Part 11 | Matchmaker

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The school bell rings right after Grace finished discussing an evaluation for today's assignment. Grace quickly wrapped up the lessons and ask her to student to dismiss the class.

Grace starts to collect her things in the table, turning off her laptop while waiting for other students to leave the class. She was so busy collecting her stuff until she realize that one of her student is still sitting in his place, gazing up to the window. Grace starts to look at his direction and find out that he was looking at a boy outside class, leaning on the wall while playing with his phone. Grace knows exactly who the boy was and the other boy in her class seems enjoying himself to see him from inside.

"Park Jisung?"

The boy that happened to be Park Jisung jolts and turn his gaze to Grace who's standing in front of the class with her bag that already hangs on her shoulder.

"Yes, Ms. Kim?" Park Jisung quickly stand up from his seat and walk slowly to Grace.

"You're waiting for someone?"

Grace smiled to him. Park Jisung nod awkwardly to Grace, knowing that him has been caught up for looking at the boy outside his class. He's afraid that his actions lately would be noticed by the other students too.

"Uhm, yes... Ms. Kim. I'm waiting for my Mom." He said, taking a lil glance to look outside class to make sure that the boy is still there. But the luck is not on his side today, the boy was already disappeared.

Grace on the other hand notices his action to find a boy who's standing there outside their class.

"Do you want to come with me to my office? Let's wait her there."
"Huh?"
"Come on! Let's go!"

Like a robot, Park Jisung nod and start following Grace to walk outside. They walk side by side to the main hall of the school to reach the office.

Grace open up the door of the office, asking Park Jisung to follow her inside. Some of the teacher are already gone but a few of them are still working. Grace asks Park Jisung to sit in a couch right next to her desk.

"Do you want to drink, Park Jisung?"
"Oh no, thanks Ms. Kim. I'm not thirsty."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, Ms. Kim."
"Alright."

Grace put her bag in her seat, taking out her laptop again to continue her work on spreadsheet that needs to be done this week. She sits there beside Park Jisung in a couch, waiting for his Mother to come.

"Did you tell your parents about it, Park Jisung?

Park Jisung came to realize that Grace was asking him about the University that he wants to enter. But Park Jisung knows that without him telling them what he wants, they're already — always on their denial.

"There's no use, Ms. Kim. Both of them are still wanting me to work at their company after I graduate."
"Do you need a help? I could talk to them about it for you."
"No, Ms. Kim. It's alright. I'm fine with their decision." Park Jisung smiled to Grace, thinking about how he would end up in the end eventually.

"Samchon told me that I'll be just like him." Park Jisung chuckles, glancing at how his teacher's face changing after he mention his uncle.

Oh fuck, I forgot about his uncle.

Grace let out a smile to Park Jisung, biting her lips hiding her awkward face to him. No, he can't know about it. She will never forgive herself if Park Jisung find out that she fuck his uncle already. She swallowed, trying to change their conversation in order to forget about Na Jaemin.

"Park Jisung, do you want to join a private lesson with me?"

"Private lesson... ? What is it, Ms. Kim?"
"It's like a private course, but you do it in our study room every Thursday with me after classes are over."
"Will there be another students too?"
"Oh, I only have one student until now. Zhong Chenle, from Mrs. Lee's class."
"Huh...?"

Grace smiled, saving her latest spreadsheet document to her folder. She closes the laptop and cross her legs changing her position to look at Park Jisung whose face blushing after she mentioned Zhong Chenle.

"You can join with us tomorrow. Oh, and it's free. You just have to tell your parents that you have a private lesson with me every Thursday. We usually finish before 6, practicing quiz and we discuss it after that. It's simple. It will help you at taking test for exams. Oh... and I'm not going to make it as a competition. We'll do it for fun but educative. Plus, you'll get to know Zhong Chenle better."

"Uh? It's not like that, Ms. Kim... I—"
"Yes, Park Jisung. I know." She said, encouraging her smile to Park Jisung.

"It's alright, Park Jisung. Everyone deserves to be treated equally, including you."

Park Jisung nod and smile nervously to Grace. He could feel his heart is beating so fast and he wanted to let out his tears knowing that no one would never be there for him when it comes to this thing. He's always hiding, trying to fit in, when he knows he would never belong to any of them.

"Thank you, Ms. Kim. You and Samchon are the ones who didn't hate me for being like this." Grace smiled, patting his shoulder to make him feel more comfortable.

He doesn't know how to explain about this situation but a part of him wants to join because of the boy that he liked. Well, maybe this is going to be his chance to convince his parents that he was serious about his school and let them realize that his priority is not just about working in their company, but to chase his dream as an architect.

"Do I need to sign a form for this?"
Grace chuckles, shaking her head as her respond to Park Jisung.

"No, you don't need to. Everyone can join as long as they want. So, are you in?"
Park Jisung exhale, smiling to Grace and nodded.

"I'm so in, Ms. Kim!"

***

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