The Fallen Love

CHAPTER TWO

The teacher walked in after few more minutes of waiting. Her eyebrows went up, surprised that no one's talking and just mind their own businesses as well as me.

"Good afternoon, Descartes!"

"Good afternoon, seonsaengnim."

"I'm sorry, I'm late. I had to do something before coming up here. Anyways, did something happen? You look more behaved than the usual," her eyebrows knitted but still flashed a smile.

"Nothing really, teacher. You might want to start now, the time is ticking," I answered her.

"Right! Anyways, we don't have any discussion right now but I'll give you a performance task instead. This is to be done by group. And I'd like for you to present it right away by the day after tomorrow. By that, we can see how punctual and hardworking you are. Let's just say, you have an incomplete requirement. And you really have to pass it to have a grade. So now, I'll group you into five with six to seven members."

Yeah, and we are now grouped. It was an odd and even grouping.

"You will be making a prose with the topic of one of the six moral values. I'll write it to the board and you can pick anything you want as long as your members agree. Also, no one should have the same topic. Make a format on your own for your literary and it should be english medium. You can put korean for the outline."

Choices:

Justice

Honesty

Respect

Family

Helping Mentality

Never Hurt Anyone

"Seonsaengnim! Can we all know why does it have to be on english-medium? Some of us aren't really good at english language or its grammars," Jihyun asked.

"Good question! So, why? To know how far you have learned the international language. And don't worry, I won't mind if your work has grammar errors. The thing I just want to see to your presentation is the whole topic, the plot, the moral lesson and the message of it. I'm sure you can finish it and pass it on time. That's why y'all are grouped."

After explaining, I look over at my co-members. They looked bothered while I'm very calm and doesn't really care about the performance task.

"Why do y'all seemed so disturbed?" I ask, leaning on my armchair.

"And why are you so calm?" One of my group mates, Kim Eunbi.

"Why shouldn't I? There's nothing to be nervous of anyways."

"No one here knows how to do a prose, you know!" She exclaimed. "Or do you?" She squinted her eyes, suspecting. I rolled my eyes at her, slightly.

"Shut up."

"I'm not really that good at literatures." Kim Heejin said.

"I don't know everything." Song Yeon-u said.

They all sighed.

"What's with the sigh? What topic do you want to do anyways?" I asked.

"We're on to justice actually. Why?" Yoo Mina answered.

"Justice? Wow. So, who's gonna write first?"

"Definitely, not me," Oh Dongmin refused first followed by the others.

"Not me also."

"This shouldn't be me as well."

You can't entrust this to me as well, you know."

"Neither me. I know nothing about this stuff."

Then they all looked at me who were just sitting and me looking up at them since they stood up.

"Don't look at me," I sneered.

"Then who'll write a prose?! Aish!"

"Whatever. You might think of any, I gotta do something at the office. Here, write down your ideas, plots you wanted to do and compile them up, then send it to me. Everything, okay? Whether it's ridiculous or serious, send it to my sss," I said before walking away.

"What will she do to those?"

"Who knows?"

"Just make it. She might have a plan."

"Yeah, instead of doing nothing."

I heard them talking as I walk away. I have something to do at the office, since Mr.Kim said I should.

IT WAS dismissal already but my classmates stayed while talking to each other. They were still at our classroom, I think. I stretched my arms and stood up from my chair. I fixed my stuff scattered at the table. I was about to go out but the officers stopped me and ask.

"Where are you going? Don't you have something to do?"

"Oh, Jaehyun-ah. Nope. I'm going at my classroom. My classmates are waiting," I responded nonchalantly.

"They didn't go home yet?" They asked, surprised.

"Not yet," I blew out a breathe.

"Haven't y'all heard the rumors? It was spreading so fast actually," Hwayoung said. Of course she will know. She's a peace officer anyways.

"What rumors?" Eunbyeol asked.

"Eunji scolded the 10-Descartes and were in trouble as of moment," she replied.

"Woah!" They blurted out as if it was a surprise.

"Did she burst?" Cheonsung asked, really surprised.

"Half maybe," she nodded.

"So what? Not like I'm so mad at them. I've been a little gentle in there," I stated.

"Uh-huh!" Youngjae huffs.

"Yeah, sure. I have to go. See you," I then left and went to my room.

"EUNJI-AH!!"

I was about to walk in but a scream made me stopped and turned around to see the boys running towards me.

"What?" I asked.

"Have you seen, Jeon Junghoon?" Shiwoo-oppa asked while they're panting heavily.

"Yeah?" I responded.

"Where is he?" He asked again.

"Inside our classroom, I guess," I answered.

"Dismissal is up. Why is he still inside?" Jiyoo-oppa asks.

