All About Us

Chapter 2

I think I'm a good daughter. I'm also a good student. My friends seem to like me so I would guess that I'm also an okay person overall. So I really, really, don't understand why fate has treated me like shit this whole week. I mean, I don't think I deserve it.

Today was a disaster after another. It started in the morning.

I woke up forty minutes later than I usually do, which means I did not have time to take a shower. Then I dropped the cereal bowl I had managed to prepare myself. Cleaning it delayed me another ten minutes. Which, in turn, means that I did not have time to even brush my hair before sprinting out of my apartment.

Luckily I didn't get to my first class late. I was honestly panicking on my way there because my Economics professor is notoriously rude when it comes to late students. Thinking I had a reprisal from the disastrous beginning of my day, I relaxed on my seat and tried to steady my heart in order to pay at least a lick of attention to Dr. Kim's lecture.

But oh, I should've known better. It happened again during my second class of the day. I was mostly planning on taking a little nap during my Calc lecture when I noticed students standing up and handing out a piece of paper. Turned out to be homework. Which I had no idea about. Apparently, this is how I run my household now. We forget about homework and take naps regardless. But in my defense, I figured if the gods were determined to screw me over today, I might as well take something for my own pleasure. So I napped.

Another bad decision. None of my oh-so-kind classmates woke me up when the lecture was over. So I only had three minutes to cross our campus to the library for my study group. This unleashed a series of chain reactions. I ran to the library. And smacked a girl down with my shoulder, who happened to be holding a cup of coffee. It sprayed everywhere, my shirt, my chin, my hair. EVERYWHERE. I had to deal with the disapproving looks from my study mates and the entire second floor of the library. As if I had time for that.

So now I'm making my way to lunch with old sweatpants, crazy hair, and a stained white shirt. Yay.

"I'm almost scared to ask what happened to you."

I collapse on the seat next to Sandra. "Don't ask."

Adrian, who's seating at my other side, wraps an arm around my shoulders and squeezes me. Is that supposed to be a hug?

"Are you okay?" He asks with a slight frown.

I sigh deeply and tell myself it's fine now. My streak of bad luck has probably ended. It's been a few hours since anything calamitous occurred so I guess I'm safe. Still, I'm planning on keeping an eye out.

"I'm okay. Just having a bad day," I assure him.

Adrian pats my shoulder reassuringly. "Do you wanna hang out later? I'll get you some coffee."

Without being able to stop it, I cringe. "I don't want to see coffee in a long time," I point to my stained shirt.

Before anyone can say another word, Joon Kyung storms into our table and silence falls over us. He throws his bag down and swears a string of profanities rarely heard from him. And I immediately worry. Joon isn't one to get easily angry.  He'll brood and act aloof for a while but this is not common for him.

I'm almost scared to ask but... "What's wrong?"

He stays quiet for a moment, slowly massaging his temples with his ring fingers. With eyes still closed, a sigh escapes him. "I had a fight with Jenna."

I don't say anything. I know better than that.

Adrian, however, does not. "I don't want to seem insensitive but, that's not really rare with you guys."