"Eunji is my mother," he said, the words tumbling out finally. Chaeyoung's expression changed from irritation to shock.
Chaeyoung slowly turned back, her gaze lingering on Joon as she asked, "Wait, what did you say?" Chaeyoung's voice was laced with confusion and irritation.
Joon's eyes dropped, and he began to speak in a measured tone, "You see, Eunji isn't her real name. Her real name is Lee Yena."
As he paused, his gaze fell to the ground, and a deep sigh escaped his lips.
"From what I remember, she's always been consumed by her love for money," he continued, his voice tinged with a mix of sadness and resentment. "
"My father wasn't the wealthiest man, but he wasn't the poorest either. We lived comfortably...until he was diagnosed with High-grade Gliomas." Joon's words trailed off, and he struggled to meet Chaeyoung's gaze.
"My grandmother poured all our savings into his treatment, clinging to the hope that she wouldn't lose her only child. But in the end, it was all for nothing." As Joon's story unfolded, his voice cracked with emotion.
"With our fortune dwindling, my mother saw no reason to stay with our family. She left me with my grandmother without a second glance, abandoning us for someone who could satisfy her materialistic desires. In other words, she's a gold digger—or at least, that's how I see her."
His eyes locked onto Chaeyoung's, searching for understanding. "Years later, we discovered she'd attached herself to the President, long before he ascended to power, and had reinvented herself entirely. I don't know how she got to him but.. that's why I think I understand your feelings—I've got no parent too."
Chaeyoung's silence wasn't born out of indifference but rather being rendered speechless. Joon's words hung in the air, heavy with emotion. "I know you're wondering why I'm sharing this with you," he said softly. "It's because I don't want secrets between us."
Chaeyoung's intuition told her there was more to his story, and she sensed another motive behind his desire for a face-to-face meeting.
"That's not the only reason, is it?" She asked, her voice laced with skepticism. Joon's hesitant response only strengthened her conviction.
"That's all," he said slowly, his eyes avoiding hers.
Chaeyoung let out a soft sigh and extended her hand. "Your phone?" She asked, her voice firm but polite. Joon's hesitation was palpable as he asked, "What for?"
Chaeyoung rolled her eyes and repeated her request, her hand still outstretched. "Uhm..okay," Joon replied, retrieving his phone from his pocket.
Chaeyoung took the phone and swiftly typed in her number. "I won't be able to meet up next time, so if you have anything to say, just call or text," she said, handing the phone back to him as she turned to leave.
"Wait," Joon called out, his voice low and urgent. Chaeyoung stopped but didn't turn around. "What?" She asked, her tone neutral.
"Have a good night."
Without responding, Chaeyoung hurried away, her footsteps light on the ground. As she ran back home, she couldn't shake off the feeling that Joon had wanted to say something more.
"Why does it feel like he wanted to say something?" She muttered to herself, her mind racing with possibilities.
By the time she reached her house, it was already 9:16 PM. She managed to slip back in through the same way she had exited earlier, her heart racing as she climbed up to her window.
Just as she was about to enter her room, the lights around the building flickered on, and she quickly jumped inside, dragging the sheets over her bed and removing her hoodie.
A knock on the door made her freeze. To maintain the illusion that she was already asleep, she let the person knock again before slowly opening the door, rubbing her eyes in a tired manner. Acting classes did pay off after all.
"What do you want?" She asked irritably. "Did he tell you to keep me awake too, or are you just disturbing my sleep?"
The person behind the door tried to apologize with an excuse, but Chaeyoung cut them off.
"Just nothing. It's better to apologize than make excuses. I don't want anyone disturbing me again," she said firmly.
"Yes, ma'am," the person replied, and Chaeyoung shut the door, letting out a sigh of relief.
She jumped onto her plush queen-sized bed and grabbed her phone as she heard a beep.
"You there?" It was a message from Joon.
"Yeah. Luckily I wasn't caught," she texted Joon.
"Nice. Good night," he replied immediately, as if he had been waiting for her message.
"Yeah," Chaeyoung responded curtly, feeling a bit awkward about the greeting.
Despite the surreal nature of the events, Chaeyoung felt strangely calm, as if everything was unfolding normally.
As she drifted off to sleep, her mind was filled with thoughts, and she had no idea what the next day would bring.
***
With the new rule of having bodyguards follow her everywhere, the school hallways felt like a vacuum, with everyone standing seven feet away from her. In classes, the distance was slightly reduced to five feet, but it still felt like an insurmountable barrier.
Having three imposing figures trailing behind her all day was not exactly the most appealing experience for Chaeyoung. Not even Joon dared to approach her anymore, and the isolation was starting to take its toll.
As she entered her first class, Physics, Chaeyoung settled into her usual seat at the back. Mr. Feng, her teacher, stood at the front of the room, setting up the projector.
"So today, we'll be diving into Electromagnetism," he announced, turning to face the class. "Who can tell us about the interactions between electric and magnetic fields?"
The room fell silent, with students exchanging nervous glances. Mr. Feng sighed and resorted to his trusty randomization technique.
"Yuxin, can you answer the question?" He asked, calling on the Chinese girl who had transferred four months ago.
Yuxin stood up, her confidence unwavering. "Oh, yes, sir. Electric and magnetic forces are completely separate and don't interact with each other. Electric forces only affect charged particles, while magnetic forces only affect objects with mass," she said, her voice firm.
