[✔] lightbulb » lee taeyong & na jaemin

ch. 18

morosis: the stupidest of stupidities

» kwan ara's pov »

we had finally parked. sitting in the car still, i felt myself turn paler and paler as i noticed how huge the place was. and...intimidating.

i swallowed hard. "ah."

forcing a grin on his face, jaemin faked extreme enthusiasm. "yeah! now this is gonna be fun! yeah!"

i rolled my eyes, but i was smiling. "ah yes. superb."

laughing, he opened the car door and exited. i did the same, and we were walking into the place. placing his arm around my shoulder, he steered me to the front office.

"hi, my name's jaemin-"

"jaemin!" an old lady from the back shouted. she rushed forward and threw me aside, hugging jaemin. her eyes sparkled.

"god, i haven't seen you in forever! the last time i saw you was when you and mi-"

jaemin raised his voice and interrupted her. "don't."

the woman's face fell. "right. sorry." she turned to face me. "anyways, who's your friend here?"

i smiled politely and bowed. "my name is ara."

her eyes sparkled. "ara means 'to be good' or 'beautiful,' correct?"

i nodded. "it's a name i cherish."

she tilted her head ever so slightly. "you know, i used to have another student named ara. sweetest little thing you would've ever met. she was so polite, always helping others, staying behind to teach others-"

"wait." it struck me then, and i felt something in me change. "miss...what was her full name?"

"kwan ara! why, do you know her?"

i nodded.

"in fact, i am her."

her jaw fell to the ground, and she was gaping at me.

"ara...?" she murmured. "but how-?" she glanced up at me with tears in her eyes. "i heard about your father. that was when you left, right? you were the best student i had ever taught." she wiped her eyes and sniffled. "i just...i thought that it was too great of a coincidence to see you again."

my hands were trembling. "miss kim...i thought that you had left by now and i thought i was being delusional-"

"i just can't believe it!" she threw her hands up and came forward, giving me a tight hug. "you're such a brave, brave person. i...when i heard about your father...and then you quit..." she paused to collect herself, and released me.

i looked out the window with tears in my eyes. i will not think about my father.

she continued speaking.

"it's just, gosh, you've gotten so beautiful. and i know your mother hates plastic surgery—not that it's bad. but your mother loved the natural look. i just can't believe you're so completely stunning and here and pretty!"

i smiled a watery smile. "i don't know what to say..."

she snapped her fingers. "right! you were here to get started again!" she winked at me. "although, i bet you'll climb straight to the top."

jaemin finally broke the moment. "so, are we done reuniting?"

i grinned and nodded. "yes!"

miss kim sighed. "listen, i know you would love to pay me but because you're my star student, i'm going to give you a discount, okay? and because you have great taste in friends, ara." i nodded eagerly. "i'm going to give you a 100% discount." she beamed. "only for you guys!"

"oh my god, no, i- i can pay-"

"nonsense! my star student is back! i'll put you in the beginning class to see how you do for now, but i'm sure once you get the hang of it, you'll get your black belt immediately." she looked at her watch. "i actually have a beginning class in thirty minutes. i can get you set up and give you your dobok right now!"

"thank you so much!" i bowed again. "but jaemin is also doing it with me."

she grinned at me, and then looked at jaemin. "you're going to be doing it again?"

i watched jaemin hesitate before nodding. "yes, miss kim." he cleared his throat. "i actually used to be a black belt, as well. so we can start over together."

my jaw dropped. "jaemin! why didn't you tell me? i would've joined you a long time ago!" he sputtered as he searched for an answer.

miss kim interrupted. "no time better than the present! let's get started!"

jaemin and i nodded. taking us into her office, we sat down in her comfortable chairs as she registered me.

after about ten minutes, she slammed her hands down on the table. "i'm done! let me get your dobok and then we can begin!" she looked at her watch. "you two have twenty minutes until class, so after i give you your stuff, you can walk around to familiarize yourself." she stood up and went outside her office.

"ara," jaemin said. i looked at him. he was sitting to my left.

"yes?"

"how are you feeling about this?"

i tilted my head. "well, maybe, possibly, just the slightest bit, excited?" i jumped in my seat, making jaemin flinch. "why didn't you tell me that you had a black belt, as well?"

"well..." he muttered. he cleared his throat. "uh...i've already forgotten everything and it was a long time ago, like you."

"ugh, whatever." i rolled my eyes dramatically, but then smiled. "i'm pretty excited, i didn't realize miss kim was still the boss. i heard that she moved a while ago, but i guess i was wrong."

a voice interrupted our conversation. "darlings! i have your stuff!"

we both pushed our chairs out and stood up.

"yes!" i said.

miss kim entered the room and handed me my dobok, which was neatly folded. she then handed jaemin his folded dobok. "here you go, loves."

"thank you." i bowed at a ninety degree angle to express my gratefulness. jaemin followed and bowed as well.

"oh, no problem, sweethearts! now c'mon, go have a self-led tour since you have"—she paused to look at her watch—"fifteen minutes until class begins! and you two need to change. you can change in my office; i'll be going to visit other classes and doing other stuff for the rest of the day, anyway."

we bowed again. "thank you."

she nodded in a rushed manner and walked out the door. "see you guys later!" she called out before leaving. and, like the respectful kids we were, we bowed again.

i was finally excited for something.