Tainted Memories of Issey Miyake // 01

Standing along the empty walkway I stood between the opened gates of JoongAng High School looking into the desolate field. Looking up at the 2nd story window farthest to the left side of the tattered school I shivered slightly as eerie chills crept tauntingly up and down my spine.

I wondered how after two long years the school still looked exactly the way I had left it. Hesitantly I took a step towards the gate, but quickly caught myself and took two steps back. Taking a deep breathe of polluted Seoul air, I took a brave step forward, but found myself unable to take another accompanying step.

“Are you playing hopscotch?”

Frightened at the disheartening voice, I jumped back to find myself faced with a student who had his head down while he lit up a cigarette. I could tell he was a student of JoongAng by his untidy uniform.

Typically students of JoongAng wore a stiff white button up along with a navy tie. Over the button up they were forced to wear the schools recognized sweater vest which had their schools emblem hand sewn on to each vest. Along with the plain top half were the navy slacks that conveniently matched the tie. At least that’s how it was when I was in high school, but then again we had no choice, because the teachers wouldn’t approve of anything less.

Blinking a few times in curiosity I looked at the boy’s attire. The first 2 buttons of his white collared shirt were unbuttoned and there were creases as if he had just rolled out of bed. His tie was loosened quite a bit, and hung around where the buttoning of his shirt began. Even more amusing were his navy slacks that also seemed to have come in the same package as his wrinkled shirt. I noticed the faint smears of light brown dust throughout his pants. The most eye-catching part of his ensemble was the light suede Timberland boots that screamed out for some attention from the rest of his muddled uniform.

“You shouldn’t smoke in front of the school.”

Lifting up his face to puff out the smoke he had just sucked in, I got a clear look at his face. Was he really a boy, or am I just talking to one of those scary girls that look like guys, but in reality is a girl. I heard that was really “in” these days with some girls…

Was it possible for someone to have a face that clear and that translucent? It made me look back to my daily routine of facial washes and creams I went through each day and for a split second I began to wonder what products he used.

As I examined the rest of his face the more I felt embarrassed at the lack of feminity I had compared to this student. His full red lips showed a sharp contrast with his pale skin, and there was a visible cut on the left side of his lip. There right dab in the middle of his face was a nose most Korean women wished their daughters had. Small and petite and nicely rounded at the tip. I smiled to myself thinking back at how my mother had pinched my nose every morning for the first five years of my life, hoping for the exact nose I saw before me. He had raven black eyebrows that arched upwards giving off the feeling that he was examining you. Then there were his eyes.

I’m sure I had stopped breathing as I looked into his eyes. Although everything around me was still turning, and life was still going on, suddenly I had stopped. I, SuhBoHyung had stopped. I couldn’t figure if I was going through heaven or hell. The eyes of this student, they were exactly like Chil Hyun’s, except for the fact that this student’s eyes were cold and hard, which were completely opposite of Chil Hyun’s. I could feel my legs quivering and for the first time in two years the memories I had desperately tried to erase came flooding back as if Moses had put down his staff and the walls of the Red Sea came crashing down.

“What’s it up to you where I smoke? It’s rude to stare, but you don’t see me saying anything to you.”

Catching myself, I quickly glanced away quite ashamed he had caught me. I couldn’t help but to look back at him, back into those oh so familiar eyes that continued to taunt me.

“I…”

I was at a lost for words. Nothing was functioning correctly, and I began to feel the urgency within my lungs. I was going to have an attack any moment, and I knew exactly the reason why. I needed to stop looking into the luring eyes of the student that haunted every cell within my shaking body.

The student looked at me, and I couldn’t possibly read his reaction if my life had depended on it. I felt like I was looking at a blank wall. A blank wall with a pair of eyes that were etched into my memory. Oxygen was starting to come only in spurts, and my body ached for more breathe. If I continued to look at this student I would surely stop breathing.

“What—“

I didn’t hear the rest of his sentence, because I had turned around and began to run. Shops and restaurants zoomed past as I continued to run nowhere in particular. I just needed to get away, get away from those eyes. Although I had physically gotten away, everything was still there mentally. The memories of my past stood bolted to the ground while the familiar eyes of the student continuously dragged out Chil Hyun from the deepest darkest corners of erased memories.

Pulling me out of the mental war I was going through I came to a stop as soon as I felt my phone vibrating in my pocket. Begging for air I huffed in and out due to the sudden marathon I had run, and the near experience of an asthma attack did not help either. I bent over and rested a hand on my knee as I answered the demanding phone.

“Hello?”
 

Tainted Memories of Issey Miyake // 02

A sharp pricking sensation continued to poke at my shoulder as I slightly glared up at the imposter who interrupted me from my daily lunch time nap. To my surprise my best friend BaekHeeJoo stood before me quite flushed in the face. Immediately I lifted my head off the pile of books on the wooden desk.

“What’s wrong HeeJoo? Is someone trying to fu.ck with you again?!”

It wasn’t something new to find out someone had been picking on HeeJoo. Of course it wasn’t very hard not to either. HeeJoo was our class president, and the schools prized pupil, always coming in first place within county exams. To put it simply, HeeJoo was a nerd. Not only did her status at school give reasons for people to pick on her, but so did her outer appearance.

Ever since we were in third grade HeeJoo wore the thickest black framed glasses. Without her glasses HeeJoo had the biggest, roundest, prettiest eyes I’ve ever seen, and I’ve seen a lot, but her glasses just made them look too big and out of proportion with her face. Along with the glasses was her hairstyle. I didn’t think it was physically possible, but HeeJoo wore her hair exactly the same way everyday since the first day of middle school. There was absolutely no such thing as “change” within HeeJoo’s life, and most of the time I loved this about her, except when I had to deal with people that constantly harassed her about her neat bun, or ill fitting uniform, or even the way her notes were color coded. I wished, just once she would stick up for herself, but I was never surprised when I would find her huddled in the furthest bathroom stall silently crying to herself.

“What’s wrong with you then?”

Something was obviously on HeeJoo’s mind, because as soon as she sat down she pulled out a perfectly folded tissue from her skirt pocket, and began to twist at it. An old habit of HeeJoo’s she continued to look at me silently while twisting the tissue until it had finally snapped into two.

“Just say it. Is someone bothering you again? Who is it HeeJoo? You know if you don’t tell me I’ll find out anyway so you might as well make this easier on both of us and just fess up.”

Like always I had to painfully ease out the cause of HeeJoo’s jitteriness. As if trying to use the right words Hee Joo opened her mouth to say something when the lunch bell’s awful timing stopped her before she could even start.

“You better tell me later BaekHeeJoo.”

Quickly I cleared my desk of my lunchtime pillows, which consisted of my Math, History, and English books. Our homeroom teacher, Mr. Jung, came striding into the classroom with a wooden stick in his left hand and a binder in his right. Standing before the silenced class he gave a pleased smile as he nodded towards HeeJoo. At her cue, HeeJoo got up and began the daily ritual of classroom 2-2.

HeeJoo meekly said some words as the class bowed to Mr. Jung. There must have been something good that happened to the middle aged man, because he let go of the wooden stick that normally replaced his left hand. Looking over towards the sliding door Mr. Jung smiled as he spoke out in a booming voice.

“Come in AhnChilHyun.”

There was a solitary sound of heads moving in the direction of the door as a foreign student walked in. Instantly the girls of our classroom began to eagerly whisper in approval that the new student was a male rather than an offensive female. Of course the males had an opinion of their own as they groaned out in dissatisfaction. Within a second we all quieted down as soon as Mr. Jung placed his left hand back onto his wooden stick.

“Class meet AhnChilHyun. He will be joining our class today. AhnChilHyun actually transferred from the famous GoDong High in Seoul. I hope all of you will welcome him with open arms.”

Before I could even take a good look at the new guy I noticed that HeeJoo had frozen up completely and dropped all the tiny pieces of tissues she had been tormenting earlier. Being the neat freak that she is, I gave a confused nudge as I looked down at the messy pile of battered tissue lying on the floor. Frozen to her chair I looked over at HeeJoo’s eyes, which were staring straight ahead at the new guy. Following her gaze as if there was a string attached I met eyes with the new guy who seemed to be looking in our general direction.

Staring into the eyes of AhnChilHyun I felt my soul being sucked into a world of oblivion. Although his eyes illuminated a glowing blackness, as he smiled and bowed there was a slight twinkle within them. I never really paid much attention when it came to people’s eyes, but this AhnChilHyun had eyes that lured you in. Staring at him brought a sense of mystery, safety, and even warmth. It was inevitable but to look at him, and continue doing so until you were brusquely brought back to reality and reminded it was rude to stare.

His left handing being replaced, Mr. Jung pointed at the empty seat behind HeeJoo with his trusted wooden stick.

“You can take that seat behind SuhBoHyung.”

In amusement the class watched as AhnChilHyun slowly walked down the tight aisle. As he got closer and closer to our desks I realized he was smiling at someone. When I looked at his stare, and saw that it landed upon HeeJoo, I was shocked to see that there was familiarity within their gazes.

The whole classroom, I included, let out a clear gasp as AnChilHyun stopped before HeeJoo’s desk. Brightly smiling he looked down at a crimson HeeJoo and patted her on her head.

“HeeJoo I’m here.”

In a voice no louder than a mouse HeeJoo faintly squeaked out, “Hi Hyunnie.”
 

Tainted Memories of Issey Miyake // 03

“Hello?”

“UNNIE!”

Pulling the cell phone away from my sensitive ears, I could hear the very upset voice of my youngest cousin NaLi. Remembering I was supposed to escort her to her new school, my old high school, I began to hastily head back in the direction I had just come from.

“I’ll be there in just a minute NaLi.”

Before I could hang up the thought of the hoodlum like student popped into my mind. I had completely forgotten that he was the reason I had ran away, and now here I was heading right back to where I had started.

“NaLi yah, do you happen to see a student smoking near the gates?”

“Nope. It’s just me. Why would a student be smoking near the gates anyway? That’s just plain—“

“Stupid. I know.”

“Hey unnie can I just start school tomorrow?”

I began to run, because I knew if I didn’t get back to the school my lively cousin would be heading straight home despite the fact that it was her first day at her new school. Not having enough breath to answer I quickly hung up and ran up the block that would lead back to the gates of JoongAng High.

Busily playing a game on her cell phone, NaLi hopped around the front of the gates as if physically moving her body would somehow help her with the game. I couldn’t help but to sigh when I noticed she had worn her old school’s uniform although I had placed JoongAng’s uniform on her desk just the night before.

“NaLi yah!”

Ignoring my call NaLi continued to hop around too intrigued with her game to notice my presence. I sighed and walked over towards her. Getting hold of one of her neat pigtails I tugged lightly as NaLi’s eyes shifted towards my direction.

“Unnie!”

An animated crashing noise blurted out of her cell phone, as NaLi shouted out in disappointment.

“NO! I almost beat my highest record!”

“Come on NaLi, lets go.”

Placing her cell phone in one of her backpack pockets NaLi linked her arm around mine as she happily followed beside me. Although NaLi was only 3 years younger than me, there were many times where felt like I was at least 20 years older. A very cute and bright personality, NaLi was easy to adore, which made her quite popular amongst just about any age group.

“NaLi yah, why didn’t you wear the JoongAng uniform?”

Brushing away a few strands of hair that had fallen out of her pigtails and landed on her face, NaLi looked down at her pleated skirt.

“I don’t have the JoongAng uniform.”

Lightly flicking her forehead I sighed loudly. It was so like NaLi to not notice even the most obvious changes within her surroundings. I had specifically left a highlighted memo on her bed and her desk regarding the new uniform which was neatly stacked on her desk.

“I left the new uniform on your desk! I even left you two notes!”

Sheepishly laughing as her eyes turned to crescent shaped moons, NaLi tighten her grip around my arm.

“Oh yea…I forgot.”

I chuckled at my absentminded cousin as we entered the silenced school. Looking down at my watch I realized we were already 15 minutes late for our meeting with Principal Joo. Quickening my pace I pulled at NaLi’s arm which seemed to be dragging her whole body.

“Hurry up NaLi, we’re late.”

Cringing, NaLi unwillingly followed as we headed towards the main office at the end of the silent hallway of the first years. As we neared the office the booming voice of a teacher continued to grow louder and louder with each step. NaLi who seemed quite interested in figuring out who was getting so sternly disciplined walked through the office doors first. Fascinated at the site of a burly teacher turning red from anger, NaLi stood firmly in the doorway as she watched the teacher screaming at the indifferent student who was slouching in a chair. Impatiently I pushed NaLi who stumbled slightly, but caught her balance and once again amusedly stared in the direction of the teacher and student.

“Stop staring!”

I whispered as loudly as possibly without grabbing the attention of the other teachers within the office.

“Can I help you?”

An elder lady in her early 40’s stood before NaLi and me as she looked questionably at us.

“Hello. My name is SuhBoHyung and I have an appointment with Principal Joo.”

Nodding her head knowingly, the lady smiled and began to escort us towards 4 leather chairs placed towards the back of the office.

“Please do take a seat Ms. Suh.”

On cue, NaLi and I sat beside each other and watched as the lady shuffled through some papers that were neatly stacked on the jade coffee table.

“My name is Ms. Lee and I’m the vice principal of JoongAng High. Unfortunately Principal Joo had to leave on an emergency call. NaLi your...”

I quickly finished the sentence before there was an awkward silence as the lady tried to figure out the relationship. Vice Principal Lee must have been new, because even 2 years ago the vice principal of JoongAng was an elderly man named Mr. Hwang. I couldn’t help but to feel sorry for NaLi as she would have to deal with such a cold and stiff vice principal, unlike Mr. Hwang who was like a kind grandfather figure.

“Cousin.”

“I see. Well her schedule is exactly the same as her previous school, so there shouldn’t be too much trouble adapting to JoongAng except maybe the change in environment.”

Vice Principal Lee handed NaLi a piece of paper which consisted of her daily schedule and locker number and combination. I took a side glanced and couldn’t help but to feel my heart sink as I read the locker number.

“Twenty Seven? Unnie isn’t that your favorite number?”

NaLi smiled to herself as she looked up from the paper. I quickly averted my shocked look and tried to quickly change the subject before I was put in a situation where I had to answer questions I did not want to think about.

“So NaLi, why don’t we head over to your class.”

Vice Principal Lee got up from her seat and curtly smiled as she began to guide us out of the office. As we were heading out the doors there was a loud shout that made all three of us jump from the surprising voice that echoed through out our eardrums.

“KIM JAEJOONG DO YOU THINK SMOKING IN FRONT OF THE SCHOOL IS SOMETHING TO BE PROUD OF?!”

So his name was Kim JaeJoong.

Tainted Memories of Issey Miyake // 04

Wandering towards my locker quite unaware of my surroundings, I leaned against the cold metal as I replayed the scene of AnChilHyun patting HeeJoo on the head. There was something fishy behind it all. I’ve known HeeJoo ever since we were in grade school, which is just about our whole lives, and all the years I spent with her not once did she mention a guy named AnChilHyun.

Before I could finish my train of thoughts the firm sound of someone coughing in front of me brought me back to the cold metal I was leaning against, as I came face to face with the devil himself. A sly smile on his structured face welcomed me as I looked at him quizzically. What in the world did AnChilHyun want with me.

“My locker.”

