TSCEIAB Ch. 23

 

I slightly pouted my lips and climbed into the car.

Thunk! When I closed the door and started the engine, my body shook along with the car.

I rolled down the window and apologized out of the blue to David, who was still leaning against the wall looking in my direction.

 

“David, I’m sorry. I told my dad about your motorcycle this morning.”

 

“…… Huh?”

 

“Dad might go to Mr. Smith to complain. If you don’t want to be in trouble, don’t skip school today. Anyway, I’m off now!”

 

“Hey! Haley! Haley!”

 

Whirrr-

I rolled up the window. I immediately plugged in the USB and turned up the music, drowning out David’s voice.

 

“Hmm, I feel a little better.”

 

Jens’ “Lottery” was playing from the speakers.

The lyrics asking to give a chance stuck in my ears.

 

Vroom-

I cautiously drive off, tapping my fingers to the beat of the song.

After a while, I calmed down and muttered to myself.

 

“…… Am I bi-polar?”

 

I began to suspect that there might be a new problem in my head.

 

 

 

* * *

 

 

 

That evening, my mom came home from lab work for a few days and dropped a bombshell.

 

“I think we’re going to have to move.”

 

“…… What? All of a sudden?”

 

“They said my lab is being relocated.”

 

“Where to? How far? It’s still around here, right?”

 

As I bombarded her with questions, she gave an apologetic look and replied.

 

“I have to go to Arizona.”

 

“……?”

 

“Sorry, Haley. I think you have to transfer schools too.”

 

“You’re joking, right?”

 

It was September. It had been less than a month since the new school year had begun.

Transfer schools at a time like this? To a crowded place like Arizona?

 

‘Even though I’m in my senior year?’

I still found it hard to deal with people even though I was constantly receiving counseling.

I was afraid that they would curse and talk about me, and I also had nightmares about people finding me in hiding and pointing fingers at me.

I pretended to be okay because I thought my parents would be worried…….

 

“I’m so sorry. Haley. If you don’t like it, I can go alone. But I want you to come with me.”

 

“…….”

 

“The new school is a better place than the one you’re attending now. The teachers are fine, and the percentage of Asians is higher than your current school, so you don’t have to worry as much about racism.”

 

The school I attended now was a small one, and there were only three Asians in the whole school – including me.

On top of that, the school’s ruling queen bee was a huge fan of Hugo and had an extreme hatred for the Asian who almost killed him.

Because of their insulting remarks, I’ve been wearing my earphones all the time except in class, but did this even reach my parents’ ears?

 

‘I don’t think anyone would tell them about my school life…….’

I met my parents’ worried gaze.

In fact, I didn’t have any friends at school, and I didn’t have any teachers I respected, so I could always transfer schools.

‘Unless it’s a crowded place.’

 

I thought for a moment.

In my head, I weighed my current school against my hypothetical Arizona school.

Should I continue facing racial discrimination or get drained being surrounded by people…….

 

“…… What do you think, Dad?”

 

I didn’t think the scales would tip to one side or the other. I left the choice to my dad, who had been silent the whole time.

Dad smiled through his wrinkled eyes and put his arm around Mom’s shoulder.

 

“Dad wants you to come to Arizona with us.”

 

If I decided to stay, my dad would have to stay here with me.

They were so close. It would be unfilial to keep them apart.

 

‘Besides, I’m less than a year away from graduating…….’

 

“…… Then I’ll go. I’ll transfer.”

 

“Really? Are you sure?”

 

“Yes. It’s not like I’m particularly attached to the school……. or have any close friends in this neighborhood.”

 

For a moment, David from next door came to mind but I quickly pushed the thought aside.

Dad came over and patted me on the shoulder.

 

“If you go somewhere new, you’ll make a lot of new friends.”

 

“Yes, I hope so.”

 

In fact, I don’t need new friends. But I didn’t want to worry my dad further, so I just nodded.

 

“Alright, then we’ll start preparing right away. We’ll need to get there as soon as possible. Is that okay?”

 

“Anytime is fine.”

 

I had to leave the house where we had lived for several years. The thought of leaving behind the familiar environment made me feel nauseous, but I tried not to show it.

 

‘Let’s be as quiet as possible and get my diploma.’

Thinking so, I forced the corners of my mouth into a smile.

 

 

 

* * *

 

 

 

Preparations for the move and transfer were made quickly. I boarded the plane without any farewell party (I had to listen to the farewell remarks from the other students until the last day), and my family set foot on the sweltering ground.

 

“Haley. It’s your first day of school, how are you feeling?”

 

A few more days passed, and the first day of school arrived. Somehow, my parents had prepared breakfast for me just in time for me to wake up.

 

“It’s okay. I slept soundly, I didn’t have any dreams, and I got to eat with my mom and dad, so it feels good.”

