Chapter 46
As I stepped out of the classroom, relief washed over me – the test was finally over. But the earlier incident with Chuchu still lingered, leaving a sense of unease. I couldn't shake the feeling that being around her would be a constant struggle.
"Yet, amidst the turmoil, I felt a surge of gratitude towards the person who had intervened. This wasn't the first time he'd come to my rescue, and I had to admit, his actions had softened my perception of him.Maybe he weren't so bad after all."
As I wandered to the coffee machine, my thoughts drifted inexorably to Jo, replaying the moments he'd swooped in to rescue me. 'Sarah focus "I chided myself, the whispered words a feeble attempt to shake off the distraction.
"Just then, the disembodied voice over the intercom pierced the air, its crisp tones announcing, 'Students, please change into your sports attire and head to the field for some stretching exercises.' The abrupt cessation of the voice left an unsettling silence in its wake.
"I let out a silent groan, feeling the weight of exhaustion settle in. Another bout of physical activity was the last thing I craved after the grueling test. Yet, as I pondered the prospect of stretching my stiff limbs, a glimmer of sense emerged – perhaps it was exactly what I needed to shake off the lingering tension."
After a hasty lunch at my hostel, I made my way to the field, the all-black sports uniform feeling crisp against my skin. The sun, usually unforgiving, was mercifully subdued, casting a gentle glow over the scene.
I stood alone, a solitary figure amidst the sea of students, some of whom were already sprinting across the field. I opted to sit, observing the commotion with a mixture of detachment and curiosity.
Just as I was settling into my reverie, a teacher materialized beside me, her voice tinged with gentle inquiry. 'Aren't you joining them for the exercise?' she asked, her eyes sparkling with understanding, given our recent test. I flashed a brief smile and rose to my feet, ready to shed my lethargy and participate.
As I sprinted across the field, the weight of the test momentarily lifting, I unleashed a fervent burst of energy. Yet, I couldn't shake the feeling that I'd held back, as students who'd started after me whizzed past, leaving me gasping for air.
When I stumbled to the finish, the teacher's gaze met mine, his expression a mixture of observation and concern. "You seem tired."he stated, his voice gentle. I nodded, still catching my breath. 'You can rest later,' he said, scribbling my time in his notebook – four minutes and two seconds. You need to work on that..next time, be faster."
Afterward, I trudged over to the shaded area, where another teacher was dispensing water to parched students. I downed my first bottle and approached her for a refill, only to be met with a firm 'no.' But then, she called out to me, her expression softening, and handed me another bottle. I accepted it gratefully and retreated to a spot, watching the other students with renewed vitality."
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I sat on the stairs, my gaze drifting over the sea of students rushing past in the field. The warm sun beat down on my skin as I sipped water from my bottle, lost in thought. The scent of fresh-cut grass and blooming flowers filled the air, but it was suddenly overpowered by a familiar fragrance. I turned, and my eyes met Jo's.
He stood beside me, his baseball cap casting a shadow over his eyes. Yet, I could see the sparkle in them, the hint of a smile playing on his lips. He looked handsome, as always, but my heart remained guarded, shielded from the pain he'd inflicted.
"Hey, can we talk?" he asked, his voice low and husky.
I raised an eyebrow, my gaze drifting back to the field. Students laughed and chattered, oblivious to the tension between us.
"If you can't be my girlfriend, we can still be friends, right?" he asked, his words slicing through the air.
I ignored him, my focus fixed on the students rushing past. The silence between us grew thick, heavy with unspoken words. Finally, I turned to face him, my eyes searching for answers.
"Why did you do it?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
The words hung in the air, a challenge, a plea, a demand for truth.
Jo's gaze darted away from mine, his eyes drifting to the field as if searching for an escape. "She was my ex," he muttered, his voice low and hesitant. "Something came up, and it got complicated." The words hung in the air, heavy with unspoken meaning. He couldn't bring himself to meet my gaze.
I studied his profile, my eyes tracing the sharp lines of his jaw, the tense set of his shoulders. I searched for answers in the contours of his face, but found only guarded emotions.
"Do you still love her?" I asked, my voice barely audible over the din of the students.
His eyes remained fixed on the field, his gaze distant. "I don't," he replied, the words tumbling out quickly.
I raised an eyebrow, skepticism etched on my face. "You don't... but you... Kissed her" My words trailed off, inviting him to fill in the gaps, to reveal the truth he seemed so desperate to conceal. The silence between us grew thick, a palpable tension that seemed to vibrate with unspoken words.
"Look at me, Sarah," he implored, his voice laced with desperation. I hesitated, my gaze drifting to his, our eyes locking in a charged moment. "I know I made a mistake," he confessed, the words tumbling out like a prayer.
"Wait, she's your ex?" I asked, confusion etched on my face like a puzzle I couldn't solve. "I don't understand," I continued, my voice a mixture of hurt and curiosity. "You said no girl had made you feel a certain way..that i made your heart flutter."
"That wasn't a lie. You're better than her."
His eyes, filled with regret, met mine, and I felt a pang in my chest. "I'm sorry, I kind of lied to you," he admitted, the words hanging in the air like a challenge.
I studied his face, searching for answers in the lines of his forehead, the curve of his lips. "I know you just wanted to..do it and feel...'oh who cares'" I said, my voice steady, a calm I didn't feel. "Maybe it's because I'm different from you guys."
"No, Sarah, that's not it," he protested, his voice rising in urgency.
I sighed, frustration building up like a storm inside me. Just then, a whistle pierced the air, shattering the tension between us.
The woman's crisp white outfit shone like a beacon as she stepped into the center of the field. "Gather up, students! Gather up!" she called out, her voice a perfect blend of authority and warmth. As a Korean woman, she embodied a sense of confidence that commanded attention.
I left Jo's side and merged with the crowd, the collective energy infectious. The woman's gaze swept over us, her eyes sparkling with amusement as the students cheered.
"Okay, students," she began, her voice carrying across the sea of faces. "I have an announcement to make. Tomorrow, which is Saturday, we're going on a school trip." The words ignited a frenzy of cheers and applause, the students' excitement palpable.
The woman's smile grew, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "I know the recent test was stressful," she continued, her voice soothing. "But it was just a way to gauge your retention and get your brains working again after the break."
She paused, her gaze roaming over the crowd before continuing. "This school trip is designed to be a break, a chance to stretch your bodies and relax. We'll be going on a two-day camping trip – Saturday and Sunday – and you'll return to school on Monday. Classes will resume as usual then."
The announcement sent waves of excitement through the crowd, the cheers and applause growing louder. "A school trip? Wow, not bad!" someone exclaimed, the sentiment echoed by many. The air was electric with anticipation, the promise of adventure hanging tantalizingly in the air.