Chapter 12: The new student “yoon,(II)

I hesitated for a second, then I gently lowered myself onto the stairs sitting beside her. I could feel her gaze on me,

"Transferred student? I asked, trying to keep my voice casual, looking at her,She didn't look young maybe twenty three, or maybe a little older,but there was something in her posture that didn't feel like someone who just moved in.

‘ Yes. Transferred. I just came in, and my room is the one before yours,’ she said,

I noticed the empty room next to mine,locked for as long as I could remember."And why are you resuming now? I asked,

‘ Nothing. I have been busy with… something. I hope we can be friends,’she said, extending her hand.

I took her hand, ‘ Friends, sure," I replied, keeping my voice light.

Yoon stood up suddenly. ‘Let's go to the cafe together. I feel like eating something, or do you still want to go into that room?yoon asked smiling

I hesitated, then nodded. ‘ No, I… yes, I will follow you."

We walked to the cafeteria together. Yoon ordered some food, but I couldn't bring myself to eat. My eyes scanned the room, searching desperately for Jan. My fingers reached for my phone to call her number again but it didn't go through.

‘ You looking for someone?Yoon asked

‘ No… just my friend. I haven't seen her since after school,’ I said, keeping my voice low.

"Maybe she decided not to be seen,Yoon said, smiling faintly.

‘ What do you mean by that? I asked, narrowing my eyes.

"Oh, I…please don't tell me you are the type that's too serious and can't recognize sarcasm,’ she said, her smile teasing,’Ofcourse I was joking’ yoon said smiling

I ignored her comment and turned back scanning the cafeteria. Jan wasn't anywhere to be found.

"Jina, you know you need to calm down," Yoon said,

I turned sharply at the sound of my name. ‘I… I can't remember telling you my name.’

Yoon's gaze met mine,and I didn't say you did. Before I tapped you at the stairs, a student passed by and called you, but I guess you were too deep in thought to hear it.’

I looked at her for a long moment, studying her.,

"Okay, but I need to go," I said, standing up. "I need to find my friend.’

"I can escort you, if you don't mind,"

Yoon said, rising to stand beside me. Her calm and deliberate presence made my heart to beat…

"Remember, I told you I am new, and I don't have any friends here."

"You just bought what you wanted to eat," I said,

"If you would wait a little, fine. I can finish, then we can go together. Or, if you insist, I can go with you and leave the food," she said, tilting her head,

I hesitated, then nodded. "You won. I will sit,’ I said, lowering myself back into the chair.

Yoon sat as well, smiling as she began eating her food.

"You said you're not hungry? She asked, her voice was calm now,

"No, I am okay," i replied,

I tried to convince myself she looked harmless. Cheerful, even. Innocent. Maybe she really was just a new student who needed someone to talk to.

My mind drifted to Jan. I tried her number again. Still no connection. My thoughts ran to the promise I made to always know where my friend was, and how I had failed to track her down today.

"You must be so protective of your friend," Yoon said suddenly, her voice cutting through my thoughts. "Is there a reason for that, or is that just how you treat people around you?

I looked at her, startled by her observation. "She's not just a friend. She's like a sister," I said, averting my eyes.

Yoon held my gaze for a moment, her expression was unreadable, then she dropped her spoon. "Okay… let's go. I think I am done eating, and you looked worried…’

"Are you sure you're done?" I asked,

"Yes. Jina, come on. Let's go," she said, standing and offering her hand.

I took it and She led the way through the corridors At first, I was amazed at how natural she moved through the school's hallways, but the sensation quickly turned into unease.

She looked harmless,Cool,Calm and very Friendly.

On reaching Jan's room, her door was open.

"Jina!"

Jan called my name the moment she saw me and rushed out, pulling me into a tight hug.

"Jina you scared me,I have been looking everywhere for you,i even went to the cafeteria because I felt you would be there, but you weren't."

I froze for a second at the mention of the cafeteria.i had been there. All through,and Jan wasn't.

But I waved the thought away immediately. What mattered was that she was here now, alive, safe, standing in front of me. I hugged her,

Jan slowly released me and fixed her gaze on Yoon, who was standing a few steps away. Her eyes lingered on her longer…

"Jina, Jan called, still staring at Yoon.

"Yes, Jan,I replied.

"This is Yoon,’I said. "She's a transferred student. I have been with her all through. We were just coming from the….

I stopped mid-sentence.

Jan had just said she was at the cafeteria looking for me. I didn't want to mention where we were coming from anymore. I didn't want to confuse her or make her uncomfortable. So I swallowed the rest of the sentence.