EP—2

EP—2

The colder the weather got, the faster the days have passed by. Na-bi's admission has been taken into the consideration by the high school's Mathematics master—who was also the close friend of her father. After the whole three weeks, she got the call from the principal of the Wangtan High school, which was the highly recommended one. First, at the earlier time when the professor had called informing about the call she's going to get from the Principal of the school she was going to join, she hesitated to say yes but after thinking for some time, she contacted the principal—agreeing to join the school. Everything settled up but she felt the stress building up rather than leaving her alone.

As another day passed, the morning was partially sunny which Na-bi didn't like much about. Her eyes blinked while they glistened under the sun rays that are hitting through the gap between curtains that are attached to windows in her room. Her hair was loose as she sighed, tying it into a loose bun. Her moves showed the hurriness while the time ticked 8 o'clock. Picking up the bag, she walked out of her room. Her head shot up as soon as the steps echoed aloud. Her heart dropped as soon as her eyes landed upon the woman—who was head-to-toe ready—standing there while a gentle smile lingered on her face. "Let's go?" Her voice was surprisingly kind as a gulp took place in Na-bi's already dry throat. She nodded as her back turned towards her mom. Her hands shivering while she picked up her shoes. Wearing them, her eyes glancing hesitantly at the woman who already wore her sandals. Her face was glassy, no makeup upon— but looking younger as if she was in mid 20's. Na-bi's eyes looked down in an instant as she met with her mother's eyes. A chuckle left the woman's lips as her hand slowly reached the keys upon the cupboard near. "We are already late, Na-bi. Let's go haha" her gentle and caressing tone made Na-bi nod hesitantly before giving out a small smile. Na-bi's hand twisted the knob before walking out of the house. As her hand slowly closed the door, her hand was held by her mother which made her flinch. A small deep breath, it stuck between as her mother's eyes glued to the door while she locked the door. Her steps towards the lift were slow yet fast. Her eyes glanced towards their apartment before her head turned straight, noticing her walking towards the lift. A deep exhale, she felt her hands sweating cold—which clutched her short skirt-with a tight grip. Her shoulder felt the heave of the bag as she pulled onto the handle of it. A ding from the lift, she glanced aside only to watch her mom get inside. Her steps inside the lift were hurried before she stood. Her eyes glanced away from the reflections while her eyes closed tight. Sweat was forming on her forehead as the ift moved to land down on the Ground floor. "You kept all the books?" her eyes opened as she glanced back at her. "Yes" she spoke as she bit her lip looking away. The ding of the lift made them look up as Na-bi's hand gripped the handle of the bag tighter. Stepping out, her hand raised with the phone in it. Booking the cab in an instant, her eyes glancing up at the woman—time-to-time. "It's booked?" her head shot up as the panic that was hidden down at the bottom of her heart floated up like a feather. "I-it's on the way" her stuttering words—which the mother didn't care about much—echoed low as the mother smiled. "Okay, then" her words calmed down Na-bi as she sighed quietly, moving slightly far to look outside. As a cab drove near the apartment, a small relieved smile left her lips. As she checked the phone, she walked towards her mother. Freezing two feet away from where the woman stood, she looked around fidgeting with her fingers. "Cab.." she mumbled as the woman walked past her. Na-bi rubbed her arm as she ran towards the cab. "Sorry for the delay" she mumbled as she bowed before getting in the car along with her mother. The car drove off as she kept the bag on her lap, covering her thighs—which had been already covered by the skirt—that was long enough to cover her mid thighs.

"Good morning, Mr. San" the professor greeted with a respective bow which made Mr. San—who is not only the father in law of the Maths professor but also the principal of the Wangtan High School. "Good Morning Mr. Ahn, What's so gloomy you are about today?" the principal wiggled his eyebrows as Mr. Ahn laughed nervously before taking the container of the coffee. Pouring it into the glass, he spoke out. "Not gloomy but… i must say it was actually special" Mr. San frowned. "I wonder, why?" Mr. Ahn handed the coffee cup as he bowed before taking a seat. "Mr. San, You remember Mr. Kim's Daughter—we talked about?" he said desperately as Mr. San's eyes frowned a bit as if he was trying to remember till then it hit him. " Kim Na-bi?" he said, taking a sip of coffee before humming in relaxation. "Yes! She was joining today-" Mr. San's eyes focused on the files infront of him as he let out a hum in response. "Mr. san…. I must say, she was really good at studies." Mr. San nodded. "So, he didn't pay the fees yet?" he mumbled to himself as Mr. Ahn's eyes softened. "Mr. San, her grades are above 80 percent-", `''i know, Jung-joo" as his real name was spelled by the principal, he was taken back. "I know. But it also depends upon her attendance." Mr. San sighed keeping the file away. "Would you mind going to your class? It's about the time, so…" he looked into his eyes as Mr. Ahn nodded hesitantly. He bowed as he stood up, "Have a nice day, Mr. San!" he walked out immediately as the door slammed close. Mr. San's eyes closed in discomfort before a cuss left his lips under his breath.

