Chapter Text
AUTUMN
1997/10/10
11:30
• REC
Without realizing it, a few days had passed since the fair. Life went back to normal and everyone started stressing for something much more important. The exams. In South Korea, where your social status is cemented since the moment you were born, exams are more important than living. Yes, you might be dead but at least you died ranking number one in your local district. Hopefully you notice the sarcasm there. For the most part, I avoided school and responsibilities. To teachers, I was just constantly terribly sick and to my classmates, they were relieved to see the troublesome bunch gone from the corridor every lunchtime and breaktime.
Most days I sat in my painfully under-decorated home with my kness pressed to my chest, as if I was putting myself in a stress position for hours. Miss Bae looked at me with pity but I didn't even properly register her presence. Just when I thought I would rot away at home, the door bell rung. Miss Bae got up to check while I sat there motionless and staring at the blank wall. If I stared long enough, I started to see colour in the white.
"Heesoo-ah?" Miss Bae walked to me hesitantly. Somebody was following behind her. "Your class president came to stop by. Some class work." She smiled at Kim Minji who politely smiled back. Miss Bae jolted as if remembering something. "You two talk, I'll prepare you some tea."
"That would be lovely, thank you." It was the first time hearing Kim Minji's soothing voice in what felt like forever. I almost wished that Miss Bae could stay for a little longer just to hear her talk.
But she wasn't supposed to see me like this.
I wasn't looking at her but I could feel her eyes on me. She put a bag of materials on the coffee table and sat down in a sofa next to me. Attentively, she only observed me and let silence take over between us. This was a feeling that crawled on my skin.
"It is nice of you. Thank you, Kim Minji." I broke the silence first and when I met her eyes, a flash of relief passed through her eyes but I wasn't quite sure whether I saw correctly or it was just a trick of light.
She exhaled. "The truth is... I wanted to visit you a long time ago. But um... I didn't know how so this was just an excuse really." She twiddled her fingers and for the first time, she didn't appear as her usual confident self. Kim Minji cleared her throat and shifted in her seat. "So um... I wanted to check if you were okay. Not just academically."
"Why do you care?" My words came out harsh before I could stop myself. It made her flinch slightly but she quickly recovered. The sincerity in her eyes almost wounded me but also made my eyes sting.
"Because I'm class president. I took an oath before taking this position." Kim Minji's voice was reassuring and firm. It almost had a natural quality that casted a spell over people. Not to bewitch them but to guide them towards her in a trusting manner. But I swore to not tell anyone anymore. Not even Kim Minji.
"I'm stressed for the exam. I don't go well with stress so I got sick again." I squeezed an artificial smile onto my lips. I know that I didn't fool her but she continued on the lie that I told her.
"In that case, I just want you to know that I am here if you want someone to talk to." Kim Minji said. "Anything really. You have my word." And she stood up to leave. I didn't offer to walk her out and she didn't mind. After casting one more controlled worried glance at me, she left.
Miss Bae rushed out of the kitchen with confusion. "Leaving so early? I made cookies, why don't you have some before going?"
Kim Minji smiled. "I would love to but I have a piano lesson in a while. I just wanted to stop by to make sure that Heesoo is alright. Now that I've seen her, I will have to go now. But thank you nonetheless."
"Oh please, let me walk you out!" And to that, Kim Minji didn't object.