Diaries of a Distance

Chapter 22

Friday, 17th September...

"Aren't you going to practise?"

"No."

So careless.

Jae Wook and I decided to sit with his gang today in the cafeteria- at his table, but with Tae Hee and the others joining me. I realise they've been avoiding me lately. Tae Hee says it's 'cause I don't spend any time with them these days. Damn I'm stuck in the middle of them and Jae Wook.

So he's not going to practise, and the basketball pre-match with Daegu High is tomorrow.

"Don't worry so much. It'll be fine. We're gonna win", Sang Woo bragged.

"We will", Dong Wook added.

Big heads. The whole group is full of them. No wonder they go so well together.

I looked over to Tae Hee who was being unusually extra shy. She was sitting on the opposite side with the other senior girls who were all glaring at her with the message 'what are you doing here?'

"Tae Hee, come here", I called to her.

She looked up at me and shook her head furiously.

"I made a bet with Yoo Chun."

All heads turned to Dong Wook.

"You dumba$$. You didn't", Ki Tae said unbelievably.

"You m*ther fcuker I did", Dong Wook retorted without a breath.

"Why?!" Eun Won demanded.

"You d1ckheads. What's the matter? Scared we're going to lose? It's just a bet anyway- between Dong Wook and Yoo Chun. It doesn't effect us", Jae Wook defended his best friend.

They all shut up except Ki Tae who muttered something inaudible. Jae Wook heard him though and cast him a pathetic look.

"What did you bet on?" Jae Wook asked Dong Wook.

"If his team loses, he runs a lap of the basketball court in a hanbok. If we lose, I run the round", Dong Wook answered.

Everyone had a bewildered wild look on their face.

"Right... so it doesn't bother any of you now?" Jae Wook said after shaking his head disbelievingly at Dong Wook.

"I'd like to see that", Sang Woo quietly snickered. "Aiya!"

Sang Woo received a blow to the head from Jae Wook.

"You idiot. That means we lost", snapped Jae Wook.

Sang Woo rubbed his head sulkily. I ignored them and turned to Tae Hee again, motioning for her to come on my side. She shook her head and motioned for me to come instead. I gave in and compiled.

"What was that about?" she asked me once I was standing next to her.

"What?"

"I heard something about a bet..."

"Oh that... Dong Wook made a bet with a member of Daegu High."

"No! What if they lose? Is it dangerous?" Tae Hee rambled off.

"Tae Hee! What's wrong? All he has to do is run around in a hanbok. Why are you so anxious?" I asked her curiously.

Tae Hee let out a small sigh of relief.

"You know Soo Jin... if she finds out about the bet she's going to get all fussed up. I just don't want her to worry about it."

"I thought she heard the whole thing. Isn't she supposed to be here?" I wondered looking for Soo Jin.

"She and the others all went back to their old table."

That's when I spotted them all sitting down and eating. I feel guilty leaving them and going with Jae Wook all the time- that's why I asked them to come with me.

"Tae Hee you can go back with them..." I offered.

"No you'll be alone with", she lowered her voice, "these people then."

"I can handle it", I assured her with a smile. "Go", I said with a slight push.

She happily scurried away.

If there's one thing I learnt from the Korean culture that would be respect. I came over here with no friends, an extra demented accent and knowing nothing about the Korean culture. Tae Hee, Da Ni, Mi Mi and even Soo Jin taught me how to be a true Korean, and for that I respect them so I don't think I could leave them and go off with Jae Wook. I know they've been feeling rejected lately... I looked at Jae Wook arguing with Dong Wook and Ki Tae. I felt for the bear's head to make sure it was there, and made my way to him.

I could tell he could read the expression on my face. He stopped talking to the others.

"What's up?" he asked me uncertainly.

"We gotta stop having lunch together-"

"Ooooohh... dude, she's dumping you", Sang Woo cut in with the most dumbest voice.

"Ohhhh", followed Eun Won with the 2nd most dumbest voice ever.

Jae Wook cast them a pathetic glance.

"What? Ask her", Eun Won said.

Jae Wook looked at me and said, "Tell them."

"I'm not dumping him you idiots."

Sang Woo and Eun Won rolled their eyes.

"What is it then?" Jae Wook pressed on.

"I have to spend some time with my girls-"

Jae Wook laughed out loud, it sounded like a laugh of relief though.

"Go", he simply ordered.

"Huh?"

He got out of his chair and came up close to me, placed his hands on my shoulders and turned me around in the direction of the fairies. He pushed me gently.

"Go. I'll get bored of you if I see you too often", he teased.

"Yeah you won't."

"No. I will", he said smiling, "go."

I replied with a smile and went to the others.

[Tae Hee's POV]

I looked up from my rice as Yura sat down next to Da Ni. The others looked at her questioningly.

"What are you doing here?" Soo Jin questioned.

"What about Jae Wook?" I asked her, quietening Soo Jin.

"It's taken care of", she replied.

"What? You didn't break up with Jae Wook because of us, did you Yura? We're not that angry at you", Mi Mi said.

"No no. I just won't have lunch with him as often anymore."

Da Ni and Mi Mi let out a sigh of relief. Yura looked expectantly at Soo Jin, who was hiding a smile behind her chewing. Yura saw it and grinned from ear to ear.