Pointing in the general direction of my chest I quickly turned around facing a metal plate with the number “27” engraved into it. Cringing to myself I quickly turned around without looking at him and began to walk away so I wouldn’t have to deal with the humiliation of getting caught daydreaming against someone else’s locker.

“Your HeeJoo’s friend. BoHyung right?”

Turning around using the heels of my shoes I half smiled as I watched AnChilHyun pull some books out of his backpack. Throwing the books carelessly in, he slammed locker number 27 shut and began to walk towards me. His face permanently stamped with a smile he walked over and stopped merely a foot away from my face. Firmly he put out his very unexpected, but manly, hand. Maybe out of curiosity, most likely shock, I stared down at his opened hand with an inquiring look.

“We’re both close with HeeJoo, it’ll be easier if we’re friends too. AnChilHyun.”

“SuhBoHyung.”

I took his hand and shook it lightly. That seemed to please AnChilHyun, because his mysterious smile only got brighter as he looked down at me due to our obvious height difference.

“SuhBoHyung!”

Stunned that HeeJoo had the capability of speaking in more than a whisper I dropped AnChilHyun’s hand and turned in the direction where HeeJoo was running from. Immediately thinking the worst I quickly ran to meet HeeJoo half way.

“Did someone try to beat you up HeeJoo?!”

Taking an obvious gulp HeeJoo seemed to be at a lost for words, which was quite like her. Annoyed at HeeJoo’s lacking ability when it came to expressing herself, I frustratingly eyed HeeJoo’s uniform in case there were any signs that people had been bothering here.

“HeeJoo what is it?”

Biting down on her lower lip HeeJoo looked at me anxiously as I stood waiting for some kind of explanation for the random outburst. Very carefully HeeJoo opened her mouth to speak, but first placed her hand in her pocket, obviously searching for a tissue, only to quickly pull out her hand and awkwardly set them at her sides.

“BaekHeeJoo you got something on your mind?”

Looking back AnChilHyun came striding towards us with a calm simper. Immediately I could sense HeeJoo tensing up beside me. Being surrounded by too many unexpected and unexplainable events, I decided it would be best if I just got home and got some rest.

“HeeJoo you go home with AnChilHyun, I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Loosening the weight of my books I pulled my back up by the straps and began to walk away with HeeJoo staring at my back and AnChilHyun watching me with a perplexed grin. There was definitely something between the two that I couldn’t put my curious finger on.

“Hey SuhBohHyung!”

Too lazy to turn around and face him, I decided stopping was enough of an answer, and obviously so did AnChilHyun.

“We’re friends starting today right?”

Lifting my hand in an okay sign, I continued to walk away, but was once again annoyingly stopped by another loud call. It was amazing how AnChilHyun and HeeJoo could be friends. Everything about them seemed to be opposites, but then again they do say that opposites attract.

“What’s your locker number?”

This time I didn’t even have to stop, because although it came out in a whisper, I could hear HeeJoo answering for me. I secretly thanked HeeJoo for replying with my answer and began to head down the stairs

“Twenty six…why?”

“I’m twenty seven.”
 

Tainted Memories of Issey Miyake // 05

Staring up at a vertical sign that read Boria Café, I began to climb up the steep steps leading into a trendy café. Screaming colors and décor begged for attention as I quietly seated myself in a corner near an oval shaped window looking down at the streets. Pleased with my location I pulled out my psychology text and trusted highlighter.

I looked around to notice that there were quite a few JoongAng students within the café. Clucking my tongue I began to scold them privately when I immediately stopped myself. Still so young, yet everyday I caught myself showing visible signs of aging. I smiled to myself thinking back to the first time I had ditched.

“What can I get you?”

Without opening the menu, I handed it back to the waitress as I ordered a freshly squeezed orange juice. Before I could thank the girl she was back at the counter with her back to me. Korean friendliness, what could you say about it. Opening my textbook to chapter 7 I quickly began to scan paragraphs and highlight the most important points.

“Hi.”

Lifting my eyes from the text I met two widely opened eyes staring straight at me. Wondering when in the world this student had sat down I placed the highlighter in the crease of the book as I gave him a puzzled look. The tall glass of orange juice caught my eyes as I looked from the student to the artistic glass. When in the world did all of this appear? How did I not notice a person sitting down and a glass being placed right before my eyes? I quickly made a mental note to be more aware of my surroundings.

“Hi?”

Light brown hair that spit outwards was the first aspect that caught my curious eyes. Were kids allowed to dye their hair so light now? How times have changed. Like Japanese anime characters, his eyes were quite large and round with almost a twinkle in the corners. I couldn’t help but to smile back at this innocent face looking at me like I was the most interesting thing on Earth. Like the hoodlum from earlier, this kid’s uniform was not quite within JoongAng standards, but then it seemed like all the kids within the café were rebelling against JoongAng standards.

“Noona, you were at our school earlier huh!”

Slightly taken back at his comfortable approach with me, I just nodded and continued to stare. Kids these days sure were friendly…and brave!

“Are you the old hag that ran away from JaeJoong?”

“Old hag?!”

Obviously surprised by my outburst the kid quickly covered his mouth with his hand as his eyes turned into a sheepish grin. Something about this kid made it physically impossible to stay mad in his presence. I giggled to myself thinking about how cute he would look with my NaLi, but then this kid was at some café ditching school! I made a mental note to keep NaLi away from kids like him, it was a shame he was a slacker.

“JaeJoong said some weird old hag had run away like a crazy person right before he got caught smoking! Then I saw you coming into our school earlier. For all I know you could have been across the world while JaeJoong was smoking, but I’m pretty sure you’re the same old ha—I mean noona that he was talking about.”

At a lost for words I dumbly stared at the bright kid who slightly giggled and took a sip of my orange juice. How times have changed since I was in high school. Kids these days seemed to have nothing to fear and nothing stopping them. I began to open my mouth to defend myself from the oblivious insult.

“I’m actually not as old—“

Abruptly getting up from his seat I watched the kid, half in surprise half in delight, as he waved the “peace” sign before me. Unable to think of anything to say to this outgoing child I just stared at him still in disbelief that any of this had even happened.

“Okay I just wanted to know if you were the same noona that JaeJoong was talking about and you are. I’m really good at these things. I think I have a sixth sense! Okay bye noona!”

Just as the kid began to turn around NaLi with a disgruntled look on her soft face blocked his way with her arms firmly on her waist.

“What you doing to my unnie?”

Eyes as round as they could possibly get, the kid held out his finger and opened his mouth to explain, but NaLi didn’t seem like she was willing to listen to very much. Feeling that I needed to intervene I quickly began to gather my stuff.

“Why are you bothering my unnie huh?!”

Sighing in disbelief the kid scratched his head in frustration as he looked NaLi up and down and then focused in on her nametag. Immediately turning away from NaLi the kid turned to look down at me, as I stuffed my psychology book in my bag.

“Noona so this is your sister you walked in with earlier huh? SuhNaLi is it?”

I got up from my seat only to notice that this kid was a lot taller than I had expected. Taking a quick gulp of my 5,000 won orange juice, I smiled at NaLi who seemed to be glaring at me with heated hatred.

“NaLi is my cousin. You guys should be friends since you go to the same—“

“Unnie do you know this squeaky voiced guy?”

As if we had known each other for years the kid pulled at my arm as he looked at me with downcast eyes.

”Noona I have a squeaky voice?”

Pushing the kid away NaLi quickly grabbed my arm as she began to pull me out of the café. Did things like this really happen to normal people? I never thought I would be so quiet in such a situation. Now that I experienced it I truly knew what it felt like. Disbelief is all that went through my mind. I think I was too in shock to really say anything.

“SuhNaLi!”

The kid called out towards my cousin who turned around defiantly as she stare at the slightly discontented kid. Those were fighting words. I had to do something, and fast. Walking over towards the kid I grabbed his hand and pulled him towards NaLi.

“NaLi meet…meet…”

“KimJoonSoo.”

I turned towards NaLi who looked at me like I was the craziest thing she’s ever seen.

“NaLi meet JoonSoo! Come on kids I’ll treat you out to lunch! There’s this great place I used to go to when I was in high school. They had the best dduk bbok gee! Come on NaLi you’ll love DongDong.”

Throwing a ten onto the counter I took both of their hands began to pull them out of the café. DongDong…the best place to start new found friendships.

Tainted Memories of Issey Miyake // 06

“This is what I’m talking about. Thanks a bunch unnie!”

The waitress unnie gave me an okay sign as I hurriedly detached the paired chopsticks. Seeing that the chopsticks had separated quite deformed where one was too short and the other too thick, I huffed to myself, but hurriedly began to feast away at the steaming food.

Known for their originality with some of Korea’s plainest foods, DongDong was quite popular amongst the local students. Prices were fair and the food quite unique and tasty. Packed with the younger generation, DongDong was always rustling and bustling. Something about the fact that everyone was too preoccupied within their own worlds to recognize me eating alone, something about that made DongDong my favorite place to go when I needed alone time. I could be sitting at a corner table, the only person sitting alone, and no one would notice. Smiling to myself I chewed on the dduk bbok gee ever so carefully savoring every second of the special DongDong taste.

If I had known who had let off the chiming door I would have looked up, but too enticed by my food I didn’t dare waste my time on every person that chose to walk in. Although surprised, I continued to eat as HeeJoo quietly sat down at the empty seat across from me.

“I thought you were going home with that AnChilHyun guy.”

HeeJoo had a slim smile as she gave me a hesitant look. It was quite obvious there was something important on her mind, and knowing HeeJoo I would have to play 20 questions before she would finally speak up.

“What is it? Want some?”

I pushed the plate of dduk bbok gee towards the middle of the table as HeeJoo began to fiddle around with the wooden chopsticks. Eventually HeeJoo broke apart the chopsticks and began to pick at my delicious food.

“Come on HeeJoo what is it? It has to do with that AnChilHyun guy huh. How do you know him anyway?”

Still silent, and still picking, HeeJoo placed a small piece of dduk into her mouth as she chewed daintily. Imagining ripping my own hair out, I continued to eat as I frustratingly tried to force out whatever HeeJoo wanted to talk to me about.

“BaekHeeJoo you know how impatient I am! Just say it for God’s sake!”

Alarmed at my loud request HeeJoo pushed up her glasses from the middle of her frames as she held the chopsticks on the tip of her lips. Taking a deep breath HeeJoo opened her mouth to finally tell me whatever was lingering on her mind.

“BoHyung I never told you about my one and only love huh.”

I scooted in closer to the edge of the table as if this would bring out more details. BaekHeeJoo, every parent’s dream child! Not once did HeeJoo fall into the endless black hole of high school relationships. Constantly I would point out good-looking guys, and every single time she would shrug, smile, and then stick her nose back into her book. Guys were nonexistent to HeeJoo, and unfortunately she to them. Or maybe, she already had someone. Firecrackers went off in my head as bright lights flashed on and off. Why hadn’t I figured it out sooner?

“Do tell!”

Although I already knew the most important factors of what HeeJoo was about to pour out, I wanted the details too. I wanted to know how she met him, where, when, why?! For some reason I felt like I was a child at a carnival. Listening about HeeJoo crush on someone, it was a once in a lifetime opportunity.

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner BoHyung. It’s just that—“

Lightly slapping her free hand I quickly interrupted HeeJoo who seemed like she was about to burst into tears any second. Sensitive HeeJoo, still the same.

“So who, what, where, when, why! Go go go!”

Overwhelmed by my insisting, HeeJoo shrugged her shoulders and began to tell her story of her first, only, and never mentioned “love.”

“I’ve known Hyunnie my whole life. Longer than you BoHyung.”

Although I hated to admit it, I felt a slight pang of jealousy as HeeJoo ended her last sentence. Somewhat hurt that she had never mentioned this long time friend to me made me question our relationship. I’m sure there had to be an explanation, there always was with HeeJoo.

“There’s not much to say. I mean we’re family friends so I’ve known Hyunnie ever since we were, well we were even born into the same hospital. He’s only a few months older. I guess maybe I just like the feeling of familiarity with him. Or maybe it’s because he’s known me for so long that he doesn’t see my faults…”

HeeJoo’s sad voice trailed off into the chaotic chattering of all the tables nearby. For the first time I wanted to tell everyone in DongDong to shut up. I mean it was the first time I’ve ever heard HeeJoo continuously talk for over a minute. Eager to hear more I stuffed some more dduk into my mouth and persisted she go on.

“And?”

“Well…we’ve been going out for the last 6 months.”

Dropping my chopsticks, past events with HeeJoo rolled through my head like a movie as I remembered the many times she flaked on me for the most absurd reasons. For awhile I even thought HeeJoo was avoiding me, but in reality it was because she was dating some guy! Quite angry that I was put off as second best I glared at HeeJoo who was already shedding her constant tears. Sighing I realized it was no use being mad at HeeJoo. Quickly erasing the glare, I smiled and began to hand HeeJoo a napkin, but she had already pulled out her handkerchief.

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you BoHyung!”

Now I felt like the bad person! Holding a piece of dduk with my chopsticks I pushed towards HeeJoo’s mouth. This is how it always was, me playing mom and HeeJoo playing baby. I was her protector and guide, but now she had that AnChilHyun guy! Jealousy boiling within me, I quickly pushed it aside to a corner I would not notice, as I turned to HeeJoo and smiled as brightly as I could.

“Well congratulations BaekHeeJoo! Best of luck with AnChilHyun.”

Tainted Memories of Issey Miyake // 07

“NOONA! I have to meet JaeJoongie hyung!”

Hyung? Earlier it was just plain old “JaeJoong” and now it was “JaeJoongie hyung?” Holding onto two flailing hands I continued to drag the unwilling duo. I had obviously overestimated myself, because JoonSoo anchored his feet as NaLi and I went faltering back towards him.

“NOONA! JaeJoongie hyung is the scariest person on Earth! Scarier than my mom, scarier than Vice Principal Lee, scarier than your cousin! Noona, do you really want my pretty face to become deformed?!”

Pulling his hands out of mine he quickly buried his face in them. Two of his fingers parted as I saw his round eye peering at me. I’m pretty sure he got away with a lot of things by pulling one of these, but I wasn’t going to fall for it.

“Tell him to join us.”

“Unnie! I don’t want to be anywhere near this alien!”

Alarmed at the insult JoonSoo’s eyes widened as he stormed over to NaLi and placed his large hand on top of her head.

“NaLi lets be friends. You be NaLi and I’ll be handsome boy.”

Disgustedly, NaLi pushed away JoonSoo’s soft hand as she quickly turned to face me. I never thought high school kids could be so immature. JoonSoo didn’t seem to handle rejection very well. Haughtily he pushed NaLi out of the way and stood merely inches away from me.

“Noona! I can’t perform in such hostile environments!”

“ALIEN BOY! THIS IS MY UNNIE NOT YOURS!”

High and demanding, NaLi’s voice caused JoonSoo to quickly run behind me for protection as he began to poke me in the side while pointing at a steaming NaLi.

“GET AWAY FROM BOHYUNG UNNIE! DON’T TOUCH HER DON’T STAND BY HER! GET AWAY RIGHT NOW!”

There was only one word that could describe NaLi’s current mood. Jealousy. For the first time in years two people were fighting over my attention! Ignoring the fact that NaLi was about to beat the crap out of JoonSoo any second, I gleefully smiled to myself quite amused at the situation. It was definitely an ego boost that was long over due.

“Noona! Your cousin is going to eat me!”

