It felt like time stopped when I entered the classroom five minutes late and the whole class looked up at the sound of the door opening. Mr. Dong’s marker stopped mid-air as he beamed at me, as if he knew well that I was coming back when I didn’t mention anything about it yesterday. He then motioned to my empty seat.

I proceeded and quickly fished my notebook from my bag, knowing full well how much lessons I missed.

The day went on with me trying to catch up to my missed classes and talking to my professors about my health condition. They all believed the false doctor’s statement which said that I had stomach complications. I guessed I looked sick.

I found out from one of my classmates that Seri hadn’t been going to school as well. I believed she was fine, because if not, then she would’ve told me even though we weren’t in talking terms.

I felt uneasy staying in the classroom, with some of my classmates asking what happened to me as if it would make a difference whether they knew or not. It wasn’t like I ever talked to them.

All this time I was seated, there was a desire to pick up my bag and just leave, but I convinced myself that I had nowhere to go, and going to school was something to do. I felt like another day spent with just me and my thoughts would cause my brain to explode.

I convinced myself I was doing this for Mino, and for my family. The campus was a place where I belonged, something I needed, because without those people, I didn’t have anywhere.

I wanted to sleep, to stop listening but I stayed for as long as I could, and that was until my last class ended. I did it. I survived a day.

The following weeks went easier as I decided that I would study hard. I saw a rise in my marks and didn’t feel anything about it.

Mr. Dong seemed happier about it, as he signed my transcript with a smile on the corner of his lips. We hadn’t talked ever since my excuse letter. I didn’t know where the fall out came from, from his side or mine, but it wasn’t like we had a relationship to maintain. I was relieved that he stopped ‘worrying’ about me, that he stopped asking me why I was ‘running away’. I was trying to be independent, to stop leaning on others and just stand on my own two feet, and Mr