3 Paths to Love

Chapter 4

Gel pens were critical tools for organization. Green for chapter headings and blue for subheadings. Words written in his orange pen were theory names, baby blue for important figures, purple for definitions and lime green for important dates. Myungsuk had an intricate system for his highlighters and was proficient in using copious amounts of symbols to quicken his writing speed.

In all things, Myungsuk preferred order. A specified system that improved efficiency. Without such systems, no satellite would work, let alone get into orbit.

Staring outside the window, Myungsuk tapped his pen against his desk. It always amazed him how small they all were compared to the universe. Yesterday's episode of Galactica explored the distant planet of Imo900, Captain Sukki's home planet. Its configuration was based on the real Kepler-186f; the closest habitable planet and Myungsuk's favourite. He imagined himself aboard the crew ship, with all the knowledge of space at his fingertips and exploring the vast secrets of the universe.

"Myungsuk?"

Myungsuk snapped out of his daydream and bolted upright in his seat, blinking at his teacher. The look Mr. Choi gave him made Myungsuk sink in his seat. "Sorry, I'll pay attention," he muttered.

Mr. Choi rolled his chair over to him, sitting backwards on it. Myungsuk kept his gaze down, tugging at his hoodie sleeves. "Myungsuk," Mr. Choi said and dipped his head down.

Myungsuk sucked in his breath and lifted his head, staring at his glabella. "Yes?"

"I know you're bored." That was an understatement. "But, we have nine months until Suneung. You need to be test ready," Mr. Choi explained for the eighteenth time.

Suneung was the College entrance exam every student needed to write. Without it, College wasn't an option. Myungsuk's shoulders sagged from the burden.

The past two years of constant meltdowns, endless tears, aching hands and the undisclosed amount his parents had paid for every possible support would have been worth it if Myungsuk wrote the exam last year. Accelerating highschool had been all for nothing. At least he still graduated. But that meant having Suneung prep classes in a hagwon instead of being at university where he could learn about the stars instead of conjugations.

Myungsuk sucked in his breath, the painful memories radiating from his bones. "Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars..." He whispered, focusing on controlling his scent and the ache in his chest. Nothing good came from living in the past.

"Why don't we finish here for today," Mr.Choi said with a sigh and Myungsuk nodded, reaching for his pens to start putting them away as Mr. Choi got up to put away his things.

"Sorry, Mr.Choi," Myungsuk managed to say. "I'll add this to my homework tonight."

Mr. Choi nodded and smiled, reassuringly. "That'd be good. But don't push yourself," he said as he shrugged on his jacket. "You know everything, Myungsuk. We just have to get you to test ready."

"Test ready," Myungsuk repeated under his breath.

At the front gate, Myungsuk turned to Mr. Choi and bowed his head. "Goodbye, Mr. Choi. See you tomorrow," he said, his words muffled by his scarf. Once returned, Myungsuk grabbed the straps of his backpack and headed left.

Myungsuk walked back to the gate, squeezing his shoulders in as a group of high schoolers passed him, on their way to the very hagwon he attended full time. They laughed loudly and roughly pushed each other around, fueling their laughter. When was the last time Myungsuk laughed like that?"

Shaking his head, Myungsuk focused ahead and marched onward. Now was not the time to think about that. He had enough people who loved him, any more would be redundant.