Both Sides of You

Chapter 1

"...and the first in class who had gotten 49/50 goes to none other than.... Kim Jae Hee!" Mrs Kim announced enthusiastically but in return, the students gave her uninterested applauds.

The term test was actually really challenging, there were a lot more application questions than expected. Even though the marks that JaeHee had gotten was impressive, no one gave a damn about it. As always, without doubt, JaeHee would score the highest. To be honest, when does she not?

But as she walked to receive her results, a slight frown decorated her face. Mrs Kim's smile slightly faltered when she saw her expression but she wore it brightly afterwards, passing the test paper and congratulating her. JaeHee gave a respectful bow before taking the paper, eyebrows furrowing even more in disappointment.

Just when JaeHee walked towards her table, some of her classmates overheard what she muttered to herself and scowled. They immediately threw her dirty looks, glares and curses non-subtly.

~~~~~~~

"'Oh My God, I got like just 49 out of 50. That's so low and disappointing!' ...Bitch please, I had studied for 3 weeks in advance just for that f-ing test and I only got 32. Just because she is oh-so-smart, she thinks that she is the top of the world which is just plain cocky. That annoying piece of shit, I am sure that she said that on purpose just to mock all of us. 'Oh my god, i'm so disappointed in myself, I should probably shoot myself for losing one mark.' Blah blah, if only annoying ass-es like her would disappear from the phase of earth, it would have been a much better place."

"She is such a bitch. That plain nerd, I am sure that other than studying, she is good at nothing else. No wonder she is forever alone, no one wants to befriend crap like her let alone ask her out. If I am a guy, even if you pay me to date her, I would reject immediately."

It was during lunch break when two of JaeHee's classmates gossiped and spoke badly about her. They were in the midst of insulting and laughing at her when suddenly, the classroom door swung open.

JaeHee walked in with her face buried in an English non-fiction book. The two girls kept quiet momentarily when they saw her walked in but seeing her being unaffected, they continued talking loudly, not caring if she heard everything.

Snickers were thrown at her shamelessly as they started to discuss topics that were degrading her. Their loud laughter and insults were obviously directed to her, wanting her to feel miserable about herself. 

"Silence means consent. If she is not denying anything, it's probably her conscience pricking at her ego. Cause honey, the truth hurts." 

However, behind the unbothered facáde of hers, her heart broke hearing all the crude insults spewing out of their mouths. She should been used to it by now, enduring that kind of treatment for years. Despite the fact that her fragile heart was hurt due to their mindless comments, her blood also starts to boil.

How dare they say that kind of things when they know nothing about me?

She started the burying her head even deeper into the book, a futile attempt to bury her feelings away.

I must not cry no matter how badly I wanted to. It would be an act of weakness, as if they had successfully defeated me. I must not show them that I actually took their thoughtless words to heart.

But despite how much she tried to convince herself that those two girls did not matter, she could not control herself when tears started welling up in her eyes. Shit, I'm showing signs of weakness

Even though she wanted to retaliate and curse right in their face, she just laid her head down on the table, covering her face with her book before subtly wiping her tears away. Taking in a deep breath, she closed her eyes before chanting to herself,

"JaeHee, you have no time to care about their offending attitudes. You have better things to do, like studying."

~~~~~~~

From one corner of the classroom, a pair of eyes stared at her curiously and worriedly. He had witnessed everything but despite how badly he wanted just walk over and console JaeHee, his body refused to move.

She was unapproachable to him. Not because of those stemless rumors that surrounded her and those awful nicknames given by their schoolmates just for their own pleasure and entertainment. But instead, he could not approach her due the high, impenetrable walls she had put up, refusing access from anyone other than herself.

He wanted to walk over to her and talk to her so badly, just to show that he was there for her. But he was a coward, only being able to look at her from the side.

Because he knew that with her reputation now, his reputation will destroy her even more. So instead of going over like his heart desired to, he stayed put at his seat and observed. Just like how he had been doing for the past few years. 

A/N: 

Please pardon me for the rather mundane introduction, I am trying my very best to improve on my writing ><