"Who knows? I'll see you at home, Hyunjae-oppa. Bye," I quickly closed the door and sat in front of them.

"What are you doing here?" The class secretary, Kang Sohee, asked with her rude tone.

I'm really used to it. She's like one of the mean girls here. I don't really care about her as long as she isn't hurting anyone.

"Forgot it already?" I snickered.

"Pft," she sneered.

"Anyways. If you have nothing to do, go ahead and continue working on your proses. As for my group, continue doing the task I gave to you. Start working. Minimum your voices," I said announced.

"Wait," one of my classmates spoke.

"Yes?" I acknowledged.

"You're staying? With us?" She asked.

"Uhh, why?" I asked back.

"Nothing," she shook her head.

"You can ask me anything if you are troubling on something. Feel free to do so," I shrugged.

"Then, Eunji-ssi. May I ask?" It was Park Heejin.

"You are already asking. Go ahead. What is it?"

"What does prose mean?" I scrunched my nose.

"Just search it up," I brushed off.

"I thought we can't use phones?"

"Search it up then turn it off afterwards," I dismissed.

THREE hours had already passed and now they were all fixing theirselves and their stuff to go home.

"Good job, everyone. You can now go home. Time is up," I said cheerfully and flashed them a smile. They just return it with a nod, small smile and such.

"I don't want to get in detention again, gosh!"

"I'm starting to hate this. Ahhh!"

"Whatever."

"Yuna-ah, let's catch the bus together, okay?"

"Sure!"

"Eww, you guys use bus?" Sohee said.

"Ignore it, Yuna, Eunbi. Keep safe," I interfered.

"Tsk," Sohee clicked her tongue and glared at me as she walked out.

"Hey, Eunji-ah!" Junghoon called out.

"Oh, Junghoon-ssi," I responded.

"You have your car with you?" He asked.

"Ah no. I came with Hyunjae-oppa today, and I kinda forgot to ask him. So I guess I'll just call him or take the bus as well," I answered.

"Don't bother. I'll drive you. It's 18:07 anyways. The hyungs are at your house too. We planned a two weeks sleepover and the house was yours decided by the game we played," he replied.

"Probably why they're asking where you are earlier huh," I sneered.

"Yeah—wait, they asked?" He looked terrified.

"Yeah, why?" I said, worried why.

"Minjun-hyung isn't fuming fire right?" He assures and confirms.

"Not really. He was calm actually," I shrugged.

"I'm dead," he sighed heavily and push back his hair. I grinned.

"Why? What did you do?" I asked.

"I-I kinda messed up with his phone." He scratched his nape.

"Woah, what the freak? That phone is so expensive! You're really dead, Junghoon-ah." I laughed at him after being shocked.

"Stop laughing at me, will you? Ugh!" But I didn't stop and instead, laughed more louder.

WE'RE outside the our house already and I can see Junghoon-ssi sweating and anxious. His hands were a little shaking also.

"Junghoon-ah! Stop being nervous. Just go and pay a consequence so you will be safe early."

"But this is the first time I made him so mad. Well, I guess, for me. I-I'm not used to it, Eunji-ah. What if he'll cut ties between us? There is no way I can leave him," He looks like he was about to cry, his voice was shaking, I can hear it even though he tried to make it hard.

I get it. The two of them never really gets into something huge fight. Just bickering. And he must be getting insecure now.

"It's going to be okay, Junghoon-ah. You don't need to worry," I said softly.

"I'm scared.."

"Just apologize and maybe just maybe, buy another one for him. Well, is the phone really broke? Shattered screen?"

"It's glitching and it blackouts whenever he touches the screen."

"That.. That's quite bad, I guess. But no worries! You're friends since childhood. There is no way he can cut ties with you that easily."

"I hope so.."

"Let's go inside."

We got in silently. They weren't in the living room. Neither in the kitchen or dining. No one's at the pool or backyard either.

"They're not here. Maybe in a room or gaming room or something," I said and looked over to see him, looking down in deep thought.

He must be overthinking.

I sighed quietly. "Hoon, don't you wanna go to Hyunjae-oppa's?" I asked and he looked up at me and shook his head immediately.

"N-No, I don't want. Please? J-Just let me in to your room for now, can I?" He pleaded. My face softens.

"Alright, you go first. I'll bring you a dinner," I said and he nodded then walk away quickly.

I went to the kitchen.

'Still clean, thank God.'

I suddenly saw Aecha-eonnie so I called her.

"Aecha-eonnie!"

"Yes, Miss Lee?"

"Where's Donghyun-oppa?"

"He's still at his leave, Miss Lee. He will comeback the day after tomorrow, I think."

