The Bus Ride
906 Words
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### *EPISODE 2: THE BUS RIDE*
Monday morning.
7:00am.
Bus 402.
It smelled like wet rain and old seats.
Hana sat in the last seat.
Window seat.
Books on her lap.
She was reviewing formulas.
She had 30 minutes before first period.
The bus was half empty.
Most Elite kids had drivers.
Only scholarship kids took the bus.
The door hissed open.
Everyone looked up.
Min-jae.
No driver.
No G-Wagon.
Just a normal school uniform.
Hair still wet from the shower.
Backpack over one shoulder.
The bus went quiet.
Phones came out.
_Click._
Min-jae looked around.
His eyes scanned the seats.
Rich kids in front.
Empty seats in middle.
Hana in the back.
He walked down the aisle.
Slow.
Everyone watched.
He stopped at her row.
He sat right next to her.
No words.
Hana froze.
Her pen stopped moving.
She could smell his cologne.
Expensive.
Cold.
The bus started moving.
For 2 minutes.
Silence.
Then his phone buzzed.
Yuna.
_What are you doing???_
_With the scholarship girl???_
_Are you crazy??_
Min-jae didn’t reply.
He just put his phone away.
"Why are you here?" Hana asked.
Quiet.
She didn’t look at him.
Min-jae shrugged.
"My driver’s sick."
Lie.
"Oh."
More silence.
The bus hit a bump.
Her books slid.
Min-jae caught them.
His hand touched hers.
He pulled back fast.
Like he got burned.
"You’re studying," he said.
It wasn’t a question.
"Yes."
"On a bus?"
"I have to."
"Why?"
"Because I don’t have time at home."
Min-jae frowned.
He looked at her patched backpack.
At her worn shoes.
At the dark circles under her eyes.
"You’re tired."
Hana laughed.
Small.
Tired.
"I sleep 4 hours."
Min-jae didn’t answer.
The bus stopped.
Seoul Elite High.
The gates.
Everyone got off.
Whispers started again.
"Why is he with her?"
"Did they date?"
"No way."
Min-jae and Hana walked to the gate together.
Not together.
Just... together.
At the entrance.
Yuna was waiting.
With 4 other girls.
Yuna blocked Hana’s path.
"Move," Yuna said.
Hana tried to walk around.
Yuna stepped in front.
"Did you hear me?"
"I did."
"Then move."
"No."
Yuna’s face went red.
"You think because he sat with you—"
"I think nothing," Hana cut her off.
"Get out of my way."
Yuna raised her hand.
To slap.
A hand caught her wrist.
Min-jae.
His grip was tight.
His face was blank.
Cold.
"Don’t," he said.
One word.
Yuna stared.
"What?"
"I said don’t."
"She’s—"
"I don’t care what she is."
"Let go."
He let go.
Yuna rubbed her wrist.
"You’re defending _her_?"
Min-jae looked at Hana.
Then at Yuna.
"I’m defending no one."
He walked past them.
Into the school.
Hana followed.
Heart pounding.
First period.
Literature.
Same room.
Same seats.
Min-jae sat next to her again.
On purpose this time.
The professor started class.
No one paid attention.
Everyone was watching them.
Halfway through.
A paper plane hit Hana’s head.
Then another.
Then a balled-up note.
She opened it.
_SCHOLARSHIP TRASH GO HOME_
Hana crumpled it.
Threw it away.
Min-jae saw.
His jaw tightened.
He stood up.
"Who did it?"
His voice filled the room.
No one answered.
"WHO DID IT?"
Louder.
Yuna raised her hand.
Slow.
Smiling.
"Me."
Min-jae walked to her desk.
He picked up her notebook.
He tore a page out.
He wrote something.
He threw it on Hana’s desk.
It said:
_LEAVE HER ALONE_
Then he sat back down.
The whole class stared.
Lunch.
Hana went to the library.
Safe place.
The door opened.
Min-jae again.
He had two lunch trays.
He put one in front of her.
Bulgogi.
Soup.
Fruit.
15,000 won meal.
"I didn’t ask for this," Hana said.
"I know."
"Why?"
"Because you eat rice and soup."
"So?"
"So eat something real."
Hana stared at the food.
Her stomach hurt.
From hunger.
She picked up the chopsticks.
"Thank you," she whispered.
Min-jae sat across from her.
He didn’t eat.
He just watched.
"Why are you being nice?" Hana asked.
Min-jae shrugged.
"I’m not."
"Then what is this?"
"I don’t know."
Silence.
But not awkward.
After school.
Rain again.
Hana waited under the gate.
No umbrella.
A G-Wagon pulled up.
Window down.
Min-jae.
"Get in."
"I can walk."
"It’s raining."
"I’m used to it."
"Get. In."
She got in.
The driver drove.
Silence.
Halfway to her apartment.
Min-jae spoke.
"My dad donated the lab."
"I know."
"That’s why the principal did nothing."
"I know."
"Does it bother you?"
Hana looked out the window.
"Yes."
"But you still came to school."
"I have to."
Min-jae nodded.
They reached her building.
Peeling paint.
Wet stairs.
Hana grabbed her bag.
"Thank you. For the food. And the ride."
She got out.
Min-jae rolled the window down.
"Hana."
She turned.
"Yes?"
"Don’t let them push you around."
"Even if it’s you?"
Min-jae didn’t answer.
He just stared.
Then:
"Especially if it’s me."
The car drove off.
Hana stood in the rain.
For a long time.
---
*THAT NIGHT.*
Min-jae’s group chat exploded.
_Bro are you dating her??_
_She’s poor bro_
_Dad will kill you_
Min-jae muted the chat.
He opened his notebook.
Blank page.
He wrote one line.
_She didn’t cry._
*Hana’s house.*
Her mom was awake.
"Who gave you this food?"
"A classmate."
"A rich one?"
"Yes."
Her mom frowned.
"Be careful, Hana."
"I will, Mom."
Hana studied until 1am.
She smiled once.
Thinking of the bus.
---
*HOOK FOR EPISODE 3:*
signed Hazel precious
- Writer