Pushing JoonSoo towards NaLi I couldn’t help but to burst out laughing as I watched JoonSoo squirming before NaLi even though he was at least a meter taller than her. Angrily NaLi shoved JoonSoo towards a neon sign panel that read “LaLaLa Karaoke.” Feeling my hand being crushed by NaLi’s grip I yelped and pulled away before every bone in my hand broke.

“SuhNaLi! JoonSoo and you are going to be friends if it kills me!”

Face still smashed against the neon sign I pulled JoonSoo off as he looked at me threatening to cry any second. I couldn’t help it, but he was too cute to resist! Patting JoonSoo on the head I smiled reassuringly and started to run after NaLi who was already a few feet ahead of us. As NaLi got closer and closer, I noticed she had completely frozen up on the busy sidewalk. A boy in the JoongAng uniform whizzed by her as she turned to stare as he passed her. Wondering who in the world could tame my vibrant cousin I looked ahead noticing the boy was heading in our direction. Giggling to myself as I watched the boy running, and a stunned NaLi in the distance, I stopped along with JoonSoo who suddenly called out for someone.

“ShinChangMin!”

They know each other! Watching the boy stop before us I looked up at JoonSoo, and once again looked up at the ChangMin kid. Today was surely a day of unexpected surprises.

“ChangHyun ah!”

Shyly the panting boy looked at me then looked over at JoonSoo who grabbed my cheeks in his hands. Shaking my head from left to right JoonSoo tilted his head sideways.

“Noona how do you know ChangMinnie’s older brother?”

“ChangMinnie?”

JoonSoo placed his longer index finger on ChangMin’s forehead as ChangMin’s eyes floated upwards.

He was ChanHyun’s twin brother! I couldn’t believe my eyes! How could two people look so identically alike! The same light brown helmet hair, girly eyes that showed a visible double eyelids, and the specialty awkward smile. Even the way he wore his crisp uniform pants, not a single piece of lint on his pullover, and even the annoying shine on his shoe.

“ChangMin ah, meet my noona…well I don’t know her name yet, but that’s not important! Just meet her! Isn’t she cute?”

Feeling embarrassed for me, ChangMin blushed and quietly bowed. Oh lord! Two cute kids in one day! It was definitely a record.

“Hyung,” ChangMin looked back up at JoonSoo’s finger that was still resting on his forehead, ”I came to warn you about JaeJoongie hyung. He’s really—“

Cutting ChangMin off JoonSoo quickly removed his slender finger off of ChangMin’s forehead and swiftly placed it on mine. Just like ChangMin I couldn’t help but to stare upwards at the long finger placed on my forehead.

“Noona! This is all your fault! Now I have to go listen to JaeJoongie hyung’s scary screaming about being late! You’re coming with me! Tell JaeJoongie hyung that you dragged me away!”

“You shouldn’t let this noona get yelled at too.”

Wow, even their personalities were the same. Too busy in thought thinking about ChangHyun I followed along as JoonSoo muttered underneath his breath and started pulling me back towards Boria.

“I’m going too!”

NaLi! Stopping I watched as NaLi quietly joined us. I could see her stealing glances at ChangMin. Looking around at our scene I’m sure strangers thought I was some psycho. Here I am at 20 years of age, being pushed and pulled around by 18 year olds. Right as I began to plan a scheme to run off from JoonSoo, his threatening, but adorable, voice left a final warning in my ears.

“I’m not letting you run away noona! If I have to get yelled at, then you have to endure it with me!”

Tainted Memories of Issey Miyake // 08

Gossip sure was a scary weapon. Walking into the hectic hallways all I could hear were the constant whispers about HeeJoo and AnChilHyun. Realizing I couldn’t beat up the whole school, I rushed through the crowds of kids while trying to ignore the fact that every single curse word invented was being wrongly thrown at my innocent friend.

Already up to my wits in annoyance, I grumpily walked into my classroom and plopped down onto the uncomfortable wooden chair. HeeJoo sat beside me with her body turned towards AnChilHyun, who was sitting right behind me. They were chattering away about some book by some author that had to do with some plot. Rolling my eyes, obviously still irritable from earlier, I pulled out the usual books and placed my head on top, hoping for a quick nap before class started.

“HeeJoo you should put your hair down like BoHyung, then I can pull on it when I’m bored!”

Not in your dreams AnChilHyun. HeeJoo’s had her hair in that stiff bun ever since junior high! You wish you could pull on her hair! Suffer boredom just like the rest of us do!

I smiled to myself only to find it quickly fading as I felt a painful tug from my head. This kid was pulling my hair! Hoping that he would stop if I ignored it, I continued to keep my head down only to be rudely interrupted with another quick tug. Palms down on the desk, I forced myself up and swiveled around to face AnChilHyun. HeeJoo was obviously uneasy as she looked from me to AnChilHyun, then right back at me.

“YAH! Stop pulling my hair! Are we in preschool?! If you really feel the need to pull someone’s hair, then you can pull HeeJoo’s!”

Nervously HeeJoo tugged urgently at the cuff of my shirt.

“Bo…Bo…BoHyung ah…”

AnChilHyun pinched one of HeeJoo’s pale cheeks as he winked at her reassuringly. Turning to me he gave a lost boy look and pointed at HeeJoo’s head.

“She has a bun. I can’t pull it, I already tried.”

“AnChilHyun! Grow up!”

Swiftly turning forward I placed my head back down on the books and prayed that I would be able to get a few minutes of sleep. God must have been on his lunch break, because the very audible whispers of AnChilHyun and HeeJoo clouded my peaceful sleeping bubble.

“Is she on her period?”

How could he so blatantly ask about a girl’s period?! So nonchalantly too! The most annoying part of it was his condescending voice.

“No! BoHyung’s just…”

“HeeJoo you shouldn’t be friends with such moody people. The doctor says its not good for your health.”

Abruptly jumping off my seat I stared down at a very frightening HeeJoo and an indifferent AnChilHyun. Quivering in fear, HeeJoo’s eyes looked up apologetically as I assuringly patted her on the head.

“BaekHeeJoo,” somehow my voice came out a lot calmer than I had expected, “I’m going to go and change my pad in hopes that my moodiness improves.”

Suddenly AnChilHyun’s blank faced turned into a cheeky grin as he looked at me in amusement. He must be having a lot of fun pushing my buttons.

“HeeJoo yah, you need to be more like BoHyung here. She’s weird and entertaining.”

As quickly as it had appeared, his cheeky grin disappeared and once again he looked up at me with blankness. Ignoring I was still standing before him he turned to HeeJoo and began to talk about a book he had recently read.

In utter disbelief I began to exit the classroom, cursing AnChilHyun for forcing me to retreat to the bathroom for a minutes nap. Taking out my vengance on the tiled floor I stomped down the hallway, but slowly began to gather myself back to normal person status as a familiar figure came floating in my direction.

At a towering height of 184 centimeters he wasn’t very hard to spot. The sunlight pouring in from the windows lightened his already auburn “helmet” hair as I liked to describe it. How perfectly his hair fell along his face as if he had been wearing a helmet. I chuckled to myself and rushed over to greet my long time friend.

“ShinChangHyun.”

Before his lips, immediately his eyes turned into an indescribable smirk. Watching as his double eyelids became crescent moons I smiled bright forgetting the annoying atmosphere I had left in the classroom.

“Where you going?”

Forgetting, and now I was remembering. Perturbed that ChangHyun brought back the reason I was fleeing the classroom, I furrowed my eyebrows and lightly kicked at the wall.

“HeeJoo’s boyfriend is a complete—“

Assuming my mother had dropped me a few times when I was a child, I skipped the yelling and screaming at myself and quickly tried to change the subject. Unfortunately ChangHyun wasn’t as dense as I wished he was.

“It’s okay BoHyung. What do you expect. It’s not like I’ve ever told HeeJoo how I felt.”

ShinChangHyun’s signature smile, an awkward and shy smile that tended to woo all the outgoing loud types, the types that looked like they beat up men for a living. Giggling inside, I couldn’t help but to conjure the memory of a sunbae unnie chasing poor ChangHyun. Quickly thinking about my father dying, in order to keep a stern face, I smiled and began to pull ChangHyun back to the awful classroom.

“ChangHyun ah, now all I have left is you. If it makes you feel any better I think HeeJoo is dumping me for that pr.ick AnChilHyun.”

Obviously understanding my rejection, ChangHyun laughed lightly and patted my head, his way of telling me that everything would be okay.
 

Tainted Memories of Issey Miyake // 09

Upon entering Boria, immediately JoonSoo’s head bowed down in shame as he painfully dragged his feet along the wooden floor. Pouty lips quivering, JoonSoo quietly sat across from the hoodlum known as JaeJoong. Cautiously he retrieved a brightly packaged box of gumdrops and pushed it across the table. Taking a quick glance JaeJoong looked up from the box of candy and raised an eyebrow as he stare at a discouraged JoonSoo.

“What’s this?”

Taking a deep breath JoonSoo began his long explanation on the simple box of treats.

“That’s my favorite type of gum! It’s called ShingShing gum! Tastes like cotton candy somewhat, but that’s not my point. Today I snuck out of the school to go buy some but got locked out instead! My attendance for today is an unexcused absence. Which means when I go back to class tomorrow, my teacher is going to beat the living sh.it out of me! So I promised myself that I would cherish this ShingShing gum, but now I’m giving it to you hyung! Sorry for being late.”

How could anyone in the right mind be so simple?! Of course NaLi and I were the only ones showing visible astonishment at JoonSoo’s childish act of apology. Instead of a bewildered outburst JaeJoong flashed an unexpected grin towards JoonSoo, who was already up and jumping for joy at his good fortune.

“Next time don’t disappear with old hags!”

Looking around the table I counted 4 males students, NaLi, and me. That meant the “old hag” statement was directed at me. Old Hag?! Me?!

“I’m only one year older though!”

Surprised by my own erupting voice I looked at each of the faces that stared at me in amusement and mystification. God was definitely punishing me for playing with minors. Wondering if it was against the Bible to think younger kids were cute, I felt myself once again being alarmed by JaeJoong’s blunt remark.

“Lady how long are you going to sit here?”

It seemed whenever I was near JoonSoo his index finger somehow magically became in contact with a section of my face. This time his second finger comfortably rested on my crimson cheek.

“JaeJoongie hyung you can’t talk bad about my noona like that! Talk bad about her monster cousin instead.”

Lifting his hand for an approval high five, JoonSoo brightly smiled towards me as I conveniently avoided NaLi’s death glares. Expecting a witty comeback I waited for NaLi’s voice, but she remained unusually silent. JaeJoong and I both turned to NaLi who was sitting next to ChangMin while turning into a human tomato.

“Hey monster! Aren’t you going to say something?”

JoonSoo do you really want to die a violent death? Scared for all of us around the table I scooted closer into NaLi just in case I would have to hold her down. Watching her quivering fists, I kicked at JoonSoo who was cluelessly continuing on with more insults.

“Noona, I don’t want to play footsies with you right now. Not while I’m successfully degrading the monster! I’m superman!”

In a position to fly away, JoonSoo’s left arm was raised in the air as he looked upwards with a delighted smirk that only caused NaLi’s leg to violently shake. The whole table looked upon him in awe, wondering how in the world one person could so successfully entertain himself.

“Hyung, that’s mean.”

ShimChangMin, definitely an angel stuck in a boy’s body. NaLi must have been thinking the same thing, because her face turned even a brighter red, if possible, and she nervously began to drink away at the ice water before her.

“Hey old hag, isn’t it against the law to hit on younger kids?”

I couldn’t help but to flinch at the permanent nickname the punk had given me. Kids like him were the reason for all the old ladies going through plastic surgery. Merely a year older, and I was being called an old hag. Wallowing in my own depression I sulkily got up from my seat unable to bear the torment any longer.

“NaLi ah, lets go. I have a tutoring session to go to soon.”

Obediently NaLi got up along with JoonSoo who was grabbing my arm in protest. Definitely a cute kid, too bad he’s two years younger than me.

“No noona! Don’t go with the monster! I’ll take you!”

“****. I forgot about my tutor.”

That’s right there were four of them. The unnoticed kid got up from his seat as he lazily grabbed his backpack and began to walk out. Waving his left arm the kid left Boria without giving me much chance to take a good look at him. Since good-looking people tended to hang out with other good-looking people, I just assumed he was probably another cute kid outside of my grasp.

“JoonSoo ah, I’ll see you around. Hey ChangMin, tell your brother BoHyung said hi.”

Forcing his phone into my hands JoonSoo frowned at me disappointedly.

“BoHyung unnie doesn’t give her number out to leeching perverts!”

NaLi had reached her boiling point. Grabbing JoonSoo’s phone she thrust it back at him and once again back to her normal self, began pulling me out of the café. Of course that was not the finale of Ms. SuhNaLi. Stopping at the doorway she turned towards the table of three boys.

”Yah ShimChangMin I think you’re really cute but one of your friends is a complete as.shole and the other one is probably gay, so I don’t think I can like you, but you’re still cute!”

With that NaLi was flying down the stairs, me in tow, and running down the street like someone was after her with a meat cleaver. She was just as unpredictable as JoonSoo, definitely a better match for her, if the world had completely gone mad.

“NaLi yah I’ll see you later okay? Have fun at school tomorrow.”

Waving down a taxi I quickly got in and instructed the driver towards an unfamiliar neighborhood. Looking up at the newly built villa like apartments, I quickly scanned the address and thanked God the kid was conveinantly on the first floor.

“You live here too?”

It was the unnoticed kid from Boria. Standing before apartment number 1010, I rechecked the address only to find out we were standing before the same door.

“ParkYooChun?”

Realizing the situation YooChun smiled lightly as he pulled off his frameless glasses and began to punch in the password for the bolted door. As soon as we stepped foot into the ritzy house, a fair lady in her middle forties greeted us with two cups of orange juice.

“You must be BoHyung! I heard you’re a wonderful tutor! My YooChun definitely needs some help. I don’t understand how anyone could fail study hall!”

Fail study hall?! Was that even possible? Shouting out in protest YooChun quickly began to escort his mother towards the kitchen.

“Umma! Will you just please make me a sandwich?”

Mrs. Park scurried towards the kitchen like a wind up doll, but not before lovingly patting her son on the butt. I giggled and began to follow a quite embarrassed YooChun into a fairly plane room. Settling down at a small table I began to pull out some generic high school study guides.

“What place are you in your class?”

Biting down on his lower lips, YooChun’s smile definitely helped me prepare myself for his answer. Pulling on his glasses, as if it would help ease the pain of his answer, YooChun gently answered the fatal question.

“JaeJoong is last, and I’m second to last.”

They look smart, but they’re compelte idiots. I hate how looks are so deceiving, especially because of those glasses he wears!

“BoHyung noona right?”

Nodding I began to furiously highlight the sections I wanted to go over first. Calculus? History? English? Where in the world to start.

“How do you know JoonSoo?”

Ignoring his comment I grabbed his calculus book from underneath his arm and began to shuffle through it. The book was completely spotless. He could have bought it yesterday for all I knew. Normal high school kids turned their textbooks into total drawing pads as they scribbled notes, equations, tips, and anything else that would help them with their finals. YooChun on the other hand had pictures of…Pikachu?!

“ParkYooChun, stop asking stupid questions and tell me what you’re studying in Calculus.”

”Noona has anyone ever told you how pretty you are?”