The bell rang as her chest heaved up and down in exhaustion she felt while she ran there towards the principal office. Her hands pushing the jacket sleeves up, as much as girly her look was, her actions described otherwise. A glance up, her eyes locked with a stranger. His eyes gazed right into hers as he walked past her. A shiver went down her spine as his hang gazed hers for a second. Flinching away, her eyes looking down as she walked forward. The hall emptied as her steps hurried towards the Principal room. Her steps froze as she looked in front. A breathy smile leaving his lips as the books he held fell over the floor. "Na-bi" he breathed out as a smile formed on his face. "U-uncle" she said as a sigh left her lips in relief. As she took a step forward, an arm wrapped around her back while the palm rested on her shoulder. The tension that built in her a while ago has started to increase as she felt the cold sweat forming on her skin. "O-oh, Mrs. Kim" he said as a bright smile broke onto her face which looked as if she was forcing herself to do it. "Mr. Ahn, how has the school been?" She grinned as Mr. Ahn nervously laughed. "The school? Well.. look at it, just amazing as always" he said as Na-bi glanced up, making him look at her. "O-oh yeah, Na-bi. Get in the principal room. I'm sure he's been waiting for your presence over there." He pointed towards the room as she bowed hesitantly. Her hand adhered the knob before twisting it. The door swung open, and Na-bi's eyes glanced aside only to capture her mom staring right back at her. As she stepped inside the room within a voice faintly speaking, "Come in" echoed aloud, her eyes looking away while the door closed with a thud that made Mrs. Kim look at the door. Her eyes didn't budge away as her small smile was replaced with a thin line of disappointment.

An hour of the meeting exhausted already frustrated Na-bi, but she made sure that she would get the seat as the Principal started to argue about the attendance. Her implores have become Desperate as Na-bi promised that she wouldn't let their expectations go down. "How could you expect me to let you in when I had gone through this already once?" "It's not going to be like that again, M-mr. San-" Mr. San's patience has shrinked as he cut her off with the words that had sent chills down her spine. "Can I talk to your mom?" her face dropped the glow it had as soon as the door opened and the shine through the gap made her hair shine. As her penetrative laugh echoed in the office, Principal's eyes gaped at her in infuriation. Her convulsing hands were hidden under her jacket's pocket as she bit her lip feeling the tense radiating her body ever so briskly. Her eyes averted to gape at her for a second as she sat in one of the seats located in front of the principal's desk—which Na-bi stood in front of. "Good morning, San Shin-yeo!" The principal's eyes shot up as her voice wasn't only soft but smooth enough to make him gape down her figure in an observation of what a man would. "Hello, Mrs. Kim?" he said as his eyes averted towards the Young girl who stood there whose breath was stuck in throat. "Yes, It's…Mrs. Kim" she said as the man's gaze fell on the woman before a sigh left his lips. "Okay, so your daughter-" Na-bi's mother sighed aloud as he tried to be professional. "Mr. San, As a woman who has no Men's support in the house.. I expect at least pitied help from you" she said as her hands were smoothed up against the surface of his table. "Mrs. Kim, i completely understand but she was completely bad in the terms of attendance" he said before Mrs. Kim's eyes glanced at Na-bi whose head hung low. "Kids do make mistakes but we are adults, aren't we?" she held his hand which was upon the table, and it startled him to death. The hesitance built up in him which he shoved away by pulling his hands away from hers. "If it's a no, It's always a no. To be clear, we wouldn't let her join here." his stern voice echoed as Na-bi's eyes widened while her head still hung low in respect. Mrs. Kim's eyes darkened as her hand was kept back on where it was—on her lap. "Then, Don't." As the heart thumped rapidly against her chest, her hand clenched tight into a fist while her head shot up. "Let's go, Na-bi."