Future...

I inhaled sharply as I nervously tapped my foot against the floor and stared at the clock on the wall.

" Come in." said a kind lady as she opened the door to the principal's office.

" Thanks." I mumbled as I walked into the room.

" You must be the new student, please introduce yourself." said the principle calmly.

She had thin round golden glasses and wore her black straight hair in a tight bun. She carried herself in a proper and elegant manor whilst I tried to make myself as small as possible in her powerful presence.

" My name is Lee Jin-Ae." I said as I bowed before her in respect.

" It says here that you transferred from Yongsan International School." she said as I returned to my regular posture and saw that she was flipping through my file.

" Yes and it is an honour to be accepted into this school." I said as she smiled in delight.

Dwight International School, full of rich kids and snobs, but with very good education. Yea... I'll fit right in... note the sarcasm.

" Well here is your timetable and schedules and-"

Knock Knock Knock

The large wooden double-doors opened to reveal a boy which looked slightly older than me. His hair was slightly messy and he looked like he had been running, but now he quickly used a hand to brush back his hair and stood looking perfectly fine.

" I'm sorry, did I interrupt something?" he asked politely with a curt bow towards the principle.

" Yes, we were just finishing Park Ha Joon. Since you are here anyway, you can show your new classmate to her first class." said the principle and he nodded in understanding.

***

" So... I'm in class 10B. Where is that?" I asked as I followed him like a lost puppy down the long hallways swarming with chattering students.

" Just follow me and keep quiet." he said sternly as I nodded shyly.

Jeez, grumpy much?

" Is this school great or-"

" I'm sorry, but what part of 'keep quiet' do you not understand?" he asked in annoyance as he started walking faster and I ran a little to keep up with his long strides.

" Sorry..." I mumbled as he rolled his eyes.

Class hasn't even started yet and someone already hates me, great. (note the sarcasm)

" Here's your class, you already collected your books before meeting the principle right?" he asked and I nodded before he walked away, leaving me to find my locker by myself.

Jerk...

" Need some help?" asked another boy with a charming smile as he watched me fight with my locker while trying to open it.

" Yes please." I said politely and in relief since class was going to start soon.

" My name is Jin Baek Hyeon. Yours?" he asked after opening my locker and moving to the side to let me put my books in.

" Lee Jin-Ae. Thanks by the way." I replied as I organised my mountain of books.

" No problem." he said before a girl came to us with a wide grin.

" Hey! I'm Seong Mi Young." said the girl as she practically ran over to me.

" Hi...? Just call me Jin-Ae." I said with a smile.

Well I think it was a smile, because I might be frowning right now due to the fact that I'm hungry.

Mi Young had big black doe eyes and long wavy jet black hair. Her lips were red like strawberries and her cheeks were a light shade of pink.

" I'm sorry for acting a little crazy. I'm just really really REALLY hungry." she said quickly with a bow before my stomach grumbled loudly.

" Want some chips?" asked Baek Hyeon while he unzipped his school bag to reveal two large packets of chips.

" Yes please!" Mi Young and I exclaimed at the same time before snatching the packets out of his bag.

" Gamsahabnida (thank you), Baek Hyeon-ah." Mi Young mumbled under her breath before stuffing a few chips into her mouth.

" So good. Thanks." I said incoherently as I covered my mouth with one hand.

" No problem. Happy to help a few starving girls on the first day." he chuckled before walking away.

" Hello Baek Hyeon-ah, that essay you wrote yesterday was very well written! We will be publishing it in the school paper tomorrow." said a teacher to him as he walked along the corridor.

The school's golden boy gave me chips on the first day...

" Yep, he did. And yes, he might like you." mumbled Mi Young as she put away her empty bag of chips.

" Wait what?" I asked in surprise before she just turned away and walked into class.

***

" What do you mean he likes me?" I whispered to her while writing my essay.

" It seems you have caught the eye of the school's bad boy as well." she says under her breath while pointing her pencil and motioning towards another boy sitting at the back corner of the class.

His eyes flickered to me for a second before flickering back to the teacher who was explaining something on the whiteboard.

" There's no way. They're just curious since I'm new." I said and shook my head in disbelief.

" Sure, whatever, cool. " she mumbled as she continued taking notes.

Two boys on the first day itself? No, I'm not that lucky and mother would never allow it anyways.

***

" Hi Eomma!(mom)" I greeted cheerfully with a bow as I walked through the front door.

" Hello Jin-Ae, how was school?" mom asked not looking up from her newspaper.

" It was kind of fun and-"

" You are not in school to have fun, you are in school to learn." she said strictly as I nodded in understanding.

" Have you thought about what you want to become yet?" she asked curiously as my father walked into the lounge as well.

" Hello Abeoji.(Father)" I greeted with another bow as my father came and sat next to my mother.

They sat comfortably on the couch and their presence made me slightly nervous as I tried to copy their wall-mannered behaviour and sit with my legs against each other, one slightly lower than the other and leaning against the side a little.

" I-I still want to be an artist-"

" But how will you get money? Who will buy your petty drawings? How will you have a legacy and bring honour to our family by scribbling nonsence onto a paper?" asked my mom as my father shook his head at me in annoyance and disbelief.

" I will not allow this Jin-Ae. After you graduate school, then you will study in London and become a doctor." said my father proudly as mom nodded and agreed with him.

" But I don't want to!" I yelled as my mom raised a hand and stopped me from saying anything else.

" It has been a dream in this family for many generations that one of our children will become a doctor and bring us wealth and it won't change with your rude behaviour. We have already kept some savings aside for your further studies, you will go to London, become a doctor and bring honour to our family." she said with patience and I felt tears prick my eyes.

" B-But I can become an a-animator or maybe-"

" IT HAS BEEN DECIDED JIN-AE." said Dad sternly as I nodded and bowed before leaving.

I ran to my room and locked the white door shut. I changed into an oversized sweatshirt and shorts, not very proper, but comfy. I jumped onto my comfy bed decorated with many plump pillows and a velvet navy blue duvet. I grabbed my headphones and blasted loud music while drawing in my notebook.

***

" Miss, you have a swimming class in half an hour." reminded Rosemary from outside.

She was my childhood Nanny from abroad. One of my only friends in this world.

" Ok, thanks for the reminder." I said as I removed my headphones and looked at my creation in awe with a sad smile.