Do you have a boyfriend? Just so you know, you’re very pretty today Irene’s mind had been musing on those words ever since she drove away from Seulgi’s apartment. And here she was, at the kitchen counter, taking small sips of her red wine as she pondered more on the events that happened today. She really pulled through cramming all her markings yesterday night just so that she would be completely free the whole day just to support the school’s dance team and of course, Seulgi too. The girl looked completely off guard and happy when she made her appearance, Irene could not help but to feel elated at Seulgi’s reaction. Although at the mention of her dad, she’d noticed the girl doesn’t look equally happy about him not appearing, Irene tried her best to cheer her up, because she knows all too well how it feels like to be in  her shoes, especially since she went through quite a similar path. Irene sighed before she sipped her last drop of the liquor before cleaning up, take a shower and finally lie down on her bed underneath the duvet. She took a book that she had been continuously reading whenever she was free, turning pages after pages and her eyes almost shut if not for the buzzing of her phone beside her.   [Hey, it’s me Bogum. I know it’s late and you might be asleep but I’m coming down to Seoul this upcoming week. Hope we could catch up with some coffee? You can text me back tomorrow. Have a good sleep.]   “Ugh,” Irene groaned after reading the text. She wondered if it was her mom who told the man to pay her a visit. Her mom was always ever so diligent to pair her up with Bogum, the son of her mom’s acquaintance, even though she had already come out to her mom that she likes girls – strictly girls – but her mom never seemed to quit nor understand. She switched off her phone for good before turning off the lights and made herself comfortable again in her bed. Since tomorrow was Sunday, she had planned to spend the whole day in bed, catching up with sleep. The last thing playing in her mind was how adorable Seulgi was eating her food while trying to look away from her earlier and just by that, it had left a smile plastered on her face as she dozed off to sleep.                                                       ***     She had dressed up in faint pink blouse, neatly tucked inside of her knee-length black skirt. She slung her bag onto her shoulder, her coat folded in her left hand, her car keys in her right before she braced off to her car, feeling the cold air hitting her face. She drove the usual way to school but then she saw a detour sign post ahead and she had no choice but to turn left. But turning left meant that she would drove passed Seulgi’s apartment and honestly Seulgi’s place is actually quite close to hers but she never told the student yet. Irene continued to wander her thoughts back to Seulgi as she was nearing the park beside the latter’s house. They had only gotten close for a month or two but somehow she had already feel like she was attached to her student which is a bad sign, especially when Seulgi was a senior and she would be leaving school in another few months. She went passed the bus tent where most students would wait and she spotted several students that go to their school but none of them were Seulgi. She stopped at a red light not far from the bus stop and that was when she spotted Seulgi coming out from a bakery with a bun stuffed in , jogging back to the other kids while putting on her padded jacket. Irene thought the girl was late than usual because she would always saw Seulgi already in the school compound whenever she arrived. She pondered rather impatiently, checking the red light and looking at the rear mirror. Should I pick her up? Should I give her a lift to school? It was really cold outside…but would people give her looks if they saw a teacher giving one of her students a lift to school? She kept on thinking so much, she did not noticed the lights had turned green and only moved forward after the car behind honked loudly. Alas, she did not give Seulgi a ride to school.     Irene also did not received any post-its on her table that day. Seulgi was obviously late to school and deep inside she tried not to be disappointed by this and reason out that the girl must have her own reasons. And so she carried on her day as usual until it was due for her History lessons on Seulgi’s class. The moment she had put her teaching aids down on the table and looked up – she was met with the ever so familiar yellow bear-shaped post-it-notes pasted visibly on Jackson’s forehead. Her insides quenched and she was seeing green at the sight. She wasn’t able to pulled away her gaze on the cute doodling Seulgi did on the post-its and oh-how-she put little small hearts beside the huge cursive of ‘Get Well Soon Jackson’. Her envy dissipates when Jackson ripped off the notes and greeted her while Seulgi scurried off to her seat. She composed herself and returned her attention towards the class. She taught the class as usual but she purposely ignored Seulgi – she knew it was childish and silly of her but it was just one of those moments. Seulgi seemed to sense her bad mood because once she returned back to the teacher’s lounge after recess, she spot the usual post-its on top of her table, later than usual.   