Chapter 35
Eric POV
As I walked into the school, there were students staring at me. I had no idea, but I think it was because of the reason why a white boy would suddenly want to come to South Korea to study.
Their eyes followed me in small, curious glances. Some were bold enough to stare openly. Others whispered behind hands, pretending they were not speaking about me at all.
Shoes moved across polished floors, lockers shut somewhere down the corridor, voices rose and fell like background music to a scene I had somehow stepped into late.
The building itself looked expensive.
Tall glass windows carried the pale morning sunlight into the hallways. Clean white walls, framed awards, polished tiles that reflected moving legs and school shoes. Everything about the place said discipline, money, expectation.
For a second, I wondered if I belonged here.
Then I remembered Laurel.
Belonging had never been something life handed freely. Sometimes it had to be taken.
A girl passed by. Student, but not Korean. Short hair, simple pretty eyes, a bit timid or shy. She held books tightly against her chest as if afraid they might fall if she loosened her grip.
"Hey, sorry to bother you, but I'm asking of the teacher's office."
She slowed, then looked at me with surprise before smiling.
"Okay," she replied. "Take this stair up and go the right. The fourth door is the teacher office," she said, giggling softly.
Her voice was light, almost musical.
"Thank you," I said as she walked away.
I did what I was told to do.
Up the stairs. Right turn. Fourth door.
And there it was.
When I entered, they all stared. Staff members behind desks, papers in hand, teachers sorting files, someone typing at a computer. For a moment the room went quiet.
Then suddenly I heard
"Eric."
It was a man in black shirt, sleeves rolled up, with smile on his face. He looked younger than I expected a teacher to look, sharp-eyed but warm.
"Eric, right?" he said as I walked toward him.
I nodded.
"Okay. Though I have spoken to your sister and we sort all necessary things out."
Of course Laurel had already handled everything.
"And also, you don't have to worry too much about language in this school. It is an English spoken school. Most students speaks English, even class are taken in English."
Relief moved through me quietly.
"Now if you have questions or difficulties with anything, you can let me know."
I nodded again.
He stood and motioned.
"Come with me."
We walked through another hallway and stopped in front of a classroom. Inside, voices were loud and careless, the sound of students still free before learning began.
He opened the door.
"Good morning, Mr Park," the students said almost together.
Then I walked in sharp, head up, face straight.
At first there were mumbling.
Lots of it.
Eyes lifted.
Phones quickly hidden.
Whispers passing from desk to desk.
Then Mr Park said, "There is a new transfer student here with us today."
He made sign with his hands to me to talk.
I stepped forward.
"Good morning, everyone. I'm Eric from Canada and it nice to be here with you all today."
For a beat, silence.
Then claps.
A girl near the back leaned forward.
"Do you work out, Eric?"
Laughter burst through the room.
"Yes," I said.
Even Mr Park smiled.
He showed me my seat, then I went to sit.
The desk beside mine was occupied by a tall boy with clean features and an easy posture, the kind of person who looked athletic even while sitting down.
"Good morning," I said to my seat partner.
"Good morning."
Then few minutes later, while Mr Park was teaching, he suddenly said quietly,
"Do you play basketball by chance?"
"I do sometimes, but it been a while."
"There is this sport team. They play basketball and you have the what it takes."
I smiled.
Like, tall, broad shoulder, handsome face.
"My skills aren't really good," I said.
"It will change with time."
"Deal," he said, looking at me. "Fine, deal."
"My name is Eun Taemin."
"Oh. Eric."
He nodded, then rested his back on the chair like we had already settled something important.
The class moved fast.
Math came like war.
Literature came like performance.
Economics came like threat.
Teachers here spoke as if everyone should already know half of what they were teaching. Hands shot up quickly. Answers came quicker. Pens moved constantly.
It was completely different when I was in Canada.
If you aren't up to their standard personally, you are done for.
I liked it.
I hated that I liked it.
Suddenly the class was over, then students flocked over to my seat.
"Eric, will you want to change sitting position?"
"No thank you," I said.
"Why did you leave your country?"
"Wait, do you have a girlfriend?"
"Can I have your number?"
Questions flew like stones thrown into water.
