Skool Luv Affair

Chapter 38

ℑ 𝔏𝔦𝔨𝔢 𝔖𝔥𝔦𝔫𝔶 𝔗𝔥𝔦𝔫𝔤𝔰 𝔅𝔲𝔱 ℑ'𝔡 𝔐𝔞𝔯𝔯𝔶 𝔜𝔬𝔲 𝔴𝔦𝔱𝔥 𝔓𝔞𝔭𝔢𝔯 ℜ𝔦𝔫𝔤𝔰

As soon as I open the door to leave, I see Taehyung standing beside his car looking like a runway model.

“Come and get in quickly!”, he says.
“I have to go somewhere else.”, I say trying to shield myself from the overly bright sun. The weather is really good today.
“I know. I’m taking you there.”, he says coming in front of me to shield me from the direct sun.
I finally open my eyes properly and take his look and fresh scent in.
“How did you shower this quick!?”, I ask bewildered.
“Do you want me to explain the entire process?”, he asks smirking.
“Forget it.”, I say getting all flustered.
“Are you coming or not?”, he asks.
“I can go by myself. You must have plans for today anyway.”
“I cancelled them all for you, now get in before I shove you in myself.”, he says giving me a pointed look.
I get in eventually and he opens and closes the car door for me as usual.
“Can I ask for something in return for the car ride?”, he asks looking hopeful.
“Let’s hear you out. No promises.”
“Don’t say no to anything I say today.”
“No can’t do.”
“Please.”, he says giving me the doe eyes. My weakness.
“Fine. I’ll try.”, I say rolling my eyes.
He gives the sweetest of smiles in return.

