Without saying a word, Kim Sohee seemed frozen in place. She didn't know what to say. After a few seconds, she finally spoke.
"Are you serious?!"
"Yes! I swear!"
By their expressions, it was clear how shocked they were.
"And you stayed SILENT?!"
Kim Sohee shouted, still perched on her toes, leaning against the wall. She kept looking at Pak Nuri.
"Sorry! I didn't know he'd be studying here!"
A few minutes later, Kim Sohee calmed down and, with a frown, turned her head towards Pak Nuri.
"So... who is he, exactly?"
Just as Pak Nuri was about to answer, the bell rang for the next class. Kim Sohee stood up, and they both headed back to class.
Right before entering, Pak Nuri spoke.
"Good luck. They're sitting next to you."
Looking up, Kim Sohee said, "Ahhh, why me?!"
Pak Nuri started laughing and entered the class first. Kim Sohee stood in the doorway.
Suddenly, someone spoke from behind her.
"Are you going to move?"
Kim Sohee turned her head toward the voice and saw her desk neighbor standing right behind her.
"Huh?" she said, not hearing what he said.
"Move!"
Jeong Tae Ho said loudly in his cold, low voice.
"Well, sorry! I don't have eyes in the back of my head."
She responded sharply. Jeong Tae Ho, in turn, just shot her a look and pushed past her through the door.
As she walked to her seat, Ho Su Min approached her.
"Hey, sorry about that idiot. He's always like that."
Kim Sohee looked at Ho Su Min, surprised. When their eyes met, her heart started racing faster.
"Huh? Oh, it's fine. It's all good."
She said, a little nervous because of her rapidly beating heart.
"Then everything's fine," Ho Su Min said with a smile.
Kim Sohee quickly turned away and walked to her seat.
"Yeah, yeah. Everything's fine."
She said, but her thoughts were elsewhere.
"Oh my God! What am I saying?! Why is my heart beating so fast?! It feels like it's about to jump out! And what was that 'Yeah, yeah'???!! And his smile?! Is it even legal to smile like that?! Waaahhh!!!"
Her thoughts were consumed by Ho Su Min throughout the lesson.
The end of the day.
Kim Sohee and Pak Nuri were leaving school. Right by the school gates, they saw Ho Su Min waiting for someone, and Jeong Tae Ho, sitting on his backpack, bored as always, with his cold gaze.
Unexpectedly, Ho Su Min walked up to Pak Nuri.
"Hi! Long time no see," he said, smiling as usual.
"Oh, yeah. Hi," Pak Nuri replied, confused.
"Is this your friend?"
Pak Nuri looked at Kim Sohee and gave her a look, silently saying, "You talk, I don't know what to say."
"Ahem... Yeah, she's my best friend. Kim Sohee."
"Finally, I know your name. We sit close to each other, yet neither me nor Jeong Tae Ho knew your name."
Pak Nuri was surprised.
"Are you friends with Jeong Tae Ho?"
"Yeah. He's like a brother to me."
Jeong Tae Ho approached them. When he saw Kim Sohee, his face clearly showed that he wasn't happy to see her.
"Well, it is what it is. But I still don't get how I ended up associating with this idiot."
"Hey! Say that again!"
While they started to argue a bit, Pak Nuri stood still, and Kim Sohee tried hard not to laugh.
When they finally managed to calm down, they all went to the store to get something to eat and just chat.
Most of the conversation was between Pak Nuri and Ho Su Min. Kim Sohee and Jeong Tae Ho just sat on their phones, ignoring each other.
But every time Kim Sohee heard Ho Su Min's voice, her heart beat faster.
19:26
It was already evening, and they all went their separate ways. Everyone wanted to get home as quickly as possible, except for Kim Sohee. She knew what was waiting for her at home.