ISLA
After the revelation Ji-hoon made, he gave everyone a memo as a warning for disobeying the good conduct in the premise of the university, whether we are both inside or out of the campus.
Then, he asked me and Su-bin to stay so as to speak with us about what was going on.
"Moon Su-bin.” Ji-hoon got up from his seat and went in front of the desk to talk to us very seriously. “I should’ve known that your motive was to hurt Isla after hearing the news about your courtship.”
Su-bin shook his head. “That’s not true. You got it all wrong. I-I didn't want this to happen.”
"Do you know what I don’t understand? The fact that you guys are so mad at him for choosing me more than Isla who wasn’t even part of his life for a long time. Are they really even in love with each other?" Na-bi questioned irritatedly.
"If Su-bin is in love with you, how come he wasted his time courting Isla?" Lav asked her.
Na-bi smirked as she glanced at her manicured fingernails. "Maybe he just needed someone to hook up with because he’s bored and it happened to be that Isla was the unluc–"
Ji-hoon groaned, which cut Na-bi from speaking before looking directly at Su-bin. "Can you make her shut up? Because if you won’t, then I will. And that would be for the rest of her life.”
I saw how Su-bin touched Na-bi by her arms to make her stop talking and she immediately obeyed like a good girl.
I tried to look away and spotted Min-hyuk looking at me with a slight combination of sadness and madness seen in his eyes.
“Now that you guys are here in one room, I think it would be better if you talk about your problems already instead of fighting outside in public,” Ji-hoon explained.
“What do you have to say for what you did to Isla?” Lav questioned him.
It took Su-bin long enough before able to respond. He just looked at me, but I immediately dodged his stares. It hurts me that I cannot even look at him anymore.
“I did not lie when I told Isla about my real feelings, but I was also not sure of how she felt for me… mostly when it took her long enough before giving me a response,” Su-bin said.
“Is that the reason why you decided to get Seo Na-bi to be your reserved woman so that your feelings won’t fuck up?” Lav asked him.
“It is true that Na-bi was my real first love... and I have to admit that the feelings I had for Isla were the longing feelings I am having for Na-bi when she's away,” Su-bin added.
As I continued to listen to what he was saying, I couldn’t help myself from crying silently. I’ve never been lied to like this in my entire life.
“Isla,” I heard Ji-hoon call my name so I glanced at him. “Do you have anything to say to Su-bin after everything you heard?”
I gulped as I started to think of anything to say. However, I can’t come up with anything. I don’t even know if I could give the right words for him to realize he did me wrong.
“I got confused with my feelings, Isla. And I’m so sorry,” Su-bin spoke to me.
I sighed as I looked at him. “You should be ashamed of what you did. Not to me, but your sister, Su-min.”
I noticed a different reaction on his face as I said those words to him.
“I’m not the only one you fooled with your pathetic lies, but also Su-min because she believed in you. And you wasted that. If you only know how much she looked up to you for being so bold with your confession to me, you would regret everything.”
He remained speechless while staring at me, so I got up from my seat and decided to walk out of the office.
“Wait, Isla–”
I stopped walking for a moment. “I don't want to hear anything anymore. And more of that, I think I heard everything you have to say to me.”
Since that day, I stopped seeing or even having anything to do with Su-bin. I felt tired of thinking about the way he played with my feelings even though I can sense that he might be just hiding something from me. That's why he suddenly turned out to be that kind of person.
It just felt surreal because he was really different before. I don’t know. I tried my best to show them I’ve moved on, but the truth is that I still cry deep inside.
The summer break has come and everyone is so excited to attend the field trip. Mr. Woo-jin decided to grant the incoming graduates a two-days vacation before the final exams arrive.
Everyone was so excited for a whole week before the day of the field trip finally arrived. Taek-woon was the one who booked a tour bus from Seoul to Gangwon-do.
Gangwon is a mountainous, forested province in the northeast of South Korea, the reason it was our chosen destination for us to go to. Plus, it will only take us an hour and a half to arrive there.
