The Morning Before the Announcement
I woke up hearing this cute song, singing by an adorable child voice. At first, I thought it was just some part of my unfinished dream... but the song was getting louder, getting closer to my ears.
So I slowly opened my eyes, my vision's still blurry but I immediately recognize the person beside my bed, who's smiling widely while holding a small cake on her hands.
"Good morning dear...and happy birthday to you!" Mom... and that cute song was a birthday song.
IN KOREAN VERSION, HOWEVER I UNDERSTOOD EVERY WORD OF IT!
My eyes widened in realization.
"Mom...can you... are you speaking Korean?" I'm fully awake so it wasn't a dream. Her perfectly trimmed brows arched.
"Of course dear. What else would I be speaking?" She sat beside me.
"No... I mean... it's just... I thought I wasn't - that I needed everyone to speak in English... heol -"
I covered my mouth as a korean word escape in it.
Her brows furrowed slightly.
"Winter, dear, are you feeling alright? You're still a little out of it aren't you?" She squeeze my hand lightly.
No. This wasn't how the way I speak. And I sounded more like a teenager not my original self. Even the way I think.
What is happening?!
Right. There's one way to find out.
I breath in, out and -
"My name's Winter Kim."
Whoa! That's a perfect, flawless Korean!
"Dear... are sure you're okay?"
Mom's eyes were filled with concern, but I couldn't focus on that right now. I was too busy trying to process what had just happened.
"I... I don't understand..." I stammered, switching back to English without even thinking. "How do I do that? How did I
speak Korean so perfectly?"
"Dear... you're Korean. What's so strange about that?" There! I understood her!
This is amazing! I don't have to read and study those Korean language lessons. Those symbols were making my head hurt.
Maybe Kim's left-side brain had sprung to life, or the entity who sent me here gave me the ability to somehow understand these people around me.
Mom then stood up and walked over to the window, her back to me. " Well, it's your birthday, what do you want today? I heard from your Dad that your asking for a... white suit?"
Right. A formal suit, for a speech that I prepared. If I'm gonna use this privilege - power, wealth and popularity, why not used it properly?
I had a conversation with Principal Im last night, saying it was an emergency matter. I mentioned about the school policy and that I wanted it to strictly be followed.
Present
Here I am now, bowing before them, trying to show the other side of the book which is to be a disciplined student, that Kim definitely wasn't, and that meant swallowing my pride and playing the role of a repentant sinner.
They were waiting for me to crack, to reveal the truth that I'm just making a scene, but I'm not.
"Winter..."
There she goes. I brace myself, ready to launch into my carefully constructed apology. But before I could say a word -
"Okay." she spoke again.
I look up, confused.
She then turned and walked out the gym.
That's it?
Nothing more?
She didn't elaborate. She didn't question. She didn't accuse. She simply said 'okay'.
I was still on my position, trying to decipher the meaning behind that single, simple word.
What did it signify? Acceptance? Rejection? Indifference?
Had I underestimated her? I didn't understand. Or was she simply too weary to engage, too worn down by the constant bullying to care anymore?
I glanced around the gym. The other students were staring at me.
"Is it part of those public pranks of hers?" I heard the girl on side say.
"No way... the old Winter wouldn't bowed to anyone like that. I think...?" Her friend responded, while eyeing me.
Seriously? You kids were gossiping in front of me?
Well, that's that, I suppose.
Before I could stand up to my feet, a hand grabbed my arm, pulling me up with surprising force.
"Winter what the hell was that?! Why did you just apologize to Yu Jimin, of all people?"
I practically ignored Giselle's rantings earlier, I just mentioned to her that if she helps me, the deal we made was still on.
I took a deep breath, trying to maintain my Winter-Kim-like composure.
"Easy there -"
"Don't 'easy there' me!" She snapped. "You're acting like a crazy person! Everyone's talking about you!"
I know, and I can understand them too.
They all think I'm losing it just because I'm asking Yu Jimin for forgiveness.
