School Days // Lee Daehwi

Chapter 3

I smiled at the class while my homeroom teacher introduced me. He pointed at an empty desk, right in front of a guy who seemed like he had been separated from the rest of the class. Maybe he's one of those bad, rebellious teens.

I walked down the aisle to get to my seat in the back when I came face-to-face with him. What was he doing here?

We both gaped at each other. 

"Ch-cheese-stick?" I sputtered. "What are you doing here?"

"I should be the one asking you that!"

The whole class was listening to our conversation, but I wasn't sure how much they understood. The teacher asked me a question, and I side glanced at Cheese-stick, asking for help with my eyes. 

He sighed and rolled his eyes at me before he responded to the teacher. I saw the teacher furrow his brows before telling him something else. Cheese-stick got up and collected his stuff before plopping himself down into the seat next to mine.

"Hey! What do you think you're doing?"

"The teacher told me to move here since I know you and can help you with Korean. Since, you know, you're pretty much illiterate and can't speak or understand a single thing."

My ears turned red.

"S-stop it! I'll have you know that I'm not that bad at Korean..."

He chuckled. We both knew it was a lie.

The rest of the day was mostly spent with me following Cheese-stick around and him translating Korean to English for me. My homeroom teacher talked to the principal and he changed my schedule so that I could be with Cheese-stick for the whole day. 

{End of school day}

"So, do you want to go to the library with me? I mean, I'd lend you my notes but it's not like you can read Korean," he snickered.

I glared at him and then glanced at the time on my phone. I have to make the boys a snack first, and then I can go. 

"Uh yeah, I can go but I have to go home first. I'll be really quick."

"Okay, I'll meet you at the library in 30 minutes. I'll be on the second floor in the study area. Don't be late!"

"Yeah, whatever!" I shouted as I started running home. 30 minutes. I hope I can make it.

I ran on the street, took a sharp turn right and then turned left. I flung open the door and dropped my backpack at the entrance. I dashed to the kitchen and opened the fridge door, frantically looking around before locking my eyes on several apples. I took them out, speed chopped them and put them on a plate.

I sprinted to my room, found a sticky note and wrote on it "I'm at the library. I'll be back in a couple of hours." I stuck it onto the table next to the plate of apples and glanced at the clock. 10 minutes left. 

I decided to change into a white shirt and jeans. I took my backpack, closed and locked the door before running to the library. Once I got there, I went to the elevators. In front of the elevator doors were several people waiting. They got into the elevator, and the doors closed. 2 minutes left. Damn, I don't have time to wait for it to come down again. 

I made my way to the stairs and took them two steps at a time. Opening the door to the second floor, I looked around, searching for Cheese-stick. I spotted him and fast walked to where he was sitting. When I got to him, I laid on the floor, panting from all the running.

Cheese-stick peered down at me from his chair and frowned.

"You're 47 seconds late."

I scowled at him and replied,