REMEMBER ME?

ACT ONE: CHAPTER EIGHT

-SEVENTEEN YEARS AGO-

Woojin watched Saafeyah fully immersed in the task.

Amongst the forest sounds, all that could be heard was the occasional clicking of the key board.

After the lesson finished with the completed screen and little sound, Saafeyah smiled proudly looking at Woojin. He too smiled stroking her head.

The action making Saafeyah's heart beat a bit faster.

He started coming every week to meet Saafeyah.

She sucked at painting. Writing wasn't her strong point either. He thought he'd led her take a kids programming course and she was doing really well.

Woojin just thought she was a genius.

"Thank you for letting me do this every week," she thanked him for the millionth time. Saafeyah was so thankful that he was encouraging.

He believed in her.

"When you're really rich and famous, I'll charge my kindness."

"I'll pay you back for real," Saafeyah smiled showing off her gap from her freshly fallen tooth.

"What happened to your mouth," Woojin gasped finally noticing the gap. "Did someone hit you?"

"No Woosung, it was a milk tooth. Ms Sam said they're meant to fall because I'm becoming a big girl," she beamed proudly.

"Well did the tooth fairy visit at all?"

"Nope," she shook her head. "It hasn't visited all week... I hope she comes."

He knew the tooth fairy was fake. Both his parents were alphas which meant they couldn't care less. They told him straight up when his first tooth fell that the tooth fairy wasn't real.

But he wanted to keep the fantasy alive for the young girl.

Woojin dug into his pocket pulling out a forgotten hundred dollar bill. He just saw money so often he forgot where he put what and where.

"Of course she hasn't because, she told me to give this to you," he told her placing the bill on her hand. "I'm her helper."

Saafeyah stared at the note feeling tears pricking her eyes. It felt like it had been so long since anyone had gotten her something.

"Thank you Woosung," she sniffled hugging the boy. "I'm so glad you're here. I promise I'll save it forever and ever and ever."

And he felt like a complete times like this when she was being so genuine for lying about something as small as his name.
...

Woojin dusted off his trousers preparing to leave. His parents didn't really question in detail why he needed to be at the orphanage all day on a Sunday.

Eunbyeol just knew she had given birth to a peculiar child and she would rather leave him alone. As long as he wasn't engaging in violent behaviour... which he did sometimes... the woman was happy.

"Do you have to go," Saafeyah pouted looking at her friend. "You really don't have to... there's spare beds!"

"I know kiddo," he sadly smiled, "I wish we could spend more time together but, I'll come next week again."

She did this every time. And every time it pained Woojin.

"I'll ask Ms Sam to get you night essentials," she tried offering holding on to Woojin's sleeve so he wouldn't continue getting ready. "You can take my bed and I'll sleep on the floor."

"Saafeyah, we talked about this before. I'll come again next week, you know I will."

The response only made Saafeyah feel deflated. And Woojin hated to see her look like a puppy that had been kicked.

"What if we hold hands until the end of the forrest," he offered. The compromise making Saafeyah's face almost split from how wide her grin was.

"You can't take your hand away even if I get clammy!"
...

"What do you be doing on weekends," Bryson asked giving his friend the side eye. "Your parents said you were out when I went to ask for you."

"Minding my business," Woojin responded getting his textbooks out. "You should try."

Bryson rolled his eyes already knowing his friend was bitchy and mean. But they were still childhood friends so unfortunately they had to stick together.

"Okay... bitch," the young boy murmured with a sigh. "Guess someone pissed on your cereal."

"Anyways, have you guys watched this week's episode of Dragonball?! It sooo good," Armani exclaimed clapping his hands.

Before any of the boys could return his excitement, the class bully decided to dump milk onto Woojin's desk. The action making Armani and Bryson jump. They were infuriated.

Despite being from an affluent family, kids in school tried to mess with Woojin because he hasn't manifested his secondary gender.

Most kids his age had manifested. So even if he could afford to buy someone's life, he couldn't help that the process had been slower for him.

And that really annoyed him.

The whole thing had escalated into a loud argument between Woojin's friends and the group of bullies. Woojin himself could feel his head boil until it became surprisingly clear and quiet.

Both his head and his environment.

Because Woojin punched the main bully's face. Everyone in the classroom was quiet. So quiet you could hear a pin drop... before the two groups of boys descended into what could only be described as a brawl. Teachers heard the commotion and came rapidly to separate the boys.

Armani, Bryson and Woojin had a few scratches but the three boys took satisfaction in messing up the other boys more. Their mother's were extremely upset but the boys were proud.

"Thank you guys for helping me," Woojin whispered whilst the principal spoke with their mothers.

"They were the ones starting on you, we just finished it," Bryson expressed. "Plus they think they're IT... we are."

Armani and Woojin snickered at their friend earning a pointed look from Bryson's mother. She cleared her throat warning the boys to shut up.

And Bryson's mom was a black mother so they for sure kept quiet for the remainder of the meeting.

Tired of hearing the principal speech, Woojin's mother took action into her own hand.

"Mr Stevens, you know our boys are good boys," the woman smiled pulling out her chequebook, "I'm sure we can work this out in a way that makes everyone happy. I saw that the courtyard is looking very bare... how can we help decorate?"