Feeling Brew

~6~

Isla stared at her reflection in the ceiling to floor glass panel windows that lined her living room. Mi Ran had listed her insecurities in front of everyone one-by-one. She was five-feet tall, skinnier than a stick, and had no stamina whatsoever. She wasn't pretty or intelligent. Isla was very below average, yet Taeil had rescued her as if he was a knight in shining armor.

He had ignored everything and helped her up and taken her home. No one had been able to overlook how short she was. They always poked fun and handed her the kids' menu and some crayons at restaurants. Whenever she went shopping, she was quickly guided to the kids' section. And of course, anytime she stepped into the pool and drew her towel from her body, she saw his face resurface from her painful memories. His harsh words cut her, and she tried to ignore them every time she felt the water bend around her limbs.

Maybe Taeil is different she tried to persuade herself. Isla shook her head. She couldn't get attached. It would just create... problems. Instead, she'd have to resort to talking to someone else- someone who wouldn't care and could just listen to her vent about her life for hours on end.

Isla stared at the advertisement in the magazine on the coffee table. Maybe this place could solve her problems.

~~~

"Irene is back."

"Wow, she looks prettier than before!"

"I wanna be that cool, too!"

Irene was thankful for the comments she heard in the hallway, but it was slightly awkward. She wasn't sure how to reply to them. Like she honestly didn't think herself to be that pretty. She was only talented because she worked hard. She was sure the people whispering about her now could be ten times better than her if they really put their heart and soul into it.

Everyone stared at her as she took a seat in one of her environmental engineering classes. She pulled out her notebook and stared straight ahead as if their eyes didn't bother her. Even the professor couldn't peel her eyes away when she had walked in.

"Oh, Irene! Didn't you study abroad in Japan last year? Would you mind telling us about it?"

Irene smiled as she made her way to the front of the classroom. Once again, everyone would know her as the nerdy goody two-shoes they'd start competing with for grades. Everyone was waiting to prove her wrong and laugh at her mistakes. But still, she had to act like she was fine.

"I was based in a Japanese city on the east coast called Kamakura doing research on microplastics."

At the sound of that, she noticed the class internally groan. Irene wanted to run away and be anywhere but there. She couldn't stand them judging her without saying a word like that. If someone had a problem, she wished they'd say it to her face.

Professor Min made an 'O' shape with her mouth. "Ooh, please tell us more about your research! I'm sure everyone would love to hear about it!"

Irene knew they couldn't care less. "Microplastics have been haunting the world's oceans ever since the Industrial Revolution. Humans are becoming less and less considerate of the environment and pollute things from gum wrappers to water bottles. My research team looked into carbon nanosprings that could potentially dissolve microplastics and help save multiple endangered ocean species off Japan's coast."

"Fascinating," Professor Min smiled. "Everyone, you should aim to be like Irene here and have research of your own to present."

There were some not-so-internal groans at that one.

She took a seat, glancing at the boy who sat next to her- Lee Jooheon. He was probably the worst of them all. His expression was cold, and he never could seem to say hello whenever she acknowledged him.