OPPA - chapter 04
CHAPTER 04.
“HyeJin? HyeJin… Wake up. It’s your first day today in school.”
Huh? School? I blinked my eyes open and saw her tired eyes.
“School?”
“Yes. You’re going to the same school as your brother.”
“But - “
“Come on. Get up. Your uniform’s over there,” she pointed to my closet.
“How am I going to get there?”
“You and HyeSung will take the bus. Go on. Prepare yourself or you’ll be late for school and the bus,” she said calmly, went out and closed the door.
After doing my morning rituals, I went downstairs to find them already sitting at the table waiting for me.
“Good morning,” I greeted, forcing a smile. I did not know why or how the atmosphere inside the house became that heavy. It was also hard for me to smile. Why?
“Good morning HyeJin. Come on. Take a seat,” she ushered me to my seat which was right next to her and opposite HyeSung.
“Here. Have a pancake…” she started putting food onto my plate. I was surprised. I totally forgot that I was already living in a new world.
“Uhh… I'm sorry, but I usually don’t eat breakfast.” With that, the smile on her face instantly disappeared.
“Umma, I’m going.” HyeSung stood up roughly and glared at me.
“Take your sister with you,” she said, slowly slouching on her chair, drained. Emotionally drained.
But HyeSung didn’t even bother to stop or even slow down. He walked out the door… And he actually slammed it.
“Wait up!” I said panting. I did not know which road to take to reach the bus stop, I did not even know how to ride a bus here, and of course, I did not know where that Seoul High School is. So tell me, what should I do if he was to leave without me?
“Hey!”
“What?” he said finally turning around. Why does he seem so angry? What did I do wrong? Did I wake up late? If that’s so…
“Fine. I'm sorry for waking up late.”
“Damn it.” He again walked ahead.
“Hey! I'm already saying sorry!” And I, again, was chasing after him.
“I do not care about you waking up late.”
“Then what’s up your butt? Why are you so angry at me early in the morning?” I nearly shouted at him. Damn. Couldn’t he stop walking at least for five whole seconds? I couldn't understand him.
“F*ck. You really don’t know, do you?” He said, finally facing me. I almost bumped onto him.
“I really don’t! Now, you - tell - me!”
“I hate you for doing all those stuff on my mother.”
“What?”
“Yesterday, when you woke up, you screamed. We went up to check on you. And you know what, you didn’t even notice her! It would be fine if it’s just only me that you ignored. But it was her! She was at the foot of your bed but you didn’t even spared a look on her. She tried to calm you down, but you rejected her. You said you wanted your MOMMY. You know how much that hurt? And you slept again, still oblivious to the fact that we were there! And you know what happened after that? She cried on me! She was blaming herself for not being a good mother to you! And damn it! A while ago, she was so ecstatic to cook you breakfast, but again, f*ck it, you rejected her! Why can't you see she’s making all effort in the world? G*ddamn it!!! F*ck! F*ck! F*ck!”
I was stunned.
I wasn’t aware with what happened last night. That’s what always happens to me when my sickness attacks. I had been suffering this Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder for months, but the doctors said before I came back that it's already cured. But I seem to be not.
This morning, I didn’t mean to hurt her. I really don’t eat breakfasts because Ryan and I usually wake up late.
I’m sorry HyeSung… and… U.. Um..… Mother.
I couldn’t say the word. I couldn’t. I can't.
Still upset, I was walking down the street, because HyeSung already left me, when I noticed people crowding. And there came the bus.
I squished myself in and did what the others ahead of me did.
Scanning the whole bus, I saw him at the end talking with who seemed to be his friends. Our eyes met for a second, but he quickly turned away.
I took a seat on my left, beside a girl who wore the same uniform as me. Trying to mask the heaviness my heart was feeling, I attempted to start a conversation.
Taking a deep breath, I smiled. “Hi.”
Originally facing the window, she turned around to look at me. She looked perplexed, but managed to replace such face with a smile.
“Hello. Uh.. New here?”
“Yeah,” I smiled.
“Kim JiYeon,” she offered her hand.
“Jinnie Ahn.” Wait. I wasn’t in Kentucky anymore. “Uh… I mean, Ahn HyeJin,” I corrected myself, returning the handshake.