The sweet comment floated in through my left ear as I felt myself turning a bright pink. Kids these days were so good with their words! I haven’t had anyone tell me I was pretty since…pinching myself on the knee I pointed at the last picture in the book. The chapter on Logarithmic Differentiation.

“How did you know that’s the chapter we’re studying?”

Depressed that YooChun was the student whom I was supposed to help raise at least 10 rankings, I stabbed at the happy pikachu staring at me. I began to wonder if all of JoonSoo’s friends were all alike?

”This is the last picture you drew.”

“It’s good huh?!”

It was definitely going to be a long two hours.
 

Tainted Memories of Issey Miyake // 10

“Logarmic Difference?!”

Timidly HeeJoo tapped me on the shoulder as I squinted at the calculus book.

“BoHyung ah, it’s logarithmic differentiation, not logarmic difference.”

The pounding C on my recent report card evilly laughed in my mind as I plopped my head onto the root of all evil, my calculus book. Giggling from the 2 first years sitting next to us irritated me as I picked up my head and glared at them.

“You want to die?”

My approach seemed to have been effective, because the two boys quickly picked up their belongings and moved two tables down. Sighing in disapproval, HeeJoo poked me once again and pointed at the calculus equation.

“Logarthic Differences! Screw it I’m just going to take the—“

Out of all the people that had to be standing before me, it had to be AnChilHyun. Before I could protest about my stupidity, AnChilHyun was already blatantly pointing out my audible mistake.

“Logarthic? Do you have a lisp? Come on SuhBoHyung, I heard you were smart.”

I am smart! Just not when it comes to calculus. Irritated by his presence I picked up my books and began to pack up. Once again, now that AnChilHyun was finished ruining every cell of happiness within me, he went to ignoring my existence and began to chit chat with HeeJoo.

“HeeJoo yah, is your brain turn to mush yet?”

That was it! I could no longer handle it any longer! It not longer matters that AnChilHyun is HeeJoo’s first boyfriend! She could find someone else.

“Do you not see that I’m standing right here?!”

Looking up from HeeJoo’s side, AnChilHyun gave me his signature blank stare while blowing his bangs out of his dark eyes. I suddenly pictured grabbing him by the bangs and throwing him across the library.

“I know.”

Closing my eyes in complete frustration I clenched my fist and began to walk away. It was completely useless trying to talk to him. The more I thought about it, the less it made sense how such a shy and sweet girl like HeeJoo could be dating such a pri.ck like AnChilHyun. Familiar giggling interrupted my thoughts as I stopped dead in my tracks to listen to the rest of the painstaking sentence.

”She said Logarthic.”

Quietly walking over to the two first years sitting at the table I quickly kneeled down in between them. Surprised at my sullen face the two immediately stopped breathing, and wouldn’t dare look into my eyes.

“You guys can be pri.ck juniors.”

Smacking the two under classman on their heads I once again continued to storm out of the library. The librarian seemed quite delighted that I was leaving as she did almost a jiggling wave when I walked out.

Walking into my classroom the raucous yelling and jabbering of my classmates annoyingly welcomed me. Only 10 more minutes and lunch would be over and I would be left in peace to fall asleep to my droning art history teacher.

Heading towards my desk two yellow cartons caught my eyes. I sat down backwards in my seat and eyed the banana milks that called out my name lovingly.

Drink us! Drink us!

This would be my revenge unto AnChilHyun! Picking up the two cartons I noticed a small post it on one of them.

ChilHyun sunbae, I heard you liked banana milk! I hope you enjoy these!

Probably one of the first year girls obsessing over AnChilHyun. The girls at my school tended to turn into mindless retards around good-looking guys. It was something the teachers would lecture us about constantly. Let’s see, girls have gotten into bloody fist fights over a good-looking guy, gotten outcasted by the whole school, and even attempted suicide. It was quite pathetic when you thought about it.

Opening the carton of milk I began to devour the sweet liquid while cursing AnChilHyun. Suddenly all the happy cells that he had popped were starting to rejuvenate with each gulp of banana milk, but that was not the end of it.

As I took in the last gulp of milk from the second carton, AnChilHyun came lazily walking into the classroom. Waving at him I placed the empty cartons back on his desk and turned to face the chalkboard. Oh how sweet revenge tasted, especially because it was banana milk.

“MY BANANA MILK!”

I definitely did not expect such a reaction. Putting my most innocent smile I swiveled around in my seat to see AnChilHyun with wide opened eyes and anger written all over his pale face.

“YOU DRANK MY BANANA MILK!”

I nodded vigorously and leaned in on his desk as I rested my chin in my hands.

“Thanks a bunch AnChilHyun! I was so thirsty!”

Grabbing my chin in the palm of his hand he viciously shook my head from left to right. To overreact over two cartons of banana milk? Definitely not normal.

“Go buy me 2 new cartons of banana milk!”

I shook my head in disagreement, but his hand reshook my head in a nod. This went on for a few seconds before I quickly pushed his hand off my face.

“It’s freaking 2 cartons of banana milk! That’s like exactly 1,000 won($1).”

Unwilling to budge, AnChilHyun looked depressingly at the two empty cartons then gave me the look of the devil himself, as he began to raise his voice.

“Did it say SuhBoHyung sunbae on this note?! You drank my banana milk without asking, which is—“

The kids were starting to stare at us. My plan of revenge has failed miserably. It was time to wave the white flag.

“Okay, okay! I’ll buy you two cartons of banana milk after class.”

He wouldn’t be called a pri.ck if he wasn’t, and he proved the name fit him quite well. Still not 100% satisfied, but somewhat appeased, AnChilHyun furrowed his eyebrows in frustration as he handed me the two empty cartons.

“I want five.”

Turning around in defeat I decided it was completely useless to treat AnChilHyun like an adult. He was a five year old trapped in an eighteen year old’s body, but at least now I knew his weakness.

Tainted Memories of Issey Miyake // 11

Tapping my foot on the linoleum floor I watched as Mrs. Park anxiously paced the living room. Looking from the grandfather clock to her watch then to me, she smiled apologetically while pulling out the cordless phone from her frilly apron. Furiously dialing some numbers she waited impatiently and suddenly began berating the automated voicemail on the other line.

“PARKYOOCHUN! Is this your death wish?! Do you want your mother to turn into the devil?! Where are you?! BoHyung has been here for over an hour! I know you’re avoiding my phone calls! Be aware ParkYooChun! I’m going to poison your food and paralyze your whole body so you cant ever leave the house! Don’t come home! Come home right this instant!”

Gripping onto the cushion I pushed myself into the couch as I experienced the barely 5 foot lady showcasing Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde. At one point in my life I had categorized my mother to be the scariest woman in Korea, but now there was Mrs. Park. Korean women and their tempers.

Fearing my own well being, I shakily got up from my seat only to be shoved back down by Korea’s smallest linebacker, Mrs. Park. Firmly she placed her hands on my shoulder as she looked deep into my eyes. Pleasantly smiling she began to plead.

“My YooChun really needs a good tutor like you! I heard you helped some kid raise up to first place in her class! I’ll pay you more if that’s what you want!”

Helping Mrs. Park to the matching love seats, I sat her down and grabbed my bag off the ground. I had no intention of quitting this job. My life was falling miserably into a routine schedule, and I was definitely looking for something more challenging. What better to challenge me than an unwilling high school slacker that hangs out with hoodlums and weirdoes!

“Actually Mrs. Park, I’m going to go out and find YooChun myself.”

Eyes wide with excitement, Mrs. Park clapped her hands together as she eagerly leaped off her seat. She was a cute lady, except when she got mad.

“You can do that?! I’ve know YooChun his whole life, and even I can’t do that!”

Of course you knew him your whole life, you’re his mother! Wondering if this lady was in anyway related to JoonSoo, I smiled politely and began to head towards the door.

“BoHyung, would you find YooChun for me everyday if I doubled your pay?”

Not wanting to be rude I just smiled and headed out the door before she could ask more awkward questions. Walking out of the posh apartment complex I began to make the long list of phone calls in order to fine my absent student.

“Hell ChangHyun? … Yea no times for hello’s … Give me your brother’s phone number … No I’m not hitting on him … Seriously! … Okay thank you.”

Hanging up I began to dial ChangMin’s number.

“Hello ChangMin? Remember me? BoHyung noona … Yes JoonSoo’s cute noona … Do you happen to have YooChun’s number? … Oh I’m his tutor … Thanks a bunch! I’ll buy you lunch sometime! By the way, be nice to NaLi and don’t hang out with hoodlums! Bye!”

Quickly hanging up I began to dial YooChun’s number. Wondering if he would avoid my phone calls like he did to his mother, I impatiently paced up and down the sidewalk. After the fifth ring someone screamed into the phone due to the blaring hip hop music in the background. ParkYooChun I’ll kill you before your mother does!

”ParkYooChun! Where the hell are you?! I’ve been sitting at your house waiting for your pathetic self for the last hour and half! Do you think I’m some joke?! Do you know how much your mom pays for me?! You’re freaking second to last place in your class and you’re at some—“

A giddy voice interrupted my lecture as I pulled the phone down to check if I had called the right number. If I was correct, this voice wasn’t YooChun’s but…?

“Noona! Did you miss me?! I missed you noona! Today I rejected this really pretty first year for you! Just for you noona! She’s a lot prettier than you, but I like weird girls like you! I did good huh?!”

Was I supposed to take it as a compliment or an insult? Why in the world was JoonSoo answering YooChun’s phone? Maybe ChangMin had given me JoonSoo’s number on accident.

“Noona are you stalking me? How did you know I was with YooChun?”

You wish I was stalking you!

“JoonSoo where are you guys and what the hell is YooChun doing right now?!”

“At Café Elysian! Noona—“

Hanging up the phone I quickly caught a cab as I directed him towards the popular hangout spot. They couldn’t possibly serve alcohol at 5pm, could they? I mean who in the right mind would get drunk at 5pm?! Suddenly the hoodlum’s face floated in my head as I saw sweet JoonSoo being forced to drink a cup of beer while pri.ck boy evilly laughed in the background.

“MISTER HURRY UP!”

Throwing the money at the cab driver I stumbled out and ran down to the basement floor only to hear the shouts and screams of overly excited girls. Upon entering the dimly lit café I felt a wave of body heat as the large crowd of students crowded around the stage. At the front of the stage I noticed there was a crowd of sailor scouts. From what I remembered, the only school that had uniforms that looked like Sailor Moon was SaeJong Girl’s Academy.

Looking around at all the tables I spotted 3 JoongAng boys sitting in the corner. JoonSoo’s bright curled out hair caught my eyes as I walked over.

“JaeJoongie Hyung, drink this! I especially poured it for you! Okay and one for YunHo hyung! Two for me!”

Face flushed a bright red, JoonSoo continued to pour beer into six different glasses. Obviously drunk, it didn’t seem to matter that there were too many glasses and not enough people. Taking two glasses for himself and one for JaeJoong, one for the kid called YunHo, JoonSoo looked confusedly at the remaining two glasses, and once again pulled it near his other two. Noticing that neither JaeJoong or the other kid were drinking, JoonSoo began to drink away finishing one glass in one shot. Excitedly grinning JoonSoo peered at JaeJoong as he pointed at his untouched glass.

“Okay I drank one, and now its your turn hyung!”

I remember drinking in high school, but we never got drunk at 5pm! Nor did we drink … 10 … 11 … 12 ... 13 … 14 … FIFTEEN BOTTLES OF BEER?! Fifteen bottles of beer at 5:30 in the afternoon? No wonder they were last place in their class.

“The old hag’s mouth wont close.”

Hearing the comment I immediately closed my mouth as I stared at JoonSoo in shock. Completely plastered JoonSoo instantly placed his index finger on my forehead.

“BoHyung noona! Did you miss me?! I missed you! I even bought you ShingShing gum! Isn’t JoonSoo such a cute guy?! Hold on noona the beer keeps telling me that you want me to drink them! JaeJoong hyung, your beer wants me to drink it too! Yours too YunHo hyung! JoonSoo is so popular today!”

Grabbing JaeJoong and the other kid’s beer, JoonSoo now looked lovingly at the five glasses of alcohol. Picking one up he began to drink, but I quickly pulled the glass away as half of the glass spilled out onto JoonSoo’s wrinkled uniform pants.

“Are you crazy?! STOP DRINKING! Where the hell is YooChun?!”

Squeezing my cheeks with the palm of his hands JoonSoo brought his face up to mine. Raising his eyebrows and widening his eyes he began to slur together some words.

“Are you mad because I called you weird looking?”

Pushing JoonSoo away I placed the cold glass of beer away from him as I looked at the two sober looking kids. JaeJoong seemed to be enjoying the scene of JoonSoo hugging me from the side while I continuously shoved him away.

“Where’s YooChun?!”

Randomly rising from his seat JoonSoo laughed and pointed at the stage. Following the direction of his pointed finger I realized someone was sitting at an electric piano shuffling through some papers.

“Don’t act old and bothersome, and let YooChun finish this.”

I turned my head towards JaeJoong who was pulling out a cigarette from a pack on the table. This was my boiling point. I couldn’t handle all the nonsense from these kids. Grabbing the cigarette from his mouth I threw it on the ground. Jae Joong simply began to go for the whole pack which I quickly flung across the café. The boy named YunHo, who was sitting next to JaeJoong, looked at me with astonishment as he watched JaeJoong and me play the staring game.

“Go get that.”

This da.mn kid was ordering me around?! Ordering SuhBoHyung around?! I didn’t think so.

“Shut the hell up. You have no right to speak! You’re last place in your class! Go home and study and stop acting like such a pri.ck! I would kick your as.s if you weren’t bigger than me!”

I didn’t’ think the YunHo kid’s eyes could get any bigger, but obviously they could. Laughing unbelievably, JaeJoong leaned forward to grab a glass of beer placed in front of JoonSoo. Unbalanced and wobbly, JoonSoo got up from his seat as he waved a finger at JaeJoong.

“If you get noona mad the monster will come out like her cousin! Do you know how scary monsters are?! Did you see her cousin?! She’s an animal! Don’t make my noona mad! Come on noona lets go watch YooChun.”

Dragging me into the massive crowd of adoring girls, JoonSoo seemed to have a magical force field around him as the crowd parted leading him straight to the front. Looking around I realized we were completely surrounded by SaeJong girls.

“YooChun hyung is going to sing a song for her and ask her out.”

Looking to my left I saw a group of sailor scouts squealing and hopping around a single girl who was calmly looking up at YooChun. My gaze turned towards YooChun’s slender fingers smoothly moving across the piano keys. Now only if he studied as well as he played that piano.

All the lights of the café shut off as a single spotlight shined on YooChun. I couldn’t help but to think that he looked quite refined sitting at the keyboard. His eyes glistening in the spotlight, and he looked over at his target and smiled gently as a soft intro began to seep out of the speakers. Coughing to clear his voice he looked down at his gliding fingers and then once again met the gaze of the girl.

”This song is dedicated to LeeHaNeul.”

In the midst of all the screaming, sighing, and cooing, YooChun began Boys 2 Men’s acapella hit, It’s so Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday. Seeing that even I was feeling my legs weaken, I decided it would be best if I did not rush onto stage and rag YooChun out. Shuddering at the thought of being jumped by a mob of sailor scouts I smiled and began to listen to YooChun’s unbelievably nice voice. He knew how to sing?
 

