Mirage

12

Nothing could surpass the joy in Kim Sunwoo other than the empty seat next to him in all classes. It had been two days in a row his seatmate was absent and he absolutely did not mind - at all.

It was a freedom that finally had come back to him.

No one would be bugging him at early in the morning, nor interrupting his nap and the most important no one would be trailing after him wherever he went.

But, Sunwoo seemed had forgotten that sometimes happiness did not last long.

"Kim Sunwoo!"

The loud voice screaming for his name immediately woke him up from his slumber, his head flew up from the table he had been laid on, eyes bulging out.

He would definitely get a headache a while later.

Upon meeting the flaring eyes of Ms.Park - the english teacher, he knew he was in a trouble.

"How dare you sleep in my class?" the young teacher cupped her waist, glaring at the boy from the whiteboard.

"I'm sorry," the apology surely did not sound genuine as Ms.Park scoffed, scooting closer to his desk next.

Sunwoo must say, though he had gotten used to be yelled at in almost every classes, it did scare him when a teacher was coming closer.

He had prepared himself mentally maybe to be beaten. His eyes were already shut awaiting for the impact, but none had come.

Slowly he open his eyes again, looking up at the female teacher who was towering him. She embodied a mad monster with a raised brow as she looked down at him.

It was then Ms.Park placed about half centimeter tall stacked papers on his table which made him questioning what was that for.

Did she want to punish him by reading? That was bad.

"You have to send this notes to Haeun."

That was even worst, too worst that he felt his heart stopped beating.

"Why?" he whined, stomping his feet under the table in which Ms.Park hit him on the back.

"You are his seatmate, no?" the female teacher pointing towards the vacant seat next to him. This time Sunwoo could not deny, he just nodded, unwillingly. "She has been absent for two days. As a good friend, you have to help her out."

The boy, he unknowingly scoffed.

First, friend? Who said they were friends?

Second, was this a special treatment? When anyone else was absent, no teachers were aware to spare some notes for their students.

Why Kim Haeun was treated differently?

"What a teacher's pet," he said lowly but not inaudible for Ms. Park to hear.

"Be nice to your friend, Sunwoo," the teacher sighed, the tone in her voice portraying some sorts of pity.

What was that about?

As much as he wanted to retaliate, his mouth seemed had been sealed from questioning more. Something was playing at the back of his mind. 

That one certain day, Eric also had told him to be nice to Haeun, and now Ms.Park also had said the same thing.

Right there, the interrupting thought suddenly had been washed away as soon as Eric's name crossed in his mind.

"Eric," he bit his lip, smiling to himself.

And that was how he found himself standing in front of the class that felt so different, that had brought foreign vibe and made him looked so dumb - if that was valid.

"No," Eric crossed his arms, not even hesitated to reject the proposal from Sunwoo.

"Why?!" the other boy sternly asked, eyes almost coming out from its socket.

He did earn those looks from the other elite students inside the classroom whose stares were piercing through his skull. Sunwoo literally had interrupted their study time.

Jia was one of them. However, when she noticed that the boy was Kim Sunwoo, she sneakily stepped out to join the intense talk.

"I have to attend an academy, it was opposite from Haeun's neighborhood," Eric shook his head, glancing over Jia by the door.

Now the girl seemed to understand what was happening.

"Then you can go, right!" Sunwoo pointed to the girl, having her mind halted. "I don't even know where she lives. So, it's better for you to pass these notes to her."

Jia definitely could help, but why must she help?

"I'm sorry but I also can't," her brows furrowed, a very not so genuine apologetic look. "But I can give you her address."

At that, Eric was taken aback. He was questioning her through a gaze but then softened when Jia softly shook her head, asking him to be silent.

Much to Sunwoo's hatred, here he was standing in front of a luxurious neighborhood where the address brought him to.

He circling in the same position in which a bitter yet heavy scoff escaping his lips.

"What a spoiled kid."

The whole thing he saw right now really had concreted his speculation about her. That explained how she always had new branded shoes on her feet to school.

Rich kid who thought she could get anything she wanted - not his type at all.

It was then, Sunwoo found himself ringing a bell on one of the tall gates. It took about couple of minutes until it widely opened, revealing a girl who seemed as shock as he was.

For Sunwoo, he was startled to see the girl in a different state from what he used to see.

She was in a comfy outfit, a knitted cardigan wrapped around her body and her long hair was tied loosely. Her face was pale, too pale to call her a human.

But for Haeun, she was taken aback to see Sunwoo there in front of her house. Unknowingly the corner of her lips lifted, the giddy feeling inside her was electrifying.

"Fancy to see you Sunwoo. Miss me?" she sprung on her feet, shyly smiling at him which then he left her stunned when he retaliated.

"Wake up Kim Haeun."