Chapter Five
A Ra's POV
"Anneonghaseayo Mrs Park. How are you today? Have you taken your medicine?" I asked my 50-year-old neighbour when I saw her at her front door.
After I got discharged from the hospital, I went straight home, knowing that there was a ton of assignments at home that I had to complete. I was glad that Mark left his stuff behind with me because those stuffs turned out to be useful.
The weather was freezing, and being the forgetful person I am, I didn't wear enough layers to keep warm. Mark's thick jacket was enough to keep my whole body warm for the whole trip home. I stupidly rushed out of the hospital without fixing my hair. Luckily for me, Mark's cap was there as to hide my bad hair.
"A Ra ah, where were you yesterday? You didn't come home, I was worried you know," Mrs Park asked me as she unlocked her front door.
She was carrying many grocery bags with her so I decided to help her get all the bags into her hose. Mrs Park loves alone in the apartment next to mine. She's a widow with no children. Since she had no kids, she treats me like her own daughter. Mrs Park works part time in a day care centre near the neighbourhood, taking care of babies and toddlers. In her free time, she likes to volunteer at food drives. She prepares the stuff to make the food at home and would cook at the food drive centre. It's a usual sight to see her carry bags of groceries home. Sometimes, when I have free time and no assignments to do, I would either help her prepare the food at her home or follow her to the food drive.
"Oh, Mrs Park, I had to finish some of my assignments so I stayed at the 24 hours' café down the street," I lied to her, trying not to worry her. I didn't want her to worry by telling her what happened yesterday.
"Thank you dear, for helping me carry these bags," she thanked me.
A Ra ah, don't over work yourself too much ok? Make sure you eat properly and get enough rest. Take god care of yourself," she continued.
I just nodded at her advice. She has always been extra worried about me ever since I fainted at home last year. I'm anaemic so I tend to get dizzy spells and even faint at some occasion. Since I didn't want her to worry too much about me, I always listen to all her advice and make sure that I always take all my necessary medication. However, whenever I start studying or working on an assignment, I tend to forget about my wellbeing. Yesterday was a perfect example of when I got lost in doing my work and forgot to take care of myself.
Mrs Park gave me some side dishes to take home before I left her apartment. She told me one last time to take care of myself and not to overwork myself. I just thanked her for the food and started to walk back to my own apartment.
*
"A Ra, are you free next Monday?" So Hee, one of my friends in Uni, asked me while we waited for class to start.
"As of now yes, why?" I answered her. Truthfully, always spend my Mondays at home or at café, working on the assignment that needed to be completed.
"Well, I have 2 passes to go to some event on Monday. I don't have anyone to go with me. Plus, we have never gone out together before," she told me while doing some ageyo, trying to convince me to agree to her.
"What is this event that we're going to go?" I asked her.
Unfortunately for me, as soon as I finished asking my question, our professor came into the lecture hall. So Hee just gave me the 'I'll tell you later face' and told me to pay attention in class. I just rolled my eyes at her and took out my notebook to take down notes.
*
Another week, another assignment. Adding this assignment to my list of 'needs to be down' assignment. Now, I have about four assignments on the list. To make things worse, all those assignments must be completed and submitted by the end of the month. A whole month of working my ass of for Uni, trying to pay rent and make sure I don't pass out again. Wish me luck.
"A Ra! Hey! A Ra!" So Hee tries to get my attention by shouting my name in English. Once she got my attention, she went back to speaking in Korean, "Don't forget that we're going out on Monday. I'll text you the time and place."
"I don't think I have time So Hee. Didn't you see Mr Choi giving us another assignment just now? We have four assignments to do by the end of the month. I don't think I have time to go out with you on Monday," I blurted out a bunch of words to her in English.
I usually speak in Korean with So Hee but since she understands English, I would occasionally speak to her in English. I usually do it when I'm stressed out or when I'm ranting about something.
"Chill girl. You need to calm down a little," she stopped me from rambling on in English. "I'll help you with all the four assignment. Plus, we can meet up earlier and work on the assignment while we que up for the event on Monday," she continues in Korean.
I just agreed to what she said and continued walking towards my usual study spot in the University. I needed to start working on the assignment now if I wanted to go out with So Hee on Monday. Ever since I was young, I didn't like doing stuff last minute. I was brought up to finish work up as soon as possible so that I can relax and play later.
Time passed quickly as I do my work. I was wrapping up my research work for one assignment, the weather started to get a little chilly. I cursed in English under my breath. I didn't have any thick coat or jacket. All my thicker clothing and winter clothes were back home; outside Seoul.
"Why are you cursing?" So Hee asked me.
"I don't have a coat or a thick jacket. The weather's getting cold. You know how I get cold really easily," I answered her question.
She gave me a confused an 'are you crazy' look before speaking again. "A Ra are you ok? You wore a thick jacket when you entered Uni just now. Ever since class ended you've been carrying the jacket around like no body's business," she stopped talking for a while before continuing, "Do you have dementia already?"
For a short moment, I didn't know what she was talking about until I looked down at my lap. There lies Mark's jacket that he left behind at the hospital. This morning before going to school, Mrs Park made me wore thicker clothes since she knows that I get cold easily. I guess I just took Mark's jacket since it was near the door.
"Oh, I didn't realised that I brought this along with me," I said out loud.
"Just to make sure, you don't have dementia, right?" So Hee asked me seriously.
"YA! I don't have dementia you idiot. I just forget sometimes," I scolded her.
"Just making sure," she said while trying not to laugh. "Remember that you're coming with me to an event on Monday."
*
Word Count: 1287
(A/N)
Hellooo :)
This is kind of a filler/character development/a set up chapter for the upcoming few chapters. I'm sorry if this chapter kind of sucks but I promise that the next few chapters would make up for this chapter.
p.s. I heard that Jackson fainted and vomited during their comeback fan meet. I really hope that he's ok. I know JYP have said that he's ok and is resting for about a week. I hope that he really rest well in this one week.
Ok...bye...
[written: 15.03.17 | edited:- ]
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