Tainted Memories of Issey Miyake // 12

HeeJoo and I linked arms as we giddily walked out of the school. Thankful that it was Saturday I quickly began to pull off my confining uniform vest. In a state of shock my eyes began to bulge out of their sockets as I watched HeeJoo pulling apart her bun.

“HeeJoo! Bun! Loose!”

With a hopeful look HeeJoo smiled at me and embarrassingly brushed her hair with her fair fingers. HeeJoo had let her hair down before she got home! This was something to celebrate! Picking up some strands of hair, I lifted them in the air and looked at HeeJoo from side to side. So much potential to be gorgeous but unfortunately it was all hidden behind ugly glasses and a 60 year old’s hairstyle.

“HeeJoo you look so gorgeous with your hair down! You should always wear it down! Get contacts too! Oh I know! Let’s do a makeover, and while we’re at it let’s do a boyfriend makeover and go find you a new one!”

It was stupid of me to even suggest it, but hey it never hurt to try. HeeJoo disapprovingly grinned at me and began to loosely tie her hair back.

“I like my glasses BoHyung. In plus if I put my hair down I’ll constantly be brushing it away. It’s just all together a hassle.”

Walking out of the school gates, a rowdy group of girls caught my attention. It wasn’t unusual to see small groups scattered around the school entrance. Known for our limited amount of hot guys, local girls from all around would camp out in front of the gates of JoongAng High. The only reason I was staring at that group was the insistent calling of one of the girls.

“I heard you like banana milk!”

It just had to be AnChilHyun.

“BaekHeeJoo, look at that horrid boyfriend of yours!”

I pointed over at AnChilHyun who was standing in the middle of the obsessive girls drinking a carton of banana milk. What was it with him and banana milk? Worried that my sensitive HeeJoo might possibly be heart broken, I anxiously changed the direction of my eyes to how she was holding up. Amazingly, HeeJoo was standing there smiling. Smiling?!

“Hyunnie’s number one weakness is banana milk. Anyway lets go.”

Miss a chance to belittle AnChilHyun?! Never! Pulling a very unwilling HeeJoo, I began to storm over to the pack of hormone crazy girls. Just when we were about a foot away a very distinct girl in a SaeJong Girl’s Academy uniform began to pull AnChilHyun out of the group. The funny thing was he didn’t even slightly resist! Did he go crazy over banana milk?

“Who the hell is she! Oh my God! BaekHeeJoo someone is kidnapping your boyfriend! What the hell?! What is the ugly rice cooker girl doing?! Oh my Go—“

In truth, AnChilHyun, isn’t even my boyfriend, yet here I am overreacting. HeeJoo is my best friend, and it pisses me off that people step all over her, use her, abuse her, and recycle her. It’s as if she doesn’t have a mind of her own! That’s why I’m here though, because I am HeeJoo’s eternal savior! Usually my overprotective statements would bring out a bright smile on HeeJoo’s glum face, but this time it seemed like I was just causing more heartburn.

“Let’s just go.”

And let some random girl steal your first boyfriend?! As much as I disliked AnChilHyun, HeeJoo’s happiness meant too much for me to ignore the heightened situation.

“HEY ANCHILHYUN!”

Letting go of HeeJoo’s arm I began to storm over in the direction the SaeJong girl was pulling AnChilHyun towards. Hearing his name, AnChilHyun halted and waited as I walked over. The group of girls that were robbed of AnChilHyun began to gather in as they huddled together whispering about every single scenario that went through their imaginative heads. They might as well have pulled out some popcorn and drinks.

“Where’s my banana milk?”

His stingy hand thrust forward as he shifted his gaze from my hands to my bag. The lunatic was searching for his 5 cartons of banana milk. Ignoring the demanding hand I sharply turned my head to take a good look at the owner of the hand placed on AnChilHyun’s arm.

Wow.

Black as a crow, her bangs fell a little too perfectly across the side of her whitewashed face as they covered half of her left eye. Clear and glassy, her circular eyes fluttered open and close as she stared at me skeptically. As if having perfectly round eyes were not enough, I imagined popping her luscious red lips. She was the epitome of Korea’s definition of a beautiful girl.

As always the SaeJong uniform was cute as a button, and I asked myself if they had designed it after Sailor Moon’s outfit. Rather short, her pleated blue skirt lightly danced in the wind, and I wondered if she had purposely shortened it, or if it just looked short due to her long legs. To complete her uniform, she wore a crisp white button up along with a red scarf tied in a neat bow.

“You didn’t buy my banana milk did you. Go buy it now.”

This kid seriously needed to stop by the local shrink.

“Look AnChilHyun, its your girlfriend HeeJoo!”

Making sure I emphasized “girlfriend” I turned towards HeeJoo’s direction, but was surprised to find only the crowd of onlookers. Doing a complete 360, I hopped up and down hoping to see HeeJoo hidden in some oblivious corner. To my dismay HeeJoo was no where to be seen, and I could already hear AnChilHyun’s pompous voice ringing in my head.

“Stop using HeeJoo as an excuse. Where’s my banana milk?!”

Five banana milks would cost me 2,500 won ($2.50). There was no way I was willing to spend that much money on the pr.ick! In a futile attempt to drop the steady topic, I quickly avoided AnChilHyun’s demanding glare, and met eyes with the SaeJong girl.

“What are you doing with another girl? Shouldn’t you be walking my HeeJoo, also known as your girlfriend, home?”

Shrugging he lifted his hand and waved as he turned and began to walk away. If I was not wrong, I just got majorly dissed. This would be the fourth or fifth time losing to AnChilHyun, and the numerous times of defeat were slowly starting to take affect on my jittery nerves.

Tainted Memories of Issey Miyake // 13

“I’m not getting in the taxi without my noona!”

JoonSoo stubbornly grabbed onto the sides of the door and window, blocking his body from being pushed into the impatient taxi. Extremely annoyed at the situation JaeJoong starting muttering inaudibly to himself.

“Hey KimJoonSoo, get in the da.mn taxi! Stop being such a bit.ch!”

Being held back from prancing away with his fans, YooChun began to pull at JoonSoo’s few strands of hair that curled perfectly outwards. Ignoring the fact that his head was being shaken forcefully, JoonSoo grabbed me in a tight bear hug as he happily leaned his head onto my shoulder. If I wasn’t mistaken, he was beginning to fall asleep.

“KIMJOONSOO! Get in the fuc.king taxi before I kick your as.s!”

The hoodlum had reached his limit. Seeing that JaeJoong was finally taking control, YooChun smiled in relief as he began to run off towards a group of girls eagerly waiting for him.

“Noona see you tomorrow! Have fun JaeJoong!”

Before any of us could protest YooChun was surrounded by Korean sailor moons, and was out of site. Sighing I began to push JoonSoo towards the open cab door, but miserably failed when JoonSoo opened his wide eyes and began waving at a billboard sign with the famous pop singer, Lee Hyori, drinking a glass of rice wine.

”I love you YooChunnie! See you later!”

“KIMJOONSOO! Do you want to die?! Get in the fuc.king taxi!”

Hiding behind me, JoonSoo began to scream over my shoulder. Covering my ear with the palm of my hand, I watched in shock as JaeJoong attempted at arguing with a drunk kid. JoonSoo at least had a reason for being a complete ignoramus, but JaeJoong…he had no excuse. No wonder he was last place in his class.

“JaeJoongie hyung stop asking me if I want to die! Say ‘I love JoonSoo so much!’ You look like NaLi monster! Roar! I’m JaeJoongie hyung and I look like NaLi monster! Roar!”

Embarrassed by the crowd that was rapidly crowding around us, I quickly got into the taxi and began to call out to JoonSoo. I swear we had a puppy, owner relationship. I called and he wagged his tail and followed along.

“JoonSoo yah, come on let’s go home.”

Completely forgetting that he did not want to get into the taxi just a few minutes ago, JoonSoo eagerly got in and rested his head onto my shoulder. Noticing that JaeJoong was getting in, JoonSoo leaned towards him and placed his pointing index finger on JaeJoong’s white cheek. Obviously trying to control his dirty temper, JaeJoong let out a deep breath as he shut his eyes close.

“KimJoonSoo…what?”

“Is the NaLi monster coming out hyung? Are you going to go ‘Roar I’m JaeJoongie monster!’ Noona don’t NaLi monster and JaeJoongie hyung look alike? Aren’t you glad I’m not like that? I’m JoonSoo angel!”

Not paying an ounce of attention, JaeJoong starting to unwrap a piece of gum. The site of the purple wrapper taunted JoonSoo as he began to hop up and down in his seat. A rough grunt came from the taxi driver as I patted JoonSoo on the knee.

“Sit still JoonSoo.”

His reply went something like this.

“JaeJoongie hyung is eating my ShingShing gum! He’s eating it! My gum! That was for you noona! NO! Spit it out, spit out, spit out!”

Once again, the retard proved himself worthy of the name. Pulling out the chewed gum JaeJoong held it out in front of JoonSoo. This must have occurred many times in the past, because JoonSoo grabbed the gum and placed it in his mouth. After chewing for a few seconds JoonSoo cringed, and gave an accusing look at JaeJoong.

“You ate all the flavor up! How am I supposed to give this to noona if you ate up all the flavor?! HYUNG I HATE YOU!”

“Get out.”

Looking out the fogged up window, I realized we were in the community where YooChun lived. I pulled out a 10,000 Won ($10) only to have my hand knocked away. JaeJoong threw a 10,000 won onto the front seat as he helped JoonSoo out of the car. So the kid was a pri.ck, but had some kind of manners.

JaeJoong and I silently followed JoonSoo who was headed towards the village playground. I think both of us knew we had to let poor JoonSoo sober up a bit before taking him home. Screaming out in joy JoonSoo began to sway on the swing with his stomach against the seat.

“Noona I’m Super JoonSoo! My kryptonite is scary monsters like NaLi and JaeJoongie hyung!”

Without much thought JaeJoong and I both sat down on the wooden bench. It was a perfect night to be sitting outside taking in the cool night air. Everything was so perfect and—

“Your taking up the whole bench. Go lose some weight.”

Or so I thought it was a perfect night.

“Were you just born a punk? Does it just come naturally?”

“It just comes naturally.”

With that JaeJoong grabbed the cigarette snuggled behind his ear. Examining for any dents he rolled it around in his fingers before popping it into his mouth. I wonder where he got that, because I threw all his cigarettes across the club. Striking a match against the wooden panel of the bench, JaeJoong carefully lit his cigarette. As if the world was perfect as is, he shut his dark eyes and let his head fall upon the backing of the bench.

It was complete déjà vu.

“Did I…did I ever tell you…you reminded me of someone?”

“He must have been one good looking guy.”

Normally I would have protested or insulted him, but suddenly I was too involved in the moment. Memories of my past begin to rush at me like bullets as I watched JaeJoong’s face distorting into ChilHyun’s. Although it was JaeJoong sitting next to me, and although there was such strong differences…every second I sat next to JaeJoong…I felt ChilHyun coming back. After all this time…I still felt him coming back…and no matter how hard I tried to grab him…no matter how fast I lunged forward to save him…he just continued to fall…until all I could see was JaeJoong’s face, and not ChilHyun’s.

ChilHyun ah…did you switch places too?
 

Tainted Memories of Issey Miyake // 14

I began to rapidly dial HeeJoo’s number while pacing up and down the sidewalk in front of her apartment. Mentally sending signals for her to pick up, I began to curse at the phone when I heard the oh too familiar automated voicemail. Rather disappointed at HeeJoo’s sudden disappearance from school earlier, I began to head back towards the bus terminal only to be interrupted by my phone’s vigorous ringing.

HeeJoo!

Overwhelmed by HeeJoo’s quick reply, a few seconds passed as my slippery fingers stumbled with my phone. Pulling the phone to my ear I quickly called out to HeeJoo only to be greeted by an unusual silence.

“HeeJoo? Hello?”

Silence.

“Hello?”

A muffled voice sounded from the distance. I pulled out my phone only to realize I was holding it backwards. It must have been my lucky day, for there was no one near enough to laugh at me in mockery.

”BoHyung? You there?”

“Yea I’m here! Hey I’m right in front of your house!”

I don’t think that’s what HeeJoo expected to hear from me, but life was full of pleasant surprises! Heading back in the direction of HeeJoo’s apartment, I began to question HeeJoo’s mysterious disappearance from earlier today.

“So where did you go?! I was looking all over for you! Do you know how stupid I looked in front of that boyfriend of yours! Especially, because that freaking sailor scout was hanging all over him! She might as well have written a sign that said ‘I steal other girls’ boyfriend!’ all over her face! It doesn’t matter HeeJoo you’re much better—“

Rambling on and on, a frequent habit I never really bothered with, HeeJoo cut me short.

”EeSeul probably just missed Hyunnie. I mean they are good family Fri—“

Now it was my turn to interrupt HeeJoo. To have so many da.mn secrets from your best friend! I made a mental note to scold HeeJoo about excluding me from all the juicy details of her life. I want drama in my life too!

“EeSeul?! You know the sailor scout?! How?! How?! How?! How?!”

My one too many “how’s” must have gotten to HeeJoo, because she dejectedly invited me over, but not without letting out a tired sigh.

“The door is open so just walk in.”

Sliding my phone shut I began to run into HeeJoo’s building. Standing before the elevator doors a familiar backside caught my attention, as I slowed my pace. Trying not to stare directly into the stranger’s face, I slyly walked up next to him and glanced over as I expertly brushed my fingers through my hair.

“Stop trying to act slick. I see you looking at me.”

It was the condescending voice of the pri.ck that sat behind me in class. He could also be referred to as banana milk psycho boy. Normal people, which I am not, would call him AnChilHyun, and people that fitted into “girlfriend” category would call him “Hyunnie.” No matter what anyone called him, I personally thought “pri.ck” fit him the best.

“What are you doing here?”

Slowly he looked over at me, and began to smile contemptuously only to face forward with a pompous grin. Why does he have to be so da.mn haughty?! I don’t hate him, at least not yet, but there was a very strong feeling of dislike that only continued to increase like a cancerous disease. It just got worse and worse, and unfortunately there was no chemotherapy for “strong dislike.”

Announcing its arrival, the elevator opened up graciously. Expecting AnChilHyun to follow me in, I watched as he stood opposite of me, unwilling to enter.

“Are you getting in or what?”

Raising his arm, and letting it drop immediately, AnChilHyun’s lazy wave indicated his departure. The elevator began to close, as I immediately walked before the shutting door. I heard that curiosity killed the cat, good thing it wasn’t true or I would already be dead.

“Why aren’t you going up? Aren’t you here to see HeeJoo?”

Pri.ck! He ignored me completely and was already taking a left turn out on the sidewalk. Cats had 9 lives right? I still had 8 more to go! No worries.

Following in his footsteps, I began to rush out of the elevator. Watching his backside getting smaller and smaller, I began to run towards him, only to notice he began to run too. Feeling my lungs about to collapse in pain, I stopped to take in a few quick breaths.

“AnChilHyun stop running away!”

Trying to sneak up on him, I silently began to fasten my pace only to end up running towards a once again fleeing AnChilHyun. He had to have a brain the size of a peanut.

Finally coming to a halt, I found AnChilHyun staring nostalgically at a deserted playground. Settling on a metal bench with rusted paint, he began to pull out a pack of cigarettes which he fiddled with for awhile, before inserting the cancer stick into his mouth. Sucking in deeply, smoke began to cloud the surrounding area of his face, as he quietly blew out.

