his secret | woosan

ten

after arriving home, a wave of relief washed over me as i spotted my mother bustling in the kitchen, preparing lunch. glancing around the familiar surroundings, it felt as though i had returned after an eternity. so much had changed in my life, and it had all happened so quickly that i struggled to process it all. the new school wasn't half bad, although the coursework was more demanding than what i was used to. despite that, i was managing to keep up with my studies and was performing well overall.

the students at the school were a mixed bag—mostly rude and entitled, with a few exceptions. san was one of them. he seemed similar to the rest but had shown signs of liking me. and i liked him too, especially after the day i had my first kiss with him. my cheeks flushed at the memory, and i shook my head to clear it.

i took off my dark blue uniform jacket and casually tossed it onto the couch before making my way down the hallway toward the kitchen. the sizzle of something delicious cooking greeted me as i approached. sneaking up behind my mom, who stood a head shorter than me, i wrapped my arms around her. she jumped in surprise at my touch, then chuckled softly. "i didn't even hear you come in!"

i laughed, resting my cheek against her shoulder. "is lunch almost ready? i'm starving." glancing around, i saw her stirring chicken pieces in the pan. she shrugged, her gaze still on the food. "it'll be ready once you come downstairs after changing out of your uniform." i could sense her smirk. letting out a sigh, i headed back upstairs to swap my uniform for an old dark red t-shirt and grey sweatpants.

i spent the rest of the afternoon over lunch with my mom, recounting my experiences at the new school. she expressed concern about me making friends, but i reassured her with a white lie, telling her everything was fine and that i had already made a couple of friends. guilt gnawed at me for not being completely honest, but i didn't want her worrying about me.

once evening fell and my mom left for her shift, i went back to my room upstairs. i decided to unwind with some music while finishing up my history homework. i liked to finish my homework early so that i could study ahead for my classes on the weekends. the teacher had asked us to read a chapter and answer all its questions by monday. seemed straightforward enough.

— [5:40 PM]

i was finishing up the last question of my homework when my concentration was abruptly broken by the buzz of my phone. glancing at the screen, i saw a mass message: someone had added our entire grade to a group chat. intrigued, i opened the message to find an invitation to a party at 8 tonight. parties already? the school year had just begun.

the group chat buzzed with excitement and anticipatory messages directed at a guy named jongho. i presumed he was one hosting this party. i muted the chat and was about to set my phone aside when another ping drew my attention—a message from san.

san: i'll pick you up. text me your address and be ready by 7:30.

my heart skipped a beat at his words. did this mean he wanted me to go with him? i hesitated, uncertain about attending. parties weren't exactly my scene; the noise and crowds made me anxious. but, i didn't want to let him down or make him feel rejected, so nervously, i just asked...

wooyoung: do i have to go?

san's response was swift.

san: no.

san: but, i'll be there.

i paused, considering his words. was he subtly encouraging me to join because he would be there, or was he simply informing me? taking a moment to consider my options, i realized i needed to socialize more, make new friends, and get to know more people at this school. the party seemed like the perfect opportunity for that. even though the idea of being around drunk teenagers made me nervous, i couldn't gather the courage to say no to san. he was being nice by offering me a ride, and i had a feeling he hoped i would join him.

wooyoung: my address is 42 oaktree avenue. i'll be ready.

san: good.

setting my phone down, i exhaled deeply, a surge of nerves coursing through me. i had no idea what to expect from this party. what should i wear? what exactly would i do there? i needed to blend in and avoid standing out awkwardly. and how would i even go about making friends in such a setting? these questions raced through my mind, making me anxious. but as long as san was by my side, i hoped everything would be okay.

i returned to my homework, determined to finish it quickly and prepare myself for whatever the evening had in store.