Kim Taehyung

She’s looking as beautiful as ever. She’s not the ordinary beautiful, she’s beautiful, like art is beautiful.
“I didn’t know you visited the hospital. Why do you do it?”, I ask.
“I don’t have to answer that.”
“Seon Ra…”, I say in a tone to remind her of her promise to say yes today.
“Fine. There’s no special reason as such, I just feel good making them feel less lonely. Hospitals can get very boring you know. I used to visit the hospital in Busan too, I still do whenever I go to Busan.”
“Stop giving me more reasons to fall in love with you, I’ve already fallen from quite some height.”, I say smiling.
A smile starts to form on her face too but she stops it midway. I wish it didn’t have to be like this.
“Why are you going empty handed though?”, I ask filling the uncomfortable silence.
“I’m not. Halmeoni will be there. She’s bringing the cookies and I’m bringing my singing.”
“Yay we’ll be singing!!!”
“You’ll be coming inside?”, she asks looking perplexed.
“Of course! I want to meet all your siblings too. Plus, why would I ever miss a chance to hear you sing?”, I say rolling my eyes.
“You know you don’t have to. You don’t have to be nice to me. You can just go live your life…”, she tries to say nonchalantly but I can hear all the emotions behind it.
“I’m living my life right now. This is what makes me happy… being with you.”
“Why would you waste your time on something that has already ended? Why would you waste your time… on me?”, she asks looking frustrated.
“I think I’m old enough to know how precious my time is. I know what’s wasting time and what’s not.”, I say sounding hurt because I am. She still doesn’t realize her worth and our love’s worth and it pisses me off.
“I didn’t mean that – “, she begins to say but I interrupt to say, “I think you should shut up. You never have anything good or positive to say. Stop being a raincloud everywhere you go.”
I regret saying those words the moment they are out of my mouth. She goes silent after that.
We reach the hospital a few minutes after that.
She gets out before I get the opportunity to open her door. I grab her sleeve and say, “Look, I didn’t mean that.”
“You don’t have to apologize for saying the truth. You’re right, I’m pessimistic and I always think of all the things that can go wrong before I think of all the things that can go right. I’ve always been like that, so, I don’t take offense to anything you said because it’s all true.”, she says walking away.
“But you were the sun in my life.”, I whisper but I don’t think she hears.
I go inside and see her talking with halmeoni.
“What’s wrong Seon Ra?”, she asks.
“Nothing. Why would anything be wrong?”, Seon Ra tries to say with no emotions but fails.
I just can’t stop hurting her, can I?
“Is it because of this guy?”, asks Ms. Koo eyeing me with disgust. Yup she really hates me.
Seon Ra just shakes her head.
“What is he doing here anyway?”, she continues talking as if I’m not standing right there.
“Halmeoni, I rode her here.”, I say giving my most charming smile.
“I’m only Seon Ra’s halmeoni!”, she says linking arms with Seon Ra as they both make their way to the children laughing all the way.
I feel so left out.
As soon as she enters the room, all the children rush in to hug her. How did I even call her a raincloud? I’m such an idiot.
“Eunni (elder sister), did you write us any new songs?”, asks one of the little girls.
“Of course! You wanted me to write about your friend, right? I wrote it!”, she says hugging the little one.
“Sing to us!!!”, they all shout.
“I will, I will. First eat up.”, she says as she goes and hugs every child.
“Seon Ra, I’m leaving!”, says halmeoni after distributing all her cookies.
“Why!?”, she asks.
“I told you… my son is coming today…”, she says but she doesn’t look happy at all.
“Don’t worry. I’ll stop by for dinner as promised. I’ll be there.”, she says giving her a reassuring smile and halmeoni seems to be at ease.
“Bring him too if he wants to come.”, Ms. Koo says glancing at me.
See, she loves me.
As soon as she leaves, Seon Ra’s phone rings.
“Mrs. Kim?”, she says picking up.
Why is my mom calling her?
“Uh huh, he’s here. I’ll ask him to call you. Don’t worry.”, she says before hanging up.
“Yah! Didn’t you call your mom since yesterday night!? She’s been so worried! You showered and left without saying a word! Where is your phone anyway? Why aren’t you picking up her calls?”, she asks scolding me.
“I think I left it back at your place. I’ll call her soon.”, I say giving her an apologetic glance.
“Noona, who is he?”, asks one of the little boys.
“He is – “, she begins to say but a girl interrupts her to say, “You have such a handsome boyfriend!”.
“Yah Eun Mi! He’s just my classmate!”, she says pinching the girl’s cheeks lovingly.
“Aajushi (sir), do you like my eunni?”, asks the girl with cute pigtails.
“Ye Ji!”, she says laughing at the girl’s cuteness.
“I like her a lot. A LOT.”, I say to Ye Ji while playing with her little pigtails.
“Will you marry her?”, asks Ye Ji giving me doe eyes.
“YE JI!!!”, exclaims Seon Ra in shock. Cute.
“She doesn’t like me, only I do… it’s one sided.”, I say pouting while patting Ye Ji’s head.
“Eunni why don’t you like him?”, she asks.
“Well…. Umm… because… he’s annoying.”, she says after giving it much thought.
“Aajushi I hope you can make eunni like you too… it’s never too late.”, she says patting my head.
Kids are so cute and amazing honestly.
“I’ll try. Will you help me?”
“Nope, my loyalties are only with eunni!”, she says as she goes over to hug her eunni.
“Eunni please sing to us!!!”, exclaim all of them.
I join in too.
“Fine, fine. I wrote this song for Dal Mi’s friend, okay?”, she says handing me the guitar.
“What am I supposed to do?”, I ask confused.
“Play it because I don’t know how to. I’ll tell you the chords.”, she says not looking at me even once.
As I start playing, she starts singing. As usual, her voice does things to me it shouldn’t. The lyrics go:
Arms linked together, we roamed till the sun set,
As long as you were by my side, no pain I ever felt.
But then one day, you weren’t there to hold my hand anymore,
I could see only one set of footprints by the sea shore.
I’ll never forget you my friend, you went home way too soon,
The sun doesn’t look the same, now I tell my secrets to the moon.
But in return for all the love you gave me, all I can do is live with joy,
I’ll live for the both of us, so when we meet again, I hope the little stories I’ve lived you enjoy.
I don’t know when she stops singing, all I know is I’m crying my eyes out. Fuck. They won’t stop.
The children start applauding and hugging her.
They finally notice me and come over to hug me.

