The atmosphere was a little bit awkward in the quiet elevator space.
"Are you in the same grade as me and Soo Jin?" Ji Woo, who couldn't stand the silence, decided to initiate a conversation.
"Yes." Min Jae nodded. "But a different class."
"Oh, no wonder I have not seen you before."
Min Jae smiled in response. "I resumed last term. Maybe that's why you don't know me."
Ji Woo nodded. "Maybe that's why."
The elevator finally reached the first floor. As the door split open, they both came out of the elevator.
They walked out of the building toward the school building.
---
"We are here," Ji Woo gasped, trying to regain his strength. This was the first time he had ever been tired of walking to school; he was used to having a partner to talk to as he walked.
Not this…
He looked at Min Jae in disappointment.
Why was he so quiet and boring?
"Bye," Min Jae said as he walked away without saying anything else.
Ji Woo waved back before he walked in the direction of his classroom. He dashed straight into the class when he caught Soo Jin's figure.
"Why did you leave without me?" he asked, settling down in his seat.
Soo Jin sighed. The quiet and peace he had was cut short.
Ignore.
If you ignore, he might go away.
"Soo Jin," Ji Woo called again.
Still no response.
"Soo Jin." This time he resorted to poking his back.
The continuous poking irritated Soo Jin as he turned, glaring at Ji Woo. "What do you want?"
Ji Woo flashed a smile, happy he gained Soo Jin's attention. "Why did you leave without me?"
"Because I don't want to go with you," Soo Jin bluntly said.
The excitement in Ji Woo's eyes died instantly when he heard what Soo Jin said. "Now you know the road, you don't need me again?" he asked, purposely blinking rapidly like he was trying to control his tears.
"Was I too rude?" Soo Jin asked himself, thinking to apologize.
"What are you sad about?" Mi Young, whose gaze had never left Ji Woo the moment he spotted him, asked.
"Nothing," Ji Woo said sharply, hoping Mi Young would leave and not interrupt their conversation.
"But you just said you were sad?" Mi Young asked.
Soo Jin glanced at both of them before he faced his front, putting his head on the table.
"Soo Jin," Ji Woo called anxiously, trying to grab his attention.
"If you call me one more time, I will strangle you," Soo Jin threatened, his head still on the table.
Ji Woo, who sensed the seriousness in his voice, kept shut.
"It's your fault," Ji Woo said, shooting a glare at Mi Young.
Mi Young, who was innocent, looked confused but went back to take his seat, wondering how he offended Ji Woo.
"Mr. Felix asked for the form for the debate competition," the class rep announced, gaining the attention of the class, including Soo Jin, whose head was on the table.
Soo Jin raised his head, picking up his backpack. He removed the form from his bag. He stood up, followed by Mi Young, who was already on his feet. They both walked to the class rep.
"Take," both of them said at the same time as they passed the form to the class rep.
Mi Young glared at Soo Jin, while Soo Jin just glanced at him, emotionless. They both turned to the class rep with expressions of "take my form first." The class rep was stuck in the middle and could only use both hands to collect the forms.
"I will get back to the both of you," she said, walking out of the class.
Soo Jin, without looking at Mi Young, walked back to his seat.
A few minutes later,
A female teacher walked into the class, her heels clicking on the floor as she scanned the students.
They all stood up, about to greet.
"Good da—"
They didn't get to finish before the female teacher waved her hand, dismissing the greeting. "Sit down. New student, stand," she said.
Soo Jin stood while the rest of the students sat.
"Name?"
"Soo Jin."
"Mm." She hummed, still looking at him. "My name is Lucy… I teach Literature."
"Okay." Soo Jin nodded.
Mrs. Lucy raised a brow as she walked to Soo Jin's table. "Do you like Literature?"
"I neither like nor dislike it," Soo Jin said bluntly.
Gasps filled the whole class.
"Soo Jin…" Ji Woo called softly.
Soo Jin, who was the cause of the gasp, looked confused, wondering what he said wrong.
Mrs. Lucy gave a small smile.
"Are you always this blunt?"
"Yes." Soo Jin nodded. Why must he hide his thoughts?
"Okay." Mrs. Lucy nodded. "Have your seat."
Soo Jin sat down.
She turned to walk to the front of the class. Ji Woo quickly leaned closer to Soo Jin's ear. "You don't have to be too blunt. What if you offend her?" he whispered with concern.
"Silence!" Mrs. Lucy raised her voice as she faced the class.
"Since I'm teaching Literature, let's deal with literary devices," she said with a cunning smirk.
"But we are not treating literary devices this week," one of the students said, receiving a side glare from Mrs. Lucy.
She grabbed a marker and wrote on the board: "His loneliness was a silent storm, shaking him from the inside even though the world around him looked perfectly calm."
"What's the literary device here?"
"Here!" Mi Young and two extra students raised their hands.
She flashed them a smile.
"No, no, no. We have a new student in our midst, so let's give him the opportunity to answer the question."
Ji Woo raised his brow when he heard that and already knew what was going on.
And it was unfair.
He respected his teachers well, but not bullying.
"Soo Jin, can you tell us your answer?"
Soo Jin, hearing his name, was about to stand up when he felt a tap on his back.
"Don't worry, I will help you."