"Yah! Can you lower it down, dude! I'm talking to Jimin!"
I giggled as I flip a page on the English textbook that I was reading. Yeji had called out of the blue and I was trying to cram in some studying before the chaos of those military drills took over everything.
"Sorry about that Jimin-ah my twin's super excited to tell Mom and Dad the big news about those soldiers in our school, he's more excited about trying out their weapons though. Honestly he's such a child sometimes."
I heard another noise.
"Yah! Give me back my phone!"
"Aigoo, I'm just teasing," Hyun chuckled. "Anyway, Jimin-ah, don't let Yeji stress you out too much. We'll figure this whole Winter Kim thing out, okay? Just try to relax and focus on your studies. And if you see any soldiers, tell them Hwang Hyunjin says 'hi'!"
"Yah! Get off the phone, you dork!" Yeji's voice was muffled, like she was trying to wrestle the phone away from him. "Sorry about that, Jimin-ah. He's being extra annoying today."
"It's okay," I said, smiling. "It's nice to hear a friendly voice, actually. Things have been pretty crazy since the assembly."
"The whole school is talking about Winter Kim. Some people think she's had a personality transplant, others think she's planning something big. I don't know what to believe anymore."
"Me neither. "
Should I tell her about the tutor thing?
"Yeji?" She hummed on the other line and I was biting my nails getting anxious on what she will say. "In the library... Winter and I talked. "
"J-just what? - Hold up, after the assembly? Winter and you?Talking? In the library? Are you serious right now?" I could practically see her eyes widening in shock. I knew she wouldn't believe it. It was pretty unbelievable, even to me.
"Relax. She didn't do anything unnecessary." I laugh nervously. "But it's true. I have no idea that she would be in the library and - she sat with me on my table and then suddenly asked if she could talk to me.
"And you agreed?"
"I don't know, okay?" I snapped, feeling defensive. "I was just curious... I wanted to hear what she had to say. And... and she said she doesn't remember anything. About the bullying, about anything that happened before the accident."
"She doesn't remember? Right." Yeji scoffed. "Jimin. Don't fall for it. I'm warning you."
I'm sorry Yeji!
"I don't think she's lying..." I said quietly. "She seemed... different. Like she was genuinely sorry. And she asked me to give her a chance, to get to know her again."
"Get to know her again? Jimin, you already know her! She's the biggest bully in the history ever! What more do you need to know?"
I don't think it's a good idea to mention about the tutor thing.
I sighed heavily, blowing my bangs away from my eyes.
"I don't know, Yeji. I just... I feel like there's something more going on here. Something I need to understand."
"Jimin-ah... I know you're curious, and I know you want to believe the best in people. But please, be careful. Don't let that witch manipulate you again, arasseo?"
" I won't." I promise.
"Good," Yeji agreed. "We'll talk more about it tomorrow, okay?
"Sounds good," I said. "See you then."
"Alright. And Jimin-ah?"
"Yeah?"
"Try not to worry too much, okay? We'll figure this out together."
"I will, thanks, Yeji."
The call ended.
I put my phone aside, pulling myself together. I need to get through this, but first, let's face this war with my English textbook.
~•~
It's been a week since the new military initiative had been implemented. A week of peace and order, no bullying, no harassments. However, we have to endure the aching muscles and non-stop salute. It had also been a week since the awkward conversation with Winter in the library. And today, of all days, was the release of the exam results.
My heart is literally about to beat out off my chest as I was bouncing my leg like crazy, trying to burn off all the nervous energy that was making me wanna puke.
"Jimin-ah chill, I can hear your heartbeat from here. You got this, okay? You actually studied, you know your stuff. I should be more worried on Hyun... that dork." Yeji said, patting my back like I was some kind of nervous puppy.
We all stood there waiting for Chan Xi, the student council president to put the results on the bulletin board.
"Yo, there he is!" Hyun exclaimed, pointing towards the door.
And there he was, Chan Xi, struggling to carry a mountain of papers. Everyone gasped as he made his way to the bulletin board.
"Alright, everyone!" he yelled through a megaphone. "The results are here. Please don't be a bunch of animals and give everyone a chance to see them. And remember, it's just a test. Don't let it ruin your life."
