh. My. God. I didn't know that this is how people see us. Nerds? Okay, but snobs? That's just going too far.

"At least try to be a part of this project". My patience was running out. I didn't like her behaviour. If she were a guy, I so would have punched her right now.

Calm down. Remember what Ima(3) taught us.

I close my eyes to try and keep my breath even. Unbelievably, it worked.

"Fine, just do your part on the day of the presentation".

I sigh. I guess I'll just have to ask Hwa Sung for help.

Footnotes:

1: means 'i***t'

2: means 'why'

3: means 'aunt'