Chapter 17 - Missing You

It was rather a peculiar day, Jeong Won noticed. He made his way to his classroom passing in between students who seemed to be gossiping under their breath. The classroom also was no exception as everyone seemed overly interested in something.

He hadn't even sat properly when Hyeon Seong came pulling the chair of the vacant desk beside him.

"Have you heard the news?"

Jeong Won faced him with a blank expression.

"A student jumped off in the gym. They said it was attempted suicide."

"Oh," he responded absent-mindedly. It was not like he didn't care but suicides were no new news at all. Was it?

"The most interesting part is...." said Min Jung who was already in front of the two.

"He left a suicide note and named the person who was making his life a hell, guess who?" Her smirk made him straightened his back curiously.

He stared at the two, blinking his eyes in discomfort. And they said the last thing he wanted to hear.

"It's Son Jin Ae. The Elite leader," whispered Hyeon Seong.

"You see, it's not the first time though. There were rumors that she was also the reason why the Chinese noodle girl killed herself. Now, I guess that's really true."

Chinese noodle girl? Jeong Won was confused. Was she that girl named Ham Eun Jung?

"She was already summoned to the principal's office. Ha! She's dead meat already. It's a good chance-"

"That couldn't be!" Jeong Won jerked out of his seat before Min Jung could finish what she was saying, an action that surprised the two.

"Tell me, what's the name of the guy who jumped?" he asked them.

* * *

"Hey, Jeong Won! Where do you think you are going?" yelled Hyeon Seong.

Jeong Won ran down the stairs and turned left, now Hyeon Seong had an idea where his friend was heading.

"Wait, Jeong Won!" Hyeon Seong blocked his body in front of Jeong Won. He could see the desperation in his eyes.

"Do you remember the two guys who went out in the toilet before we got in? The locker key wasn't theirs. I saw the name! And it's that guy who attempted suicide. They could have put the fake suicide note in his locker. And I remember that Park Chul Soo now! He's the same guy who Jin Ae helped in the park. There's no way she could be bullying him!" He heard him say.

"....and that rumor, I don't believe it! There could have been other reasons."

"So?"

"Jin Ae is being framed. And it could be Lee Myung Soo's work!"

"Lee Myung Soo? The Student Council's vice president?"

"Yeah. I heard him. I heard him saying he's got a plan or something."

"Jeong Won, calm down."

"I have to go to the principal office and tell them that Jin Ae is innocent."

Hyeon Seong tried to block him again. Not because he did not believe him, but because he knew that if what he said was true, Jeonh Won was be putting himself in a tight spot too.

Jeong Won was bigger than him and he easily went past through him. But right then, a tall figure, as tall as Jeong Won, blocked his way.

* * *

Chul Soo was a popular figure in the school. Aside from being so good-looking, he was also known as the only son of the owner of the hospital in their town. No wonder he was part of the Elites. He was long acquainted with Son Jin Ae since their families were associated with each other.

They had a brief encounter before and would have considered each other in a friendly manner, but a real man knows a real competitor when he sees one. If it wasn't because of Jin Ae's request, he wouldn't think of speaking to him again. Just like what she told him yesterday, Jeong Won would try to save her and she didn't want that to happen.

"Why?.... why do you want to protect him?" Chul Soo asked, his voice lower and somber as usual.

"It's not like that. I just don't want other people to get involved further with my issues," she told him. But he knew her so much he could see through her.

Kim Jeong Won stared at him and Jeonghan saw the same desperate eyes Jin Ae had yesterday.

"Do you believe that Jin Ae can do that?" Jeong Won asked with a hint of disappointment in his tone.

"I don't."

"So why are we standing here? We should go and tell them that Jin Ae cannot do that. I can prove to them that she was just framed," Jeong Won started to walk but Jeonghan blocked him again. His eyes resting to his in a gravely and determined manner.

"We trust in her that's why we are letting her face the issue on her own. She wished us not to."

Jeong Won stared at him with narrowed eyes.

"....especially you, she did not want you to meddle with her anymore."

"What do you mean?"

"Starting today, she's freeing you. You don't need to take her orders anymore...."

Jeong Won tilted his head, his eyes getting narrower.

"....and do not come near her as well."

Jeong Won's eyes flickered upon hearing that, but it was momentarily.

"Is this what she wished too?"

