Is it just me going through an unannounced princess complex or really people are staring at me more and murmuring?
I reached the class on time but it was announced that the teacher would be late since he was in a meeting.
I took the last seat as that was the only one available since I reached later than most.
This was probably the only time when I was happy to be in the back because I thought people would not pay much attention to me but it was the opposite.
I look around and yes, people are staring at me.
I even see a boy 'discretely' point at me and then tell something to a group of students with her. They listen and some people gasp and some respond with wide eyes.
What is going on?
Is this how they react to the scholarship students?
They cannot even fathom the idea of financial aid?
Is this what San had to go through as well when he was new here?
Or... Or... Or...
Maybe Yeonjun told some lie about me to the students. I mean, I don't think that guy has friends given his personality but I am sure he has a lot of people who would listen to him right? Given his legacy.
Is this going to be some boys over flowers shit? Am I going to get a red card and then have the entire school run after me to torment me?
I am not going to take that shit.
But then again that was manga and this is real life. And the anti-bullying rules at this school are very strict so I don't think that even Yeonjun will be able to do something like that.
I remember a few years back there was a scandal about some actor's son verbally abusing a student. He was rusticated. The speech by the principal that followed addressed how strict the school was against anti-bullying and how Royals High strived to have an all-inclusive environment.
All-inclusive my ass.
But at least it hasn't been as bad as I had imagined.
Sure, minus the pisssing-off-the-son-of-the-chairman-of-the-school.
The teacher comes into the room exactly after 10 minutes and goes over the topics that will be covered.
I don't like physics. I would do anything to avoid it altogether but the fact that I was weak in physics at least increased my focus in this class because I didn't want to fall behind.
Halfway through the class, the frosted door opens abruptly and a boy walks in casually with his hands in his pocket.
His shirt is not tucked and he is also not wearing a tie or a blazer. His blonde hair is wet like he just took a shower and he has a bored expression on his face like this is the last place he wants to be in right now.
He looks familiar.
"Mr. Kang you know the rules â" the teacher does not get to finish his sentence. The boy hands him a small yellow card and the teacher sighs. He must be used to this student acting this way.
"Just go take your seat" the teacher speaks in a resigned tone. The boy turns on his heels and makes eye contact with me.
Instantly his eyes narrow and he zeros in on me.
The bored expression he had on his face turned sour too quickly. He takes determined steps toward me as if he's walking into a war to decapitate my head.
I feel everyone's eyes on me.
I don't like this.
He keeps his eyes on me till he is standing right next to my seat. I crane my eyes up to look at him.
As I stare at him, I realize he was the guy I bumped into at the student activity center.
He is that rude guy.
"This is my seat," he says matter-of-factly.
I look around to see that all the seats are filled except the one beside me. I don't want to sit with him.
That is the last thing I want right now.
"Are you deaf or just plain dumb?" he has his bored expression back on his face. A few nearby students who hear his voice snicker.
Not that he was trying to be discrete or anything.
I feel my face burn hot red in anger and embarrassment.
Even the teacher's looking this way. I have no choice but to shift my seat so that I am stuck between the wall and this douchebag.
He doesn't utter another word to me throughout the class and I am thankful for that.
I would generally try to talk to him but after repeated encounters, I know it won't go in the direction I would hope for it to go so I give up on the idea.
"You're doing that wrong" a bored voice states as a matter of fact and look up from my worksheet to the person with an ever-plastered uncaring expression.
His hair is half-dried by now and he has pushed it all back with a few strands sticking out.
His jaw is clenched like he is irritated with just my presence and his eyes look like if they could shoot lasers, they would bore holes into my skull.
I hate to admit it, he looks hot.
What is wrong with me?
Have I really gone crazy?
Did the pressure already get to me?
I react to the thought in my head the same way I would react to a baby spider, squash it in n instant.
"This is an exception to the law. So this alternate method is faster" I don't explain much.
For another student, I would actually take my time to explain the method but this man had been anything but nice to me and I really didn't want to help him.
Petty, I know.
"I know this method. It won't work. You have to solve the variables one at a time â" I open my mouth to interject but he stops me with a motion of his hand.
"Doing this method is easier but for this sum, you're going to get the wrong answer" he shrugs and his expression is of an irritated parent at their toddler.
I roll my eyes.
"So what you've solved it all?" I challenge him.
The teacher gave us a 20-page questionnaire regarding the syllabus that was covered last year to brush up on before starting this year's course.
The concept was not new to me, however, the standard of the questions was highly difficult compared to the levels I was used to at my previous school.
"Yes. This is easy" he shrugs and pushes his paper towards me.
I check his paper and surely, he has solved all the questions already. I have completed only half of the questions till now.
What the hell?
And it's not like he has guessed the answers, he has solved all the questions, if the scribbles and calculations beside every question are any proof.
"Smart-ass" I grumble under my breath.
A knock on the door diverges my attention from the paper to the door. San enters with a yellow card in his hand.
I look at him before his eyes meet mine. I look at him quizzically but when his eyes meet mine, his eyes widen a little before a sour expression takes hold of his face, almost mimicking the person sitting beside me.
"Kang Taehyun, you're requested at the student activity center for practice" San announces and holds up the yellow card.
"I know I am smart," he says and gets up from his place, a smug expression on his face.
He opens his duffle bag and pulls out a leather jacket before wrapping it around his should casually.
My eyes widen as I watch his back walk out of the room.