Chapter 2: Letters
Chapter 2
The dining hall is huge and there are tables everywhere. Students are walking around, gossiping, laughing, smiling. Everyone looks like they belong somewhere and then there's me. With an extrovert and Minjun. I don't say anything as Minjun guides me to the tables with dishes everywhere. There is so much you can pick from. They have a lot you can choose from. "They have a little bit of everything. It's not just Korean food so help yourself to anything." I nod my head as I reach for a tray and a plate.
After grabbing some pizza with some potato chips and chocolate milk, I follow Minjun to a table with two other male students. They seem to be having a casual conversation. They stop when we approach the table. One of them has short black hair. His bangs are covering his forehead. He stares at me as I stare at my tray. The other one has short blue hair. He grins.
"Minjun! You brought a new person. Aren't you going to introduce her?" Minjun sighs.
"Would you give me a minute to introduce her Chan?" I look up and the guy with black hair is still staring at me. Do I have something on my face? "Chan, Moonbin. This is Nari. She's new." Moonbin holds out his hand. He smiles and his eyes fold like crescent moons. My heart starts pounding.
"Hi. I'm new also. I'm Moonbin." I shake his hand with my sweaty palms. What the hell is wrong with me? He chuckles.
"I'm Chan." He throws his hand in the air, a smile on his face. I smile a shy smile.
"I'm Seo Nari." I whisper. Minjun takes a seat across from Chan.
"Okay, now that we are done with that, let's eat. Study session will start soon." I take the only seat that's open and that's next to Moonbin. I quietly eat my food while they all talk to each other. Chan also has an accent similar to Felix. Are they possibly related?
"So, Nari. Where are you from?" Chan questions. I feel my ears getting warm. All the attention is on me. Stop looking at me!
"I'm from New York." His eyes widen.
"Oh, no way. Really?" I nod my head as I take a bite out my pizza. "Did you grow up there?" I nod my head again.
"Are you typically this quiet? I heard you stood up against that blonde Aussie kid today." Moonbin says, looking at me. His arms are on the table. He's smiling again. Please stop looking at me.
"Oh yeah! I can't believe you stood up to Felix." Chan says. He holds his hand up, looking at me. I stare at him. Does he want me to high five him? "C'mon Nari. Don't leave me hanging." I awkwardly high five him and he laughs. "Minjun really did a number on his face apparently. Everyone is talking about it." Minjun rolls his eyes.
"It's not like he didn't deserve it." He mutters. I don't say anything as I finish the last of my lunch. I stand up too quickly, knocking my tray on the floor. All my trash spills onto the floor. My half container of milk spills out onto the floor. I sigh. Moonbin gets up and kneels down to help pick up the trash.
"I'll grab some napkins." He says, heading over to the table with all the dishes and napkins are. He runs back and starts to wipe up the mess while I sit there, staring at him. Something about him. What is it that makes me feel this way? "There, all good." We stand up and I dust myself off. "C'mon. Let's head to the study session." He picks up my tray from the floor and walks over to the trash where he sits the tray on the top of it. I fidget with my fingers.
"I uh, I don't know where to go." He laughs. There go those eyes again.
"I'll show you. Don't forget your bag." He says, pointing at the table. I nod quickly and grab my bag from the ground. Slinging it over my right shoulder, I follow him out the dining hall.
As we walk to the library; I glance at Moonbin. He's a bit taller than me, but not by much. "Hey, do you know why we have to engage in a school club?" I question. He chuckles.
"It's a rule the principal made." He smiles at me. "Have you decided what club you're going to join?" I shake my head.
"I don't want to join one really. Too many people gives me a ton of anxiety." I look at him. "What club has the least amount of people?" He tilts his head to the side.
"Photography is pretty small but that's because most students can't afford a very nice camera. Oh, and student council because no one wants to be in it."
"What club are you in?"
"Oh me? I'm a football player, but I also joined drama too. I want to either be a professional football player, or an actor. I'm good at both, so it's hard to choose."
"Why don't you do both?" He laughs, looking at me.
"You're cute Nari." I don't say anything as my face heats up. We arrive to the library a few minutes later. "I'll see you later. We get assigned our partners when everyone arrives. Who knows? I might be your partner." He bows down and walks off.
