CHAPTER 3:
Haerin's POV
After my strange conversation with Hyein, I went back home and decided to eat something. My mom now thinks that Hyein and I are friends, and she likes that; my mom says that friends are good for you. Anyway, what Hyein said left me intrigued. Was there someone across the street watching me? Well, that's what she said, or it could just be one of that girl's hallucinations. Then again, after my weird experience in another dimension, I can't judge anyone for being strange.
The next day at school, I arrived earlier than usual. There were few students and many empty classrooms. I went to my class and sat down. To my surprise, after some time sitting there, Minji entered through the door and made direct eye contact with me. She approached and sat in a chair next to me.
- How's my favorite researcher doing?
She started taking her notebook out of her backpack, and I just replied:
- I'm not a researcher.
- Whatever. I just wanted to make small talk with you, but you're never up for it, even though we're friends now.
I raised a confused eyebrow.
- We're friends?
- Of course, and you didn't even text me. I gave you my number, remember?
- Oh, right, I remember. Sorry, I must have forgotten before.
Lie, the truth is I spent the whole night staring at Minji's number, but I was too shy to call. After all, what would I say without sounding weird?
Suddenly, my train of thought was cut off when a girl nearby said:
- Well, well, if you haven't made a friend, haha, and another weirdo too.
I looked towards the voice, and it was Hanni Pham. She's been at the same school with me for a long time. She doesn't bully me, but she doesn't seem to like me much and always makes stupid jokes.
I stayed silent, but Minji responded:
- Leave us alone, Hanni. Why don't you go find your friends?
Hanni didn't like that and stood up from her desk, walking over to us with an irritated look.
- I do what I want, Kim.
Minji stood up, and I also stood, trying to calm her down.
- Let it go, Minji. She's always like this.
- I'm not a weirdo, and neither are you. Mind your own business, Hanni.
Things didn't seem good. Hanni looked like she was going to push Minji when the class representative approached.
- Enough, everyone. Let's calm down, okay, or I'll report you all to the principal.
It was Danielle Marsh. She had a smile on her face and seemed as calm as ever. Hanni saw Danielle, narrowed her eyes at me, and went back to her seat. Minji let out a sigh and sat down.
- It's only the first days of school, and you all already want to give me trouble.
Danielle added, and I sat down again.
Silence hung in the room as Danielle returned to her seat.
- What's Hanni's problem? She doesn't even know us.
Minji said after a while.
- People are usually like that, they judge without knowing. But I think she just wanted to draw attention to herself.
I replied, looking at Minji, who still seemed a bit angry.
- Even so, I don't want anyone calling you weird. You're the one who's going to help me...
She didn't finish speaking, but before I could ask, more students arrived, and the teacher entered, starting the classes.
Throughout the lesson, I saw Hanni exchanging irritated glances with Minji, and Danielle whispered for them to stop, throwing a paper ball when the teacher wasn't looking.
**Time Skip**
Haerin's POV
I was with Minji again, leaving school, and I saw a figure that, at the moment, I couldn't believe.
- I finally found you, Alien!
It was Hyein again. Oh, right, she said she was transferring to a school near mine. I had almost forgotten.
- Alien?
Minji asked, already smiling and looking at Hyein, who clung to my arm.
- Don't call me that, especially at school! What if someone hears?
- Relax, your secret is safe. And who are you? The double secret agent?
She asked Minji, who laughed, seeming to have a lot of fun with Hyein's straightforward personality.
- I think I am a double secret agent, haha.
- Don't encourage her imagination.
I gave Minji's arm a little tap, who kept laughing and continued to talk:
- I'm Kim Minji.
- Nice to meet you, I'm Hyein Lee, Haerin's neighbor. Anyway, I'm waiting for my cousin, I'm going to her house.
Hyein said, making me pay attention to her again.
- Yes, speaking of which, that's my aunt's car and my cousin is over there.
Minji and I turned at the same time and came face to face with Hanni next to a black car, talking to a tall woman who was probably Hyein's aunt.
- Hanni is your cousin?!
Minji and I said at the same time, and Hyein nodded, smiling.
- Yes. Very cute, isn't she? I love her.
- Wow, that's cool.
I said, and Minji agreed without much enthusiasm.
Hyein smiled again and said goodbye to me and Minji before following Hanni into the car. I gave her several instructions not to even think about telling Hanni that I'm an Alien. Minji still joked a bit, going on about how we're agents. I ignored her, and we said our goodbyes at the corner of the school street this time.
**Time Skip**
Danielle's POV
When I arrived at school, Hanni and Minji looked like they were about to fight at any moment, and I had to separate them. After all, that's my job as a class representative and fellow student. I didn't know Haerin was friends with Minji; I had never seen them talking before. I think Haerin is cute. She helped me once when I dropped my books in the hallway. I wonder if she remembers that. I tried to make small talk with her, but after that, it didn't go so well.
Anyway, the class ended, and everyone left the room. I walked through the school hallways; I needed to use the bathroom and wanted to touch up my makeup. Unfortunately, the bathroom in the main part of the school was closed with a cleaning sign, so I weaved through the students and hurried down the hallway to the other side of the school to use the other bathrooms. Since it was the end of the day, the further I walked, the emptier the corridors became, and as one last person passed me, I began to feel strange.
I kept walking, and the hallway seemed to get longer and longer with each step I took. I tried to ignore the feeling; after all, it had been a while since I had been in this part of the school. I found the girls' bathroom, but when I entered, I was surprised.
- What's going on...
The bathroom had no stalls or sinks as usual; instead, there was nothing there. The floor was still the same as the bathroom, and there was a drain in the empty room. The bathroom was long and very strange. Well, I don't even know if it was a bathroom, and the mirror on the wall seemed to have been stretched out, extending to both sides of the room, and its reflection was distorted.
I felt my breathing speed up a bit, and I started to walk backward, closing the door to the girls' bathroom.
I was confused and breathing heavily until someone touched my shoulder.
It was the History teacher, to my luck.
- Danielle, can you help me with the project for the upcoming school festival?
- Oh... Yes, sure... Yes, I can.
- Are you okay? You look a little pale.
- I'm fine... I just... I'm fine, really.
I smiled, and the teacher smiled and waved.
- Well, see you at the next student council meeting. Thank you and take care.
She smiled again and walked away down the hallway, which now just seemed like a normal hallway. I blinked a bit and took a deep breath. I looked at the girls' bathroom door and opened it again, only to be greeted by the normal bathroom. The stalls, the sinks, everything in place.
I sighed and closed the door again, without going back in.
- The urge to use the bathroom... is gone...
***
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Until next time.
:)