Lessons After Class.

Chapter 5

I opened my eyes slowly, like my body was afraid of the light. The first thing I noticed was the bed. It was big. Too big. I stretched my arms and did not feel the edge. My head rested on a white pillowcase, clean and cool, and my body was covered with a white duvet. This was not my bed. My bed dress was purple. This one was white.

The room was painted grey, not the beige color I was used to seeing every morning. The sunlight that touched my face was gentle, not harsh like the sun in my apartment that forced me awake every day. I moved a little and the mattress responded softly, like it understood my body. It felt welcoming.

It felt like a hotel.

That thought made my eyes open wider.

Was I in a hotel?

I sat up too fast, driven by panic. The pain in my head rose just as fast. I swallowed the scream before it could leave my mouth. My head felt like it was splitting open. I pressed my lips together and breathed slowly. A hangover. A serious one. The kind that made every thought painful.

I looked down at myself. I was wearing a big polo shirt. Grey. There was a group picture of Stray Kids on it. I owned this shirt, or something very close to it. But mine was black, not grey. This one smelled clean, like soap and something calm.

Whose shirt was I wearing?

My heart started beating faster. I looked around the room properly. Thick curtains covered the windows. The floor was spotless. There was a desk with a laptop placed neatly on it. A bookshelf with arranged books. A framed picture on the wall. This place did not feel like a hotel anymore. It felt personal.

Whose room was this?

This was not Yemi room. Yemi’s room smelled of his thoughts and dreams. This place smelled quiet.

I searched the floor. My leather skirt was nowhere to be found. My halter cropped top was also missing. My bag sat neatly on a chair. Closed. My shoes were placed near the door like someone cared enough to arrange them. Someone had undressed me.

My stomach dropped.

Had I had drunk s*x with a stranger?

A rich stranger?

The room was big. Bigger than my whole apartment. The ceiling was high. The bathroom door was open and I could see marble tiles. My head started pounding harder, like my thoughts were attacking it.

I needed aspirin.

I stood up slowly, holding the bed for balance. The room spun once then settled. I walked into the bathroom. It was huge. Bigger than my room at home. There was a bathtub that looked expensive. I splashed water on my face and rinsed my mouth.

I looked at my reflection. I looked tired. My makeup was gone. Someone had removed it gently. That thought made my chest feel tight.

I checked the cabinets. Toothbrushes. Towels. Everything was neat. Still no sign of the owner.

I returned to the room and looked around again. No clothes on the floor. No mess. Whoever lived here was very organized. That somehow made things worse.

I picked up my phone. It was fully charged. The charger was plugged in beside the bed. Whoever brought me here had charged my phone. My bag was untouched. Wallet inside. Nothing missing.

This situation felt strange.

I walked to the window and pulled the curtain aside. The building was high. Very high. But there was a ledge. I thought I could climb down. Maybe.

Fear pushed me into action. I opened the window. Cold air hit my face. I lifted one leg out. The ground looked far but panic made me brave. I lifted the second leg.

The bedroom door opened.

I froze.

He stood there staring at me. Calm. Tall. Wearing casual clothes. His hair was slightly messy. My mind cleared enough to recognize him.

Prof Mi Jun.

My professor.

My body went stiff.

“And where did you think you were going?”

My mouth moved before my brain could stop it.

“The bathroom”, I answered.

The silence was loud.

I knew it sounded stupid the moment I said it.

Mi Jun looked at the bathroom door and then back at me.

“I know it is your first time here but that is the bathroom door”, he said as he pointed calmly to the door I had just come out from.

My face burned with embarrassment. I slowly pulled my legs back inside and closed the window. My hands shook.

“Oooh… thank you”

I felt ridiculous.

“I am sorry”, I apologized.

Mi Jun looked at me for a moment then sighed softly. He did not look angry. Just tired.

“You can use my spare toothbrush. Come downstairs for breakfast. There is aspirin in the cupboard above the sink”.

I nodded quickly.

“Thank you”, my voice was low. I hoped he heard me. He turned and left the room.

I brushed my teeth and took the aspirin. The pain in my head slowly reduced. I looked at myself in the mirror again. I was wearing my professor shirt. I almost laughed but stopped because my head still hurt.

I walked downstairs carefully. The house was beautiful. Clean lines. Soft colors. Everything felt planned. The kitchen smelled warm and inviting.

Mi Jun stood by the stove.

“I made Bugeotak. It helps with hangovers”, he said with a warm smile.

Bugeotak is a South Korean dish called dried pollack soup in English.

“Thank you”.

I sat down. He placed the bowl in front of me. I hesitated for a moment. The smell was rich. I took a spoonful. It tasted better than I expected. Better than my mother cooking, even though everyone knew my mother was not the best cook.

We ate in silence. The kind of silence filled with thoughts. My mind was full of questions. Questions that needed answers.

I decided to ask the biggest one.

“Did we have s*x last night?”