Sian expected to receive the silent treatment after what he did to Aeri.

He was so sure he had lost her trust after he invaded her privacy.

To his surprise, Aeri acted as if that incident never happened.

But Sian wasn’t sure whether it was good or bad.

~

Three weeks later.

“Aeri, why are you still here? I told you to leave without me.” Sian said when he found Aeri still at home.

“Now you’re gonna be late too. You don't always have to wait for me.”

Aeri shrugged.

“Your homeroom teacher is gonna give you detention.”

“Oh well…”

“Come on, if we run we might make it in time.” Sian threw on his coat.

“I can’t feel my hands! It’s too cold here, it makes me miss Korea.” Sian shivered as they walked to school.

“Aren’t you cold?” He asked Aeri.

She shook her head.

“How about now?” He cupped her cheeks with his cold hands causing Aeri to twitch.

“Nope. I like the cold.” Aeri smiled.

“You’ve always been a little strange.” Sian teased.

~

After class, Aeri was held back to serve her detention.

She wasn’t the only one though.

There was a group of girls who were in detention almost every day of the week.

“Oh look. It’s the new girl. What’s she doing here?”

“Wait. Where’s Sian? Aren’t they always together?”  Another laughed.

“Doesn’t she have any other friends?”

“I know! Why does she always hang out with Sian? He’s so cool… and well look at her… she’s so not.”

“Has she made any friends since she transferred here? Maybe she should just go back to where she came from. Back to the Asias.” The tall one laughed.

“Good one!” They all joined in.

“But do you think…maybe they’re dating.”

“That can’t be possible.”

“Actually, Emily could be right. I see them going home together everyday. I think they live together.” The one with a ponytail added.

“What?! No way! He can do so much better.”

Aeri sighed and put on her earbuds to cancel out their voices.

She rested her head on her textbook and looked out the window.

Unlike Sian, who fit right in, Aeri was an outcast.

Again.

But this time it was for being the only Asian girl at school.

“So…are you and Sian dating?” They walked to her desk and asked.

“Did you see that? She just ignored me.”

“Let me try.”

“New girl.” One smacked her hand against the desk.

Aeri sat up and met eyes with them.

“Are you Sian’s girlfriend?”

Aeri didn’t answer.

“It seems like you want to do this the hard way.” They grabbed her and pinned her against the wall.

“We’ll just have to investigate ourselves then.” They searched her backpack.

“Hey! Give that back!” Aeri yelled.

“What’s this?” The tall one took out Aeri’s journal.

“Don’t touch that!” Aeri screamed trying to break free but she had three other girls holding onto her.

The girl proceeded to open it when a picture dropped to the floor.

“STOP!” Aeri cried.

“Who this? Your boyfriend?” She picked up the photo of Hoya and Aeri.