New morning. I can't believe a lot has happened since yesterday. I decided to wear another dress. This time for sure I was going to get Chan-Yeol's attention. This dress was green with little white flowers, It captured my innocence. I went to pack my bag. Today I didn't have class with Jae-Min, but a part of me wanted to know what he thought of this outfit too. For some reason I couldn't find my school ID. How was I going to get anything around here, and most important, how was I going to get back in my room? After class I was going to have to get a new one. What a bother. I rushed to class.
## Kang-Soo POV
I laid in bed watching the sun beam through my room. I had no motivation to leave. I heard a buzzing from my phone and took a look at it. Yoo-Na. I jumped up and straightened up.
Yoo-Na - Kang-Soo aren't you going to come to class?
This is new. Yoo-Na looking for me. Should I go? What's the point, all she is going to do is look for him later on anyway. Yoo-Na why don't you look at me. He's a stranger anyway, where did she even meet him? I have always been by your side. He looks like a sly dog clinging to any thing he can get fed from. To see him slink over her neck and make her jump to his touch makes me sick. There was a time Yoo-Na use to look for me.
## Kang-Soo's Past
Hearing my mom and dad argue have been the most annoying nowadays. I can't get a break. The screams are making me suffocate. School was no better, I didn't get along with anyone. They thought I was too weird, too quiet. When really, there was nothing here that was truly different from back at home. Elementary was supposed to be exciting. A kid enjoying time making friends, making mistakes, and here I was curling up against a wall to watch all the fun and enjoyment pass me by. I was just a shadow. I heard a yawn from beside me. I turned in shock. Nobody has ever gotten that close to me, not by choice. It was a girl. She was sleep. Have I not even noticed that the air around me was shared? I stayed quiet as she stretched her arms, comfortably. She turned to me.
"Um…..if you don't mind…what time is it?" She asked.
Me? Was she-
"Me?" I pointed to myself.
"Well yeah, unless I've finally gone crazy and see ghost." She gave a laugh.
"Lunch is almost over." I said slowly.
She stood up.
"Looks like we might have to start heading back." She said looking at me.
That look. The look as if I was someone worth paying attention to, to see. I felt heard. She didn't run away, didn't yell for me to get out of her way.
"We?" I asked.
"Duh! You're in my class. I think they would noticed if we went missing."
No. Not me. You…..yes. You were alive, bright, Outspoken, kind. Anyone would want to find you. She even noticed I had class with her. She noticed me.
"What's your name?" I asked.
" my name is il Yoo-Na." She said with a wave and big smile.
"Lee Kang-Soo." I said.
"Well Kang-Soo we have to go."
She grabbed my arm and ran with me. To see her ahead of me so strong. I want to watch you take me from world to world, to pull me out of the waters that have made me feel mute and invisible. Yoo-Na.
## Present
I got up and got dressed. If Yoo-Na was looking for me, I don't want her to wait. It's ok to show up, if it's for you. As I was about leave out I spotted something in the corner of my dorm near a box. It was an ID. When I picked it up it was that girl. The one that was in my room. I gave a laugh.
"Ha, Chicken feet." I said to myself.
## Ha-Yun POV
I felt a little bit better today. I don't know if it was Jae-Min or just me healing away from Chan-Yeol. I went to class with confidence. Pretending that nothing bothered me. It would be best to keep this mindset for when I come in contact with Chan-Yeol. Class was pretty empty today and refreshing. It didn't feel stuffy. I was sort of day dreaming of feeling good that I didn't pay attention to someone standing next to me. I glanced to see that Burgundy hair jerk.
"Ahhh, you don't just sneak up on people!" I screamed.
"Chicken Feet." He spoke in such a dull tone.
"Yah! What did you just call me?" I said in an annoyed tone.
He pulled a card out of his pocket and handed it to me. It was my ID. Did I perhaps drop it in his room when falling? How annoying. I pulled it out of his hand.
" My ID!" I was happy.
Wait why is he here though? He looked tired.
"How did you know this was my class?' He gave a sly chuckle.
"I didn't this is my class." I felt a jolt go up my back.
He left and went to sit behind me.
"Kang-Soo!" I heard a girl call his name.
I didn't turn to see. What if it was his girlfriend? What if she is looking at me? I wasn't in his room on purpose. Should I apologize? Maybe he explained to her. I was a little nervous. I'll just act like I didn't know who he was. Come to think of it, I really don't know him, I don't even know his name. All this over thinking I definitely don't remember what today was about in class. I'm going to have to read the PowerPoint at home. How annoying.