Then I heard a voice.
"Get out of my way. Don't you have things to do?"
The crowd split.
She sat right in front of me facing me.
I recognized her immediately.
The girl who Mr park gave textbook to as we were about to enter the class room.
Only now she looked far more dangerous.
"I heard your name before but I don't know where," she said, tapping the table.
Then Taemin asked if she was going to come watch us.
She nodded.
"Your girlfriend is quite supportive," I said.
Taemin smiled.
Then she made a face.
"Girlfriend? Ewww. I'm his twin sister, Eun Nari. But you call me Nari, okay?"
I nodded slowly.
Twin.
Now that she said it, I could see it. Same eyes. Same sharpness. Different energy.
Taemin was calm sunlight.
Nari was lightning pretending to sit still.
Class went by. Teachers came and went. Bells rang. Chairs moved. Notes piled up.
Whenever I got something wrong, someone else already had the answer.
Whenever I thought I was ahead, another student was three steps further.
This place did not forgive weakness.
Nari then said, "What your plan for university?"
Taemin sighed dramatically.
"There is still 10 whole month."
Then Nari said, "That while you are always behind."
He rolled his eyes.
"What about you Eric, or you just plan to go back after high school?"
"No. We are staying here now."
"Oh okay," she said.
Then suddenly
"Who is we?"
"My sister and I."
"Younger sister?" Taemin said. "Is she pretty? Does she attend our school?"
I smiled.
"Older sister. And yes she is pretty, but also don't attend our school."
Nari laughed.
"Poor guy. He sounds disappointed already."
Taemin looked offended.
"I was asking respectfully."
"Liar," she said.
By the time the last class ended, I realized something.
The loneliness I expected had not arrived.
Maybe it was delayed.
Maybe it had found no room.
We got to my car and apparently they don't have car.
The parking lot was lined with luxury brands, sleek machines waiting under clean sunlight. Students moved toward drivers, private rides, buses, expensive bicycles.
"Where is your car?" I said.
My intention was maybe they have one.
But they replied
"No, we don't have a car."
"Oh," I said.
Then Taemin said, "Asking for one from our brother isn't right."
"Why?" I asked.
He shrugged once, but Nari's expression softened.
"Ever since our parents died, he has been the one taking care of us."
The words changed the air immediately.
"Six months ago we are attending school in Jeju, but he suddenly got a job six months ago. Luckily his boss is nice."
I leaned against the car quietly.
Some griefs become normal in the mouths of the people carrying them.
"Okay. Get in," I said.
Then Nari looked at me.
"Why?"
"You are first person that doesn't act like it their fault and apologize whenever we say stuff like this."
I paused.
"Oh well, I didn't know what to say. Besides our story is quite common and I know how uncomfortable I am whenever people say sorry to me."
She looked at me for a second longer than before.
Then nodded once.
"Oh okay."
Taemin said from inside the car, "Aren't we going again?"
I laughed and got in.
The city outside moved in gold afternoon light.
Traffic rolled slow.
People crossed streets in waves.
Street vendors shouted prices.
Scooters cut between lanes like impatient fish.
Inside the car, the mood became strangely easy.
It was a silent drive until Taemin said, "Have you been to this restaurant?"
He showed the picture on his phone.
No, I said.
The place looked expensive, modern, bright plates and expensive portions pretending to be small.
"Nari, we should go," he said.
Nari turned sharply.
"Tae Min, we have a test tomorrow. We should read today, then tomorrow we can go."
He groaned loudly.
"Hmm, such a vibe killer."
She smiled without guilt.
I looked at them and something warm moved through me unexpectedly.
I know it just been a day since we all met, but for a reason I think we be together for a long time.
I just feel safe around them.
Maybe because they spoke without pretending.
Maybe because pain had touched all of us in different ways.
Maybe because some people arrive in your life and immediately feel like they were only late, not new.
As we drove beneath the fading Seoul sky, I thought of Laurel working somewhere in another tower of glass and powerful buildings.
I thought of laurel.
I thought of Aria.
I thought of the boy I used to be.
And for the first time in a long time, the future did not feel like a threat waiting in front of me.
It felt like a road.
And I was already on it.