𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐧𝐚𝐞𝐮𝐧 𖤐 𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐞𝐫

03: this is marcella

Hello! I'm Son Naeun. But everyone at school will now call me Marcella since that's my English name. I am from Seoul, South Korea but moved to America recently for better job opportunities. I am 15 years old and my favorite color in the whole world is blue. Where I lived was going through a rough time. My school was difficult because I got bullied a lot, my dad's job was going out of business, and my Mom is fine she just likes looking for new houses. So when my Dad came up with the idea to move here in the States, we were out of Korea in 3 days flat. 

My Mom enrolled me in a small school near where we moved and I was introduced to a man who I assumed was the head of the school, I couldn't understand anything he was saying. Multiple people tried talking to me but I don't know English at all, it was a whole bunch of gibberish to me. I was also trying to tell them that I suffer from anxiety, every time I am in a situation where I can't figure something out I either run away or most common, cry. I'm such a baby. But don't I have the right? I can't understand any of them, it's scary. How will I get through the school year?

My hopes seemed lost until I met Sebin. Their real name is Y/n but I feel better calling them Sebin since well, it's Korean. Sebin is the only one that can understand what I am saying so I have to stay with them at all times. That's reasonable, Sebin is my first official friend and I know we can be good one's someday.

I am starting my English lessons today during my lunch break. Sebin offered to come with me so he can explain what the teacher asks me to do. I enter the classroom and sit at a desk in front of my teacher, who I appear to be her only student. 

"Hello Marcella. Welcome to our school." The teacher says to me, but I just blinked at her due to not understanding what she said. She pulled out a deck of cards that seemed to have English written on them and there is a picture of that 'word' above it. My guess was whatever the word is, it's the name of the picture. "This is a Cow. Can you say cow." The teachers asks me. Again, I just stared at her. 

Sebin walked over to the table. "She is asking you to repeat what she is saying. Say 'cow'" They said and I nod my head now getting my directions. "Cow." I repeat. 

Making me feel like a child the teacher clapped her hands giving me a high pitched 'yay'. I may not be from here but I know when I am being treated in an uncomfortable manner. 

Once the bell rang Sebin had to leave for his next class, I thought I had to go with them but the teacher told me to stay(that's what Sebin told me) At least they told me they will be back after the period to check on me, so I sat back down.

After many, many flashcards the teacher gave me a new task. "I will hold up the animal card and you tell me what the animal is." She said with a small smile. 

Sebin translated my instructions and I took a deep breath, not really to sure of myself but ready. The first card was bird, how do we say that in English? I really only remember 14 out of the 50 cards in that deck since I was so uninterested in her method of teaching. 

"Bird?" I guessed. Which appeared to be correct because of her awkward gesture every time I am correct. Several cards went by until I came across a hamster, my favorite animal. "Hamster!" I say happily. 

The teacher shakes her head, "No no Marcella. No Chinese, only English." She says which made me assume I was wrong. 

I stared at the picture as I tried to remember all the words I repeated, "Duck?" I guessed. 

She shook her head. "Moose..?" I guess again. 

She shakes her head. 

 I guessed four more times but in the middle of thinking harder my heart started to race and emotions were rising. I feel stressed, I don't know how to tell her I don't know. "I don't know..." I say. 

The teacher shakes her head again thinking I took another guess, "No. Come on Marcella, you know these." I wanted to assume she is encouraging me but as of right now she is not my favorite person. I couldn't take anymore of it, "Sebin-ah!" I shout as I run out of the classroom in search of them.

While I ran my emotions broke through and some tears dripped out my eyes, I don't know how I am supposed to get through this school year...at least without Sebin. 

One of the hall teachers stopped me from running by grabbing my arm. "Marcella? What is wrong?" The teacher asked looking at my wet face. 

I looked at the teacher trying to calm myself down but I didn't understand what the teacher asked. "Someone go get Y/n from their classroom. And fast." The teacher says into a walkie talkie, then they help me to a place to sit down.