Damn it! Why am I this flustered? How come I always have to ride a bike home? And most importantly, why do I have to live in a crummy old apartment?!
Eunice Park groaned.
She parked her bike at the racks close to the volar parking entrance of the White Linen House in Seoul, South Korea.
It was another day at Independence Academy. And that day was quite stressful. And the school finals did not soothe her at all.
Physics, Biology, Algebra, Social Studies, Literature, Languages, Statistics...I'm so glad I didn't study for this. However...I feel like I got everything right in the exams.
Eunice then slowly walked past the reception desk and stood in front of the elevator. She waited for her to go...and then, the elevator on the left hand side opened and out came her neighbor Sim Jae-yun.
But she did not notice him passing by her. She had her head all the way down to the floor, dropping her shoulders and arms.
She then entered the elevator and waited patiently for her arrival to the 4th floor of the apartment. White Linen Housewas six floors high and was a lavish place to live in.
I'm so glad it's affordable!
She then approached her room 458. She walked inside her room, dropped her backpack, and plopped herself on her bed. She then groaned and tossed and turned.
"This is so not my day." she complained.
For two hours straight Eunice had slept. And then, there was a sudden knock at the door.
The knocks sounded like someone was pounding on the door, as if he or she was using a fist. When Eunice was bothered enough, she slowly sat up and went to answer the door.
"That could be room service." she mumbled.
When Eunice opened the door, she was surprised to find a goodie basket standing in front of the archway of her room.
Who would ever think to give me a goodie basket? I barely know anybody here.
Eunice picked up the basket and noticed that it had a little card on the side. The card was hot pink and had a light pink glitter heart in the middle.
She opened it and read:
Hello!
My name is Shim Jae-yun! But you can call me Jake if it makes you comfortable.
I’ve noticed that you come around this apartment. And my parents happened to know you and your family. So I figured that you live independently here.
I understand that a high school student can live on her own.
I’m just next door at 459…you know, if you want to hang out sometime.
- Sim…Jake.
Hello!
My name is Shim Jae-yun! But you can call me Jake if it makes you comfortable.
I’ve noticed that you come around this apartment. And my parents happened to know you and your family. So I figured that you live independently here.
I understand that a high school student can live on her own.
I’m just next door at 459…you know, if you want to hang out sometime.
- Sim…Jake.
"Okay, this is just weird!" Eunice cringed, "Why would a college student want to hang out with a sixteen year old like me?"
She opened the wrapping paper on the basket and it revealed a lot of Japanese snacks. Eunice was confused.
How did he know that I like snacks from Japan? He doesn't even know me!
Eunice laughed.
"Well I do like the stick of a rainbow twisted marshmallow."
There was another knock at the door. This knock was calmer than the last one.
"That has to be room service." said Eunice, rolling her eyes.
She opened the door slowly. And then Park Sung-hoon stood in front of her eyes. He seemed to smile brightly.
"So," he said with his hands behind his back, "Did you get his gift?"
"What gift?" Eunice asked.
"The one that is sitting on your bed." replied Sung-hoon.
Eunice looked back at the goodie basket, and then at Sung-hoon.
"I forgot that it was there."
She then smiled nervously; Sung-hoon crossed his arms.
"Like you didn't notice."
Eunice tried to turn away, but Sung-hoon pulled her in his arms.
"You know he likes you, right?" he said.
Eunice was confused, flickering her eyes everywhere.
"I think I've seen that happen before. Sometime last week or something."
"Are you sure?"
Eunice nodded her head.
"Okay, this is just weird!" Eunice cringed, "Why would a college student want to hang out with a sixteen year old like me?"
She opened the wrapping paper on the basket and it revealed a lot of Japanese snacks. Eunice was confused.
How did he know that I like snacks from Japan? He doesn't even know me!
Eunice laughed.
"Well I do like the stick of a rainbow twisted marshmallow."
There was another knock at the door. This knock was calmer than the last one.
"That has to be room service." said Eunice, rolling her eyes.
She opened the door slowly. And then Park Sung-hoon stood in front of her eyes. He seemed to smile brightly.
"So," he said with his hands behind his back, "Did you get his gift?"
"What gift?" Eunice asked.
"The one that is sitting on your bed." replied Sung-hoon.
Eunice looked back at the goodie basket, and then at Sung-hoon.
"I forgot that it was there."
She then smiled nervously; Sung-hoon crossed his arms.
"Like you didn't notice."
Eunice tried to turn away, but Sung-hoon pulled her in his arms.
"You know he likes you, right?" he said.
Eunice was confused, flickering her eyes everywhere.
"I think I've seen that happen before. Sometime last week or something."
"Are you sure?"
Eunice nodded her head.