“HyeJin… Nice name,” she smiled.
“Yours too. JiYeon, right? You’re also attending Seoul High School?”
“Yeah. Our uniform tells us so.”
I grinned. “Indeed.”
“So what class are you in?”
“Uhh.. I don’t know yet.”
“Ah. I forgot. You’re new here. My bad. Haha. So where did you come from? I bet outside Korea. Your Korean’s a bit… you know.”
“Is it that obvious? Heh… I'm from Kentucky.”
“Kentucky? As in U. - S. - A.??? Wow! That’s far.”
“Yeah. Very far.” Painfully far.
“So where are you staying?”
“With… my mom and my brother.”
“Oh. So you all migrated here?”
“No… Just me. They’ve been living here since God knows when. As for me, I grew up in Kentucky with my dad.”
“Oh.”
I smiled.
“So where is he?”
“Who?”
“Your dad.”
“Oh…” I gave her a sad smile.
“Oh my gosh. I'm so sorry! I didn’t know…” she pulled me into a hug. Thanks, I had been needing it since a while ago.
“It’s okay…” I said, returning the embrace and wiping the threatening-to-fall-down tear away from my eyes.
“Oh… We’re here,” she stated after breaking free.
After getting down the bus, I held onto her like I was a lost dog. You see, Seoul High wasn’t that small. It was enormous.
“Come on. It’s still early, I’ll take you to the administration office to get your schedule,” she offered.
“Thanks a lot. I don’t know what to do without you.”
She smiled at me.
-----
“Oh my God, HyeJin!!”
“Hmm?” I looked up at her.
“You’re in my class!”
“Really?”
“Yeah! Class 2-B.”
“Come on. Let me show you our room.” She grabbed my hand and started pulling me away.
“Okay…” I was finally happy to have a friend.
Was i really happy? Or is it a mere... relief?
--
“You know, I am also kind of new here. And maybe due to the fact that I am just a scholar here, no one has talked to me until you came. I just arrived one week ahead of you,” she said as we sat down on our seats.
“Really? You’re scholar? Wow.. So I'm your first friend here? And you were able to start the school year along with them?” I knew I was bombarding her with questions, but she understood. And with 'them', I was referring to our staring classmates.
“Yeah.”
“So where are you from?”
“I'm from Pusan.”
“Pusan? I haven’t heard of it. Is it here in Asia?”
“Hahaha! No, babo. It’s another place here in Korea. Just some hours away.”
Oh okay. So I was a total embarrassment.
“Oh. I'm sorry. It’s my first time here in Korea since I was three.”
“ Really?”
“Yeah.”
Just then, the teacher, oh well, so I think he was, entered the room.
“Students. Please settle down.”
“…We have a new student here. She’s from Kentucky.” And he eyed me. Then the class became noisy again.
“Oh there she is. Please come in front Miss Ahn.” And as if he blew a whistle to shut everyone up, the class instantly became quiet. I went up to the front, my heart and legs shaking.
“Hi. I'm Ahn HyeJin from Kentucky. I'm sixteen years old, full Korean. Hope we’ll all be friends,” I introduced myself in English, since JiYeon said, and I admit, my Korean was rough.
“Can you understand Korean?” asked the teacher at my left.
“Yes, I can do, sir.”
Then a hand from the crowd shot up in the air.
“Did someone already tell you that you look like a female replica of Park HyeSung?” she said.
Wait. What? She knew him?
I was about to answer the girl when the door slammed open and HyeSung and his friends walked in.
“Morning, Teach,” one of his friends said.
“Mr. Lee, Mr. Dong, Mr. Han, Mr. Baek, Mr. Park. You all are again late. It’s the fourth time since the start of the semester.”
What?
School started last week, and today was Monday. So it’s just the sixth day of school, yet they were already four times late? Wow. Model student, he is.
How come he’s such a goodie goodie at home? And here, he is a delinquent? Wait. I don’t get it.
“It’s been our trademark, Mr. Han.”
And they proceeded to their seats.
“Miss Ahn, you may sit on the seat you were sitting on a while ago. Beside Miss Kim.”
And I went there with a bowed head, not sparing a glance at my so-called twin, nor to anybody in the class.
