Exchange Student || PURINZ

chapter 8

HUH YUNJIN

it was about 9:38am when I woke up, and I groaned. I didn't like to be suspended, I hate that I got suspended. Who is going to protect Chaewon from Wonyoung now? What if she hurts her? I climb out of bed and go downstairs, to find my mom sitting at the dining room table, reading her book.

"Morning" I say, my voice raspy and sleepy sounding. "Morning sweetheart" she says. "Chaewon went to school?" I ask. "Yep, she's a great student you know?" My mom says. "Yeah" I say, sitting down across from her with my glass of orange juice. "Sweetheart, we need to talk about something" My mom says, putting the bookmark in her book and closing it, the she looks at me.

"Ok, what is it?" I say. "it's about Chaewon" my mom says, my heart speeds up it's pace. What could my mom possibly have to say about Chaewon, the girl who's made her way into my h- no I can't think like that. "What about her?" I say, folding my arms across my chest, leaving back in my chair. "She wants to go visit her friends and family in Korea" My mom says. I sigh, but it's what she wants.

"Ok, but why are you telling me this?" I ask. "We're informing you before she leaves, so that way you two can say goodbye, until she comes back of course" My mom says. It's sweet that my mom is doing this. But now I have to wait until after school to say it.

__

I had just finished doing dishes and cleaning the whole house. Then I hear the front door open and Chaewon walks in, followed by Kazuha. "Hey Jen" Kazuha says, smiling as she sits down at my dining table. "Hey, Zuha" I reply. Meanwhile Chaewon looks a bit stressed as she sits down next to Kazuha. "Chae, you okay?" I say, sitting down across from them.

"No" She says quietly, putting her head down on the table. "Wonyoung says this whole situation between you and her is not over" Kazuha says. "Well let her do something, I would hesitate to beat her face in. Chaewon looks up. "Please don't do that, you could get expelled" Chaewon says. "Relax, it's only if she tries something" I say.

Kazuha just sits there in silence. "If it's alright with you, I only walked with Chaewon home so I gotta go, bye" Kazuha says, then stands up with her bag over her shoulder and she leaves my house, leaving me and Chaewon alone. Chaewon sits in silence, her head on the table again. I remember what my parents told me earlier about Chaewon's decision to visit her friends and family in Korea.

I take a deep breath. "Hey Chae" I say softly. She looks up at me. "Yes" she replies softly. "My mom told me about you wanting to go visit your family in Korea" I say. Chaewon's eyes widen a bit, then pink flushes on her cheeks. "I-" I interrupt her before she can start. "It's okay, I understand what? Did you think I would get mad?" I say. She sighs and then speaks again.

"I don't want to make you sad but Sakura along with my Sister Yena asked when I was going to see them in persona again" She says, looking down at her hands on the table, fiddling with her fingers. "No, Chae, sure I'm sad but I understand and it's you family, why should stop you from seeing them" I say, taking her hand in mine. I can see her cheeks turning red as she blushes. "U-uh t-thanks" She stutters as she speaks. I gotta admit, she's adorable. I chuckle softly.

"Of course" I reply, then our hands pull away from each other. "Um I-I'm going t-to g-go to m-my r-room" she stutters again, her cheeks are now as red as a tomato. I chuckle softly. "Call me if you need anything" I say, she smiles and turns around with her bag, and heads up to her room. I watched as she disappears to the top of the stairs. Then I start to wonder.

I think I'm whipped for this girl

KIM CHAEWON

I go upstairs to my room and immediately close the door behind me. I was blushing really hard. Jeez I can never catch a break, can I? I walked over to my desk and plugged my phone in, because it was only on 4%. Then I sat down and unzipped my bag, taking out my homework, a notebook and a few glitter pens and led pencils. I like to keep my note looking sorta cute. I just like it, I always have.

I connect my airpods to my phone and I start listening to this song. Perfect Night. It's in English, which kinda helps my learning of the language. But it's also really catchy and like Yunjin says, "It's a bop".

As I'm doing my math homework and lipsyncing to my playlist. My phone pings. Who could be texting me? I grab my phone and look at the text. It's from Yunjin's mom.

Ms. Huh: I just got you a plane ticket for a month from today, is that ok?

She's kind, even when she doesn't need to be.

Chaewon: no no it's ok, perfect actually

Ms. Huh: thank you, I don't want you to be upset

I reply with a smiley face emoji and I go back to my homework and my lipsyncing. But right when I go back to my homework. The song changes to a song I have never heard before.

I look at the song title and the artist. Wannabe? Never heard it.

I shrug and continue my homework