v e r n o n “Good for you, you’re suspended,” Mark mumbled in between munching his kimbap. I shook my head, ignoring the fact that I just told my friends about my suspension and they are rather amused or envious about it. Weird enough, on different days, I might have celebrated this too. But you see, I’m a changed person. I hold importance to my studies now. Well, that might not be entirely true but I am trying. “Fuck it. I’m getting a part-time job to make use of my time.” The dirty apartment floor welcomed my indolent and worn-out body. It was a bad thing, for in the ground lies all the rubbish of Mingyu’s shabby apartment. “Hey! Who gave you the rights?” Mingyu slapped Wonwoo’s cheek as he began to eat the ramyeon which he had just served at the center table. The cold and timid elder pushed his rounded spectacles farther up the bridge of his nose. His lips protruded and he glared at Mingyu before abandoning the steaming hot ramyeon. “What the f--” I prevented a cuss when

c a t h e r i n e The hallways before our first class never fail to be so busy and noisy. Students from here and there are flocking, always got something to tell each other. But today is different because their eyes would so often drift at me. I am not totally unaware that I am still the subject of their shameless gossip. The consuming chaos exhausted me by the second so I made my way out of the crowd and went to our classroom, which was empty thirty minutes before class. There, I made the phone call to Vernon that I have been meaning to do since yesterday. “Hey." I forced the energy. I am never an enthusiastic person, but just to be more interesting, I feigned vitality. There was nothing from the other line but the soft whiz of the city breeze and of Vernon’s subtle breaths. Realizing that he is not speaking any second, I continued. “Uh, since you were suspended because of me, I figured I should make it up to you..” I gathered my guts that I had worked hard to collect. My pr

c a t h e r i n e  I pierced my eyes against him. Vernon kept the taunting look. He towered over me from his side of the counter, growing intimidating by the second. I was tongue-tied for a moment; whether due to his question or to his smoldering eyes, I could hardly tell.  “Why would you say that?” I blurted out, trying to sound offended although I am nothing but uncomfortable under his gaze. His intense autumn eyes that were now the sharpness of razors, lingered at me longer until he took them off with a nod. “Nothing.”  “Why would you say that?” I urged. He then raised a stare, now with the stoic expression. The concealing look has resurfaced. “It’s just..” He clenched his jaw.

v e r n o n  “The other days, it was just the girl. Now, it’s a whole squad. Are they your fans or something?” Joo Hoo was both amused and intrigued as he joined me behind the counter.  Both of our eyes darted at the small group from a particular table. Catherine was joined by my friends, Wonwoo, Mingyu, and Mark. They had been sitting there for a while, watching me with a grin like I am some sort of a spectacle.  “It’s a weekend so they paid a visit,” I replied to Joo Hoo, my eyes squinting at Mingyu who’s now laughing with Catherine. “That girl, is she your girlfriend?” “No. She’s a friend.” On other days, I would have loathed Joo Hoo’s nosiness. Before, I have always been blatan

v e r n o n  The final week of my suspension came to an end. All those days were spent without talking to Catherine. She didn’t try to reach out after our last meeting so I figured I must have offended her with my rudeness.  Although that was never my intention, I did not try to make it up to her. It feels like our acquaintance was only driven by the never-ending returning of the favor. Since she has done so much in helping me with our school work, perhaps, she has no plans of seeing me again—given that she’s no longer indebted.  “I would have prepared a welcome if I knew you’re returning to class today!” Mingyu was overly enthusiastic as he fetched me in the hallway.  Except for Mingyu, everything else drew me in a sour mood. The noisy hallways had never been my cup o