"Look, can we discuss this somewhere else?" I said, trying to pull my arm away from her grasp. "This isn't exactly the time or the place to -"
"No, we're going to talk about this right now! What's gotten into you? You're acting like a completely different person!"
Different person? If she only knew. If only I could tell her that I'm stuck in her best friend's body who lacks even basic decency a human should possess.
"I don't know what you're talking about. I just wanted to do the right thing."
The look on Giselle's face told me she was about to go wild.
She scoffed. "Since when do you care about doing the right thing? You're Kim Winter! You're supposed to be planning another entertaining things like Hyeri did!"
Before I could answer, I saw Felix jogging his way towards us.
"Winter, what's going on? What's this whole apologizing drama about?"
He didn't touch me this time, maybe afraid of getting a twisted arm. He looked at Giselle. "Gi, can you give us a minute?"
Felix was subtly asserting his dominance, reminding me that I'm a lady under him.
But I am not.
Giselle's eyes narrowed slightly, but she didn't push it. "Okay... well, if you need anything, just let me know." She gave me a searching look before walking away.
Felix turned his full attention to me. "Why did you apologize to Jimin? Are you feeling guilty?"
Why are kids in this modern era afraid of facing the consequences of their own wrongdoings?
"Can we just drop it?" It sounded rude but whatever, he deserved it.
"Fine." Or it seems like he's under Kim Winter.
"But we're going to talk about this later. I want to know what's really going on with you."
Reasonable.
He turned and walked away, leaving me standing there.
Then I remembered the teachers behind me, watching us the whole time.
I smiled awkwardly, " Principal Im... I hope everything's running according to my suggestions."
The teachers exchanged nervous glances.
"Everything seems to be in order, Ms. Kim. We're glad to know that you want to sort things out the right way." One of them said, a middle-aged woman with a warm smile on her lips.
Oh students... be ready.
This wasn't going to be easy.
~•~
I found myself inside the library once again.
After the announcement, it came back to me that even though I now understood their language, I still have a lot of things to learn.
And one of those things was the fact that I'm sitting across Yu Jimin's table.
Right. She left me hanging back in the gym this morning.
Jimin's trying not to tremble, trying not to look at my direction and trying to avoid my eyes.
I closed the book that I'm reading - that's an excuse of course. I cleared my throat and spoke.
"So... about this morning..." I trailed, careful not to spook her.
I still cannot believe that I'm actually speaking their language.
Jimin flinched, her eyes darting up to meet mine and...
Wow... she really have those attractive look that's making me feel a little nervous...?
Did I just said.. attractive?
Abort mission! I repeat, abort mission!
I shook my head, this is not the right time to think about those things.
I quickly looked away, pretending to be engrossed in the invisible pattern on the table.
"I-If you're going to start yelling at me again, I'd ra-rather just l-leave." She began to gather her things on the table but I won't let her escape this time.
I grab one of her books, hiding it behind me.
"I... don't want to bother your study session... but can you please give me a few minutes to explain myself?"
This is my only chance to speak to her in private, just the two of us. I really want to know who is Yu Jimin behind the public eyes.
She remained seated so I started to speak. " Jimin, I'm not asking you to forgive me right away but... I want you to know that I don't remember any memory of my past... of me bullying you... tormenting... or anything." Technically I don't remember any of Kim's memory, so it wasn't a lie.
" Is... is it because of the accident? " I glance at her, she wasn't looking my way, just staring down.
"Well... yes. The doctor says so."
"So you're temporarily unable to remember those things you did to me?" I bit my lower lip. I kinda feel embarrassed about this.
"I think... I might not remember it permanently..." I muttered.
"Permanently?" Oh shit. She heard that.
I don't have a choice, have I?
"Yes. I don't remember any single memory of my past so I assume that it'll never come back again."
She slowly nodded. Still her eyes fixed down there.
I should give it a shot.
I put her book back on the table and stretched out my hand on her.
"Let's get to know each other... once again. I'm Winter Dre- Kim, I'm Winter Kim... and you are?"
Finally she look up to me, her big glasses were practically covering her small frame.
"I'm Yu Jimin..."