By the end of class, I rushed out and went to the cafeteria. I was starving. I grabbed a sandwich and apple. I sat down and thought about what I could do to make Chan-Yeol mad. Today is the day I have to do it. Jae-Min. I kept thinking of his name and what happen. What was I thinking? We only have a contract kind of relationship. Something I was curious about though, was what he received out of it. We never discussed in terms of what he wanted to receive. Maybe he left it out on purpose. Come to think of it I don't really know him well. Just a stranger that knows a little about me. After I finished eating, I walked to the front of the school hoping to see Jae-Min waiting for me. But he wasn't there. Maybe the plan wasn't clear....WAIT, I forgot to text him. I cringed at my confidence I had. As if I had it all together. I started to sweat a bit and I could just feel fly away hair. What do I do? Do I call and hope he makes it on time? How come I forgot the important part of making Chan-Yeol jealous? I want to disappear.
"Were you waiting for me?" I felt the warmth of a smooth voice.
Jae-Min.
"I'm sorry!" I said nervously.
"For what? How could I be upset when you're wearing things like this?" I felt my body heat up.
He slid a couple fingers up my thigh.
" Are you crazy, we are outside!" I felt my cheeks turn red.
"That's the point right?" He spoke with a sinister smile so close to my face.
I was nervous to see if people were watching us. I couldn't also peer away from Jae-Min's eyes. Something about his eyes made me nervous yet warm. What was he thinking? Was this all just a plan for him?
"Ha-Yun?" I heard my name.
Me and Jae-Min both turn to see Chan-Yeol. He stood beside that girl. How arrogant for him to prance around campus with her on his side. He doesn't even attend school here. With a quick twist. Jae-Min turned us away, and shot a smirk towards Chan-Yeol. Should I do something also? I turned to Jae-Min, grabbed his face with my hand and told him let's go. His face changed to turning red, and then the smile returned. Blushing? There's no way. Was all these actions really for show? A part of me felt like desire and true reality was blending together. There was no way Jae-Min would be interested in me. As we walked away, Jae-Min wrapped his huge arm over my shoulder and squeezed me close. I can't get that smirk out of my head. I started to think about the other night. The kiss I gave him. I'm going crazy. Maybe I'm the one fooling myself.
## Jae-Min POV
Ha-Yun looked shocked to see him. It even lasted when we walked away. She must have really loved him. I wanted to ask what made her marry him, but I didn't want to make her feel any more bad than what she did. I guess I don't know too much about their relationship. For sure he saw us. You know, I never got his name. I can always just ask her.
"Ha-Yun, what's your husband name?" I asked not really sure of the reaction I would get.
"Lee Chan-Yeol." She responded.
Lee Chan-Yeol.
After we separated for the day, I went to visit my mom and brother. I haven't seen them in awhile. I walked through the door and was immediately bombarded by a bunch of small foam bullets.
"I see someone made use of that nerf gun."
"Jae-Min!!" I saw my little brother fly through the hallway.
He jumped on my leg and hugged me. He looked up to me with those gold eyes my father gave us before leaving. My mother will always be reminded of that bastard. My little brother Min-Jun had the same eyes as me but dusty brown hair like my mom. My mom often told me growing up that I looked like my dad. I started to hate the sentence as I got older. He left us.
## Jae-Min's Past
The hallways were always dark in this house, no matter the time of day. I felt a something roll into my barefoot. I looked down to see an empty bottle. I was afraid to look up, but without choice I lifted my head slowly to see my dad's hands around my mom's neck and the fire that raged in his drowned eyes. My mother's face was covered in fear and despair. I felt my fist ball up. I felt helpless, I was only 15. What could I do? This was way over due, Anytime my dad drunk he would cause chaos through out the house. It was like we were homeless. It even started to smell like him. His anger, smell, and voice consumed this house so much that we were choking on his backlash of his shitty life. I grabbed the bottle to my foot. I watched my mother's leg drip with Urine.
"Leave her alone." I whispered.
My dad froze. He turned to me and threw her to the ground. She barely raised.
"What did you say?" He started to walk my way.
"Jae-Min! Run! Go to your room!" My mother screamed.
Her words scared me more than what she may have intended. For some reason my anger turned to fear. I started trembling. What do I do? I always ran. My dad ran to me and grabbed , me by my collar.
