To the Good Days

Chapter 11: B, my big brother.

Flashback to when I was in high school. My friends, Minjoo, Erin and Eunhye and I were all sitting at a table in the common area. We were in between classes and night studies, that started at 5:30 pm, and it was 4:26 pm right now. Since we are in our third year, the testing and course material has been challenging, especially if you are in the OSP, or Over Seas Program to go to school abroad. All of us are in OSP so we had extra course work to do than those not in it. Right now we were just de-stressing from regular classes, talking about how much homework we have, what our plans are for the weekend, dramas, music, etc.

*aish, I'm so hungry. I skipped lunch to work on calculus homework. Can we get something to eat before night studies?* Minjoo complained.

The rest of us laughed. *Minjoo, you are always hungry.* Eunhye pointed put, *but I could use a snack for studies.*

So we agree and pack up our books before heading out to the corner store. The girls get shrimp chips and rice balls, while I get some spicy kimbap, that will hold me off until I get home. We shiver on our walk back since its starting to get cold. Some guys run past us and accidentally hit Erin with their shoulders. She tumbles to the ground with an 'oof'.

*yah!* I yell to catch the attention of the still running boys. They ignore me and the shouts from my friends. Erin stands up and brushes off her skirt, *I'm okay. Forget those boys. We have to get to night studies. * she tries to persuade us, but it's not use.
I jog after them, reaching them quickly because of my long legs. I tap one of them on the shoulder.

*이제 그만. (ije geuman) you pushed my friend, without apologizing.* I say sternly to the younger students. Instead of respecting the older student that I am, they completely ignore and snicker at my request. If there's on thing I hate more than people disrespecting their parents, is when people make a mockery of my friends. I start to get mad and demand them to right their wrong.

*Look Hwanchul, this exchange student is trying to tell us what to do.* one student mocks.

I can tell these are first year high school students because of the way they were disrespecting Erin and I, but I was not about to stoop down to their level of ignorance. This type of thing happens in occasion from younger students. Just because we're different doesn't mean were automatically exchange students. It's annoying rather.

*Oh I'm an exchange student. Funny. Never heard that one before. Now tell me why this exchange student using better Hangul than native speakers? And using respectful addresses when talking to those younger than me. * I retort back in my most formal tense. My friends walk up behind me, arms crossed.

*you better apologize before I tell my aunt what you did.* Eunhye pipes. Her aunt is the Secretary to the headmaster.  The boys' eyes widen and quickly bow 90° while apologizing. We triumphantly laugh while they run away in fear.

*thank you for defending me girls! I don't know what I'd do without you!* Erin gushed. "Emily. I know what they said bugs you and I'm sorry. " she says to me in English, knowing the severity of the remark. I just smile and wave it off. We jog back to our classroom for night studies that were about to start.

Why I hate being called an exchange student is just something that irks me, not so much Erin. I could understand a stranger mistaking me as an exchange student,but when its voluntarily used against me, that's a different story. It's like the some students never see me as anything but a foreigner. When it's used to degrade me and my other friends, like we shouldn't be accepted. I've lived in Seoul for almost 6 years now, but some things never change. It just something I really cant put into words, like I hate the disrespect and the disassociation of community within our school.

The final bell goes off signifying the end of night studies. I stand up and stretch my joints after sitting for so long. I put my coat and scarf on before leaving the classroom to meet up with the girls. We talk as we exit the school and walk down the block to the subway station. After waiting for a little, the train finally pulls up and we get on. The first to get off was Minjoo, then Erin. Eunhye and I live closer to each other so we have a longer journey. We get off at the same spot before I get on a bus for the final part of my journey. After the bus I have a 5 to 10 minute walk depending on how tired I am.
I get off and see a figure standing at the light pole at the stop. I hesitantly walk by when the figure comes out of the shadows.

"BRENDAN!" I shout and I hug my big brother.

" Hey little sister. How's it going?" He says while hugging me back. " I'm home on a small break from school." He tells me before i even open my mouth. I smile as we walk back to the house. I tell him about my classes, how my college search is going and how life is in general.

After we got home, I said hello to parents who were falling asleep on the couch. My sister was already in bed and Brendan came with me because I needed some help with my Spanish assignments and since my parents made him take Spanish instead of French, he was the perfect tutor. So we talked just about life while cramming for a test.

"Hey B?" I asked. He hums in response as he checks my work. " I missed you. I miss talking to you all the time."

" I missed you too Em. You know, I'm always a phone call or text away. Screw international charges. " I chuckle at my brother's rebellious outburst to living overseas. "If you need help with homework, talk about mom and dad or just life in general, you can always count on me. just because I'm your big brother. " he says with sincerity.

"Don't get all sappy in me B." I mockingly scold him, " but I appreciate it. Thanks for being my best friend who doesn't have a choice." I smile. 

"Yeah Yeah, now its your turn to not get sappy." he laughs. We get back to my homework, so we can go to sleep at  reasonable enough time. 

Now back to present day, I miss my brother the most out of everyone I think. He is still one of my best friends, involuntarily of course. hes been there for me when no one else has. He was the first family member I told when Namjoon and I started dating, he was there for me when I struggling with things in college, and he always looks out for me. Like when I first moved to Korea the second time, he called or texted me just as much as my  parents, even though he was busy with his  own life. Not everyone has this type of relationship with their older siblings, but every once in a while siblings to get along. My family is that small percentage.

I wake up next Namjoon's sleeping face. I pick up my phone and slowly walk out of the room. I dial my brother's number and wait as the numbers dial. At about the last ring, which is typical for Brendan, he picks up, 

"Hey Em. How's my sister doing? it's been a while. Everything alright?" 

so there is chapter 11. I decided to do another flashback, just to give some more background, i guess. i hope everything makes sense. Enjoy reading. BD