𝐛𝐨𝐲𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝 nishimura riki ✔️

six

I had noticed Sunwoo's occasional stares in my direction, and while it initially made me uneasy, I tried my best to remain nonchalant, brushing it off as nothing significant. However, as the lecture drew to a close, I could feel a sense of urgency. I needed to escape before Sunwoo caught me again. Quietly, I gathered my belongings and began to make my way to the door, hoping to slip out unnoticed.

But of course, just as I reached the threshold, I heard a voice.

“Short-term memory?” Mr. Jo said, standing right beside me, with Riki by his side. His tone was no longer lighthearted or playful, as it often was. Instead, it was firm, almost stern.

“Follow along,” he instructed, his voice leaving no room for negotiation.

I was caught off guard, but there was no point in protesting. I reluctantly followed behind Mr. Jo, while Riki walked beside me, his presence felt even more unsettling in the tense silence. I glanced at him, confused, mouthing the word, What? He simply shrugged in response, his expression unreadable.

Just then, we were interrupted by the faint sound of a distant shout. “SUNWOO!” It was unmistakable, and I turned instinctively to see Chaeryong’s familiar face in the crowd. Of course, Sunwoo was with him.

We continued walking, the distance from the lecture hall to Mr. Jo’s office stretching on. It was a trek that seemed to take forever, each step adding to my growing sense of dread. I couldn’t help but wonder whether this meeting would be worth the fifteen-minute journey.

When we finally arrived, Mr. Jo opened the door, ushering us in with a wave of his hand. “Take a seat,” he commanded, his tone still businesslike.

Once we were all seated, Mr. Jo wasted no time getting straight to the point. “I hope you both understand that I’m extremely disappointed in you,” he began. I froze at his words, taken aback. I had never been the star student in his class—sociology was always one of the subjects I struggled with. Was this some kind of mix-up?

“Me?” Riki asked, his voice filled with confusion. He was the one who had scored a perfect mark in the recent exam. I exchanged a look with him, both of us unsure about where this conversation was headed.

Mr. Jo’s eyes narrowed as he continued, “We expect more from you two.”

I couldn’t help but voice my confusion. “Sir, I think you’re mistaken. I’ve only ever scraped through sociology with just passing grades,” I explained, trying to clear up the misunderstanding. Riki chuckled at my words, clearly amused by the whole situation. However, Mr. Jo’s glare turned sharper, silencing Riki almost immediately.

“Exactly,” Mr. Jo replied with a sense of finality, his tone laced with authority. Riki’s laughter died down as he registered the seriousness of the conversation.

“Chaewon, I find it hard to believe that you consistently score in the nineties across every subject except mine. I know you have the potential, and I expect more from you.” The statement hung in the air, and I immediately realized what he was getting at. The pressure was building, and the dread I had been feeling only intensified.

“I have a proposal,” Mr. Jo continued, “Since Riki is our section topper, I think it would benefit you if he could guide you. He can help you improve in my subject.” His gaze fixed on me, his eyes expectantly waiting for me to offer a reasonable excuse to decline such an overwhelming suggestion.

I felt a knot tighten in my stomach. I wanted to protest, to explain how I didn’t need Riki’s help, but before I could, Riki chimed in, his voice low but audible. “I don’t mind helping,” he said nonchalantly, “but her ex definitely won’t like it.”

I shot him a sharp glance, but he just shrugged, unfazed by my reaction.

Mr. Jo, ignoring the exchange between Riki and me, nodded in approval. “Alright, since no one has any objections, you can start working together from today onwards.” He paused, as if remembering something. “Oh, and one more thing—you two will be working in a group with Jake.”

I couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow at the mention of Jake’s name. “Just the three of us?” I asked, my tone both surprised and slightly incredulous.

“Yeah, you’re the last three left,” Mr. Jo replied, a hint of finality in his voice. “I don’t see any problem with that, and I’m not changing anything.”

I sighed inwardly. It was pointless to argue further. Mr. Jo had made up his mind, and there was no room for negotiation. With that, we were dismissed.

As I stood up to leave, I was surprised to see Riki waiting for me. “Trouble in paradise?” he asked, his tone teasing.

I rolled my eyes, unable to hold back a small smirk. “Yeah, you,” I replied dryly.

Riki let out an exaggerated gasp, feigning offense. “Ooooh, smooth, bitch,” he said with a laugh, clearly enjoying himself far too much.

I shot him a glare. We weren’t exactly best friends, and his choice of words was nothing short of irritating.

“Woah, chill. That’s a compliment,” he added quickly, realizing that I wasn’t taking it in the humorous spirit he intended. I could tell he was struggling to hold back laughter, his eyes glinting mischievously.

I narrowed my eyes at him. “Laugh all you want,” I muttered, trying to keep my cool, “but my time will come soon.”

With that, I turned and walked away, leaving Riki to catch up as I made my way out of the building. Whatever was coming next, I knew it was only the beginning.