They say laughter is usually the best medicine. You look pretty stress today. I hope you can find something entertaining to carve out a smile from you   Irene almost scoffed at the spot but she tried not to before she pull off the notes and put it in her bag. She can’t believe her mood is still not improving, even if Seulgi had already put the usual post-its. She also wondered how in the world could Seulgi not think she had already figured out the person behind the daily post-its when the latter had clearly stuck the damn thing onto her friends forehead earlier on. And here she was thinking herself special but clearly that wasn’t the case.       Days go by and she continued to act cold with the girl. She even openly scolded Seulgi when the latter was muttering with Sooyoung and a few other friends. She looked at me with those sad, confused eyes and for a moment, Irene was tempted to apologise towards her after class but she rationalised herself and put up the strict teacher front. Even the post-its that Seulgi left was becoming lack of effort. Usually it would be full of enthusiasm, just by the writing itself, Irene would know. But a couple of days ever since she put a cold front, there wasn’t any new trivial facts but just a simple ‘Have a good day’. Maybe Seulgi had had enough. Maybe Seulgi had already lost interest in her. Maybe Seulgi had find it pointless to have a crush on a teacher. Especially a woman like her and women itself. Hell she doesn’t even know if Seulgi is into girls. Maybe the subtle flirtations from the girl simply meant nothing. Of course it meant nothing, Irene thought to herself, it was just a silly, high school crush over a teacher. Nothing serious. It was on Friday after school session is over when she decided to head herself to some coffee shop, not far from her place. The place doesn’t serve the best coffee, nor that did she even drink coffee, but this was one of those rare times where she felt like she needed some caffeine in her after a long week dealing with work and her own conflicted mood. She silently sip her warm flat white espresso before shifting comfortably on the sofa, overlooking the people walking outside. Irene was about to rest her thoughts when her phone kept buzzing, honestly it had been buzzing since she was at school but she didn’t have the time to check. Turns out Bogum had left 4 miss-calls and a text.   [Hey, I’m already in the area. Are you free after work or later tonight? I thought we should meet up. Call me.]   Irene put down her phone, feeling an incoming headache about to creep in. She was already massaging her temples and abruptly stopped when a voice called her, “Joohyun?” She quickly turned her body towards the voice and there he was, the cause of her incoming headache. Park Bogum, with his marble like eyes and his ever joyful smile greeting her.   “Bogum, how did you –?”   “I was actually heading to your place and on the way, I spot your car so…here I am.” He explained, appearing pleased with himself. “May I sit?”   “Yeah…sure.” Although Irene was feeling the opposite.   “I texted and called you earlier. I guess you haven’t checked your phone, huh?” Bogum carefully asked, eventhough her phone was just on top of the small, rounded table.   “Actually I did. But I just did like a few minutes ago.” Irene spoke, telling him the blatant truth. “I’m sorry I haven’t been able to answer your calls or text. It’s been a pretty hectic week.”   Bogum nodded pitifully, “I can see that. You don’t look like you were pleased to see me at first when I greeted you earlier. It must have been a stressful week huh?”   “Very.”   “I think I have something in plan that could clear all of your stress.” Bogum enlightened, “And that would be done if you agree to go out with me this Saturday…as in tomorrow. What do you say?”   “Uhh…” Her mind was already screaming no but she could not downright rejected Bogum that fiercely. “I’ll think about it. There’s been a lot going in school and there’s still some stuff I need to settle so…”   Irene saw the slight dejected look on Bogum’s face but the man quickly composed himself, “It’s alright. Take your time. I have all the time till this Sunday.”   Their conversation then turned to work-related stuff and Bogum w