Sunz: Finally get off this nightmare.
(Even though it's first class, thanks to Laikan. I was on there for nearly a day.)
*Checking his phone and seeing his recent conversation with his parents*
-Mom: I have some important business at work, so we won't be able to pick you up at the airport.
-Sunz: Ok.
-Mom: Don't worry, I asked one of my friends to help pick you up.
-Sunz: Ok, thank you, Mom.
…
Sunz was waiting inside the airport until he received a call from an unknown number, which he guessed was his mom's friend.
*Answer*
Sunz: Hello?
Female voice: Hello, is this Sunz?
Sunz: Yes, who is this?
Female voice: I'm Jane. Your mother Máfan asked me to pick you up.
Sunz: Oh, ok. My mom just told me her friend will pick me up, but she didn't tell me who and their phone number.
"Anyway, where are you?"
…
He navigated to the pickup location with the help of Jane, and it took him a while until he saw her.
Sunz (wait a minute): I see you, I'm hanging up now.
Once he got a better look at her as he was getting to her location, he realized she was someone he knew from school.
Jane: Hi Sunz, how was your trip?
Sunz: Teach? You know my mom?
Jane: Still the same clueless boy as usual.
Standing in front of him was his homeroom teacher for the last 2 years, and will be 3 once he finishes high school. A tall Asian lady named Jane specialized in teaching Math.
…
Jane tells Sunz to get in the front seat of her car after helping him put his luggage in the car.
Sunz (So uncomfortable, why would my homeroom teacher be a friend of my mom?) lost in his thoughts until Jane tapped on his shoulder.
Jane: Put on the seatbelt.
Sunz: Oh ok.
After Sunz put the seatbelt on, the car started moving, and when they were out of the airport parking lot.
Jane: Don't be so stiff around your teacher, I'm not a stranger picking you up.
Sunz:…
Jane:…
Sunz: Ummm, I mean, you're still my teacher… a stranger would put me in a less awkward situation.
Jane: Here. *Open the glove box* Your house key, your mother told me to give it to you.
Sunz takes the key and puts it in his 'Windbreaker'.
Jane: I won't force you to talk if you're not comfortable. You are quite the introvert after all.
Sunz:…
Jane:…
Sunz: I'm sorry, I don't know much about you and your relationship with my mother. The only reason she asked you to pick me up was for my safety, that I know for sure.
Jane: I would say safety is correct. And I must say, it's rare to see a family that is dedicated to driving and picks up their kid from school every day.
Sunz: I don't know, I don't care that much about others around me.
Jane: Anyway, so, "Sorry". First time hearing you say that, since you have always been a student with an attitude.
Sunz: I mean, I was just… I don't know, I just don't care anymore. Also, I'm not depressed or anything, that's for sure.
Jane: Of course, you are a good student for sure. Not causing trouble except for talking back to the teacher.
Sunz: I guess… but I wish I had been like that sooner, in realizing my personality.
Jane: As your teacher, I must say, you're seeing it wrong. I think, you were just slowly and firmly growing your personality.
"Until you guarantee that is who you really are."
Sunz: I guess, but I like my current situation now, so wishing for that would be throwing all my luck away.
"Also, I don't think the growing metaphor is right. Because, you know, depression, drugs, and other bad influences."
Jane: Of course, you are growing your personality in a public garden. There's bound to be bad influences, and for most of the time, you just have to tough it out, since you now know what good and bad are.
Sunz:… I guess that's why you are the teacher. Giving me all these life lessons, over time.
Jane: Take everything with a grain of salt, all lives are different… any motivational quotes that can apply to your situation.
Sunz: Yeah, my situation. (What are we even yapping about anymore?)
Jane: Anyhow, are you more comfortable for me to ask some personal questions?
Sunz:… I guess, but if you are already friends with my mom, what else did she not tell you?
Jane: Well, something like, you still plan to get a girlfriend? It's going to be your last year in high school.
Sunz: Didn't you ask me this before, and I told you, none of the girls in class like me, and I also don't care about them.
Jane: Of course you did say that. What about Fall? She is the only student who is close to you besides Jihu.
Sunz: Fall?... Oh, you mean Class Rep. I should start calling her by her real name, anyway. She is currently dating Jihu.
Jane: Really, Jihu?
Sunz: I know, everyone falls for him eventually.
Jane: Not her, she rarely pays attention to him, and most of the time, you are what she keeps an eye on.
Sunz: I know I'm a nuisance, but I'm also the one that cause the least trouble.
