It was the second week of the new semester. Byul had been sick the whole weekend and was still not able to go to class on Monday. 

It's just one day. I don't think I'll miss anything too important. 

~~

“Ok everyone so as I mentioned in the last class, for the next five weeks you will be able to focus on your project.” Says the professor. “And once a week I’ll be giving a lecture.”

Project? What project? I miss one day..

“Since everyone’s already paired off go ahead and get started.” He concludes.

Byul is a little confused and worried that she doesn’t have a partner. At that moment Chen turns around and says, “Since you weren’t here I’ll fill you in on what you missed.”

“Ok thank you, but actually I still need to get a partner so I have to go talk to the professor.”

“I’m your partner.” Chen replies.

“You’re my partner?”

“Yes. Let’s get started.”

Chen is my partner!? I miss one day and this happens!

"Ok so when would you like to get together?" asks Chen.

"Together? Together for what?" Byul asks.

"For the project?"

"Oh. Oh yeah that. Umm." Oh goodness, am I going to be paranoid for the rest of the semester?

"As you know I'm a senior and this class is one of the last ones I have to take before graduation." Says Chen.

"Well.." He probably thinks I’m dumb for answering so slow.

"I was thinking since it's an important project we need to get together at least three times a week. Here. This is a copy of my schedule. I organized everything. You can see when we're both free."

Wow he's really organized.

Byul was impressed because she was always the one making up schedules and bugging everyone about when they can meet. For some reason now she was lagging.

~~

For the first time in three years Byul felt like she wasn’t in control. She felt distracted and uncomfortable. She was having a hard time getting her thoughts organized. She felt she had to do something and approaches the professor the next day in private.

"Professor can I ask to switch partners."

"Why? Is something wrong?"

"Umm well, no actually.. It's that.. Well the thing is. I don’t think me and Chen can be paired up on this project."

"He requested to be your partner."

"He did? Why!?"

"He said that you are the only one that works as hard as he does on projects. As you know he's a top student. He said he wanted to be paired up with a top student as well."

"Oh I see. Well.. My grades do come first."

"But if something's the matter and if you don't feel comfortable about something.."

"No, I was wrong. It’s fine; our team is fine. Thank you."

Oh thank goodness it's just for our grade I thought he was being sneaky.

Ok yes he's right; we are the top students so it's only for our grade.

~~

The first few days Byul felt a little stiff. Whenever Chen tried to make friendly conversation Byul would give short and cold answers. She didn’t make it possible for the conversations to continue. She felt bad of course, but her priority was to stay focused.

“You look familiar.” Chen says one day. “Were we in a class together before?”

“No.” responds Byul.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

“Did we go to high school together?”

“No.”

She knew he wasn’t going to stop until she responds how he wants.

“Actually we’ve ran into each other a few times.” Says Byul. “Like on the first day of school and at the bonfire over spring break.”

“Yeah I think I remember….I feel a little stalked.” He says in a teasing tone and a smile. “How do you remember clearly and I don’t?”

“I just have a good memory.” Byul says coldly. Her approach was to be cold and not leave any room to be friendly.

If I’m too friendly he’ll want to talk to me and I know how it will end. No way am I going down that path again. I’ll just end it here; I don’t care if I seem rude.

You have no chance Chen. I’m a rock and you can’t make me crumble.