"Nari! Over here!" Nayeon calls. I turn around to her voice. She's waving me over to her table. I my way to where she's sitting. She grabs my arm, pulling me down in the empty chair. "Oh my GOD. You were talking to Moonbin?" I pull out her grip.
"What's the big deal?" I whisper as I rub my arm.
"What's the big deal? Do you know who he is?" I narrow my eyes at her.
"Of course, I don't." She pulls me close as she whispers in my ear.
"His parents are in charge of the two top hospitals in Seoul. He's set for life." I roll my eyes.
"So what?" I say as she moves away from me.
"He's friendly with everyone, but he's different with you. I can feel it." My hands start to get sweaty again. Even if that's true, I'm not looking for a relationship. Besides, someone with a lot of money probably wants someone of the statue. I think of his smile. A small smile appears on my face. Nayeon smirks. "I know you like him." I playfully shove her. She giggles.
The librarian shushes the room. She's about 5'5 with short brown hair and brown eyes. She has glasses which she pushes closer to her face. "Good evening students. Today, we are doing something a little different. Here is a hat and within that hat is everyone's' name. Whoever you pick, you are required to keep a journal with this person until the end of term. There will be certain topics you'll have to talk about, but for the most part. It's to get to know each other. Consider it a fun project for your first term this year." Some students groan. I am curious of who I'm going to get. Who will I have to get to know this term?
As the hat is being passed around, I wait anxiously for my turn. Paper slips are nearly gone when the hat gets to me. I close my eyes and dig my hand in the hat. I hope it's Minjun or one of his friends. I pull the slip of paper out and read the name on the paper.
Lee Felix
My mouth drops. Him? Nayeon grabs my paper out my hand and laughs when she reads it. "Oof, good luck." She says, giggling. I want to hide away and never come out. I can't work with him. I can't write him letters. I can't get to know him. No way in hell. I wonder who Minjun got. Nayeon holds her paper in the air, shaking it back and forth. "I got Chan. I've seen him around school before I've never really talked to him before. This should be interesting."
"Okay, everyone find your partners and start the study session. You have 30 minutes." Nayeon stands up and waves.
"See you in 30 minutes." I sit at the table, staring at my slip of paper. Out of all people, it had to be him?
"So, you're Nari, huh?" A voice questions. I look up and there he is. Felix with a black and blue swollen nose. He narrows his eyes. "Let's just say we know each other and never interact again." He suggests. I look at the table.
"We have to do the assignment. Besides, we are supposed to study for these 30 minutes we have left." He crosses his arms over his chest.
"Look. I don't do this. I don't study and I damn well don't do shit like this." He says, pointing between him and me. I sigh. Why must he be so difficult? Just sit down and do the damn assignment.
"Mister Lee, is there a problem?" He groans loudly before taking a seat across from me. He slams his bag on the table.
"Don't expect much out of me little girl." He says before putting his head on his bag. He's asleep within minutes. I glance around the room. Moonbin and Minjun semmed to go paired up with other guys while Chan and Nayeon are giggling with each other. I pull out a random purple notebook and start my first letter to Felix.
Felix,
Why are you so angry all the time? Do you have some pent up anger from childhood? I don't really know what to talk about so I'm just going to introduce myself to you. My name is Seo Nari. I'm originally born in Colorado, but I grew up mostly in NYC. I'm 16 and my birthday is May 22. I got into a little situation back at home so hence why I'm here and no. Don't ask me what it is because I haven't told anyone and I'm not going to tell anyone. Anyway. I'm part American and part Korean. Can you guess which one my parents are? I'm still surprised at you for attacking that girl. It seemed like you guys were together from what I saw and you seemed to really hurt her a lot. It's not my business and I don't think I really need to know, but you should apologize to her. She didn't deserve that. Again, it's not my business. I just think it's the right thing to do. Anyway, before this gets to long for you to read, my hobbies are watching anime, listening to music, and playing video games. I also like to read when I have time too. I'm an extreme introvert. I dislike large crowds and a lot of people.
Anyway, that's a little about me. I hope you can write something decently back. I'm leaving first.
Nari
I close the notebook and grab a sticky note from my bag. I start to scribble on it. 'I'm leaving first. Don't forget to write back' I stick it on the notebook and put it next to him. The bell rings and the library fills with sounds of people talking and scooting their chairs back and shuffling their things. Felix doesn't move from his spot. I gather my things and head towards the exit when someone grabs my shoulder. It's too strong for it to Nayeon. I turn around and see Moonbin standing there, holding a yellow notebook. He's a bit red as he hands it to me. I stare at it.
