Feeling Brew

~12~

"Whoa, she looks so different!"

"Why'd she do that?"

"I kinda like it!"

"Like always, she's still beautiful."

Irene pretended like she couldn't hear it all. What they were saying was fake anyways. Because once they were in the classroom, they sent cold stares her way and made fun of her "goody two-shoes act."

She felt the eyes of her entire environmental engineering class on her as she walked in and took her seat.

Jooheon noticed people whispering and smirked.

"What?" Irene asked, irritated.

"Nothing. Mind your own business."

Irene looked down at her textbooks as the whispers grew louder.

"You think she knows cutting her hair short is gonna make us like her?"

"She'll still be the teacher's pet, and we'll still be smiling as she gets special treatment."

"I'm pretty sure she's a robot. She's so mechanical. No heart, no soul."

Irene bit her bottom lip hard with her teeth. As she licked her lips to soothe the sting, she tasted blood, and cursed under her breath. Why were people so ready to judge her for everything she did?

Jooheon slammed his hand on his desk. "Why is everyone so loud so early in the morning?! Shut up!"

Everyone knew better than to piss him off. Jooheon was a black belt in taekwondo and would have no problem fighting someone anytime anywhere. If he wanted his peace and quiet, they would give it to him.

Irene looked down at her trembling hands. They were right. She was a robot with no feelings that only made everyone around her feel bad.

Professor Min walked in and noticed the awkward atmosphere as she set her books down on the podium. "Did anything happen here? Why's it so quiet?"

Irene raised her hand. "Professor Min? I don't feel so well. Is it okay if I go to the campus clinic?" She clutched her stomach in pain and smiled weakly. "Please?"

"Oh, sure. Do you need someone to go with you?"

The girl waved a hand dismissively. "I can get there just fine." But as she stood up, she doubled over in pain, yet no one made any effort to help her or ask if she was okay. "I'll be back," she smiled again.

Quickly, she escaped their eyes and ran down the hallways until she burst outside and inhaled the cool autumn air sharply. Her lungs gasped for oxygen even though she was breathing heavily, and she collapsed on the steps in front of the engineering building with her head in her hands.

The sound of footsteps got louder and she felt someone tap her shoulder. "Let's go somewhere else. This doesn't look like the campus clinic."

Irene looked up and saw Jooheon standing over her with an extended arm to help her up, but instead of taking it, she stood up on her own.

"I don't need your help," she said with a bite. "You're the worst one out of all of them."

"Cool." He grabbed her wrist and led her across campus while she struggled to free herself from his grasp.

"Where are we going?" she asked, trying to fight him.

"You'll see."

Jooheon finally stopped walking and pointed straight ahead at the elegant canopy of trees overhead. She quickly realized it was NCTU's Arboretum.