Everyone groaned, but started shoving their way towards the bulletin board, desperate to see if they passed or failed.
I took a deep breath trying not to freak out.
Whatever the results are I -
"Jimin! Jimin-ah look!" I glance to the direction where Yeji's pointing, towards the top of the list of names. I squeeze through the crowd, moving closer and closer... and then my eyes almost popped out of their sockets.
There, at the very top list was my name.
Yu Jimin, 98
Wait, what?
I blinked, thinking I was hallucinating from stress. But no, it was definitely my name. I actually aced the exam? No... way.
But then my eyes drifted upwards, to the name above mine. And that's when I lost it.
Kim Winter, 99
Kim Winter?!
I'm not dreaming am I? I stole the top 2 slot, that alone was a major shocker, but this? Winter as the top student?
"No... freaking way..." I muttered, while staring at her name like it was some kind of a new discovery artifact.
"Can you believe it? You got the second spot and Winter got the first? This is insane!" Yeji squeals, grabbing my arms and shaking it excitedly.
"Insane is an understatement. Winter? The same Winter who used to make fun of me for my grades? The same Winter who couldn't care less about school? That Winter?" I look at the other students who were busy gossiping about this another big tea.
"Announcement students," the voice in the speakers echoed around the hallway, cutting through the chatter. " Kindly go straight to the school's auditorium as we're going to hear the speech of our top student. Thank you."
Everyone groaned but it sounded more like as morbid curiosity.
A speech from Winter Kim? After that incident last week? Sure, that was something no one wanted to miss.
"A speech? From Winter again? This just keeps getting better and better." Hyun straighten up, doing a salute.
He's addicted to that.
"Well, we gotta go," Yeji said, nudging me towards the auditorium. "Wouldn't want to miss Winter's big moment, right? Who knows what kind of crazy things she'll say."
"Can I just-"
"No. You're going with us." Yeji cutted.
I sighed, knowing there was no way I could avoid this. "Fine, let's go. But I'm telling you, if Winter starts spouting some weird propaganda about the military initiative, I'm walking out."
As we entered the auditorium, I scanned the crowd, looking for a familiar face. But everyone was too busy gossiping and speculating to notice us.
We found a spot near the back, trying to blend in.
The lights dimmed, and Principal Im walked onto the stage, his face beaming with pride. "Good afternoon, students. Today, we celebrate the academic achievements of two of our most outstanding students. Please give a warm welcome to our top student, Kim Winter!"
Two?!
As if on cue, the twins look my way.
Oh no...
I saw her walk up the stage, bright and all smiles. She politely bowed to Mr. Im and the teachers on his side.
"Please come up on stage, our top two, Yu Jimin!"
Me? On the stage?
"Jimin," Yeji whispered, giving me a gentle push. "Go on. You deserve it."
"I - I can't do this" I said, shaking my head frantically.
But it was too late. Principal Im had already spotted me, and he was gesturing for me to come forward.
I reached the stage and stood beside Winter, feeling awkward and out of place.
"Congratulations, Jimin."
She said, turning, and staring at me directly in the eye, and I couldn't help but to be drawn in, drowning in the sea of her ocean- deep orbs. For a split a second, I forgot everything... it was just me and Winter, just like those in romantic cliche story, but it really feels like this.
"Hey..." I heard her say.
Shit!
I quickly look away, I could feel my cheeks burning from embarrassment. I swallowed hard before answering.
"Uh... t-thanks - you too..." I mumbled. I couldn't meet her eyes. It was too much for me to handle.
Too... confusing?
Principal Im cleared his throat, eyeing us suspiciously.
"Alright girls. Let's hear what our top students have to say. Winter, why don't you start us off?"
She nodded and face the crowd.
I stood there beside her, listening to her words. I don't know if this is the Winter that we know, because now, this Winter was talking about hard work, dedication, and the importance of striving for excellence, while the previous Winter Kim is basically the queen bee, the mastermind of all the bullying that happened and definitely a student who hates studying as she hates me.
In addition to that... this Winter... she made me feel things... made me feel confused... and made my heart flutter just by seeing her.