Chapter 7
1420 Words
It had been two days since everything happened.
Two days since that night that refused to leave my head. Two days since I walked out with my heart feeling like it had been squeezed too hard. I had not spoken to Yemi since then. Not once. I did not answer his calls. I did not reply his texts. I did not even open them. I knew what they would say anyway.
“Please Hana”.
“I am sorry”.
When he came to the house yesterday evening, I froze. I heard his voice from the sitting room. Calm. Soft. The same voice that always pulled me back before I was ready. I rushed into my room and locked the door quietly. I told Melissa to lie for me.
“Tell him I went to the library”.
She did not like it.
“You know lying makes me uncomfortable”, she said.
I understood her. Yemi is also her friend but I need her more now.
“Please. Just this once”, I pleaded.
She sighed and did it anyway. When Yemi left, she knocked on my door like she wanted to fight me.
“Do you know he stayed outside for almost ten minutes after I said you were not around?”
“I am sorry”, I apologized.
“He called my phone five times after he left”.
That was just yesterday. Today was worse.
By morning, she had complained three times already. She waved her phone in my face like it was burning her skin.
“Your boyfriend is stressing my life”.
“He is not my boyfriend right now”, I said still upset.
“Hana…”
“I need space to think”.
“You’ve had enough time to think. It’s not like he cheated or anything. You both need to talk things out. As fast as possible or my phone could get blow up”, she rolled her eyes but dropped the phone on the table.
I knew Yemi was sad. I knew he wanted to apologize. I knew he would come with that look on his face. The one that made my anger melt before my brain could catch up. I had forgiven him too many times without fully healing. I was tired of that pattern.
I was overwhelmed. Not just by him. By everything. I know it’s just little things but they matter. They matter to me.
So I chose myself at least for these two days. Even if it hurt him.
I pushed all of that aside and focused on school. I had missed three classes already in two days. Criminal law was not a course you skipped casually. My grades last semester were already bad. Too bad for someone on scholarship. If my points dropped again next year, my parents would not forgive me. They would not even listen.
So I forced myself out of bed.
I wore black sweatpants and my grey oversized Stray Kids shirt. It was soft and safe and made me feel like I could breathe. I tied my hair into a simple ponytail. I added pink lipstick that matched my skin tone and made me feel a little cute even when my chest felt heavy.
I packed my small backpack. My iPad. Two notebooks. Two pens. One highlighter. That was all.
I left the house before Melissa could ask questions.
On the way to school, my phone buzzed in my hand. I did not look. I already knew who it was, but I wasn’t going to answer.
On another note, I had not seen Professor Mi Jun since the night I left his house. The thought of that still made my stomach twist. I did not even have his number to send a thank you message for letting me stay over. I felt rude about it. So I sent an email instead to the address used for assignments.
“Thank you sir for your kindness and for allowing me stay over. I appreciate it”.
That was all. Short. Safe.
I left home early today. I did not want to be late again. I could not survive another moment of being thrown out of his class. The memory alone made my ears burn.
I arrived at school at the same time he did.
I saw him from afar. Tall. Calm. Walking like he always had somewhere important to be. My heart jumped in a stupid way.
I greeted him first this time.
“Good morning sir”.
He looked at me. Just for a second. Then he smiled. Small. Polite. He walked away without stopping.
I stood there for a moment like an i***t.
I checked the time. I still had thirty minutes before class.
I went to the cafe beside the school. The one that sold good coffee and always smelled like sugar and comfort. I ordered an iced americano and a mocha. I paid and waited.
While waiting, I stared at my phone. No messages opened. Just missed calls. I turned the screen off.
I carried the coffee and walked toward the faculty building.
I stopped in front of his office.
My heart started beating fast. I did not know why. I knocked twice.
Come in.
I opened the door slowly.
He was seated behind his desk with his laptop open. He looked up at me briefly then returned his eyes to the screen.
“What can I help you with Hana?”
I stepped forward and held out the iced americano.
“I brought coffee to show my appreciation”, I said
He glanced at the cup.
“That is nice. Thank you”
He placed it on the desk and continued reading whatever was on his screen.
I stood there. Awkward. Silent.
Seconds passed.
He sighed and looked up again.
“Is there anything I can help you with Hana?”
“Nothing.”
The word came out too quick.
I shifted my weight.
“I just wanted to see you drink the coffee”, I added.
I smiled eagerly. Too eagerly.
He raised an eyebrow.
“Did you poison this to get back at me for kicking you out of my class the last time?”
“Of course not.”
I said it too fast. My voice cracked.
He stared at me like he was trying to read something on my face. Like he did not fully trust me. Then he picked up the cup and took a small sip.
He paused.
Nice.
He placed the cup back down.
I smiled wide like I had won something.
Then there was a knock on the door.
A female lecturer walked in.
“Morning. You said you needed a professor assistant. Should I announce that in my class so you can get students in their penultimate year? I think they will be of great help to you”, she asked him.
“Morning. I would love that”.
She nodded and turned to leave. Before she did, she looked at me. The look was strange. Curious. Slightly judgmental.
When she left, silence filled the room again.
“I can do that.”
The words slipped out before I could stop them.
“Do what?”
He looked up from his screen. His hand rested under his chin.
“The assistant job”.
I answered quickly.
He leaned back in his chair and looked at me slowly. From my head. To my shirt. To my pants. To my shoes.
Then he spoke.
“Not dressed like that”.
His tone was flat. Cold. Almost annoyed.
He looked away like my presence irritated him.
My smile faded.
I swallowed.
“I can dress better”.
He did not look at me.
“This is not a fashion contest Hana. It is about discipline”.
I nodded even though my throat hurt.
“I understand sir”.
He finally looked at me again.
“Do you even know what the role requires?
I shook my head.
He sighed again.
“Research assistance. Sorting case files. Organizing lecture notes. Long hours. No excuses”.
“I can handle it”.
I said it firmly this time.
He studied my face.
“Why do you want it?”
I hesitated.
“Because I want to learn more”.
That was true. Not the whole truth. But true enough.
- Writer