"Uh, I um. I didn't get you for the assignment but I was wondering if you'd be interested in getting to know me." I take the notebook out his hand and smile.
"I would really like that." I say quietly. He smiles as I take it.
"Cool, let's trade off again tomorrow. I'll see you at breakfast." He starts to walk off. He stops, turning around. "Which starts at 7am. So don't forget." I nod my head and he waves me off before walking away. I look down at the yellow notebook. I wonder what he wrote to me.
When I return to my dorm, Nayeon is in the bathroom. I drop my bag on the floor and head over to my desk, where I take a seat. My phone buzzes and I pull it out. It looks like my mom is calling me. I pull it out my phone. "Hello?" I ask.
"Honey! It's Mom. How are you doing? How was your first day?" I lean onto my desk as I put the phone closer to my ear.
"I'm good Mom. First day was good. My roommate is really nice and I've met some other students." She sighs in relief.
"I'm so glad to hear that. I was worried you'd have a difficult time." I shake my head.
"No, I'm alright. I do miss you and Dad though. I also miss my friends."
"They haven't reached out yet?" I shake my head.
"Maybe they are busy, which is fine." She doesn't say anything for a couple of seconds.
"I know it's evening there. Try to get some rest. It's time for your Father and I to start the day. We love you." I smile.
"I love you too. I'll talk to you guys later." I hang up first and slide my phone back in my pocket.
"Who were you talking to?" Nayeon asks. I nearly jump out my skin as I turn around to see her staring over me.
"Jesus." I mutter as I throw a hand on my chest, near my heart. "Why are you hoovering over me like some weirdo?" She giggles.
"I'm a nosy extrovert. Tell me who were you talking to. Did you and Moonbin exchange contact information?"
"No, we didn't and I was talking to my mom." She nods her head.
"Ah, that's right. Your parents don't live here." She looks at me. "Why are you here in Korea by yourself then? Don't you get lonely?"
"It's really not your business." I say coldly. She doesn't say anything more as she heads towards her bed.
"It's 9:10 so don't say up too late. Lights out by 10." I sigh. Can this school be any more annoying? "Goodnight" She says, turning her night lamp off. I sit at my desk, staring at the yellow notebook. Why am I so nervous to open it? I suck in a deep breath and let it out slowly before opening to the first page. There is a sticky note on the inside of the cover. His handwriting is beautiful. 'I'm writing you first. I hope we can get along well 'Lily' ' I smile. I look at the first page. He's written a decent amount.
Lily,
I hope you don't mind me calling you Lily. Nari means 'Lily' in Korean. Did you know that? I assume because you aren't from Korea you wouldn't know your name origin but that's probably stereotyping, and I don't want to offend you in any way. LOL. I'm already fucking this entry up. It was really nice meeting you at dinner and getting to understand you a bit as we walked to the library. You said you have anxiety when you're around a lot of people? Do you suffer from any mental health issues? I'm often depressed but it's because my parents are so powerful and I feel like everyone around me has a motive because of my status as a person. I think you are going to be different though and that makes me happy and excited. I really want to learn more about you so please share your hobbies with me and your likes and dislikes. Tell me about NYC. I've never been to the States before. I hope I don't keep you up late and I'm not saying too much. The bell is about to ring though, so this will be a good time to end this. Before I go, I'll leave you my number.
My number is +82- xxx -xxxx Don't hesitate to contact me at all. I'll always answer. (That sounded a bit desperate, didn't it?) Okay, I'm leaving before I embarrass myself any longer. Bye!
Looking forward to hearing from you,
Moonbin
I close the notebook. A million things are running through my mind but I don't know how to put my thoughts into words. Moonbin seems to have taken a liking to me and I think I like him too. I put the notebook into my desk drawer and stand up. I turn the desk lamp off and head to the bathroom.
After a nice shower and putting on a night gown. I head towards bed where I lie there, staring at the ceiling. It's dark and Nayeon is sleeping soundly. It's too early to sleep. I reach for my phone and type in Moonbin's number. My fingers linger on the text icon. After a few moments, I put my phone back on the table. He said he's new as well. I wonder where if he's been living in Korea his whole life. I feel my eyes get heavy and before I know it, I'm asleep, dreaming of Moonbin.
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