 

It seemed that they had this prepared to ease my nerves.

 

“Uhm. By the way, Haley.”

 

“What?”

 

I was eating Korean food with a few side dishes when my dad called me with a groan.

 

“Why?”

 

“Are you…… going out like that?”

 

He glanced at my outfit with a frown.

Hair that is combed and tied up haphazardly. A white short-sleeved tee with no prints and a checkered shirt over it. Light jeans with a straight fit.

 

“What’s wrong?”

 

It’s completely ordinary. Is there a problem?

I asked with my fingers holding up my slipping horn-rimmed glasses. My dad pointed that out to me.

 

“The glasses. What you are wearing……. is not bad, but what’s that big glasses?”

 

“It’s a comfort item…….”

 

“Haley. If you wear glasses that don’t fit, your eyesight will get worse.”

 

“These don’t have lenses.”

 

Why are you wearing them when they don’t have any?

My dad looked at me like he couldn’t understand me. I responded, “It’s a fashion trend among young people.”

 

“Enough, both of you. Let Haley do what she wants.”

 

“Honey. If our daughter keeps up like that, she can’t make friends here either.”

 

“I’m sure she’ll figure it out on her own.”

 

My mom took my side. Yay.

 

“I’ll get going now. I have to go to the teacher’s office before class and I want to take a look around the school.”

 

“Are you done eating? You ate only half of it.”

 

“Half is plenty. It’s delicious, but if I eat too much in the morning, I might fall asleep while driving.”

 

“Drowsy driving is dangerous. Okay, I understand. Take care. Call me if anything happens. Got it?”

 

As she smoothed out my outfit, my mom’s eyes shifted to the ring on my finger.

I nodded, rubbing the ring with my thumb as was my habit.

 

“Yes, I’ll be back.”

 

“Okay. If your glasses are too cumbersome, just take them off.”

 

My dad couldn’t let it go, tracing a circle over my eyes with his fingers.

I gave a small laugh and slung the bag over my shoulder.

 

“I’ll think about that.”

 

 

 

* * *

 

 

 

It took about 30 minutes by car from my new home to school.

Thanks to leaving early, there was no traffic, and I arrived about 5 minutes earlier.

 

“I like the big parking lot.”

 

Due to the large number of students, the school had four parking lots.

I drove to the first parking lot near the main entrance and found a spot under the shade of a tree.

 

‘Oh, I parked the car in one go.’

Parking was the hardest part for me, so I felt good about the situation. I took out my bag from the passenger seat, put it on my shoulder, and got out of the car.

 

Rustle-

The paper crumpled in my hands as I struggled to close the car door. I loosened my grip and slowly unfolded the paper, revealing a messy map of the school.

‘I had to stop by the teacher’s office first and get handouts for the class.’

Because of that incident 11 years ago, I cut off all internet access like a monk estranged from the secular world.

My phone was an old flip phone, so I had to draw the school map on a piece of paper and bring it with me.

 

“Let’s see…….”

 

I was bad with directions just like my dad. Still, I had calculated my time well in advance, so it wouldn’t be a problem if I got a little lost.

With a map in hand, this directionally challenged traveler boldly sets off. I noticed some of the students, who had arrived at school early like me, were glancing at me.

 

‘I don’t think it’s discrimination against Asians……. Is it strange to see this face for the first time? There are a lot of students, but do they all know each other’s faces?’

 

I thought about it and tried to shake off the pressure. Their stares made my stomach churn and cold sweat began to break out on my palms.

 

‘Let’s walk a little faster.’

My pace was getting faster. Tap-tap-tap- The sound of footsteps echoed in my ears.

I was almost rushing when –

 

“Ah……!”

 

Before I knew it, I stepped on my untied shoelace. My body leaned forward, and the ground was getting closer.

 

‘I’m going to fall!’

I squeezed my eyes shut and curled up.

Rather than worrying about getting hurt, the first thing that came to mind was, ‘The kids are watching, how embarrassing!’

But luckily, I avoided a nasty fall.

 

“Be careful.”

 

Thud. Something grabbed my shoulder.

I was startled and froze, but the person who grabbed me helped me stand upright before letting go.

 

“Uh, t-thank- …….”

 

I looked back at him with a red face, trying to form the words of gratitude.

But the moment I saw the other person’s face, the words that came out of my mouth were unfinished and dissipated into thin air.

 

“I’ve never seen you before. Are you a transfer student?”

 

A pale face with black hair. Tall and broad-shouldered. Sunken eyes and crooked lips.

And the gaze that contains me completely…….

 

“…… Hugo?”

 

Bright blue eyes.

Why is he here? Wasn’t he attending high school in Texas? Was there any information I didn’t know in the original story? Was my memory failing me?