Whispers Of The Unseen

Chapter 14 - Haerin's POV: No Promises, No Problem

The trash can seemed to mock me, a seemingly insurmountable obstacle standing between me and the note I had placed there earlier. I tried to focus on the worksheet in front of me, but my thoughts were consumed by that crumpled piece of paper. It was such a simple thing, yet the weight of my desire to have Minji read it was heavy on my mind.

Time seemed to drag on, and I watched as other students began submitting their work to Professor Minji. Her smile and interactions with them were a stark contrast to the tension brewing inside me. I knew what I needed to do, and the anticipation was driving me crazy.

With an exasperated sigh, I pushed my worksheet aside. The questions were probably wrong anyway, and right now, that was the least of my concerns. I stood up, my decision resolute. I glided toward Minji's desk, my heart racing as I set my work on her desk with a thud.

As the other students cast curious glances my way, I moved toward the trash can. In my determination, I held it up as if it were a trophy. I could feel the weight of their gazes on me, but I didn't care. My focus was singular, my mission clear—to retrieve that note and place it where it belonged.

My fingers fumbled as I rummaged through the trash. With a triumphant grin, I finally found the crumpled paper and yanked it out. The act was bold, daring, and I could practically feel Minji's eyes on me, even though I didn't dare look in her direction.

I placed the note on Minji's desk and carefully replaced the trash can, trying to regain some semblance of dignity. Ignoring the incredulous and judgmental stares, I returned to my seat, attempting to appear nonchalant despite the adrenaline that still coursed through me.

Minji's gaze was the next challenge I faced. Her eyes held a mix of surprise, curiosity, and something I couldn't quite decipher. She picked up the note and began to read it, her expression betraying none of her thoughts. When she folded it and tucked it into her pocket, I met her gaze, my heartbeat quickening. What was she thinking? What did the note mean to her?

As the bell rang, signaling the end of the class, everyone started packing up and getting ready to leave. I kept my eyes on Minji, watching her gather her stuff with a composed demeanor.

She came over to my desk, and my heart started racing. This was the moment I'd been waiting for—the moment when we'd finally talk about that note. She stood in front of me, her expression hard to read. Our eyes locked, and I held my breath, waiting for her to say something.

"Hey, Haerin," she started, her voice steady and calm. There was a hint of amusement in her eyes. I tilted my head, wondering what she was going to say next.

"Is expressing yourself like that a good thing or a bad thing?" I asked, curious about her take on it.

Minji's lips curved into a slight smile, and I sensed a warmth in her response. "It's a bit of both, but mostly, it's intriguing." She paused, her gaze searching mine. "I can't give you what you want right now, but it's something we can work on."

"How long do I have to be friends with Danielle?" I blurted out.

Minji chuckled, a glint of amusement in her eyes. "As long as you can. It's not about completing a task; it's about having a real connection."

I didn't get why having a friend was such a big deal. I'd been doing fine on my own, gliding solo all this time. "Why do I need a friend now?"

Minji's smile softened. "Sometimes, life surprises us and brings people into our path when we least expect it. For now, get to class before someone sees you."

I shrugged my bag onto my shoulder, standing up. "Fine, but I'm not promising not to cause any trouble."

Minji smirked. "I wouldn't expect anything less."

With a grin, I headed out of the classroom, the weight of our conversation lingering in my mind. Friends, unexpected connections, and the promise of something more interesting—it seemed like my world was shifting in ways I hadn't anticipated.

🐸

Yeah, my attempt to keep my promise of not causing any trouble failed almost as soon as it began. As I left Minji's class, I found myself surrounded by the familiar buzz of the school hallway. Students chatted and laughed, oblivious to my presence as I glided through the crowd.

I had intended to head straight to my next class, but a mischievous thought crossed my mind. The water fountain was just around the corner, and I knew it was a perfect spot for a little harmless chaos. Grinning to myself, I turned the corner and spotted the water fountain—a regular white basin with a button to activate it. Simple, but effective.

Waiting for the right moment when nobody was looking, I quickly hit the button and stepped back, watching as a jet of water shot out from the fountain. A surprised yelp followed by a burst of laughter echoed down the hallway as a student who had been standing nearby got an unexpected spray.

Giggling to myself, I glanced around, trying to stay inconspicuous. But as the laughter continued, I realized I might have drawn a bit more attention than I'd intended. In a swift motion, I turned on my heel, ready to glide away and avoid being caught in the act.

Just as I was about to make my escape, I felt a hand on my shoulder. My heart skipped a beat, and I turned to find Minji standing there, her expression a mixture of amusement and mild disapproval.

"Caught you, didn't I?" she said, her lips quirking up in a half-smile.

I shrugged, not even bothering to feign innocence. "Yeah, well, I did promise to keep things interesting."

Minji shook her head, but there was a glint of amusement in her eyes. "You definitely know how to do that." She let out a soft sigh. "Just... try not to get into too much trouble, okay?"

I nodded, though my grin betrayed the fact that I was already planning my next escapade. "Sure thing, Professor."

With that, I gave her a playful salute and glided away, leaving her shaking her head in both amusement and exasperation. The hallway was my playground, and with every turn, there was a new opportunity to inject a little chaos into the ordinary routine of school life. After all, who said being a "freak" couldn't be a whole lot of fun?