Broken

Chapter Two

“So, you don’t have a translator? I was told that there would be one provided!” A frantic woman questioned.

“I’m sorry ma’am, but we don’t have her in right now. She comes in at eight and it’s only seven-thirty, just wait she’ll be here soon.” The office lady tried to reassure the woman. She sighed in frustration and turned to the boy with blue hair right beside her and began moving her hands in the air, he looked like he understood and Jae’s eyes widened.

“Excuse me, miss.” She called out and began walking towards them. They all turned to look at her except for the boy who was trying to get his mom’s attention.

“Is he deaf?” Jae asked politely. “Yes, Kang-Dae is deaf.” The mom sighed slightly tired. “If you want, I can translate for him until the lady gets here. I can do sign language.” Jae offered.

Relief flooded through the lady’s face and she crushed Jae into a hug. The boy behind them watched in confusion as they hugged. Jae signed hello behind the mom’s back and the boys face brightened as he signed hello back. (This is what it looks like when they talk in sign language. This is what it looks like when everything is normal.)

“Thank you so much. I really need to get to work, but here is my number if you need help with anything.” The lady handed her a business card and quickly gave the boy a kiss on the forehead and rushed out. 

Jae put the card in her wallet and turned to the boy who was looking around the room. Jae gently reached out and tapped the boys shoulder, he jumped lightly and turned towards her and smiled. He was the most adorable boy she had ever seen. “I’m going to translate things for you, for right now. Is that okay?” She asked politely. He smiled and nodded at her and she smiled back at him. “I’m Park Jae-Hwa, but you can call me Jae or anything else really.” She introduced herself.

“I’m Min Kang-Dae. You can call me anything really. I’ve never had a nickname.” He said introducing himself as well. 

“I’ll call you Kang if that’s okay with you.” She said with a smile. He smiled and nodded at her, letting her know it was alright. 

“Miss Park, you are okay to sign as we show him around until the lady gets here?” The office lady asked Jae. Jae turned towards her and nodded. “As long as you show me around afterwards.” Jae answered. The lady nodded and signaled to someone in the back to a guy with purple hair and an undercut. He came out of the other room with kind of a cocky walk like he knew he is attractive which was nothing like how Kang was. She really hated guys like this. 

“Hey, I’m Lee Ha-Rin, but you can call me Rin.” He said giving her a wink. She rolled her eyes and signed this to Kang, who smiled and waved at Ha-Rin. Ha-Rin looked over at Kang and gave a disgusted look then turned to Jae. “Shall we?” He offered a smile and his arm, which Jae neither offered back or took. “You have to show Kang and I around.” Jae said annoyed and linked arms with Kang. “He’s going to show us to your classes and mine. Are you ready?” Kang nodded with a smile and signed back. “I am both ready and very excited.” Jae couldn’t help but smile at Kang. Kang was so adorable and nice, Jae knew he would make a lot of friends and if not then she would be his friend. “Okay, hand me your schedule please. It’s the paper they handed you.” Jae signed to him. He nodded and reached into his pocket for a folded piece of paper then handed it to her. Jae signed thank you and handed to Ha-Rin. “We’ll do Kang’s classes first then mine please.” Jae tried to be nice to Ha-Rin but she had a feeling she was not going to like being anywhere near him. 

He took the paper but held it with his fingertips like holding the whole paper would give him some sort of disease. That irritated Jae more than anything and she had to refrain herself from just punching him, instead she stuck out her hand for the paper. “I’ll just read the class numbers and teachers to you.” He quickly gave it back and stepped away from her as Kang reached for the paper. “Does he not know where the classes are?” Kang asked sadly. Kang looked kind of sad at that thought and it hurt Jae to not see him smiling. Jae knew nothing about him but she already liked this guy. “No, he just wants us to hold the paper and tell him where the classes are so he can lead us.” Jae reassured, and just like that Kang’s smile reappeared.

“Okay follow me. What is the first class?” Ha-Rin asked as he began walking. Jae tugged Kang lightly so he would follow her, their arms were still linked as they followed Ha-Rin. “Miss Jung in room C201.” Jae answered as she looked over the paper. “It’s for American Sign Language.” She said to Ha-Rin.

“Yeah, okay.” He answered as they walked out of the office. “Your first class is American Sign Language with Miss Jung. It will be in room C201.” Jae signed to Kang who nodded and looked around the campus. “I guess that should be easy for me to pass.” Kang joked. Jae laughed and nodded. “And me too because I have the same class as you for first hour as well.” 

Kang smiled widely at that and said, “You are a very nice person. Would you like to be my friend?” His face flushed pink as he asked this to Jae.

“I would love to. You are a very nice person too. It looks like we have the same lunch together as well so we can eat together.” Jae answered with a wide smile. Jae realized that for a while she had forgotten all about her mother’s remarry and her father’s passing, and she realized she felt much lighter as well. She knew that Kang and her were going to be great friends.

“You’ll be my first friend!” He signed with excitement making Jae smile widely. “This is the class, you can go in. Miss Jung wants to meet Kang and she said she would show him around and translate for him as well.” Ha-Rin said interrupting them.

Kang watched Ha-Rin’s mouth move as he tried to figure out what he was saying. “Okay, you’ll show me around though right?” Jae asked politely even though she hoped he would say no so she could stay with Kang and talk with him. “Yup.” He answered. She inwardly screamed and smiled at Ha-Rin and thanked him. 

“Miss Jung wants to meet you and translate for you. She’s also going to show you around. We’ll hang out at lunch. Just look for me.” Jae said as she walked Kang into his classroom. 

He looked a little bummed out but much of his excitement remained in his eyes as she said this. “Okay, I’ll see you in class and at lunch.” He signed with a small pout. He turned to walk away towards Miss Jung who was smiling and signing at him. Then she turned and followed Ha-Rin out of the door.