CHAPTER 23

My blood went cold as I looked at the caller's ID, my bad fell from my hand

I slowly walked towards her phone, and picked it up gently as if the phone was going to explain any moment from now

"Sorry, I couldn't remember where I kept it. I think I'm getting old, I keep for..." my mom trailed off when she saw the look I had on my face

She looked at her phone in my hands

"What wrong?" she asked

"Choi Hyun Tae" I said, shivering as the name came out my lips

I saw her face turn pale

"Soo Jo..."

"Who's this?" I asked waving the phone

"Soo J..."

"It's not who I think it is, right?" I asked

"Soo Joon-ah"

"Daedab hae!" answer me I screamed

"Who, in the world, is this?" I asked again, trying to be calm

"Is it who I think it is?"

"Ani, it's not" no she replied

"Omma" mom...

"It's not him. Jinjja. Believe me" really she pleaded

I reluctantly held the phone towards her, and she came to take it

"I'm going to school" I said as I picked up my bag

I stopped in front of the door, and turned back to her

"I'm going to really you, mom. And I really hope you're telling me the truth" I said and left, not waiting to see if she had any reaction to give

^^^^^

"Boo!"

I screamed and jumped giving an uppercut to the perpetrator

"Yo, girl. Did you become a boxer in your dream or what?" Ji Sung asked rubbing his chin, with a sour look on his face

"Well, did you become deaf in your dream or what? I've told you not to creep behind me again" I defended, balancing my bag back on my shoulders

"Ouch" he said, ignoring what I said

Instead, he rubbed his chin

"Baine. Does it hurt a lot?" sorry I asked which touching his chin tentatively

While I was being apologetic, he suddenly held me in an loose head lock while ruffling my hair

"Ya! Ya, stop it. Juggo sipeo?" hey! hey... do you want to die?

I struggled until I freed myself

"Michyeoss-eo? Michyeoss-eo?" are you nuts? are you nuts? I repeated while hitting him

He held my hand

"Noh-a. How dare you put me in an head lock? Anh noh-a?" let go. aren't you letting go? I asked trying to free myself

"Is something going on?" Tae Woong asked as he walked towards us

I glared at Ji Sung one more time and ripped my hand from him

"Ani. Let's go" no I said and walked with him to class, ignoring Ji Sung

Sometime during class, a text notification came into my phone

It was from Ji Sung, so I ignored it still upset with him, but I picked it up with a scowl after the third ding

'Is everything okay?' he asked

I furrowed my brows in confusion

You looked deep in thought when you were coming to school

'Are you okay now?' he asked

I now had a smile on my face, that was why he was annoying

'You do know that talking about to just reminded me of it again, right?'

I texted him

'Oops, my bad. Sorry 🤦‍♂'

I smiled again

'Gwenchanh-a'

It's okay

'Do you want to talk about it?' he asked

'Maybe later?'

'Sure, of course'

We focused for the set of class

The bell rang the end of the period and the beginning of a new period. This is like my favorite period, I'm sure it's pretty much everyone's else', because of our homeroom teacher. My thoughts were confirmed as everyone started banding on the table excitedly as he walked in

He allowed it for a while, doing a fake bow, before raising his hand up to stop the banging

"Okay, okay. That's enough" he said, and the banging quiten

"Thank you all for that amazing introduction. I feel so honored" he said, earning a positive reaction

"And that's why I'm going to give you a news" he said

"What is it?"

"Is it good or bad?" another student asked

"It's a good one. A very good one" he said and drumrolls began

"I... I've finally come up with your class projects!" he said excitedly

Protests flew from all over the news

"Aren't you guys happy?" he asked

"NO!!!" the whole class said

"Then, I guess that means no field trip" he said, looking dejected

"Ssaem!!"

"Can't we just go without doing anything?" a boy asked

"Do you know when rest is sweeter?" he asked

"You're not about to say 'When you have just finished a work' or something like that, right?" Ji Sung asked

I smiled

"Exactly. That's exactly what I was going to say"

Everyone groaned

"Now, now, that's not what future lawyers, doctors, and prosecutors should be saying"

"I'm not becoming either of them" a girl said

"Fashion designers also have to do work"

She slumped against the chair, defeated

Teacher Han smiled and called for our class president to follow him to his office

"I'll give Chi the projects and partners list to give to you guys. There're various option of what to do, so you and your partner can just choose to do what is okay to you guys" he said and left with Kang Chi

^^^^^

I waved bye to Tae Woong and wen towards my car. I was about to entered when my name was called. I turned around and saw Ji Sung running towards me

"Wae?" why? I asked

"When do you want to start working on our projects?" he asked

He was my partner. Unfortunately or fortunately, I haven't decided which category to put it

"Probably after deciding which work to do"

Our beloved teacher out all of us in a tough spot in deciding which work to do. All of the projects had similar levels of difficulties while they were also simple in some areas

"Then, let's think about what to do today, the earlier the better. Should I come over?"

"Su... Actually let's go to your house" I changed my mind

"My house?" he asked

"Your house" I repeated

"Why do you want to come to my house?" he asked

"Because I've never been there" I dead panned

I went into my car, brought the engine to life, and rolled down my window

"Lead the way" I said and rolled the window back up, waiting for him

He had a small smile as he shook his head, and went to his car. Our parking spaces were close to each other, so I could easily follow him

We drove for about thirty minutes, till we came up to an estate gate

I made a sound of approval

A guard came up to Ji Sung, then looked at me. He then bowed and opened the gate, allowing me to pass as well without stopping

"Wow" I couldn't help but say as I entered into the estate

There're were lush houses on both sides, with excellent, brilliant topiary in between the houses, I also saw pools here and there. We continued riding until we came to the house of the year. It was literally the house of the year

I couldn't believe it when I saw Ji Sung park in front of the house

"Surely this is not your house" I said as I walked towards him

"It is. Is something wrong?" he asked

"You're living in the house of the year"

"House of the year?" he asked in confusion

Then laughed when he understood what I meant

"Oh. Well, I guess this's the result of my parent's work" he said

"Oh" I said no longer amazed by the house

"At least I get to live in the house of the year" he said with a smile, which made me smile too

"Let's go inside"