“Who was that girl?”

There was no time, or need, to beat around the bush. I still had seven lives left.

“ChunEeSeul.”

I didn’t ask for her name!

“How do you know her? You couldn’t have gone to high school with her since she’s from an all girl’s school. Did you guys go to junior high together? How does HeeJoo know? Is this a conspiracy against me?”

The last question was a mistake. I didn’t mean to say it aloud! It was remarkable that AnChilHyun didn’t make a witty comment on my obvious stupidity.

“EeSeul is a family friend. I’ve known her my whole life. As for HeeJoo and EeSeul, well they used to be best friends.”

Like a tidal wave I felt myself being sucked into the emotional whirlpool of resentment. Over the years I’ve known HeeJoo, not only had she kept AnChilHyun a secret, but she also denied me of her past memories I desperately wanted to be a part of. Of course I didn’t expect HeeJoo to tell me every detail of her life, but it would be nice if I knew something of significance so I didn’t feel so left out, if anything. I really began to reevaluate the friendship I had with HeeJoo.

“They don’t really get along anymore. HeeJoo was sort of like you in elementary school. EeSeul was the shy quiet one, and HeeJoo was the outgoing giddy one.”

It wasn’t my place to pry, but I was too curious to let it go.

“What happened?”

Shrugging, AnChilHyun took another drag of his cigarette, while looking up at the cloudy black sky. Closing his eyes as the smoke filtered out of his nose, he tiredly leaned his head back onto the cold metal bench.

“They just sort of…switched places.”

Tainted Memories of Issey Miyake // 15

I looked down at my watch impatiently. It has been fifteen minutes since JaeJoong took JoonSoo home. It must not look good for JaeJoong. I mean bringing JoonSoo home completely drunk. It didn’t help that he was last place in his class. Dumb as.s.

Tapping my foot on the cement I checked my watch again. Only five seconds passed since the last time I looked down. Hesitantly, I got up from the park bench, and began to walk over towards JoonSoo’s apartment complex. Standing before the elevator I realized I had absolutely no clue which floor JoonSoo lived on.

With a light musical ding, the elevator doors opened and out walked JaeJoong. Thanking the heavens, I smiled in relief as JaeJoong walked right past me. Stupid pri.ck!

“You’re such a little bas.tard! Do you know how long I waited for you?!”

Turning around defiantly, JaeJoong took a quick glance at me before spitting out his answer.

“Did I tell you to wait?”

It’s useless talking to this kid. It goes absolutely nowhere. I might as well talk to a wall! This is why you’re last place! I hope you get last place for the rest of your high school career and get your as.s beaten by your teacher!

“Get home safely. I’ll see you around.”

I must show patience and maturity. If I argue with the twerp, I’m just lowering my own standards. I started to walk pass JaeJoong. I continued to do so, but suddenly I felt a warm hand grabbing onto my wrist. Unless there was an invisible person next to him, JaeJoong had grabbed my hand. What did the pri.ck want now.

“What now?! What smart as.s comment is going to come out of your mouth now? I seriously do not have the time or energy to deal with high school pri.cks like you!”

Feeling his eyes penetrating my skin, I shivered as he continued to stare without a blink. I couldn’t read what he was thinking, but I could feel the seriousness in his pupils. Unwilling to lose, I kept my perturbed look and continued to look him in the eyes. The world around me began to blur into nothingness, and all I could see were JaeJoong’s two intense eyes. It was such a familiar stare, and immediately I felt my knees begin to quiver.

“Why were you looking at me like that earlier?”

What is he talking about? When? Like what?

“When we were sitting on the bench.”

When I was thinking of ChilHyun.

“Stop asking about my personal life and go home and study. Are you proud that you’re last place?”

Firmly pulling my arm out of his grasp, I started to walk away. What could I say? That he reminded me of ChilHyun? That every once in awhile I felt myself being sucked into a nightmarish past? That at times I wondered if I could replace ChilHyun with him? What could I possibly say?

“Hey!”

The last time I checked, JaeJoong was a whole year younger. If Korean tradition didn’t change overnight, boys a year younger usually called their female elders, “noona,” but I’m a “hey.” What the hell! Why am I a “hey.”

“How old are you?!”

Turning around, I pointed an accusing finger at the rude kid. He began to walk over to me as he amusedly chuckled to himself. Standing before me with my pointed finger merely centimeters away from his face, he looked at me for the longest second of my life. Although his face was pointed toward the ground, his eyes stared upwards, and for some reason I couldn’t help but to think of him as the local gangster.

“Lets date.”

Unless old age was hitting me real quick, and my hearing was giving in, this kid was demanding me to date him. If I wasn’t correct, he wasn’t begging on his knees, nor did he ask me what I thought, but was standing there telling me we should date.

“Do you want to die? Would you like me to beat stupid out of you? Go home and study!”

This time I walked away as fast as I could, but it still wasn’t fast enough. He stopped me again.

“Let me see your cell phone.”

“Why?! You’re going to take it so no guys can call me huh!”

JaeJoong gave me a pitying laugh. Looking at me from head to toe, he clucked his tongue and once again let out an amused laugh.

“I’d be surprised if there were guys calling you period. Don’t think so highly of yourself SuhBoHyung.”

“Then why do you want my phone?! You’re going to erase my phonebook aren’t you?!”

This time he looked at me like he couldn’t believe what I was saying. Then again, I couldn’t believe myself.

“You think you’re some leading role of a fuc.king comedic love story?!”

My head fell forward in shame. He was insulting me, but everything he said was accused appropriately. I handed my cell phone over in defeat. Wondering what in the world he was doing with my cell, I watched in curiosity as he pressed in a few buttons before handing it back. He had turned it off.

“Bye.”

Completely lost in confusion, I stared blankly as JaeJoong’s back disappeared into the night. I think I stood on that spot for over five minutes. When I finally came back to my senses, I turned on my cell phone. The familiar message greeted me.

“Please enter your password.”

I abruptly jumped up from my cozy bed. Sweat plastered my face, and I thanked God that it was all a dream. Squinting, because of the bright sun, I looked over at my alarm clock. 4:06. 4:06 PM. I had less than thirty minutes before I had to be at YooChun’s house! I grabbed for my cell phone in hopes of calling Mrs. Park to tell her I’d be a little bit late. Holding down the power button, the memory of the nightmare bugged me as I waited for the welcoming screen.

“Please enter your password.”

Putting in my password, the rejection screen tauntingly flashed, and I suddenly realized…it wasn’t a dream. The pri.ck changed the password on my cell phone. The change in time caught my eyes as it now read, 4:07. There was no time!

Running out of the bathroom pulling up my pants, I began to furiously brush my teeth with the free hand. Cursing myself for staying up all night trying to figure out my cell phone password, looked for a suitable hat. Pulling on a beanie I rushed back into the bathroom and finished up brushing my teeth.

By the time I was out of the house it was already 4:25. Unwilling to cooperate with my tight schedule, taxi’s continued to whiz by without taking a single glance at my flailing arms. Finally a yellow cab came to a stop and I jumped in directing him towards YooChun’s apartments.

Not only am I going to be late for tutoring, I missed classes today! Whose fault is this? Stupid pri.ck! I’m going to kill him! Beat the living sh.it out of him! You didn’t know I was the scariest bi.tch in high school did you?! That condescending look of yours, it's going to—

“Here’s your stop.”

As soon as the door to 1010 opened, I rushed in and furiously apologized to Mrs. Park. Obviously not minding, Mrs. Park led me towards the couches as she took a seat next to me. Scooting next to me, Mrs. Park began to whisper quietly, taking quick glances at YooChun’s door.

”Do you think YooChun has a girlfriend?”

What in the world?!

“I’m not sure Mrs. Park.”

“Oh. I just thought you would know. You’re the first tutor that stayed longer than a week.”

Surprised at Mrs. Park’s comment, I also looked over at YooChun’s closed door. He must be really difficult to tutor.

“It seems like his past tutors teach him things, and he just forgets it in a night. So they would be going over the same section for over a week, and there would absolutely no improvement. So anyway that’s not important, do you think he’s dating a pretty girl? BoHyung ah, do you have an younger sisters that look like you?! We can introduce—“

This lady was just too much. Too much for me!

“I think I better go in Mrs. Park. YooChun might fall asleep if I don’t hurry.”

With that I escaped into YooChun’s room. Enticed by the music blaring out of his earphones, YooChun played an imaginary guitar with his eyes dramatically closed. If I could I would have taken a picture. It was too cute. Jumping up from his kneeling position, YooChun began to sing, only to open his eyes and catch me watching quietly. Flushed red in embarrassment, YooChun hopped off his bed and rapidly settled down at the miniature table.

“You didn’t see that noona.”

I desperately tried to keep my laughter inside, but failed miserably. I had to laugh out loud. YooChun cringed at me, and buried his face in his hands. I would use this embarrassing situation for his own good.

“If you don’t raise your grades, I’m going to tell all your friends about this.”

“Noona! You can’t—“

The table began to shake at YooChun’s vibrating phone. Looking at the ID of the caller, YooChun flipped open the phone.

”Noona! What’s up?”

The sound of a girl crying and screaming tickled my ear drums. YooChun sure had a loud phone. Either that, the girl had a really loud voice.

“What?! JaeJoong broke up with you?”

Tainted Memories of Issey Miyake // 16

A sweep of chilliness tickled my bare arms, as I walked into HeeJoo’s silent house. Unsure if HeeJoo’s parents were home or not, I tiptoed into HeeJoo’s familiar room. To my utter surprise, I found HeeJoo jumping on her bed with a pair of earphones on. There must have been something HeeJoo was stressed about.

Waving at me, HeeJoo pulled off her earphones and collapsed onto her bed. The only reason HeeJoo would be jumping on her bed to loud music could only be because of 2 things. Either HeeJoo had something important to worry about, or she was stressed out with her schoolwork.

”You stressed out HeeJoo?”

Mixed in with deep breaths, HeeJoo sighed and stared up at her spotless ceiling.

“A little. What took you so long? I thought you were right outside of my house?”

I could either tell HeeJoo the truth, or lie. Seeing that I’m the worst liar in the world, I decided it would be best if I told the truth. Honesty is the best policy, or so they say.

“I met your boyfriend out in front.”

As if she found out the world was coming to an end, HeeJoo’s round eyes got even rounder and a look of worry transformed onto her face. It wasn’t really that shocking!

“He ran away from me! So I went to go catch him, and then we talked for a few minutes then he just got up and left! That pri.ck completely ignores my presence! It’s the most frustrating thing in the world! He doesn’t even treat me like a human being! I bet you he treats his da.mn dog better than—“

HeeJoo put an end to my rambling as she quickly cut in.

“What did you guys talk about?”

Well since the topic is coming up anyway, might as well ask HeeJoo about it.

“About your past with ChunEeSeul.”

An awkward silence lingered between us. Telling by HeeJoo’s anxious eyes, I knew I had hit a soft spot. It was long past time for the truth to come out. My eyes wandered towards HeeJoo’s hand, which quickly pulled out a tissue from the bedside. HeeJoo’s constant habit immediately started as her thin fingers began to strange the poor tissue.

“How much did Hyunnie tell you?”

Thinking back, he told me jack sh.it.

“Nothing really. He said you guys were both different in elementary school. Something about your personalities switching. So are you going to tell your best friend why you and that sailor moon wannabe don’t get along anymore? I mean I do have a right to ask don’t I, BaekHeeJoo?”

My eyes followed HeeJoo’s body, as she began to shuffle through her closet. Leaning towards the left, I tried to take a cheating peek to see what HeeJoo was pulling out. Tightly gripping a box, HeeJoo pulled out a set of pictures neatly paper clipped together. Ever so carefully HeeJoo placed the safe kept memories in my lap.

I began to shuffle through the pictures. Dressed in bright polka dots, neon skirts, and wallpaper like pants, HeeJoo stared back at me in every pose I could ever think of. Announcing to the world that she was the prettiest thing, elementary HeeJoo looked up at me with innocent eyes and her hands settled on her chins. With HeeJoo taking up so much of the attention, I barely noticed the little girl shyly sitting next to her. ChunEeSeul must not age. She looked exactly the same. Jet-black hair and an almost translucent skin tone.

“You look so…so…”

“Outgoing?”

HeeJoo read my mind. Placing the pictures on the side of HeeJoo’s desk, I shifted my body to face her. I couldn’t help but to wonder where in the world the elementary HeeJoo had disappeared to. Peoples’ personalities didn’t just disappear. There had to be a climatic event, or maybe a traumatizing past? Something happened in the past. I just didn’t know what.

“AnChilHyun said that you were a lot like me in the past.”

Painfully, HeeJoo forced a reassuring smile on her pain stricken face. HeeJoo was trying to pick the perfect words. It was an annoying habit of hers that I absolutely detested. We would both start writing a paper, and I would be done within thirty minutes while HeeJoo would take five hours. In the end I would get a C- and HeeJoo would get an A+. I guess it worked when you were writing an essay, but it was so frustrating when you’re eagerly waiting for her to say something and she takes an hour to pick out her words!

“SAY IT!”

My loud voice caused HeeJoo to jump back. Surprise written all over her face, HeeJoo began to stutter out her explanation. I continued to tell myself to stop acting so eager.

“I…well…um…”

“BAEKHEEJOO! Oh my God! Say it god da.mnit!”

My forceful approach finally worked.

“EeSeul, Hyunnie, and I are all family friends. Our parents know each other really well. As for EeSeul and me, we were complete opposites growing up. I was loud, energetic, outgoing, and fearless if anything. EeSeul was quiet, shy, and introverted. I think the main reason we were such good friends is because…well that’s all we knew.”

Honestly, I didn’t care how they were! I just wanted to know why HeeJoo became the way she is! Drama…it’s so fun to watch.

“What happened?”

“Well…”

The shredding began. Little bits of tissue gathered in a small pile in between HeeJoo’s tangled legs. I could feel the eager frustration beginning to overflow out of me.

“Well what? What, what, what?!”

“Remember I met you in the third grade?”

I nodded and remained silent so HeeJoo could continue without me going off on a tangent.

“During the start of second grade EeSeul and I had a crush on the same boy. We decided we would both like him together. He would bother us during lunch and recess, and we would both flee to the girl’s bathroom and laugh about it. But then…things started to change. Within a blink of an eye EeSeul’s shy and quiet personality changed. I was so young that I didn’t even realize it, until it was too late. Well…one day I just became the school outcast.”

I lurched forward to grab the box of tissues. HeeJoo’s painful memories poured out of her eyes, and I felt my heart ache for my best friend. I thought outcasting only happened in junior high and high school, but I guess even the elementary schools had learned the inhumane cruelty of singling out one person from the rest of the community.

“That’s why…I moved schools.”

Anger boiled within me, and I couldn’t believe how cruel kids could be. I mean I knew how cruel high school and junior high kids were, but elementary kids too? To torture one person out of three thousand. Were there rules and guide lines to who got picked to be the school outcast?

1. Must look normal.
2. Cant’s be taller than three feet.
3. Doesn’t wear the color black.

Was that how it worked? It was amazing what peer pressure could do.

“What about AnChilHyun?! Where was he? What the hell did he do during all this?!”

“He doesn’t know...”

Tainted Memories of Issey Miyake // 17

”ParkYooChun, get off the phone.”

