Teach Me - Jenlisa G!P

CHAPTER 3 - School Project

I'm jolted awake by Henry, the house butler, banging on my bedroom door.

"Miss Kim, it's time to wake up if you want to be on time for school," he calls, his voice echoing through the room.

The scent hits me next-pancakes and roasted duck with maple syrup. My favourite...

A pathetic attempt from Grandma to pretend yesterday never happened.

"Not now," I groan, rubbing my dry, burning eyes. I appreciate Henry waking me every morning, but today? I honestly couldn't care less about going to uni.

Yesterday feels like a nightmare I'm still trapped in.

Last night was awful. I cried until my entire body felt hollow, and when I finally dozed off, it was only to wake again at 3 a.m. to the sound of my mother knocking on my door. Her voice soft, exhausted, begging me to open up. But I couldn't. Not after she sat there silently letting Grandma betroth me like some bargaining chip.

So I stayed awake all night.

I slowly pull myself out of bed and walk to the mirror.
I grimace at my reflection—swollen red eyes, tear-stained skin, hair sticking out in every direction. A total disaster.

I step into the shower, letting the warm water pound against my skin, as I shampoo my hair, my thoughts drift—unexpectedly—to Lisa.

Different. Rude. Annoying. And somehow intriguing.
She's the first—and the last—person who has ever dared to call me a bitch to my face. And she didn't say it with malice... more like she wasn't intimidated by me at all.

I don't know how I feel about that.

As I exit my room Henry is waiting in the hallway.

"Miss, your car is charged and ready for departure," he informs me, then his eyes flicker down my outfit. Concern flashes across his face - real concern, not judgment.

"Hmm... Miss Kim," he begins gently, "I shan't pry, but if your grandmother saw you in that outfit, she'd be beside herself."

I shrug.

Today, I don't have it in me to care.
About Grandma.
About her rules.
About anything.

"So what?" I say, a spark of defiance in my voice.

"She's already marrying me off. She's getting what she wants. I'm not her problem anymore."

Henry doesn't reply, but the sadness in his eyes says enough.

I walk past him and step outside, the cold air hitting me in the face. I unlock my Tesla, slide into the driver's seat, and start the engine. I always carpool with Rose, Irene, and Nayeon, so I head straight toward Rose's place.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 "Hey, guys !" I call out as I spot Rose, Irene and Nayeon waiting for me at the traffic light.

"You okay, bestie?" Rose asks, concern evident in her voice as she reaches for the passenger door handle. "You got that call from your mom and left in a rush. Not to be rude, but you look like a mess," she says in her Australian accent.

"Thanks," I reply sarcastically, not wanting to burden her with my troubles right now. 

"Good morning!" Nayeon chirps brightly, "Ugh, you're being so loud," Irene groans. 

She's never been a morning person.

"So, remember what happened yesterday between you and Lisa? What was that?" Nayeon probes, her curiosity getting the better of her." She was totally out of order calling you a bitch, but I mean, you did talk trash about her," Nayeon babbles on, oblivious to the tension in the air.