“HyeJin? HyeJin… Wake up. It’s your first day today in school.”
Huh? School? I blinked my eyes open and saw her tired eyes.
“School?”
“Yes. You’re going to the same school as your brother.”
“But - “
“Come on. Get up. Your uniform’s over there,” she pointed to my closet.
“How am I going to get there?”
“You and HyeSung will take the bus. Go on. Prepare yourself or you’ll be late for school and the bus,” she said calmly, went out and closed the door.
After doing my morning rituals, I went downstairs to find them already sitting at the table waiting for me.
“Good morning,” I greeted, forcing a smile. I did not know why or how the atmosphere inside the house became that heavy. It was also hard for me to smile. Why?
“Good morning HyeJin. Come on. Take a seat,” she ushered me to my seat which was right next to her and opposite HyeSung.
“Here. Have a pancake…” she started putting food onto my plate. I was surprised. I totally forgot that I was already living in a new world.
“Uhh… I'm sorry, but I usually don’t eat breakfast.” With that, the smile on her face instantly disappeared.
“Umma, I’m going.” HyeSung stood up roughly and glared at me.
“Take your sister with you,” she said, slowly slouching on her chair, drained. Emotionally drained.
But HyeSung didn’t even bother to stop or even slow down. He walked out the door… And he actually slammed it.
“Wait up!” I said panting. I did not know which road to take to reach the bus stop, I did not even know how to ride a bus here, and of course, I did not know where that Seoul High School is. So tell me, what should I do if he was to leave without me?
“Hey!”
“What?” he said finally turning around. Why does he seem so angry? What did I do wrong? Did I wake up late? If that’s so…
“Fine. I'm sorry for waking up late.”
“Damn it.” He again walked ahead.
“Hey! I'm already saying sorry!” And I, again, was chasing after him.
“I do not care about you waking up late.”
“Then what’s up your butt? Why are you so angry at me early in the morning?” I nearly shouted at him. Damn. Couldn’t he stop walking at least for five whole seconds? I couldn't understand him.
“F*ck. You really don’t know, do you?” He said, finally facing me. I almost bumped onto him.
“I really don’t! Now, you - tell - me!”
“I hate you for doing all those stuff on my mother.”
“What?”
“Yesterday, when you woke up, you screamed. We went up to check on you. And you know what, you didn’t even notice her! It would be fine if it’s just only me that you ignored. But it was her! She was at the foot of your bed but you didn’t even spared a look on her. She tried to calm you down, but you rejected her. You said you wanted your MOMMY. You know how much that hurt? And you slept again, still oblivious to the fact that we were there! And you know what happened after that? She cried on me! She was blaming herself for not being a good mother to you! And damn it! A while ago, she was so ecstatic to cook you breakfast, but again, f*ck it, you rejected her! Why can't you see she’s making all effort in the world? G*ddamn it!!! F*ck! F*ck! F*ck!”
I was stunned.
I wasn’t aware with what happened last night. That’s what always happens to me when my sickness attacks. I had been suffering this Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder for months, but the doctors said before I came back that it's already cured. But I seem to be not.
This morning, I didn’t mean to hurt her. I really don’t eat breakfasts because Ryan and I usually wake up late.
I’m sorry HyeSung… and… U.. Um..… Mother.
I couldn’t say the word. I couldn’t. I can't.
Still upset, I was walking down the street, because HyeSung already left me, when I noticed people crowding. And there came the bus.
I squished myself in and did what the others ahead of me did.
Scanning the whole bus, I saw him at the end talking with who seemed to be his friends. Our eyes met for a second, but he quickly turned away.
I took a seat on my left, beside a girl who wore the same uniform as me. Trying to mask the heaviness my heart was feeling, I attempted to start a conversation.
Taking a deep breath, I smiled. “Hi.”
Originally facing the window, she turned around to look at me. She looked perplexed, but managed to replace such face with a smile.
“Hello. Uh.. New here?”
“Yeah,” I smiled.
“Kim JiYeon,” she offered her hand.
“Jinnie Ahn.” Wait. I wasn’t in Kentucky anymore. “Uh… I mean, Ahn HyeJin,” I corrected myself, returning the handshake.