Chaeyoung raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the blatant inaccuracy. Mr. Feng's expression was polite but unimpressed. "That is...incorrect," he said gently.
Chaeyoung couldn't help but speak up, her tone laced with skepticism. "What?! I mean, excuse me, but who would fail that? That is the worst answer I've heard so far, and I've heard a lot of those." She gave Yuxin a once-over, unimpressed by what she saw.
Mr. Feng smiled wryly, his eyebrows rising. "Well, Miss Park, I see you're eager to help us with this one."
Chaeyoung stood up, her movements fluid. "I'd be glad to," she said, launching into a detailed explanation.
"Electric and magnetic forces are closely related and interact with each other. According to Maxwell's equations and the Lorentz force law, electric currents generate magnetic fields; magnetic fields can induce electric currents; and electric and magnetic forces are perpendicular. The direction of the electric force, magnetic force, and direction of motion of a charged particle are all perpendicular to each other, as described by the right-hand rule. These interactions are fundamental to many technologies, including generators, motors, transformers, and electromagnetic waves."
As she spoke, Chaeyoung's knowledge for physics shone through, her words painting a vivid picture of the complex relationships between electric and magnetic forces. The class listened intently, their faces a mix of fascination and awe. Even Yuxin looked impressed, her earlier confidence slightly dented.
When Chaeyoung finished, Mr. Feng nodded in approval. "Excellent explanation, Miss Park. You're absolutely right. The interactions between electric and magnetic fields are crucial to understanding many phenomena in physics."
Chaeyoung smiled, feeling a sense of satisfaction. She sat down, her bodyguards watching her every move, their presence a constant reminder of the bubble she was living in.
Mr. Feng's eyes widened in surprise, and he nodded enthusiastically at his note. "That is...very much correct," he mumbled, his voice filled with praise.
Chaeyoung shrugged nonchalantly, resting her head on her desk. "What? You guys have never seen someone answer a question correctly? Or are you just used to losing?" She asked, her voice laced with a hint of sarcasm. With a subtle smile, she closed her eyes, appearing to meditate rather than sleep.
***
After class, Chaeyoung headed straight to her next class, Literature-in-English, eager to get through the day quickly.
As she entered the classroom, Miss Shin greeted her with a warm smile. "So today, we'll pick between two of William Shakespeare's most popular books, but before that, we'll be introducing our new student—internet sensation, Jung Jaehwan."
The classroom door swung open, and Jaehwan walked in, his chiseled features and charismatic smile commanding attention. Not only was he a young social media influencer, but he also had those striking mafia looks that seemed to captivate everyone in the room.
As the son of the CEO of Luxe Haven Hotel, one of the biggest hotels in Asia, and a brand ambassador for Louis Vuitton, Jaehwan was already making waves in South Korea as one of the youngest models in the industry.
Chaeyoung's gaze swept over Jaehwan, taking in his polished appearance. Joon, sitting nearby, also couldn't help but stare. The girls in the class were whispering excitedly among themselves, their eyes shining with admiration.
"Oh my gosh, no freaking way it's JAE!" one of them squealed, claiming he was the hottest guy ever and they'd kill to have him.
As Jaehwan began to introduce himself, the classroom door burst open again, and a girl from another class rushed in, shouting, "IT'S TRUE! JAEHWAN IS HERE!"
The commotion attracted other students and even some teachers, causing the classroom to become increasingly rowdy.
Jaehwan looked taken aback, his smile faltering. "Uhm...teach? Could you do something?" He asked nervously.
Miss Shin stepped in, her voice firm but polite. "Back to class, or have a whole week of detention." However, her warning fell on deaf ears as the students continued to chatter excitedly.
Chaeyoung's patience wore thin, and she decided to take matters into her own hands. "Shut up!" She shouted, her voice cutting through the chaos.
The classroom fell silent, as quiet as a graveyard. Everyone stared at Chaeyoung, including Jaehwan, their faces a mix of shock and awe.
She let out a soft sigh, her voice stern and commanding. "Out!" The students reluctantly filed out of the classroom, their faces filled with disappointment and sadness. The classroom was once again quiet, with all eyes fixed on Chaeyoung.
"Go on," Chaeyoung said to Miss Shin, her voice neutral, as she settled into her seat. Miss Shin smiled warmly while thanking Chaeyoung with her eyes and continued.
"As I was saying, this is Jung Jaehwan, and he recently transferred here from the U.S. I personally hope you can make him feel at home."
Jaehwan's eyes scanned the classroom, his gaze lingering on Chaeyoung before Miss Shin gestured toward the empty seat beside her. "You can have a seat next to Chaeyoung over there," she said.
Jaehwan walked over to the seat, his movements confident and fluid. As he sat down, he turned to Chaeyoung and extended his hand.
"I'm Jaehwan," he said, his smile as charming as his voice.
Chaeyoung paused for a moment before responding, her expression unreadable.
"Park Chaeyoung," she said finally, shaking his hand briefly.
Her bodyguards watched the interaction without comment or reaction, their faces impassive. Joon, however, couldn't help but glance over at the pair, his eyes narrowing slightly as he observed the handshake.
The rest of the class continued to stare at Jaehwan, their faces filled with curiosity and admiration. Chaeyoung withdrew her hand, her attention already drifting back to the lesson at hand.