DAYLIGHT | taehyun

01

"You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope."
- Jane Austen, Persuasion, 1817.

The light of day has never been this aggravating before.

Pacing through the still and empty halls of my school on my very first day as a junior this early in the morning in these shoes, I should be desensitized to it by now, but I'm not, and running is still as exhausting as any other form of exercise.

The head of the school just called me into her office, saying she wants to talk to me. Not many students are here yet, so every step I take echoes throughout the walls.

I stop in front of the office, composed myself and my posture, and huff a little before slightly combing my hair with my fingers. I announce my presence with a set of knocks, enter right after, and see the head's assistant on her desk, motioning for me to proceed further to where the head's actual office is.

I turn the knob and squeak the door open, feebly peering from behind, "You wanted to see me, Mrs. Jeong?"

"Ms. Natomi! Yes, come in! Take a seat," Mrs. Jeong stands up and points at one of the vacant chairs in front of her desk.

"What must require this conversation at..." I glanced at my wristwatch, "Nearly seven in the morning, Mrs. Jeong? There are barely any other students, and the academic year hasn't even started yet."

"Ah well, since you're the newly-elected vice president of the student council, I was wondering if you could open the academic year with a speech! If that's alright with you, of course, I know this came along suddenly and you don't have anything prepared-"

"Why wouldn't it be alright with me? I can do impromptu— or write a quick one after this."

"Are you sure?"

"Public speaking to me, is the equivalent of taking a walk in the park, Mrs. Jeong, I'm pretty sure I've established that for the past years I've been a student here."

Mrs. Jeong's face lights up from a remorseful expression to an enthusiastic one, as if she knew I'd give her that answer, "I know I can always count on you for the best."

"Is there anything else I can help you with?" I try to smile for her, even though the arising slight imperfections around her office are beginning to tick me off, like the little figurine in front of me that's askew, the trophies behind her that aren't placed by size, and the markers in her pencil holder that are not color-coded. I've been here so many times, why am I only noticing these just now?

"Ms. Natomi? Ms. Natomi? Are you with me?"

I blinked out of my wandering mental state and back to my position on this rather uncomfortable chair. My lips form back into a smile and I tune my attention towards Mrs. Jeong once again.

"Apologies, Mrs. Jeong, what were you saying?"

"I was saying if you could stay longer after school today and show the transferee in your class around? The other officers already have their own assigned to them, and I specifically wanted this student to be with you because he and you have a lot of common qualities! Personally, I think you two would get along well."

Common qualities?

"How do you say we have a lot in common?" I ask, I feel a sense of intrigue in my stomach. I've never met anyone in my life that mirrored who I am.

"Academic-wise."

I squint my eyes and frown a little, "He's in my class?"

"Yes. I reviewed his student records the other day and it appears that he's an excellent and bright student, like you! I think you can recruit him for the debate club."