SAY YES
When the coffee is finished Yeji retreats to her room. Her mother’s wish is echoing in her mind. “Then maybe you can ask her?” She had said, and Yeji had agreed. With an increasing heartbeat she had left the dining room behind to walk up the stairs leading to her bedroom. Asking Ryujin this favor would mean another reason to talk to her. If she agrees it would even mean meeting her again, not just passing by her classroom or seeing her from a distance in the school corridor. It would be another opportunity to look into those captivating eyes. But should she call or text her? They have never talked on the phone before, has only chatted. Perhaps Yeji should continue with that?
Yeji lays down on her bed with her phone in her hand. She opens the chat conversation with Ryujin. The last messages are from a few days ago. After Ryujin had left Yeji hesitated to whether she should text her a “thank you for today I had fun message”, but after half an hour of dwelling she had decided to forget about it, that is was either too late or just awkward. Or was it? Yeji had a hard time convincing herself to stop thinking about the potential lost reason to chat with Ryujin. However, destiny has now played another attempt in her hands, and this time there is no holding back.
She starts typing but finds it too formal and deletes the whole text. Then she starts writing again but finds it overly happy. She sighs loudly and gives it a third try. It’s just to send something; she tries to convince herself. Her mother needs the help and the faster an answer the better.
With a quiet but slightly panicked sound she sends the question and collapses with extended arms over her soft bed. She bounces with the movements which slowly fades out. As she lies completely still she stares into the white ceiling. The only thing heard is the sound of ticking from the alarm clock on her bedside table. Well, now all she can do is wait, and so she does. Half an hour passes and not a sound has come from the phone. Yeji hasn’t dared to even look at it, fearing that she would see something undesirable, something like the answer no.
After another half hour Yeji still hasn’t moved from her bed. This time however she does have picked up her phone. While scrolling through her social media feed she lays there, trying to resist the urge of going through Ryujin’s pictures. However, she fails and ends up looking through Ryujin’s twitter account. Through the years she has been quite active and both posted and retweeted several post, even though the last post was from several months ago. Yeji starts reading from the top of the feed, a retweet from a politician about inclusion of groups in the society. Yeji raises her eyebrows. She had no idea Ryujin was interested in politics and social questions. Actually more than half of her tweets are related to this. Every now and then there are some casual everyday tweets about funny incidents or questions about life which causes Yeji to smile for herself. However, that changes when she stumbles upon a specific tweet that Ryujin has written herself. It reads:
“I get so sad when people ask me about my love life and ask if I have a boyfriend. It’s like taking for granted that I’m straight. Please don’t do that, to anyone. You never know.”
Yeji lowers her phone. Is Ryujin, not straight? Could that be? Or why did she did write that?
When laying there, contemplating the last tweet, she receives a text message. It’s from Ryujin. As in a gunshot Yeji sits straight up on her bed. She eyes through the message several times just to make sure she’s not missing anything.
“Sure, I can help!” The message starts. “I have nothing booked that date.”
Yeji immediately throws herself over the answer box. “Great!” She starts her text. “My mother will be utterly grateful for your assistance.”
After she has pressed the send button she stares blankly at the screen. Did she sound too formal? Utterly grateful for your assistance? As if she’s some kind of government employee. She grunts in frustration and throws her head back. Take it easy now, don’t over analyze it.
Another notification sound is heard and Yeji reads the response. “I’m sure she will. By the way, have you started studying for a driver’s license?”
Yeji answers. “A little, how about you?”
“I’m studying right now actually. I hope to pass as soon as I turn the right age. Would you like to help me out? Like tomorrow after school?”
Yeji’s heart stops for a second. Is she inviting her to hang out, again? Well, last time was a semi-question, but this time Ryujin really asks straight out.
While almost hovering on a soft pink cloud in the sky Yeji replies. “Sure, see you at the school entrance? What time do you finish?”
“At 15.30, how about you?” Ryujin answers.
“At 15 but I can wait for you.” Yeji ads a happy smiley emoji, which properly mirrors her own face and inner feeling. She can hardly wait until tomorrow.
After another half hour Yeji still hasn’t moved from her bed. This time however she does have picked up her phone. While scrolling through her social media feed she lays there, trying to resist the urge of going through Ryujin’s pictures. She freezes at the realization. Is she turning into Hanguk, turning as obsessed with Ryujin as he is? No, it’s not that bad. She can still hold herself back, she doesn’t throw stuff or call out ugly names. On the other hand, Yeji has nothing to be mad about. Then why are her thoughts this centered around Ryujin? Because there is no denying, she has come to that conclusion now, there is something special with Ryujin.