Chapter 5- I’m Sorry Too

Trying not to feel upset by Mai-sun's actions, Jin-woo turned back to his phone and simply asked.

"What do you want Mai?"

Mai-sun frowned at his unwelcoming tone before she asked.

"Is that any way to treat a childhood friend? I just want to check up on you after what happened."

Mai-sun showed a concerned expression as she said those last words.

Without looking up, Jin-woo coldly responded.

"You doing that is more troubling for me, can you stop?"

"What's with you? Why are you treating Mai-sun like this after she's showing concern for someone like you?"

A girl from Mai-sun entourage suddenly said, her face twisting into a repulsed expression.

This drew a few more people's attention and Jin-woo knew it. Though he only continued to scroll through his phone, ignoring Mai-sun and everyone else looking at him.

"Come on Mai, why do you even try to talk to this freak anyway."

Mai-sun and the girls left, leaving Jin-woo alone.

At the same time, a teacher walked in.

"Alright, all phones away for a minute and take your seats."

Jin-woo put away his phone, and a few chairs scraped as everyone took their seats.

The seat to the left of him shifted before someone took a seat.

Jin-woo looked over but had his heart drop when he saw Mai-sun.

Mai-sun gave him a wave and an innocent smile, but Jin-woo was now dreading his upcoming school days.

Both Mai-sun and Seo-joon were in the same class as him, what could be worse?

"I'm your homeroom and P.E. teacher, Ms. Choi, and I'm happy to be here with you all."

"I'm not."

Seo-Joon from the back of the class chimed in with a lackadaisical expression.

"Well, since this isn't an official school day, you, mister…"

Ms. Choi paused to look down at her desk.

"Mister Park Seon-joon… Oh! You're teacher Park's son?"

Ms. Choi finished with surprise, before going on to say.

"Well, today is mostly for you first years to look around your new campus and get accustomed to the change in environment. After lunch hours, you can all head home to be back here for the first day of regular school tomorrow. I'll leave you guys alone as well, but first…"

Ms. Choi went through a few things on her desk before she took up a marker to write on the whiteboard.

"Let's elect the Cass President and Class VP. Anyone can be nominated except by themselves, we'll have a vote when all the names are listed."

Turning to the entire class, she then asked.

"So, who's first?"

Immediately, a girl raised her hand and said.

"I nominate Ye-Jun."

A few more girls raised their hands and voted for a student named Ye-Jun.

Seeing this, Ms. Choi said amused.

"From all of these nominations, it would seem voting is unnecessary. Alright, which student is named Ye-Jun?"

A hand raised from the front of the class and attached to that hand was a really handsome youth in glasses. He had short straight black hair and features that made a few girls have dazed eyes as they looked at him, obviously from infatuation.

Looking at this student, Ms. Choi showed a bit of joy as she said.

"No wonder you're so popular, you're 'the' Ho Ye-Jun who took second place all semesters in our middle school. You've also managed to snag first place on the Entrance Exams as well. Your speech earlier was also the best out of the ones previously done by students placed first, but don't tell anyone I said that, ha-ha.

The boy named Ye-Jun nodded his head casually before fixing his classes with his finger.

Afterward, Ms. Choi turned to the board and wrote Ye-jun's name under the header 'Class President.'

"Now, how about the Class VP, any nominations?"

Immediately, a few boys raise their hands, and one after another they all nominate Mai-sun.

Seeing practically the same scenario playing out, Ms. Choi found this situation even more amusing.

"It seems this class has two popular stars. Ms. Kim is second on the entrance exams, I'm quite happy getting to teach two outstanding first-year students this year."

Ms. Choi then went to write Mai-sun's name on the board, but Mai-sun suddenly lifted her hand and spoke up.

"Actually Ms. Choi, I don't want to be Class VP. I nominate Jin-woo and give all of my votes to him."

Hearing this, Jin-woo immediately did a double take and snapped his head to face her. He only saw her giving him that same innocent smile.

"This girl is malicious; I really don't like her."

Seong, who had appeared next to Jin-woo some time ago, said with a frown, and Jin-woo couldn't help but agree with him as he glared at Mai-sun.

….

…

..

In a corridor of HBTR Labs, Myung-hee could be seen rushing after a female in a white lab coat.

"Wait! Mrs. Kim, please allow me to be on this project. I've been by your side this entire time and I think I have a way to fix the pill's formula, so it works! Just give me a chance to show you what I've been working on!"

The lady named Mrs. Kim simply kept on walking as if she didn't hear Myung-hee.

As she approached her office, Myung-hee got desperate and said again.

"Madelyn, why won't you let me on this project? I was the one who helped you before so you can't just exclude me from this after all that I've down for you. It's not fair to me!"

Madelyn went to swipe her key card to open the glass office door, but hearing Myung-hee, she paused. After letting out a sigh, she then turned to her and said.

"Look Myung-hee, you're a very smart person. Someone whom I'm lucky to have as an assistant. Even I think your talents are being wasted working for me.

"When you offered to help me develop the A1 Formula that could help treat your son's illness, I only agreed because the program was about to shut down and be counted as a failure. But this time it's different. Numerous investors have poured time and money into this, investors who are very powerful and frightening. Even your government has shown interest in this program, and because of that I can't just allow anyone on the team."

With a ding and a green light, the office door was opened.

Before entering, Madelyn continued.

"I wasn't able to give you credit for helping me develop the A1 Formula since someone without qualifications and authorization being involved in experiments would lead to an investigation and possibly the facility shutting down, but I gave you a share of the profits because I'm a good friend. I'm being a good friend now when I'm telling you to let this go. You can't help me any more than you already have without something going wrong and I can't have that. We've reached a significant breakthrough recently, so we'll manage just fine without your help."

After trying to dissuade Myung-hee from being involved, Madelyn was about to enter her office but Myung-hee suddenly spoke up.

"This isn't about getting recognition or money."

Looking Madelyn in the eyes, Myung-hee continued to say.

"It's about the work, and it's always been about that. I would sacrifice anything for it."

A sad expression appeared on Madelyn's face as she heard that before she said.

"I'm sorry Myung-hee, not this time."

With a click, the door closed in front of Myung-hee's face.

"Well, I'm sorry too."

An angry light flickered across Myung-hee's eyes as she mumbled those words.

Sharply turning on her heels, a determined look was present on her face as she left the area.

Soon after, her figure could be seen walking into the female's bathroom.

Not five minutes later, emergency alarms started blaring across the entire five-acre facility.

People were then seen rushing out of that bathroom into the hall, coughing profusely as smoke furiously bellow out of the open door.

While the screams of the panicking people in the hallway rang out, Myung-Hee could be seen in the middle covering her face.

She looked around for a brief moment before going in another direction from the exit the security guards nearby were ushering people towards.