This school seemed to combine students from different countries. It was the most privileged school, attended by children of the rich. If by any chance you ran into a lower-class student, they likely got in by scholarship. After Yohan chased those annoying girls away, he left without acknowledging my "thank you," and it made my cheeks warm.
Classes were over, and I was waiting for Young-i to pick me up because she wanted to show me around Ilsan. "Who is Kim Tae Woo?" a familiar male voice sounded in my ear. For some reason, I was drawn to look him in the eyes. I stared irresponsibly at him, in a daze, until his impatient voice rang in my ear again. "Are you going to keep staring or will you come for the school tour?"
This made my face grow hot. This was the umpteenth time I had felt my face burn today. I shyly stood up, clutching my backpack tightly, and walked toward him, my head and gaze cast low. My cheeks burned as I stared at my expensive shoes. "Follow me," he said, striding out. This Yohan Bei was so... arrgh. I followed him, head still down, as he showed me around.
He stopped to show me the mini stadium in the school, and I mistakenly bumped into his hard chest. "Owch!" I gasped, rubbing my forehead.
"Watch where you are going," Yohan said in a mean voice. My lips trembled, and my eyes became wet. Wait, did I want to cry? No, this couldn't be possible. At home, I was very tough; how was it that to outsiders, I was so fragile? Damn me.
"Hey! What's wrong with you? Aren't you ashamed of bullying him?" Young-i's voice was sharp, as if it could pierce a soul. I looked at her with watery eyes and a flushed face.
"Hey, watch it. I didn't bully him," Yohan defended. She walked up to me, and I just let myself hug her. She kissed me all over my face, skipping my lips, and this made my face flush a deep red that I buried my head in her nape.
"Did he scold you, Ki-Ki?" she asked in a gentle tone, and I shook my head.
"Did he bully you?" she asked again, but I shook my head.
"You should ask before jumping to conclusions. Now he said I didn't bully him," Yohan glared.
"Who hit you?" she asked, studying my face. The red mark was there; yes, I had bumped into him. I looked up and met her caring gaze.
"I... I was not looking and bumped into Yohan Bei," I shyly said. She glared daggers at Yohan.
"Apologize now," she demanded.
"Why? I did nothing wrong," Yohan argued.
"Giyi, forget it, okay? It's just a bruise; it will clear," I said, wanting to leave.
"No. You are so beautiful that a bruise can damage your looks," she said, gently caressing my head.
"Please don't cause a scene here. And Kim, I am done with the school tour, but anything you don't understand, tell me, and I will go back to make amends." He said and turned to leave, but my stubborn cousin wouldn't let him off the hook easily. She held his wrist and glared at him. "If you don't apologize, I will make sure you are expelled, and people like you might have gotten in here through scholarship!" she sneered. Yohan's face darkened, but he couldn't do anything.
"Giyi!" I said.
"Let me show him his place!" she declared, turning to call security to deal with Yohan.
"Y... Yo... Yohan, I'm sorry for what happened, especially for now. And thanks for the tour. Once again, sorry, and I'll be taking my leave," I stammered, then dragged Young-i out.
In the Car
"Giyi, I don't know what's wrong with me. At home, I am cold. But here, I am shy and timid. Should we call the doctor?" I suggested, my face heating up. Young-i nodded, and we drove to the hospital.
At Home
"Ki-Ki is back! Set the table!" Mrs. Woo ordered the servants. "Ki-Ki, what happened to your face?" Mrs. Woo asked, reaching to touch my face, but I took two steps away from her.
"I'll be heading to my room to freshen up," I said and left.
"I wonder when he will change," Young-i said with a sigh.
"Young-i, tell me what happened to your cousin," Mrs. Woo asked, feeling heartbroken.
"He seems to be shy and timid outside, but at home, he looks tough, and when I asked him, he said maybe it's because he hates you guys. Even with me, his every sentence will be said with a flushed face," she explained, then recounted how I sustained my injury.
"I'm going to get that guy a detention! How dare he hurt my son?" Mrs. Woo said, trying to dial a number, but Young-i was fast to stop her.
"No, Aunt, Ki-Ki said to let it slide; it was his fault. You know he has a temper, you dare not tamper with it," Young-i advised, and Mrs. Woo agreed. Well, I could hear them from my room because I left my door open.
After my shower, I went down to the already set table and then remembered my cousin's date. "I'm afraid I won't eat at home; Giyi said she will take me on a date," I said, a faint flush appearing at the tip of my ears.
"It's okay," Mrs. Woo said.
"T... thank... Thanks, M-mom," I stuttered, and my face flushed. I looked down. Mrs. Woo froze in her spot, and the next thing, she burst into tears and hugged me, showering me with kisses. The more she kissed me, the more my face flushed.
"I'm sorry, Ki-Ki. I promise to make up for my past," she cried. My shirt was wet with her tears.
"I'm... I'm... sorry too... I... I was carried away b... by my... emotions," I said in a low but audible voice.
After the little shedding of tears, I went back to my room and dressed in a blue baggy top and black baggy pants. I used hair clips to clip my long hair—oh, I forgot to say, I dyed my hair to be pinkish-black. My hair gracefully fell to the back as the hair clips clipped my hair from the sides to avoid it from falling into my face. I went down, and Giyi was already set. She wore a blue hanging top and black baggy pants. How did she know what I was going to wear? Did she peek at me? This made my cheeks feel warm. Then she came and took my hand and led me to the sharp blue Ferrari Bird car that was already brought out of our parking lot.
"I'll drive, okay?" she said, then I gave her the key, and we drove off.