Calm Down ~ Jeong Jaehyun

~ 3 ~

Why was he just waiting outside, like did he really need a tutor that bad?

"Hey Nari," He said as he walked towards me.
Seriously- who did Jaehyun think he was?
"Hi?" I said to him with a questioning tone.
"What- I can't say hi to you or something?" He asked.

"Wha- no? I mean- why are you just... here. Didn't you have a class before this? Like... don't you have anything to do after school or something?"

"Well, I don't think it's weird to visit my tutor."

"...I'm only your tutor for one session. After I help you once, I doubt I'll help you again."

"Yeah whatever- we'll see about that later. Anyways- are you going to walk home now?"

"...Yeah? Why?"

"Well, don't we live near each other? Let's walk home together then."

"No offense but- I'd rather not walk with yo-"

"Alright! Let's get going then. You live in the other complex right?"

"... Yeah," I said with a sigh. This guy really didn't know how to take no for an answer.

And so I embarked on my journey!
A walk home with Jeong Jaehyun!
What could go wrong?

(The answer is: a lot. A lot of things could go wrong)

We started walking out of the school, tense air filling our lungs.
It was so awkward. I really had no clue why he wanted to walk with me.

"So... badminton?" Jaehyun asked me.
"Yeah. Soccer?"
"Yup," He said as he walked backwards so that he could face me. "So, how long have you been playing? I didn't know you were on the team," He said.
"I've been playing since I was eight. But the school only plays for the spring- I play for a club. Like I play for the school, but that's just for extra practice," I explained. I don't know why I had started talking to him so freely, I wasn't close to him in any way.

"Oh that's fun. You've lived in the same complex since you moved here right? I remember when you moved in. My mom made me go over to give you guys some side dishes- do you remember that?"

"Oh yeah- I do remember that. And yes- I'm still in the same apartment."

"Did you move from Seoul or something?"

"Oh- I actually moved from the U.S."

Jaehyun stopped in his tracks and just looked at me, somewhat surprised.
"You're American?"

"I mean- I guess? I call myself Korean if that's what you're asking though."

"No- I get that but... I just thought Americans were more entertaining."

"Oh."

"...Well- I have to take left up there, but I had a reason to walk with you today-" Jaehyun said as he started walking again.
"When should we do the whole tutoring thing. I know I sound desperate, but that's because I'm doing really bad in math- and I need to keep up certain grades if I want my athletic offer and SNU to stay on the table."

"I didn't know you had an offer there- I mean... I didn't know you were that good at soccer."

"Oh-" Jaehyun said as he rubbed his hand over his neck awkwardly. "I don't think I'm that good, but I'm just glad I got the opportunity."

"Jaehyun- you don't need to give me your rehearsed speech. Just say you're good and move on- don't give me the whole sappy 'I'm grateful' speechl," I said as I laughed.
The one time I needed Jaehyun to respond, he didn't. Instead he just stared at me, interested.