"What did you say, you little shit? Is that a way you should talk to your dad?" He said.
His gripped tighten around my shirt. I smelled a faint smell of something light and flowery. A women's perfume. Not one I'm used to.
"So this is where you are, when we are here struggling." I said from my mouth.
"What? You think you're a man now?" He slammed me against the wall and I dropped the bottle.
He threw me to the ground.
"Then get up and fight like a man." He stated.
"No!" My mom rushed to us.
With one blow he back handed her to the ground. Seeing my mom there wriggled in pain, in weakness made me fume with rage again. I grabbed the bottle off the ground and I waited for him to turn back to me. As he turned his I head. I swung the bottle and hit him right above the eyebrow. The hit landed and he flinched. He turned back to me wobbling.
"So….your like me after all?" I grit my teeth.
I will never be like him. Lost in my thought, He punched me in my gut. I fell to the ground, gripping my stomach as it twisted with pain.
## Present
I snapped out of it.
"Jae-Min, are you staying this weekend?" Min-Jun asked.
I smiled to my little brother.
"Yes, I will this weekend." He cheered and ran to the kitchen.
He was yelling and pulling on my mom.
"Chun Jae-Min, did you forget you had a mother?" My mom asked with a spatula in her hand, with eyes that only demons should have.
"I know, I know I said I would come last week, but I had a paper to write."
"Lies!" She exclaimed.
She hit me in the shoulder. You know, for what it's worth, we turned out pretty alright. After all of this, I will get a nice job so that I can support my family, make sure my mom will never have to worry about being broke again, and my brother will have a easy life.
"Jae-Min, are you still going aboard to complete that internship?" I almost forgot.
"Yeah, but I'll be back of course."
"I don't know why you need to go that far just for job training." She said while stirring inside of a pan.
My aboard overseas are to help with experience. Before they know It I'll be back and with a job lined up ready to accept me. We don't need to worry about my father ever coming back. I'll make sure. Park Ha-Yun. I smiled a little. She won't need me that long. Maybe a little while longer and she will be ready to dispose of me. Honestly It would be pretty disappointing if she did. Maybe it's easier if she did though. It would be more easy to let go and leave.
## Ha-Yun POV
I didn't get to take a look at Chan-Yeol's face when he saw me and Jae-Min. I see he still thinks the same. Doesn't seem to have no regret. I better clear my train of thought. I told my manager I would get some training done now, since I start work soon. I'm not use to working with food, but I imagine serving food is a bit more easy. I walked into the cafe and the employees must have recognized me, they didn't pay attention to me. I walked to the counter and Approached the manager.
"Ha-Yun! You made it! I'll give you a quick tour and then I'll let you get familiar with the day to day routine." She was happy.
She took me to the locker room to change, along with a little room for costumes. I was a little nervous about them. She then took me to the register and showed me where the promotion flyers were, good greetings, and how to work the register. We made our way to the kitchen.
"This is where all the magic is whipped up. Kang-Soo, we have a new server."
Kang-Soo, isn't that the name of….. The guy lifted his hat and there he was the burgundy haired jerk.
"You?!" I said pointed and jumping a bit.
"Yah, Chicken feet." He said so nonchalant.
How dare he with such arrogance. His burgundy eyes seemed completely unfazed from my reaction.
"Do you two know each other?" The manager asked.
"Well…." I said, not sure what part to say.
"We just have class together, that's all." He said it easy.
I guess It was smart to keep the fact I was ever in his room hidden. His demeanor seems so different than the one he showed me in his room.
"Well, Park Ha-Yun will be working with us now." The manger finished.
"Is that so, well nice to meet you Park Ha-Yun, I'm Lee Kang-Soo." He said with a mischievous smile.
"Maybe you guys can come to work together from school." The manager suggested.
I turned to look at him, I wasn't so sure about that.
"Oh, no it's ok." I stated in a quiet tone.
"Maybe." He said with a smirk on his face.
This guy was almost just as slick as Jae-Min. Jae-Min. I wonder how he was doing? This weekend he said he was busy. I wonder what he was doing, what he did for fun.
The rest of the day there, I felt kind of like a burden, as if I was in the way. I wanted to the day to kind of end. As I brought back some of the dishes to help the servers out, I had to keep crossing paths with Kang-Soo. Occasionally I would look up at him and he would look away as if he never looked. So clumsy. I have eyes too you know. What was he thinking?