Jun-seo led the way back into the main building, his stride purposeful.
Leo followed, looking slightly less hostile than before, maybe even intrigued.
I trailed behind, clutching the official-looking pass Jun-seo had scribbled.
We reached the junction where the main hall met the music wing. "Okay," Jun-seo said, stopping. "Leo, your Music Theory class, 1-C, is down this hall, third door on the right. Just give Mr. Ahn your schedule." Leo nodded, his usual slouch returning slightly.
"Got it. Thanks, hyung. See you around San!"
"No problem. Try not to cause trouble on your first day," Jun-seo said, giving him a friendly but firm look. Leo just gave a noncommittal grunt and headed down the music wing corridor.
I waved him seeing him disappear in the hall.
Jun-seo turned to me.
"And History... I think Ms. Choi's lesson should be already started. I hope you remembered where our classroom is by now."
"Right. Thanks, Jun-seo-ssi. For... you know the tour." He just gave me a tired smile, touching his cut lip again.
"You are welcome, if you have any questions you can ask me anytime. Just try to stay under the radar for the rest of the day, San. Please."
"I'll try," I said, though neither of us seemed convinced.
He headed off towards the faculty office, probably to smooth things over with Mrs. Smith about our skipped Algebra class.
I took a deep breath and headed for the grand marble staircase.
Room 2-B.
The door was closed. I was at least fifteen minutes late.
I could hear Ms. Choi's voice inside, clear and steady.
Taking another deep breath, I knocked lightly and pushed the door open.
"...and this shift in policy directly contributed to the weakening of the Silla monarchy..." Ms. Choi stopped mid-sentence.
The entire class turned to look at me. It was becoming my signature move.
"Ah, San-ssi," Ms. Choi said. Her expression was perfectly neutral, but her eyes held a spark of weary amusement. "Joining us?"
"Yes, seonsaengnim," I said, bowing quickly. "I apologize for being late. I was... assisting the Student President. With the new student." I held out the pass Jun-seo had written. Ms. Choi took it, glanced at Jun-seo's signature, and nodded slowly.
"Ah, yes. Your duties as Representative. Very commendable." The slight emphasis she put on 'duties' told me she knew exactly what we'd been doing. "Find a seat. We're discussing the Unified Silla period."
I scanned the room, my face burning.
Ha-neul was in the front, pointedly taking notes.
Min-ah was in the middle, and she gave me a tiny, conspiratorial wiggle of her fingers. There was an empty seat next to her.
I slid into the desk, pulling out my notebook, trying to blend in. Min-ah leaned over immediately.
"So? Spill," she whispered, her eyes wide with curiosity. "What was the summons about? Was it the fight? Did Chae-rin's dad call the Blue House?"
"Later," I hissed, trying to look like I was paying attention to the diagram of a Silla burial mound on the smart-board. Ms. Choi continued her lecture. I tried to focus. I really did.
But for some reason, the history of the Silla dynasty seemed profoundly unimportant right now.
I spent the rest of the class doodling a caricature of the wooden giraffe in the margins of my notebook and trying to ignore Min-ah's insistent nudging. The bell finally rang, releasing me. Day Two was well underway, and I hadn't set anything (or anyone) on fire yet.
It felt like fine.