WHAT A TWIST!

Chapter 107

"Good morning, Racy!" I said, pushing open the door with a bright smile. But her gaze was unforgiving, her eyes piercing through my façade like a winter breeze that cuts through the warmth of a cozy cabin.

"You didn't spend the night in your room, did you?" she asked, her voice laced with a subtle undercurrent of accusation, each word meticulously crafted to convey her skepticism.

I shrugged, the movement almost imperceptible, as I tried to project an air of nonchalance. "I did," I said, the words tumbling out with a studied carelessness.

Racy's eyes flashed "Please, spare me the lyrics," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm, each syllable enunciated with precision. "I have no right to interrogate you, I get it. But I was knocking on that door for what felt like an eternity, my patience wearing thinner than the pages of a well-loved book." The words hung in the air, a subtle reprimand that I had been absent, and she had been left fretting, her concern and frustration simmering just below the surface.

"Is everything all right?" I inquired, my tone infused with a deepening concern, as I searched her face for any signs of distress.

Racy's countenance transformed, her visage a canvas of conflicting emotions, like the first wisps of dawn breaking through a stormy sky. "Can't I simply be concerned about my friend's well-being?" she countered, her voice tinged with a subtle defensiveness, each word carefully chosen to convey her sentiments.

I swiftly interjected, my voice firm yet laced with a gentle solicitude. "Let's not start, Racy," I said, stepping into the room, the soft glow of the morning light casting an ethereal ambiance.

She hovered at the threshold, her gaze locked onto mine. "Would you like to come in?" I invited, extending a gesture of hospitality.

Racy's response was a gentle shake of her head, accompanied by a wistful smile that danced on her lips like a fleeting dream. "I have a class to attend," she said, her voice a melodic whisper, "I just wanted to ensure you were... functioning." And with those words, she vanished

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The day had vanished into the ether, consumed by the monotonous drone of the classroom, where the teacher's voice was so dull,The class was boring. The minutes ticked by at a glacial pace, each one stretching out like an eternity as I struggled to keep my eyelids from drooping. The fluorescent lights overhead cast an unforgiving glare, making my notes appear like a jumbled mess of scribbles and illegible handwriting.

But it was the text from Hyun Min that jolted me out of my torpor, his query about why I had slipped out of his room without waking him sending a flutter through my chest. The words on my screen seemed to blur together as I read his message, my mind replaying the events of the previous night like a movie on repeat. I could almost feel the warmth of his body next to mine, the gentle rise and fall of his chest as he breathed, and the soft whisper of his voice as he murmured in his sleep.

The Josh guy's apology was a surprise, a curveball that I hadn't seen coming,soothing the irritation that had been building up inside me. I had pegged him as a troublemaker, someone who reveled in causing chaos and mayhem, but his sincerity seemed genuine, and I found myself forgiving him with relative ease. Perhaps it was the weariness of the semester that had drained me of my anger, or maybe it was the gentle nudge of Hyun Min's presence in my life, but whatever the reason, I chose to let go of my resentment and move forward.

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As the months flew by, the first semester came to a close, and we embarked on a well-deserved holiday. The break was a welcome respite from the academic grind, a chance to recharge and refocus. It was during this break that Hyun Min asked me out,i accepted though.

Now, with the exam looming on the horizon, I felt a mix of nerves and anticipation coursing through my veins. This exam would determine our fate, deciding whether we'd make it to college or not. The stakes were high, and the pressure was palpable. But I wasn't alone in this journey. Hyun Min had been a godsend, tutoring me in math and serving as my language practice partner. My Korean was improving, and I could string together a few sentences, thanks to his patient guidance.

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As racy and I stepped outside the school, the crisp morning air enveloped us like a soothing caress, carrying the promise of new beginnings. The sun hovered low in the sky, casting a warm, golden light over the vibrant campus,exam was by 11:am and it was currently 8:12am.

This wasn't just any exam; it was the one that would determine our fate, our entrance into college, and the future we had envisioned with such precision. Racy walked beside me, her nose almost buried in the thick textbook she clutched to her chest, her eyes scanning the pages with an intensity that bordered on desperation, as if the secrets to success lay hidden within its dog-eared pages.

"Seems like you're trying to absorb the entire book into your brain,," I teased, a mischievous grin spreading across my face, trying to lighten the mood. She shot me an exaggerated glare, her lips pursing in mock annoyance, her eyes sparkling with a hint of playfulness.

"You have the luxury of having your handsome boyfriend tutor you - a privilege I'm yet to enjoy!" she retorted, her voice a playful mix of envy and jest, her tone dripping with good-natured sarcasm. I chuckled, the memory of her reaction when she first met Hyun Min surfacing vividly in my mind like a cherished snapshot.

I still recall the way her eyes widened, sparkling with fascination, like a starstruck fan."He didn't even talk to me much," she had admitted, her words dripping with longing, her voice barely above a whisper. "But I just wanted to bask in his aura because he smells so divine!"

"Racy, he's my boyfriend now, hands off!" I had laughed, trying to rein in her flirtatious excitement, my tone playful but possessive. "Can we share him?" she had quipped, her cheeky grin only making me laugh harder, despite the protective instinct stirring within me like a gentle warning.

I stole a glance at Racy, lost in her studies, her focus unwavering.

"You've got this, Racy. You're going to ace this exam with flying colors," I said, trying to infuse my voice with reassurance, my tone confident and encouraging. She looked up, her expression softening, her eyes filled with a glimmer of hope.

"I hope so. I just wish I had a dash of that Hyun Min magic on my side," she said, her voice tinged with wistfulness. With a wink, I nudged her with my shoulder, trying to inject some levity into the moment.

" yaaaa....you know what?.. just keep your nose buried in that book, and you'll be golden. Besides, no one can replicate his cologne - it's like a signature charm that's uniquely his!" We both laughed, a moment of levity piercing through the seriousness of the day ahead like a ray of sunshine.

A man sudden appearance was like a whispered secret, his presence commanding the air around us. He stood before Racy and me, his piercing gaze lingering on each of us before settling on me. Racy's eyes had already abandoned her book, her attention riveted on the mysterious figure.

"Who is Sarah among you both?" he asked, his voice firm yet laced with an air of authority that brooked no argument. Racy and I exchanged a fleeting glance.

I straightened my shoulders, my voice steady as I replied, "I am Sarah. Is there a problem?" The man's expression remained an unreadable mask, but his words were direct, devoid of embellishment. "My boss wants to see you," he said, his tone implying that further questions would be futile.