Jane: Have you ever thought, it's you she is keeping an eye on and not the trouble you can potentially cause?
Sunz: No, of course not.
Jane: Oh, what a shame for both of you.
Sunz: Shame, of what? Both of us?
Jane: I think you can piece them together.
Sunz: Wait… are you saying, there is a chance she likes me? But that is what Jihu also said.
Jane: Who knows, I'm a teacher, not a student, so all I have is experience and knowing about missing opportunities. But if Jihu can already connected dot.
"As they say, a broken clock is right twice a day."
Sunz: I mean, oh well, that happened and the opportunity has passed anyway.
Jane: Don't you regret that if you had recognized it sooner, something could have happened?
Sunz: I would, but based on who I am. I know that I don't have the guts to ask her out, so it's best that we move on.
Jane: You seem to have no regrets based on how much you lost. Well, high school relationship potential lost.
"That must mean, you have a girlfriend. Am I right?"
Sunz (!): No? Me? Have a girlfriend? You know my infamous popularity with most of the girls in school. There needs to be a miracle for me to have a girlfriend.
Jane:*sigh* I guess you are right…
"But you said 'in school', so that miracle must have happened outside of school grounds."
Sunz:…
(How did she know? Should I just tell her the truth instead of just hiding it?)
(What's the worst that can happen?)
(…)
(Yeah, what is the worst that can happen?)
"Maybe, some miracle did happen."
Jane: That's great. What is her personality like? Is she older, younger, or the same age as you? And did you tell your parents about her?
Sunz: Well… she is a year older, and I planned to tell my parents about her once I'm home…
"About personality, well, she is smart, generic blond hair with blue eyes, as she said herself…"
"She loves me and, as usual, hates me equally. All in all, I don't know how to describe her."
(My truth has limits, not gonna tell my teacher. Oh, my girlfriend is willing to kill anyone that hurt me, and did I mention she is an A-Rank Hero.)
…
Jane: Don't know how to describe your girlfriend? How long have you two known each other?
Sunz: About 1 to 2 weeks.
Jane: That makes sense… wait a minute. Did you meet her during the vacation with Jihu?
Sunz: Vacation? With Jihu?
Jane: You know the trip to Korea you went on.
Sunz: Oh, that… I won't call the trip that, it's more like Jihu invited me to visit his home country.
"But yes, I met her there. And she was also Jihu's childhood friend, whom he hadn't seen in a long time."
Jane:… Interesting, there seems to be a pattern related to you and Jihu new found relationship. Your partner is the childhood friend of the other.
Sunz: There sure is a funny coincidence.
"…"
"…"
"wait. Childhood friend? What are you talking about?"
Jane:… Sorry, childhood friend only count when you two meet at a much younger age.
Sunz: I am very clueless right now. Are you messing with me?
Jane: No,… don't you and Fall meet each other halfway through middle school?
Sunz: No, not at all. I've never seen her until high school… even if we did, I would have remembered her since her name is unique enough.
Jane: Oh, what a shame that only one of you remembers the other. And it's a shame that our conversation end here.
Sunz looks at the surroundings and notices some familiar details.
(Finally back home.)
Jane: Here you go, back home safe and sound. Make sure to text your mom that you are home.
Sunz unbuckles himself: Got it, thanks for the ride, Teach… also, can you not tell my mom about my girlfriend? I want to tell her myself.
Jane: Don't worry Sunz, between you and me. This conversation never happened.
Sunz: Ok then, thanks for the ride Teach, and I'll see you around once school starts.
*Get out of the car*
Jane: See you then too. Bye Sunz.
Sunz: Bye Teach.
Jane drove away while Sunz got into his parents' house.
*after getting in and locking the front door*
Sunz: Why Teach, why must you tell me more about Fall? I was planning to sleep, but now I'm wide awake, since apparently I knew Fall for like 2 years before high school, then I suddenly forgot about her.
…
"This is annoying."
*leave the suitcase in the living room, then go to his room to think*
The first thing he did after entering his room was to turn on his laptop and throw his Windbreak onto the bed.
*lying on his bed*
(Nothing, no information about that Fall girl in your memory. Wish there were a way for me to easily access my memory.)
"Wait, Sword's theater. Maybe I can see my memories like that… but, so I have to die, or can I just see my past memories?"
(I mean, the only way to find out is to ask him directly.)
"But I am fully awake right now, though. I mean, let's just try and fall asleep. If not, as long as I remember to do it."
*closing his eyes*
(…1…)
(…2…)
(.....)