YooChun held out a finger asking for another minute. Everyday I noticed more and more reasons why second to last place fit ParkYooChun quite well. Every time we would sit down to start, there would be something “important” that needed taking care of. I know the world will continue to turn with or without ParkYooChun, but too bad he didn’t know this as well.

“GET OFF THE PHONE NOW!”

Hurriedly, YooChun placed a cupped hand over the phone’s speaker.

“Noona, I’ll call you back. My tutor looks like an angry rhinoceros right now.”

Rhinoceros?! I do not look like a rhinoceros! I look like a bunny!

“Why am I a rhinoceros?! WHY?!”

“Noona, explain Newton’s Law of Motion.”

Motion? Newton’s Law? What the hell?! I don’t remember. What do I do? I can’t tell him I don’t know. I’ll look stupid if I look it up in the dictionary! Da.mn. I’m screwed. WAIT!

“How does your physics book define it?”

YooChun opened up his physics book, and began to thumb through the crisp pages. Coming to a section he twirled a pencil in between his fingers.

“Newton’s Law of Motion. Every object in a state of uniform motion tends to remain in that state of motion unless an external force is applied to it.”

“Okay Newton has three sections to this law. In order for you to understand the other two you need to understand the first one. Do you understand even a little bit of what you read?”

YooChun shook his head vigorously while smiling sheepishly.

“Let me tell you of a perfect example. If I’m running in a straight line, I’m going to remain standing up and running right? Now say I was to fall over. Give me some reasons on why I would tip over.”

I was surprised at YooChun’s immediate answer.

“Because you’re tired!”

Never mind my last statement.

“Say I had infinite energy.”

“That’s not possible.”

“Just say I did.”

“Well…if someone pushed you over?”

Thank the havens, ParkYooChun isn’t completely brainless!

“Right. So what Newton’s law is saying, is that if I’m running in a straight line, the only way I’m going to falter from that straight line is if an external force is applied onto me. That force could be you pushing me, or if I took a sharp turn, etc. Get it?”

“Understood. Okay what about the second—“

YooChun’s door flung open, and before I could stop the swinging door, I felt a painful thud against my knee and shoulder. Who in the world opens doors so da.mn roughly?! Quickly rubbing against the increasing pain in my knee, I looked up expecting to see Mrs. Park.

“That’s another example of Newton’s Law in action. If she wasn’t there to apply the force, the door would have continued to swing open!”

He wore a loosely knit maroon sweater with the visible outline of a white shirt underneath. Like all the other young boys lately, his pant legs seemed big enough to shove my body through. Covering his jet black hair, a beanie was pulled down just above his eyelids. I couldn’t help but to stare at his glistening silver chain around his neck. Why were kids these days so da.mn flashy?! What ever happened to modesty? Then again, how do you expect a cell phone password thief to be modest?!

“So why’d you break up with noona? She seems pretty distraught. Maybe you should call her or something.”

I continued to rub at my knee. Wondering if there was going to be a bruise, I pulled up my pant leg to see a dark red spot. My head wandered upwards when I felt a heavy hand placed on top of my head. Why was the little bas.tard resting his hand on my head? Does my head say “hand rest” on it?!

“BoHyung noona?!”

YooChun’s loud scream caused me to jump in my seat. Why was he screaming! I’m sitting right across from him!

“You and BoHyung noona?!”

”What about me?”

A soft breeze passed by me when JaeJoong took a seat next to me. Why did the pri.ck have to take a seat? Wait, I’m here to tutor! Last place, cell phone password thief must not interrupt with YooChun’s learning process!

“KimJaeJoong, either be useful and study with YooChun, or leave.”

“I don’t have my books.”

“Where are they?”

KimJaeJoong’s simple answer did not cease to amuse me.

“I sold them.”

How can a student sell their books without even using them?! Let me rephrase. How can a high school student only a few months away from taking their decisive exit exams, sell their books?! What in the world was so da.mn worth it that you would sell your school books?!

“What for?!”

“To pay off my debt at the pc center.”

This is was for my sanity, and YooChun’s grades, but it was probably best if we both stayed far away from KimJaeJoong. There was only one direction when near him. The black hole of KimJaeJoong-ness.

“Go home! YooChun needs to study! Oh and give me the password to my phone! YOU THIEF!”

As if he were watching an exciting ping pong match, YooChun’s head turned from left to right not willing to miss a single detail. Smiling slyly, YooChun held out his hands towards me. I gave JaeJoong a quick glare before looking at YooChun’s empty palm.

“What?”

“I bet you I can guess the password JaeJoong put in.”

Immediately, JaeJoong slapped away YooChun’s held out hand. If my assumptions were correct, he also looked at YooChun threateningly. This was a good sign. Pulling out my useless cell phone, I placed it in YooChun’s magical hands. Within seconds YooChun flashed a peace sign and waved around my unlocked cell phone! I quickly grabbed the phone and looked at my welcoming screen. “Lose weight SuhBoHyun!” HOW EMBARASSING!

“How did you know it YooChun?!”

“KimJaeJoong’s password for everything is, 0000.”

Dear God, please strike me down now.

“Anyway, so BoHyung noona, you’re dating JaeJoong now?!”

So JaeJoong is dating a new girl named BoHyung. Wait…BoHyung…SuhBoHyung…that’s me! Since when?! Who said?!

“WHO IN THE WORLD TOLD YOU THAT?! Is that person crazy?! Psycho?! Do they have mental issues?! They must be some last place pri.ck like the kid to my right! Who told you that ParkYooChun?!”

It did not take long for my questions to be answered.

“I did.”

Tainted Memories of Issey Miyake // 18

“Why didn’t you tell him?! Why didn’t you tell your parents or something? How come you went through all this by yourself?!”

HeeJoo shrugged her shoulders and softly blew her runny nose into a tissue. Frustration continued to claw at me, as I sat watching the obvious affect her traumatizing past had on her.

“Why BaekHeeJoo?! Are you stupid?! Why do you go through sh.it like this by yourself? You think you’re Mother Theresa? Even if you think you’re Mother Theresa, you’re not! You’re BaekHeeJoo! Just another person like everyone else! You need to fu.cking start thinking about yourself!”

Looking down at her fiddling finger, HeeJoo sniffled a few times before looking up at me with teary eyes. Watching my pathetic friend in the weakest state she’s ever been, I forced the threatening tears back to the back of my eyes, in hopes to look strong for HeeJoo’s sake.

“I did…no one believed me. No one believed that EeSeul was the person making my life miserable. My parents, Hyunnie, my teachers…EeSeul was the last person they suspected. I guess it makes sense since she was my best friend.”

How could one person be so malicious? At such a young age too.

“So till this day AnChilHyun and ChunEeSeul are still friends?! After all the sh.it she’s put you through, AnChilHyun has absolutely no fu.cking clue and he’s still friends with her?!”

If I could fix one habit of HeeJoo’s, it would definitely be her constant smiling. Although her face was flushed bright red, although her eyes will still pouring out tears, although her heart was breaking, she sat before me and smiled. Afraid I would say words I would later regret, I got off HeeJoo’s bed and began to pace the squished room.

“So what happened to ChunEeSeul?”

“After her parents confronted her about outcasting me, and EeSeul denied it, a few weeks later she began to ignore everyone at school. Within a week EeSeul transferred out saying she got outcasted too for being my friend.”

The more HeeJoo told me about ChunEeSeul, the more I wanted to break the contaminated sailor scout. Was it really that possible for people to be so horrid? I couldn’t help but to commend HeeJoo for surviving such a nightmarish past. She was a lot stronger than I thought.

“HeeJoo yah…”

I let HeeJoo’s name linger in the stuffy room. Worn out from reviving a blackened past, HeeJoo tiredly lay down on her bed, and pulled the covers up to her chin. This was HeeJoo’s way of telling me she no longer wanted to talk about it.

“I’ll wait till you fall asleep.”

HeeJoo comfortingly held my hand as her wet eyelashes rested shut. It was the end of a long painful night, at least for her. Unfortunately I couldn’t say the same. Lost in thought, wondering and questioning HeeJoo’s past, a loud ring brought me to the present as I quickly grabbed for HeeJoo’s alerting phone. Rushing out before HeeJoo awoke, I quietly closed the door behind me and began to exit HeeJoo’s house. Just as the front door closed behind me, I flipped on the phone to see the words “Hyunnie” blinking on and off.

“HeeJoo yah! It’s me, your handsome boyfriend!”

Knowing what I knew, the sound of such a cheerful AnChilHyun revolted me. I clenched my teeth tightly in order to hold in the insults that threatened to pour out. Still believing it was HeeJoo who he was speaking to, AnChilHyun chattered away about his day.

“—EeSeul bought me a whole box of banana—“

A name that I would never be able to hear without angering myself, I no longer could hold in my explosive fury.

”ANCHILHYUN! YOU FU.CKING AS.SHOLE! DON’T EVER CALL HEEJOO AGAIN!”

Knowing that HeeJoo would absolutely freak if she knew of this, I quickly hung up and began to pace the elevator. Due to the very small area, I began to dizzy myself due to pacing in small circles. Just as I leaned against the elevator wall, HeeJoo’s phone rang piercingly. Seeing that it was the fu.cking heart again, I contemplated on whether I should answer it or not. I decided against it, and quickly open and shut the phone. Within seconds the phone began to ring again. Two could play this game. I quickly open and shut it once more. The pri.ck sure was persistent. After the fifth missed call, I finally answered the annoying loud ringing of HeeJoo’s phone.

“WHAT?! DID I SAY TO CALL BACK!? I SAID NOT TO EVER CALL HEEJOO AGAIN!? DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND KOREAN?! HOW BOUT ENGLISH?! NO PHONE HEEJOO STUPID!”

I definitely should not have added the English part.

“Where’s HeeJoo? I didn’t call to hear your loud voice. Let me speak to HeeJoo.”

There were so many specific characteristics I hated about AnChilHyun. I’m not sure if it’s an unbiased opinion, and it probably isn’t, but I can’t help but to see myself hating him more and more as the days go by. As much as I try to like the pri.ck, every time I decide to give the fu.cker a chance, he turns around and ruins it.

-pompous
-immature
-selfish
-dense
-egotistical

“Don’t think too hard, you’ll hurt yourself.”

When had the elevator doors opened? Why was AnChilHyun standing outside of the elevators? Did he just deliberately call me stupid?

Now it was my turn to play the role of “pri.ck.” I walked right past AnChilHyun, and quickly sped up to a sprint as soon as I heard his trailing footsteps. Due to my lack of exercise, I could feel that I was slowing down, and AnChilHyun was speeding up. If I didn’t do something quick, he would catch me. Taking a quick turn, my Physic’s teacher’s voice boomed throughout my head.

“Newton’s Law of Motion. Every object in a state of uniform motion tends to remain in that state of motion unless an external force is applied to it.”

The sudden turn I made proved to be the force applied to change my state of uniform motion. Why in the world was I thinking of physics and Newton’s Law of Motion while my body was quite rapidly headed towards the cement floor? Would thinking up a reasonable excuse for falling, lessen the pain that was soon to come? Probably not.

THUD

“OW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

ChilHyun stood above me. His slender finger pointed down at the ground, as he pityingly shook his head. I looked up with one eye squinted shut in pain.

“Poor ground. You probably really hurt it.”

BAST.ARD!

There was no way I was going to be some helpless girl that had to rely on some pri.ck! I pushed myself off the ground only to fall flat back down. I winced out in pain. This was definitely not going to be easy. Laying my flat hands on the cement I once again attempted to lift myself up, but was pushed down by AnChilHyun. Gritting my teeth he rolled up his sleeves and began rolling up my left pant leg.

“WHAT YOU DOING?!”

Ignoring my flabbergasted outburst, AnChilHyun started to examine my leg. Noticing that he was pulling out a handkerchief, I looked down at my leg to see blood spurting out of a large gash right below my knee.

Blood…dark crimson blood…warm blood dripping down my leg…my blood…

“Bl…bloo…blood…”

I couldn’t handle it anymore.

Blackness.
 

Tainted Memories of Issey Miyake // 19

”BoHyung you just have to try it! It’s wonderful! Absolutely wonderful! They’re like little puppies, except potty trained! It’s just great!”

It was too bad it was rude to cover your ears when a person was speaking to you. My good friend, HwangYuRa. Someone you could classify as beautiful. Actually beautiful doesn’t do YuRa justice. A girl that is stopped in the streets and offered million dollar modeling contracts. A girl all your male friends have crushed on at least once in their live. A girl who has everything. HwangYuRa.

“You should give it a try BoHyung! I mean come on, honestly, don’t the high school guys look totally hot in their school uniforms? You’ve got to agree. I know you do.”

“I don’t know YuRa...”

As if reassurance was needed, YuRa started to pull her cell phone out. Jamming the screen in front of my face YuRa quickly showed a picture of her young boyfriend.

“Isn’t he cute?! He’s 2 years younger than us, but he’s so good! It’s loads better than dating some older guy.”

I’ve met younger guys, and trust me, they aren’t that much better. They’re probably worse!

“BoHyung is that your phone?”

“Huh?”

I looked into my back pack to see my phone throwing it’s own personal light show.

“Hello?”

“UNNIE! Where are you?! COME OVER HERE RIGHT NOW!”

NaLi’s fuming voice jumbled into my head and whizzed around like a bullet. As quickly as I could I pulled the phone away from my sensitive ears. and Massaging my ears due to NaLi’s high pitched sting, I pulled the phone back to my ear.

“What’s wrong? Did something happen at school? Are you okay?”

“Is it true that you’re dating JaeJoong sunbae?! It’s not true right?! I mean it can’t possibly be true! That’s just insane! Unnie you aren’t right?!”

JaeJoong?! Me date JaeJoong?! Maybe he thinks so, but that’s because he’s last place in his class! He can’t help he’s stupid!

“It’s not true NaLi. Don’t worry.”

Unwilling to accept my answer, NaLi’s boisterous voice quickly shot back.

I’m pretty sure NaLi is hopping around in circles while talking to me. She tends to overwhelm herself. Unable to keep her exploding emotions inside, NaLi usually has to physically act out in order not to explode from her vigorous sentiments.

“No unnie! I can’t believe you until you tell me to my face! I’m off in about an hour, so meet me at Boria okay?! Be there unnie! If you’re not there I’m going to give that squeaky voiced twerp your address! And don’t think I won’t unnie!”

Yes NaLi, I know you’re fully capable of doing such a horrid thing.

“I’ll see you there NaLi. Get back to class.”

As NaLi pulled away the phone I could hear her voice getting softer and softer, but I could still hear her mumbling about the world coming to an end. My poor NaLi. So easily overwhelmed by such miniscule things.

“What’s not true? Is NaLi ditching class? What’s going on! Fill me in! I want to watch the high school drama too.”

I wish there was just one person in my vicinity that would act their age. I’m not asking for two, or three, or a hundred, but just one. Is it that hard God?

“I’ll call you later YuRa.”

Quicker than a cheetah, YuRa grabbed onto the strap of my backpack.

“I want to watch the high school drama too! I want to go too BoHyung! Come on!”

“I thought you were meeting up with puppy.”

It was long ago that I stopped referring to YuRa’s boyfriend by his name.

“Oh yea...you have to take me next time okay? Okay? Promise?”

YuRa hugged me loosely and watched as I entered a taxi cab parked on the sidewalk. The whole way there, all I could think about was my old high school teachers gossiping about a girl named SuhBoHyung that used to go to JoongAng, currently dating some under aged student.

