Hello everyone! I am so sorry for the late posting. Apparently a few days meant a few months. To be honest, I was having a difficult time writing this chapter. I wanted to introduce a new love interest for Ha Ni but that wouldn't have gone well with my attempt to portray Ha Ni as a realistic character. A new love interest appearing as soon as she makes the decision to really forget Seung Jo? Definitely not realistic. Possible, but highly improbable. But don't worry! I do plan on introducing a rival for Seung Jo. I just think it's still too early to introduce him. What I've done instead is create several opportunities to realistically introduce a rival in the future. This chapter is also a bit on the slow side (again) but I think it's an important chapter. I think it's pretty obvious why but I would like to hear my readers' opinions as well. If you think it's not an important chapter but just a boring filler one, that's fine too. Just let me know in your comments. I enjoy reading all of them.
And for those who are curious when I will post the next chapter, I won't make any promises. I don't want to say a few days for it to become a few months or maybe even years. I will say I will try to post it as soon as possible. Hopefully life and/or lack of inspiration does not delay me to much.
The next day I woke up late. So much for trying to get an early start to the tutoring center. I rushed downstairs making a big commotion like I always do when I'm late.
"Ha Ni, make sure you eat some breakfast before heading to school." Auntie said as she set down a plate for me to eat. Seung Jo got up from the table and headed towards the door. I hesitated for a moment before deciding to eat a little bit of breakfast so I wouldn't have to walk with Seung Jo. I still felt awkward around him like how one would feel around an ex. Not that we were even together in the first place to now be exes but in my mind, it felt that way. I sat down as Auntie beamed at my decision to eat the breakfast she cooked for me even though I was running late.
"Eat up."
Even though I was lagging behind to avoid Seung Jo, I knew I couldn't lag too much. I was trying to be more responsible with school and that meant attending every class on time. So I ate my breakfast as fast as possible, practically breathing it in, before thanking Auntie and rushing out of the house. When I neared the train station, I saw Seung Jo not too far ahead. In order to avoid him, I dashed past his walking form and slipped into a car several doors down the one he was accustomed to. The ride to school was peaceful and Seung Jo-free.
When the train stopped at the station near the university, I dashed off again and practically ran to campus. I'm pretty sure I looked ridiculous running like a lunatic even though I was no longer running late, but my determination to steer clear of Seung Jo kept me from thinking too much about my embarrassment.
Crash
My bag along with several books, sheets of paper and another book bag went flying around. One book managed to hit me in the head.
"Ouch!" I yelped out.
"I'm so sorry! Are you okay?" Came a worried voice.
"I'm okay. Just a small bruise, "I responded while rubbing the side of my head. I looked up at the stranger I had clumsily crashed into in my attempt to avoid Seung Jo. "What about you? Are you okay? I'm sorry for crashing into you."
He looked to be a student, around my age. His dark hair was a bit on the long side and hung nicely over his forehead and covering the top part of his eyes just like Seung Jo's did when his hair was beginning to grow out. He smiled warmly at me once he noticed my staring. I couldn't help but blush at the warm smile he gave me. That was one thing Seung Jo certainly never gave me.
"Let me help you pick up your stuff," he said while bending down and gathering several of my books and papers scattered about.
"Thanks," I said while bending down and gathering my belongings alongside him.
"You should be more careful. You were lucky to run into me and not some frigid pole. At least I can help you gather your stuff while the unforgiving pole would just stay there looking down at you unmoved by your predicament," he laughed.
My thoughts immediately went to Seung Jo. Cold, unforgiving pole indeed. "R-right," I stuttered.
We finished gathering my belongings and once I had everything handed to me and safely put away, I bowed to him while once again giving my sorry and thanks.
"Well, see you. And be more careful!" he waved while walking away.
I gave one last look at his retreating back while thinking about his words. Why must everything remind me of him? I shook my head trying to clear my mind of what just happened before remembering that I needed to head to class and once again dashed off.
In my rush, I did not notice the handsome young man looking on at our encounter from a distance.
Thanks to my small accident, I was running a little late but managed to arrive to class just on time. I actually walked into the classroom right behind the professor who gave me a weird look before shaking his shoulders. I guess people can never make sense of my actions.
With determination to improve my academic performance and learn as much as possible beginning today, I opened my books, took out my pen and look determinedly towards the front. After about five minutes (maybe even less) I realized that learning whatever was coming out of the professor's mouth was going to be much more difficult than I initially thought. If I could have, I would have screamed out my frustration right then and there. My inner turmoil continued for a while before reminding myself that I needed to do this, for me and my independence from Seung Jo. No doubt Seung Jo would mock me on how quickly my determination to improve academically crumbled once I realized how little I knew and understood.
I sighed and then began to write down as much as I could. I wrote down words I did not know and put question marks right next to them. I wrote down the important "points", "notes", "interpretations", and other mumbo jumbo the professor was talking about. After what seemed like a never ending lecture, the professor finally called it a day and began packing up the lesson materials. And thank goodness too because my hand was beginning to cramp from all the notes I was jotting down. I packed my books and several pages of notes and ran after the professor.
"Professor! Wait, please!" I yelled before he could exit the classroom.
"Yes Ms. Oh. What can I help you with?" He asked looking surprised. I blushed realizing that in my attempt to catch my professor's attention, I had also caught the attention of several of my classmates.
"There were some things I did not understand from the lesson" a lot actually " so I wanted to know if you could explain some of it to me." I asked.
He seemed confused for a moment before saying, "Of course. But I also have an assistant who you can come to for questions about the lesson. I am a bit busy with a project right now so it would be better to ask her for help first. If you still need my help, then you can schedule an appointment. Does that sound good?"
"Yes! Thank you professor!" I exclaimed bowing.
"Right. I'll get going now."
I let the professor walk out of the classroom before standing upright again. I smiled at my initiative to get help from my professor before realizing that I didn't know who was the professor's assistant. In fact, I didn't even know he had one to begin with. My smile dropped and my shoulders slumped. I needed to get that information from somewhere. I know, I'll start with the professor's office, I said to myself. I excited the classroom and turned left. Wait, wrong way. I turned back around and walked in the other direction. Wait, it's not that way either. Oh no! I don't even know where my professor's office is located. With no one around at that point, I couldn't ask a classmate if they might now where I could find our own professor's office. Defeated, I decided to just head to the cafeteria for lunch. Maybe after a full stomach, I could figure something out.