Chae Seon Ra

I know this stuff gets overwhelming especially the first time.
He won’t stop crying seriously.
“Eunni!”, shouts Eun Mi.
“Hmm?”
“You should help out aajushi.”
I just roll my eyes but I do as she says. I can’t say no to them ever.
“Taehyung, stop crying now, it’s okay.”, I say rubbing his back.
“But… her friend… died.”, he says crying even harder now.
“God will care for His angel now, we don’t have to worry anymore, she went back home.”, I say making him meet my eyes.
“Eunni!”, says Ye Ji.
“Yes?”
“I know what will make him feel better.”, she says excitedly.
“What is it?”, I ask because honestly, he’s still sniffling.
“Kiss him!”, she shouts.
These girls. They are just waiting to shoot a romantic drama right here.
“You can’t just kiss anybody Ye Ji!”, I say.
“So, you both have never kissed?”, asks Eun Mi.
“No – “, I say.
“Yes – “, says Taehyung at the same time.
“Why are you lying to the kids?”, asks Taehyung as he stops sniffling.
“I’m not. We have never… kissed!”
“Then what happened yesterday night? If it wasn’t a kiss then what was it?”, he says smirking.
Evil.
“It wasn’t! It’s something friends do!”, I say because kids won’t understand my reasoning anyways.
“Do you want me to do it again because it’s okay for friends to do it? I’m sure there’s no objection, or is there?”
“NO! I mean - it’s not necessary.”
“Show us!!!”, exclaim the children.
“You all – “, I begin to say but my mouth is sealed shut by his lips pressing on mine.
“Yay!”, exclaim the girls but it barely sounds like a whisper to me because I’m so lost in the taste and feel of his lips. I feel like my heart will spontaneously combust.
I push him away and shout, “ARE YOU CRAZY!?”
“I am. Crazy in love.”, he says smiling so beautifully that my mind suddenly forgets how to speak.
“Noona, he’s a good guy, you should marry him!”, says Kim Jung.
“Firstly, people don’t marry at 18. Secondly, I don’t like him!”, I say getting frustrated.
Kids can be frustrating too but they’re just too cute for me to be able to do anything about it.
“Then you should promise him!”
“But I don’t – “, I begin to say but I know it’s pointless to argue.
“Fine I will.”, I say because what’s the harm in it.
“Do it right now!”
“I promise.”, I say sighing.
“Say it while looking at him!”
“I promise.”, I say sparing him a glance.
“Nope this won’t work. We need to have the promise ceremony.”, says Eun Mi.
“What’s that now!?”, I say rolling my eyes.
“We might have to get married right now. Are you up for it my bride?”, says Taehyung seductively whispering in my ears and all I manage to do is gulp. The way he said my bride…
“You will have to do pinky promise.”, says Eun Mi.
Sure, why not?
We do that and he doesn’t let go of my hand.
“Let go.”, I say in a whisper lest these girls hear it.
“Eun Mi! Your eunni wants me to let go of her hand! I don’t think pinky promise will work!”, says Taehyung betraying me.
“I have an idea!”, says Ye Ji.
I am so not looking forward to it.
“What is it?”, asks Taehyung so sweetly. Of course, he’s enjoying this cruelty.
“You need to get engaged!”, she says.
“WHAT!?”, I exclaim because the idea is completely absurd.
“How should we do it? Do I go and buy us rings?”, asks Taehyung seriously consulting Ye Ji.
“No need! I’ve got you covered!”, she says as she takes out her handmade paper rings.
Even though the rings are absolutely beautiful and cute, the idea is absurd.
“I’m not doing this!”, I say crossing my arms.
“Do you want me to do what friends do then?”, says Taehyung threateningly.
“I’ll do it.”, I say readily taking the paper rings as I remember I promised him not to say ‘no’ today. Ugh.