Chapter 15

Call your friends. Warn them that for the next two or three, maybe four hours you're just gonna vent all of your feelings on your ex or ex-crush, whoever he may be.     My mouth betrayed me, “M-Minho-oppa?”   He snickered, snorted and laughs silently, “oppa?” I look away and bit my lip. Aish—this is one of the most dreaded moment I fear.   I am embarrassed because…   A. I intentionally and unintentionally (if that makes sense) hit him. B. I called him oppa. C. He laughs at me (and even repeated it) when I said oppa. Oh god!   My life is over; this is the worst situation imaginable.   ---   After getting myself in an embarrassing situation with Minho, I suddenly feel my tongue retreated. I couldn’t talk; I couldn’t say anything for the moment. I bow at him, turn around and march at the back seat, he was calling my name, and I pretended not to hear him.   At class, I tried to focus on the lesson, just the lesson; but as honesty compelled me I am greatly disturbed by the tarot cards, who wouldn’t if the cards are really aligning with the reality you’re facing? Over the night I could say that I have forgotten Jonghyun, but now all of the things I have stored in the bottle came out, I can feel Jonghyun’s dumb presence—and I hate it. I no longer want to stand behind his shadow.   And now, the bell just ring, I caught Minho’s gaze at me; I immediately look away and walk outside the room.   At the hallway, everyone is busy—busy chatting with their friends, busy memorizing their notes while walking and nobody notices me.   I walk towards the cafeteria, I feel famished even though I ate already. Out of nowhere someone wrap his or her arm across my shoulder and his hand crawls, going to my mouth and covers it with his bare palm, I could feel my heart doing some crazy sequence of somersault—I’m nervous and scared.   “Nam Gyu…” he whispered directly on my ear, his voice is deep and husky like those in the movies. “Are you free today?”   I could feel my insides trembling in fear, but I did not show him or else he would take advantage of this and would threat me more. Self-defense my dad taught me that in circumstances like this I should protect myself from danger.   On the other hand, why would be in danger when I’m still inside the university?   I free myself from his tight grip and nudge his ribs with all my might. I hope it goes brittle, I curse and hissed under my breath. I almost run for my life when I heard him chirp.   “Ouwp—”    I turn around and to my surprise it’s—“Minho-ssi!” I swallowed all my fear and skip closer to him. “Are you okay?”   Instead of answering my question, he asks while smiling sinisterly. “Do you really use violence here at school?”   This is utterly humiliating. I couldn’t answer; he asks me if I’m hungry, my appetite flies.   ---   I sit at one of the chairs inside the cafeteria, waiting for him. Earlier inside the class, as I tried to distract myself from thinking about Jonghyun and the tarot cards, my mind has gone astray towards the guy who sat in my chair. I keep on staring (rather spacing out) at his back as I continually ask myself, why and how come I didn’t notice Minho-ssi inside our class?   Now he’s back.   And he’s walking back at our table—He looks cool that I’m not breathing normally.   He looks up at my direction—He has a pretty face that it hurts to see him.   He smiles at me— it makes my heart go off at about a thousand decibels like one of those clocks vibrating, shaking you off out of dreamland.   He’s standing in front of me— I’m pressing my fingers under the table.   He places a one big plate of jajangmyeon—I bit my lower lip, flushing down the toilet my wild imagination that, while eating this jajangmyeon we’ll end up kissing each other.   YAH!!! KWON NAM GYU! SNAP OUT OF IT!   “Ahjumma said this is the last jajangmyeon… You can have this.” He says and places the plate in front of me, like a personal butler then he pulls his chair and sits in front of me. He glues his elbow at the fringe of the table and stares at me.   “Oh… No… Let’s share.” I offer.   He waves his right hand, grins and say, “I’m good. Just eat.”   I hesitantly take one bite.   He tilts his head at the side and gapes at me—I don’t know if he’s amaze that I’m enjoying what he gave me, or he’s laughing at me because I look like Yoogeun whom he had taken care of.    Two.   I push the plate closer to him. “Let’s just share.” I utter non-maliciously.   “If you insist.” He says, then his chair screeches on the floor and we sit side by side. Students were looking at us, and I sort of regret I did that offer. I regret it because everyone’s eyes are on us; A part of says, I don’t care because I got the chance to sit beside him. “I didn’t expect that we’re both studying at the same university.”   “And have the same class.” I added, philosophy—a minor subject.   I take my last bite. I can barely eat. “So… why are you late earlier?” He inquires.   “I met a friend and our senior.”   He’s starving and finishes everything.   “A girl?” I nodded. “Good.” He murmurs nonchalantly but I heard it accurate and precisely. My toes curled, I bi