I paid the taxi driver and wearily got out. Looking up at the familiar Boria sign, I looked at my watch to see that there was still forty minutes to spare before NaLi would be out. Before I could even decide on how to waste my forty minutes, a light voice greeted me brightly.

“Good afternoon BoHyung noona.”

Telling by the politeness, it had to be ChangHyun’s younger brother, ShimChangMin. Of course I was on the dot. The tall lanky boy, smiled brightly at me and bowed a little too deeply. I’m not that old.

“Hi ChangMin! Why aren’t you in class?!”

He doesn’t seem like the slacker type, but you could never tell! Looks are so deceiving these days!

“Oh, JaeJoong hyung pulled me out of class to go buy some medicine.”

KimJaeJoong, if you’re going to be last place, be last place by yourself! Why do you have to pull along sweet ol’ ChangMin!

“He just pulled you out like that?! You can do that? Medicine for what?”

“Oh it’s okay. My last class is study hall anyway.”

If I wasn’t mistaken, ChangMin was headed towards Boria too. Medicine for what?

“What’s that for?”

I pointed at the black plastic bag with the words “Lee’s Pharmacy” printed on it with tacky green font. Mr. Lee sure had bad taste, whoever he was.

“Oh. JaeJoong hyung wanted me to get anti depressants for JoonSoo Hyung.”

They sold anti depressants over the counter?! Wait! Anti depressants for JoonSoo?! JaeJoong? JoonSoo? Huh?!

ChangMin seemed genuinely worried. I must have been sporting quite a few different facial expressions.

“Noona, are you okay? Do you need some medicine too? I can go buy some. How about some water? You want me to go buy you some water? Do you need to sit down?”

“What’s wrong with JoonSoo?”

“He’s depressed because you’re dating JaeJoong hyung.”

SAYS WHO?! WHY DOES EVERYONE KNOW I’M DATING JAEJOONG, EXCEPT ME?! We’re not dating!

“That’s not true! I don’t date last place!”

Shocked at my outburst, ChangMin accidentally dropped the black plastic bag. I quickly bent down to pick up the medicine packets. Powdered medicine. I let the one of the bags rest in my palm.

“What exactly do these do?”

“I’m not sure. JaeJoong hyung just stole someone’s prescription from his class.”

STEAL SOMEONE’S PRESCRIPTION?! IS HE INSANE?! That’s completely illegal! The kid is mentally unstable! How can anyone ever even think about stealing someone’s—

“ShimChangMin! Is that the bit.ch?! Is that her?!”

“Noona, hide behind me!”

ChangMin stepped in front of me, and I couldn’t help but to rip open the comforting bag of powdered medicine. I didn’t even have to guess, but it was the worse idea to show up here. Ripping open a corner I bent my head back and poured the bitter medicine in my mouth. Dryness overwhelmed my throat as swallowed some poor kid’s prescription anti depressants.

KimJaeJoong, you will die at my hands today.

Tainted Memories of Issey Miyake // 20

My eyes rolled around in every direction hoping to find something familiar. I bolted up from a bed, obviously not mine, and looked around at the strange surrounding. The first thing that caught my attention was a neatly hung JoongAng uniform. A guy’s uniform. A guy’s uniform with the nametag, AnChilHyun attached to it.

AnChilHyun…the pri.ck? This can’t be. Why in the world would I be in his room?

I slid out of the bed and placed my feet on the heated floor. As soon as I stood up, my painful ankle immediately answered my unanswered question, and I began to limp out of my enemy’s room. I decided to play James Bond, and snuck out of the room unwilling to get caught and harassed by AnChilHyun. The glistening door welcomed me as I tiptoed towards it.

“Where are you going?!”

A high-pitched voice caused me to stumble against the door. I weakly turned around and looked at a petite lady staring at me with a horrified look across her face. She looks like a female version of AnChilHyun, except at least a head shorter, and a lot prettier. No wonder he looked so girly. I bowed deeply and opened my mouth to talk, but couldn’t figure out what in the world to say.

“I’m no doctor, but your ankle shouldn’t be walked on like that.”

“But—“

“Don’t worry, ChilHyun went to buy a brace. We’ll have our driver drive you home after ChilHyun gets home.”

But Mrs. An, I hate your son!

“The thing is—“

“Come have a seat dear. You shouldn’t be standing like that. Oh Lord! We should change those bandages on your leg. Seems like the blood seeped through a bit.”

A dizzy spell overtook me as I quickly looked away from the red blotch against the Band-Aid. Limping towards the black leather couches, Mrs. An took hold of my hand and warmly helped me to my seat. How could such a kind little lady have such a fu.cker for a son?! How?! Why?!

“All that blood must have been a little too much to handle for you. It must have been a nasty fall.”

Mrs. An looked at me sympathetically. She sat the edge of her seat and picked up a half peeled yellowish green apple. I watched as her tiny fingers smoothly maneuvered the knife around the apple. Everything about Mrs. An was petite and lady like. Too bad I wasn’t like that.

“Thank you for letting me stay here Mrs. An.”

“Oh, it’s nothing at all. I mean I was scared mindless when ChilHyun ran in with you on his back. I thought maybe a car had run you over! You know, with all the blood on your leg and ChilHyun so frantic.”

He carried me home? HE CARRIED ME?! I haven’t lost any weight yet. That means he must have some kind of hypothesis on how much I weigh! He can’t! NO! He’ll never let it go! Why couldn’t he just drag me?!

“So BoHyung, you’re friends with HeeJoo?”

Oh yea, they were all family friends.

“Yes ma’am. We’ve been friends for quite a bit now.”

“I see…you must have met HeeJoo after she changed…”

Mrs. An spoke to herself more than anything.

“HeeJoo’s a lot better now.”

There was a sad smile that told me I didn’t know as much as I thought I did.

“When HeeJoo was a child, she was the most energetic thing on Earth. Then all that nonsense happened at school, and she’s never been the same since. I think…I think ChilHyun is on a mission to bring back our old HeeJoo. I know he misses her dearly…”

Once again Mrs. An spoke out to no one in particular. I tried not to stir in hopes Mrs. An would continue talking if she didn’t realize I was there. Unfortunately she had finished pealing the apple, and was getting ready to offer me some.

“SuhBoHyung, you’re perfectly fine. I just made a useless trip to the pharmacy!”

Mrs. An and I both turned our heads simultaneously, as we watched AnChilHyun walking in with a black plastic bag. He tried to play off the fact that he had run to and from the pharmacy, but the obvious puddles of sweat falling off his face made it quite impossible not to assume. AnChilHyun tiredly plopped down at the end of the couch, farthest from me. Without saying a single thing, he picked up a sliced apple, and then threw the bag into my lap.

“ChilHyun ah, you’re not supposed to throw things at young ladies. Pick it up and hand it to BoHyung.”

When hell freezes over!

I couldn’t believe what was happening before my eyes! AnChilHyun immediately grabbed the plastic bag from my lap and held it out before me. He made sure his mother couldn’t see by turning his body towards me, and began to glare while mouthing the words “die.” So AnChilHyun’s number two weakness was his mother. Banana milk, then mom.

“Thanks a bunch.”

I daintily picked up the bag from his held out hand and peeked inside. From the outside it didn’t seem like much, but looking inside the bag I found a week’s supply of painkillers, a new package of bandages, some scar prevention cream, and a black slip on brace. His mother probably forced him to.

“Thank you so much for your hospitality Mrs. An. I should head home before my parents start to worry.”

I got up from my seat, as did AnChilHyun and Mrs. An. Mrs. An slightly nodded, and immediately ChilHyun’s far from comforting hand took hold of my elbow as he awkwardly helped me towards the door.

“ChilHyun, I’ll just see you tomorrow. You don’t have to take me—“

“Nonsense! Don’t worry about it BoHyung, ChilHyun should be more than glad to take his girlfriend’s best friend home.”

But I don’t want to go with him!

I had lost. There was nothing but silence between the two of us. Looking out the window I pulled out a powder packet of painkillers. Although I hated taking medicine without water, I decided swallowing some bitter powder was better than putting up with the aching in my ankle.

I began to fiddle with the white square packet with the local pharmacy logo printed on it. I squished around feeling for how much powder there was. Slowly ripping open the packet, when all of a sudden AnChilHyun silently pulled out an unopened water bottle from the front seat pocket. His true self showing, AnChilHyun threw the water bottle at me, which hit me square in the arm.

“That hurt.”

“I’m sorry, I thought all that fat of yours would protect you from it.”

I didn’t even have enough time to stop myself.

“OW! WHAT THE HELL!”

Somehow the water bottle that had hit me in the arm bounced off of AnChilHyun’s head. I really really didn’t think my arm would throw it. I mean I thought about it, but I didn’t tell my arm to throw it. Maybe I did subconsciously.

“Why are you hitting me?! I carried your fat as.s all the way to my house, ran to the da.mn pharmacy for you, and I’m even accompanying you home! All this, even though you haven’t bought me my freaking banana milks! What do I get in return? A water bottle thrown at my head?!”

Two light coughs interrupted what was soon to become a heated argument. I looked out the halted car, and realized we were parked before my apartment complex. Thanking the driver I began to step out of the car, but not without having the last word.

“I HOPE ALL THE BANANA MILK IN KOREA ROTS!”

Tainted Memories of Issey Miyake // 21

”ShimChangMin! Is that her?! IS THAT HER?!”

It was the loudest female voice I’ve ever heard in my life. I felt like the whole street was shivering at the booming voice. Too afraid to peek out, I attached myself to ChangMin’s back and continued to suck on my tongue, trying to rid the powdery feeling in my mouth. Telling from the voice of the girl, she would surely beat the living sh.it out of me. I am truly scared of high school students now.

“ShiHyun noona, the thing is…um…”

ShimChangMin, if you stutter like that she’ll know you’re lying to her!

“SHIMCHANGMIN! DO YOU WANT TO DIE?! MOVE NOW!”

Poor ChangMin. I couldn’t let him deal with such a terrifying girl by himself. Dearest ChangMin, since my cousin has a little thing for you, I will save you! Leave it to BoHyung noona!

I took a step sideways and boldly stood on the left side of ChangMin. I was afraid my tongue would be cut off if I didn’t stop biting down, but I was too afraid I would burst out in a fit of giggles if I did not.

Standing at a towering height of less than 5 feet, a small girl with short bouncy hair stood staring up at ChangMin. Although tiny and petite, the girl named ShiHyun, possessed quite an air of power around her. There was something about the way she placed her frail hands along her waist and looked up at you. It was interesting how, even though she looked up, you felt like she was looking down. It sure wasn’t physically possible, but having a mental affect seemed much worse. I couldn’t help but to notice how impossibly large her eyes were. Unlike the rest of Korea and their mother’s, this ShiHyun girl didn’t have the highly in demand, double eyelids. Of course, it’s not like she needed it. Not only did this girl have round ball shaped eyes, her very long European eyelashes helped accentuate her unique eyes. I was jealous.

“Are you SuhBoHyung?!”

“ShiHyun noona, you see…JoonSoo hyung is—“

“Shut up ChangMin! Did I ask you?!”

Scary midget girl!

“Bu…bu…but…ShiHyun noona…JoonSoo hyung…”

“SHIMCHANGMIN!”

We both watched ChangMin’s gangly arm point up at a window of Boria. Very unlike his normal self, JoonSoo glared down at the three of us, and as if God himself was ascending from the skies, ShiHyun quickly took my former position behind ChangMin’s back.

“ShiHyun noona, you better go upstairs and say sorry to JoonSoo hyung. He looks mad.”

We looked like a walking staircase. ChangMin entered first at way tall, then me at middle height, and lastly the midget. The three of us must have been a site to see. Once again Boria was filled with JoongAng students, even though school was still in session. I was glad NaLi was a good kid and studying in class.



”Who the hell do you think you are?! You think you’re so great because you look like a little girl and all these ugly girls follow you around?! Why are you spreading lies about my unnie! I thought the squeaky voiced idiot was bad, but you must be at least ten times worse!”

SuhNaLi! You’re supposed to be in class!

“Hey old hag, take this chipmunk. She’s been going off for the last twenty minutes or something.”

Oh KimJaeJoong, you really shouldn’t call NaLi names.

“UNNIE! Will you do something about this as.shole?! Why are you letting some stupid bigheaded man wh.ore tell lies all around the school?! Do you know how many fu.cking girls harassed me today?! BoHyung unnie stop standing there!”

Please NaLi, please stop hopping around and yelling. Everyone is staring at us.

ChangMin walked over to JaeJoong and handed him the black plastic bag. He pulled out 6 packets of powdered anti depressants. Anti depressants prescribed to someone else. Taking nothing of it, JaeJoong held out the medicine towards a bent over head.

“KimJoonSoo, here take this. It’ll make you feel better.”

On the verge of tears, JoonSoo looked up from his crossed arms and gave a foul look towards an impassive JaeJoong. It was extremely strange looking at such a depressed JoonSoo. Maybe he really did need those anti depressants.

“I don’t want them! You probably poisoned them so I would die! Then you could trick my noona into dating you! I don’t need your poisoned medicine JaeJoongie hyung!”

As soon as JoonSoo was done with his reply, he pointed his finger at the suddenly quiet girl standing next to me. Just a second ago this girl was on the verge of cutting off my head, and now she was hiding behind me. Such strange kids.

“Hey, OhShiHyun! If I ever see you yelling at my noona like that again, I’m not going to forgive you okay?! JaeJoong hyung already yells at her enough about looking like an old hag and her cousin looks like an alien! You don’t need to add on!”

JoonSoo…you aren’t helping.

With the last word of “on” JoonSoo immediately dropped his head back down into his crossed arms. Maybe he really was depressed!

“BoHyung unnie, make things clear RIGHT now! Are you dating him?! Huh?!”

NaLi’s finger accusingly pointed at JaeJoong.

Why in the world did the café suddenly become silent? And why was everyone looking at me?

“Why would I be dating him? I don’t know how such a rumor spread, but I barely know the kid! NaLi, I thought you knew me better than that.”

“NOONA!”

JoonSoo’s skinny body came running at me like a bull headed towards a teasing matador. Before I could avoid JoonSoo’s charge, my whole body was being held into a tight hug by an overwhelmed JooNSoo.

“ShingShing gum boy! Get off my unnie! Get off! Get off! Get off!”

“No! She’s my noona!”

This wasn’t some cartoon where you could rip someone in half and like magic they would reattach themselves. NaLi pulled at one arm, and JoonSoo the other. As if all this was not enough, midge girl didn’t seemed to pleased with JoonSoo.

“KimJoonSoo stop it!”

Now midget girl was involved too. As JoonSoo tugged at one of my arms, midge girl wrapped her tiny arms around his waist and began to pull in a different direction. Everyone in the café, including the workers, sipped at their drinks and watched in fascination.

*thump**thump**thump*

JaeJoong stood before the four of us holding a composition book. Learning to Speak American. Volume 6. JoonSoo, NaLi, and ShiHyun had all gotten thumped on the head by Learning to Speak American. It would take three…two…one…

“Do you want to die sunbae?!”

“JaeJoongie hyung, why did you hit me too?!”

”OPPA!!”

Pure chaos. Chaos that got quieter and quieter? Wait a minute…for some reason I was being pulled out of the café…down the stairs…into the street…

Why was I being dragged by KimJaeJoong?



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