"Oh. Thankyou. You may go now."

"As you say, Miss," she bowed her head then walk away.

"What should I cook? Ahh. What to cook, what to cook, what to cooooook?" I was thinking of what to cook. "Should I just cook a baked firecracker chicken? No no, Minjunie doesn't get along with spicy food. How about beefsteak? No no no, the dish is too salty and quite bitter. Junghoonie doesn't like that. Argh, what to cook, what to cook, what to cook?" I sighed, frustrated.

In the end, I decided to cook potato chip-crusted fish. I put my backpack and stuff at the chair in the dining and went to prepare the ingredients I will use to cook.

Crushed potato chips. 1 tbsp of parsley. 1 tsp of cayenne. 1 lb of white fish. ½ cup of buttermilk. A slice of lemon.

I decided to cook this one since this is easy to make. Just crushed the potato chips and mix it with parsley followed by the cayenne. Then get the fish and pour the buttermilk in. Dip the fish into the chips and bake it by 400° and 10 to 12 minutes only. While baking it, I make the sour cream sauce and just grab a ketchup at the pantry. After baking it, I placed it first at the tissue so the oil would reduce at least before putting it in a plate. Then I grab the slice of lemon and squeeze it to the fish.

Then I grab another pan and took the rice from the rice cooker.

5.35 cups of rice that is cooked already. 2.65 tbsp of vegetable oil. 5.35 cloves of garlic. 1.35 sachet of Maggi.

Maggi - It's one of the Philippines' ingredient to make the food more delicious. A friend of mine sent it to me for I don't know why. It's actually really good to mix it with food when cooking.

"Seola-eonnie! Aecha-eonnie!" The both of them ran to me and bowed again.

It's natural in this house to bow as a greeting and respect.

"Yes, Miss Lee?" They both said in unison.

"Fix the table for five—" One of them cutted me off.

"Second Young Master Lee said to prepare the table for eight persons."

"Then don't prepare for two persons. And wait, what do you mean by eight? We're only seven here excluding y'all."

"Masters came with someone else."

"Who?"

"I do not know, Miss."

"Fix the table. Don't prepare for two persons. Then call them to eat afterwards."

"Yes, Miss Lee," they bowed again and again then proceeded to prepare the table. I grab the tray full of food and went upstairs inside my room.

"Hey, Junghoon-ssi. Where do you want me to place your food?"

"Oh, Eunji-ah. I used your computer for a moment. I got bored. If you don't mind it?"

"Definitely not. Go on," I just placed his plate to his side while I flopped at the bed.

I grab the Overbed Computer Desk with wheels and place there my food as we both eat, talking a little but mostly, he's playing focusing on the computer while I'm at my laptop since my phone is charging.

When we both finished, I grab his plate and put it together with my plate on the tray. I also finished taking a shower.

"Do you have any clothes with you?" I asked. He nodded.

"Yeah, of course. Why?"

"You might want to go and shower first?" I suggested.

"Surely, I will. Thanks," he said and grabbed his backpack I assume full of clothes only. He didn't open his backpack at the detention so.

I got out of my room and head downstairs at the kitchen to be precise. I am going to take my stuff I left behind. The dining was full of loud laughter. I wonder why.

"Hey, how's the food?" I asked not really looking at them since I'm grabbing my stuff.

Wah, so much paper works. I'm halfway up the stairs when I turned around noticing their silence.

"Hey, why aren't you answering," the last two syllables of the last word came out in a whisper way. "J-Jaemin?"

I want to drop the things I'm holding and run to him and hug him so tight but at the same time, my feet didn't cooperate. I tightly hold my stuff and close my eyes as I shake my head.

"I must be daydreaming. Anyways, enjoy the food. I apologize if it tastes bad! A-And, also, Junghoon's at my room, if you were finding him. See you!"

"Eunji-ah! Wait!" I didn't let him finished what he was saying and just burst inside my room.

"Is he really.. here for good now?" I hope he is. I missed him so much. So much.

I abruptly sat at the floor, hugging my knees.

How rude of me. Welcoming someone who went away for so many years, by running away.

"Eunji-ah! Hey! What's up, what's wrong? Stand up, the floor is cold," he helped me stand up and grab my things from my hand and settle me down to the bed.

He just got out of shower and currently drying his hair but he saw me in such state.

"Junghoon-ah."

"What is it?"

"Am I too rude? I welcomed him by running away," I looked at our picture together.

It was four years ago. The day after the graduation in elementary. It was the last picture we took since he left.

"He's here?" He asked full of excitement and shocked.

"Yeah, he is. Go. Welcome him properly for me also. Please," he nodded and ran out.

"How I've missed you so much.."