“HyeJin… Nice name,” she smiled.
“Yours too. JiYeon, right? You’re also attending Seoul High School?”
“Yeah. Our uniform tells us so.”
I grinned. “Indeed.”
“So what class are you in?”
“Uhh.. I don’t know yet.”
“Ah. I forgot. You’re new here. My bad. Haha. So where did you come from? I bet outside Korea. Your Korean’s a bit… you know.”
“Is it that obvious? Heh… I'm from Kentucky.”
“Kentucky? As in U. - S. - A.??? Wow! That’s far.”
“Yeah. Very far.” Painfully far.
“So where are you staying?”
“With… my mom and my brother.”
“Oh. So you all migrated here?”
“No… Just me. They’ve been living here since God knows when. As for me, I grew up in Kentucky with my dad.”
“Oh.”
I smiled.
“So where is he?”
“Who?”
“Your dad.”
“Oh…” I gave her a sad smile.
“Oh my gosh. I'm so sorry! I didn’t know…” she pulled me into a hug. Thanks, I had been needing it since a while ago.
“It’s okay…” I said, returning the embrace and wiping the threatening-to-fall-down tear away from my eyes.
“Oh… We’re here,” she stated after breaking free.
After getting down the bus, I held onto her like I was a lost dog. You see, Seoul High wasn’t that small. It was enormous.
“Come on. It’s still early, I’ll take you to the administration office to get your schedule,” she offered.
“Thanks a lot. I don’t know what to do without you.”
She smiled at me.
-----
“Oh my God, HyeJin!!”
“Hmm?” I looked up at her.
“You’re in my class!”
“Really?”
“Yeah! Class 2-B.”
“Come on. Let me show you our room.” She grabbed my hand and started pulling me away.
“Okay…” I was finally happy to have a friend.
Was i really happy? Or is it a mere... relief?
--
“You know, I am also kind of new here. And maybe due to the fact that I am just a scholar here, no one has talked to me until you came. I just arrived one week ahead of you,” she said as we sat down on our seats.
“Really? You’re scholar? Wow.. So I'm your first friend here? And you were able to start the school year along with them?” I knew I was bombarding her with questions, but she understood. And with 'them', I was referring to our staring classmates.
“Yeah.”
“So where are you from?”
“I'm from Pusan.”
“Pusan? I haven’t heard of it. Is it here in Asia?”
“Hahaha! No, babo. It’s another place here in Korea. Just some hours away.”
Oh okay. So I was a total embarrassment.
“Oh. I'm sorry. It’s my first time here in Korea since I was three.”
“ Really?”
“Yeah.”
Just then, the teacher, oh well, so I think he was, entered the room.
“Students. Please settle down.”
“…We have a new student here. She’s from Kentucky.” And he eyed me. Then the class became noisy again.
“Oh there she is. Please come in front Miss Ahn.” And as if he blew a whistle to shut everyone up, the class instantly became quiet. I went up to the front, my heart and legs shaking.
“Hi. I'm Ahn HyeJin from Kentucky. I'm sixteen years old, full Korean. Hope we’ll all be friends,” I introduced myself in English, since JiYeon said, and I admit, my Korean was rough.
“Can you understand Korean?” asked the teacher at my left.
“Yes, I can do, sir.”
Then a hand from the crowd shot up in the air.
“Did someone already tell you that you look like a female replica of Park HyeSung?” she said.
Wait. What? She knew him?
I was about to answer the girl when the door slammed open and HyeSung and his friends walked in.
“Morning, Teach,” one of his friends said.
“Mr. Lee, Mr. Dong, Mr. Han, Mr. Baek, Mr. Park. You all are again late. It’s the fourth time since the start of the semester.”
What?
School started last week, and today was Monday. So it’s just the sixth day of school, yet they were already four times late? Wow. Model student, he is.
How come he’s such a goodie goodie at home? And here, he is a delinquent? Wait. I don’t get it.
“It’s been our trademark, Mr. Han.”
And they proceeded to their seats.
“Miss Ahn, you may sit on the seat you were sitting on a while ago. Beside Miss Kim.”
And I went there with a bowed head, not sparing a glance at my so-called twin, nor to anybody in the class.