edge ; knj

ix

nine

All night my thoughts ricocheted from Yerin to Jung Ah to Taeran to Jung Ah to dinky dick to Jung Ah. Suffice to say, I didn't get any sleep, which was actually quite typical during my high school years. Sleep was something that eluded me. Mom never slept well either. While I'd be up studying, she would roam around the house waiting up for my father, who was unapologetic about his many late nights and meetings.

"I can't let these people down," was Dad's typical excuse, "they need me."

Hyungeun was shouting early this morning. "Let's GO!" she yelled.

"There are only four days of school," I reminded her. "We can be late for once."

I was in no hurry to get to school. If anything, for the first time in my life, I was dreading it. If one more person called me dinky dick, i would lose it.

"Let's go!!" Hyungeun yelled, again.

"In a minute," I shouted back.

The drive to school was typical. Hyungeun and I fighting over which radio stations to listen to.

There was a green car parking in my usual parking spot. Again. I was forced to park in the street.

When Hyungeun got out of the car, she threw her apple at me. As I finished the apple, I sat there, wondering who was out to get me and why. What kind of asshole would target me like that?

The closer I got to the green car that took my parking spot, the more pissed I became. Without giving it a second thought, I tossed the apple core through the open window. Before it even landed, I regretted my move. Just as I was about to retrieve it, I heard someone say, "Hey, Namjoon."

Startled, I looked up. It was Taeran- and Kisun wasn't there. I grinned. It was about time we talked.

"Taeran!!" I cried, slapping him on the back.

Taeran looked miserable. "Just checking to see how you're doing," he said. "And to warn you."

"Warn me about what?"

"Word around campus is that whoever did the flyers isn't done with you yet."

I could feel my face heat up. "What have you heard?"

Taeran shook his head. "Seriously, that's all I know. It's just a rumor, but watch your back. Look, I gotta go. I can't be seen talking to you."

"You're joking right?" I said, "Taeran, we've been best friends forever."

He looked like he was on the verge of tears. "I know," he said, "But I'm getting married to Kisun and not you."

I never thought Kisun and Taeran would last as a couple.

When Yerin and I first got together, I gave us six months, tops. After six months, I gave us another three months, then another, and another, until suddenly two years, four months and seven days had passed. During the last year, I was determined to break up with Yerin, but had never gotten around to it. What I had never imagined was that breaking up with Yerin, meant breaking up with Taeran too.

~

Most of the offending flyers were gone, except for a few strays that I tore down. However, that didn't stop people from mocking me. It was as if everyone had suddenly been given permission to let loose. Guys were now calling me Dinky Dick, or just Dinky, but we all knew what that meant. Most of the girls glared at me, but I think that was more because of the breakup, than the flyers. You know how when people break up, their friends take sides? Well, it felt like the entire school took Yerin's side.

I looked at my list of suspects. I had narrowed the list down to five. There were five in total. Five people who would have loved to see me fall on my face.

Mr. Kang

Jiwon

Yerin

Kisun

And . . .

Taeran