Chul Soo need not nod. One could tell from the expression on his face that he was too serious to even attempt to lie.

"Alright, but...." Jeong Won responded, letting out a deep sigh, and continued:

"...but I want to ask something. I need an honest answer."

* * *

A day passed already and Jeong Won did not see any glimpse of Son Jin Ae yet. He knew that Jin Ae couldn't be put into jail or expelled in something like that, but he couldn't help but worry. There were rumors that she was stripped of her elite membership and would be resectioned. Others said that her family was ashamed and decided to let her study abroad. But despite the gossips, the incident died down a little bit maybe because the exams were fast approaching. Either way, he thought that was better. Park Chul Min did not die. He was in recovery. It only convinced Jeong Won more that his suicide was staged.

Jeong Won rested his head on the desk and stared at the wooden division that separates him from the other students spending their nights in the study room. Without thinking, he scribbled on it, he wrote:

How are you? I hope you are okay.

He stopped for a moment and mused whether to write the words lying at the back of his head but it seemed that his hand had a mind on its own. He added:

I MISS YOU.

He vandalized without thinking.

The next night, Jeong Won still felt somber as usual. He rested his head again on the desk and stared at the same division when suddenly his eyes widened from surprise. Someone left a sticky note.

YAH! THIS WALL IS NOT A LOVE LETTER! ARE YOU HERE TO STUDY OR ARE YOU GONNA KEEP ON THINKING ABOUT HER/HIM? REMOVE YOUR VANDAL OR ELSE I'M GONNA REMOVE YOU IN THIS WORLD!

He was so shocked by the note. Did it come from the student with whom he shared the desk? He pulled the pink sticky note and stared at it without blinking. He had the sudden urge to reply. He used a blue sticky note, he wrote:

Sorry! I did not intend to vandalize. To answer your question, I'm studying, but don't you find it hard to study while missing someone?

PS. It is her not him.

He was not expecting her to reply but his face brightened when he received another note the next day. She wrote:

MISSING SOMEONE ONLY MAKES ME MORE MOTIVATED TO STUDY.

Jeong Won could feel the loneliness of the note. Was she missing someone too? He also observed that she writes using all capital letters. He pondered what to answer.

Jeong Won: It's the first time I heard that. How I wish it could be the same for me, most probably I could top my exams if that happens.

And after that, they somehow communicated through sticky notes. It lessened his sadness.

She: IF YOU JUST STOP SULKING AND READ YOUR BOOKS, THAT COULD HAPPEN... UNLESS WE HAVE THE SAME SCHOOL.

Jeong Won: Oh! Are you one of the top students in your school? You might have been missing someone so much. Just kidding!

She: FROM WHAT SCHOOL ARE YOU?

Jeong Won: Daegu High School. Yours?

He did not receive a reply the next day.

Jeong Won: Hey! Are you still there?

The next day...

She: I'M NOT TELLING YOU.

Jeong Won: Hey! That's not fair! How about this, let's make a bet. The one who gets a higher score this coming exam in their respective schools shall be granted a wish.

She did not receive a reply.

Jeong Won: Oh, what a chicken! You're not confident.

She: I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO WISH FOR AS OF NOW, THE BET IS USELESS TO ME.

Jeong Won: I don't think so. I could grant anything you wish if you won. You see, I just need the motivation to study. My mind is so lost I can't concentrate. My dad's gonna scold me if I fail.

She: ALRIGHT. GOOD LUCK!

Somehow, Jeong Won was encouraged to study. After school, he spent nights in the study room. The anonymous student who he was sharing the desk with left notes and books with highlights that he used for studying. It was a great help. She must be a top student indeed for Jeong Won surprisingly understood the lessons more because of her side notes and mnemonics. It was like they were studying together. He wondered if they have the same school.

Despite that, he was still thinking about Jin Ae. He just couldn't get her out of his mind.

The next morning, their English class was interrupted by a knock on a door. The principal of the school entered the room, he called on someone from his back and they were all surprised at the sight of a female student entering the classroom.

She walked to the teacher and bowed her head.

"Class, I think you all know her. Mind a brief introduction?" The teacher glanced at her.

She smiled respectfully at the teacher and faced the class.

"Good morning, I am Son Jin Ae. I'll be your new classmate starting today."

Author notes: I believe that life is marked by serendipity, coincidence, and fate. Even the things around us, the situation, and people could be a catalyst for love.