Chapter 24: 20-1

D: I'm going to your school right now JW: what why? D: visiting my old teacher JW: such a class pet. Meet me after I head to my familiar high school, full of memories—both terrible and not so bad. Everything looks the exact same, as if not one little thing has changed in two years. Except for one thing. Do freshmen really look like babies? I swear we didn't look so small and terrified when I went to high school. It's funny how different teenaged years look when you're past them. The seniors are easy to point out though, not only because they're developed enough to look like college students but mostly because they drag their feet along the floor, eyes half open as if they could walk to class in their sleep. They're the only ones who don't stop to stare at me, as all the youngers do as I walk by. I wait in my old science teacher's office since he knows I am coming. Soon enough the bell for the end of the period sounds and he shows up. "If it isn't Destiny, my finest student!" I stand up and bow. "It's nice to see you again Mr. Yoo." Mr. Yoo was the only high school teacher to treat me the same as all the other kids. While the other teachers often ignored my presence in class, despite me always having a hand in the air, Mr. Yoo actually saw me and acknowledged me—not just as a normal Korean student, but the hardest working one in class. If it wasn't for him, I may not have tried so hard to prove myself to the others. "How is SNU going?" I talk with him for about an hour before he has to leave for another class. He tells me to feel free walking around the building. Apparently, my graduate photo is hanging up somewhere because the principal wants to show off that an alumnus received a national scholarship to SNU—even if she does have an unruly set of black curls on her head. Basically, I have permission to come and go as I please. I still feel out of place though as I awkwardly run into some other teachers and spend some time on the roof. Eventually, I check my phone and head outside to the track. I sit down on the bleachers and reminisce about my most hated subject. Gym. As much as I love working out now, I hated my gym teacher with a passion and all of the stupid games we had to play—not to mention that she was the most racist teacher out of them all. But it's clear when I watch the class that's in session that my boyfriend absolutely loves this subject. He hasn't noticed that I'm here yet, so it gives me a perfect opportunity to just observe him. He's playing around with some guys, waiting to have his turn at a 100m sprint. He hops on each foot, shaking his arms as he lines up. Then he gets into runners position and bolts off as soon as the whistle blows. "Holy—" I say under my breath as he leaves the other four guys in the dust. The others whine when he wins, as if they're used to this. There's no doubt he'd pass the physical examinations to be a cop. He grabs a small towel to wipe his face as he connects with the group again. He's taking gulps of water when his eyes catch onto me. He smiles and tosses the bottle before jogging to the bleachers. "Noona," he says as he makes it over. He sits a row beneath me, facing me with his legs around mine. He's still panting from his run and his gym shirt is sticking to his skin. "You sure can run," I say. "What did I tell you? I'm good at everything—" "But math and English," I finish for him. He chuckles and holds onto my hands. I hear some guys call his name but he just waves them off. "I just have one period after this and I'm done. We can go home together." "Okay." He leans in to peck my lips and hops off of the benches to walk back to the others. A few guys stare at me as the talk to him. Then a girls gym class enters the field close to me. A few of them sit on the bottom row as their teacher, my old gym teacher talks to them. I cower my head down, almost forgetting that I'm not in high school anymore and she can't make me do laps. Some girls turn to looks at me with unreadable expressions, but I just stare back—that usually makes them turn away. "Oh my god, look!" I hear one girl on the bench say to another. "It's Jaewook! Oh my god they're doing push-ups!" The girls beside her squeal as they watch him push up with ease, his biceps on show for everyone to see. "I wish we could always have class out here with them." "I know, this would make me a lot more enthusiastic about gym class." "Look! Look you can see his abs through his shirt!" "He's so hot." "Didn't you confess to him last week?" One asks another. "Yeah, but what did you expect? He always turns girls down." "He never used to last year." "But he never dated anyone either." One slaps another's arm, "Didn't you hear what Younghee said last year?" "About what?" "Apparently he's aggressive in bed." My teeth clench when I hear this. "She slept with him? But I thought he denied her confession?" "She begged him to sleep with her. Pathetic, but I mean, I'd probably do the same." They begin giggling. The scowl on my face makes me want to hurl my purse at them. He's mine you little— "Oh my god, oh my god he's coming over here, do you think he changed his mind about my confession?" To my amusement, Jaewook completely ignores their gawking stares as he climbs up the bleachers once again. The girls' eyes follow him in disbelief when they notice that I'm behind them. His toothy smile soothes my anger as he sits in front of me. "Noona, I was thinking," The whispers of "Noona" behind him distract me momentarily. "We should go to a karaoke place together." "What? Why? I work at one you nimwit." "A different one." "Fine. I guess I haven't been to one for fun in forever." "Friday?" "Sure." His hands land on my thighs as he leans in. "Those girls were talking about me weren't they?" He whispers in my ear. I nod my head as I stare one right in the eye. They're all scowling at me, whispers about my looks strategically loud enough for us to hear. "Pathetic," he laughs. Then he pulls on my legs, as I have to put my hands on his shoulders to stop myself from falling. I stare at him in shock before I realize what he's doing. Following his lead, I sit on his lap and wrap my legs and arms around him. "You look extra pretty today," he says as he looks up at me. Gasps sound from behind him and his face crinkles into a laugh.