“Mom, I have to go now!” I yelled as I rushed to the living room.
“Aren’t you going to eat breakfast first?” she asked.
“I can’t. I’m going to be late! The bus might leave me!” I quickly opened the door out of the penthouse but my mom ran to me before handing me a bag with a lunchbox inside.
I stopped for a moment to look at her. “Thank you.”
“Be safe there,” she said. "And also share this with Su-bin."
I forgot to tell her that I'm not seeing Su-bin in the meantime even though we haven't broken up yet. I just don't have the courage to face him and talk to him.
I hugged my mom before finally bidding goodbye to her and leaving the house. It took almost a few more minutes before the actual departure of the bus and luckily I reached SADI just in time.
I quickly ran up inside the bus which made everyone there look at me. It was so embarrassing because I’m the only one who was late.
“Oh, Isla. It’s a good thing you’re here before the bus leaves,” Taek-woon told me.
I smiled at him awkwardly before slightly bowing my head. Then, I started to find my seat. Of course, the first thing I did was to look for Lav because I am supposed to be sitting beside her.
But, my attention was completely caught by Su-bin and Na-bi sitting next to each other, although they’re not even normally conversing. I casually passed by their seat when Na-bi suddenly clung into his arms.
I ignored them and continued to walk past them. Then, I saw Lav calling for my attention while Min-hyuk was already standing from what was supposed to be his seat.
I approached them. “What are you guys doing?”
“Min-hyuk is giving you his seat,” Lav said, trying to pull me down.
“Are you sure?” I asked before looking at Min-hyuk.
“Yes. I’ll look for somewhere else to sit,” he said.
He was about to walk away but I stopped him by holding him in his arms.
“Why?” Min-hyuk asked me.
“You don’t have to do it for me. You can stay beside Lav,” I said before walking away from them.
As I went further to the end of the bus, I saw Eun-woo sitting on the right corner and Ji-hoon on the left corner. Since the seat on the back is wide, I decided to sit in between them.
“Aren’t you going to sit with your friends?” Ji-hoon asked me.
I smiled at him. “They’re all occupied. Plus, aren’t you and Eun-woo my friends too?”
I glanced at Eun-woo and he wasn’t even looking at me. He remained to stare outside the window. I don't know what's wrong with him… or maybe he just got into a fight with Ji-hoon again.
"I won't complain," Ji-hoon smiled at me. He's really such a sweet guy.
It didn't take us long before the bus started moving. Then, there is Taek-woon who turned out to be our tour guide and the TA at the same time.
He suddenly took our attention. "So, have you all had breakfast before coming here?"
"How can we eat breakfast if your call time is earlier than the rooster crowing?" Nana questioned him which made some of us laugh.
"That's the point of it," Taek-woon said. "And on our way to Gangwon-do, I've brought some food packs here which are obviously for breakfast–"
"Are you giving it to us for free?" Woo-hyun exclaimed. "Guys, we have a free breakfast!"
Everyone followed his cheer, causing laughter inside the bus.
"Alright, alright." Taek-woon gestured for us to be quiet. "In order to get free breakfast, everyone needs to play a game."
"Just give it to us," Ji-hoon told him, which made them laugh. "You said it's free, isn't it?"
"There is nothing free in this world anymore, Ji-hoon. You need to face some challenges before getting what you like or want," Taek-woon said.
I couldn't help but suck in all those words that Taek-woon just said. It just hit me right into the core.
"Then, let's play the game!" Na-bi suddenly suggested it and almost everyone agreed with her.
I could only just roll my eyes in disbelief.
"Aren't we not supposed to leave the seat just like the bus driver said earlier?" Myung-soo asked Na-bi.
Nana spoke to Myung-soo, answering him. "Why? Do you think when playing games you should be standing and moving around? I can't believe those words are coming from the guy who actually played with my feelings while sitting still!"
"WHOA!!!" We were almost deafened by the screams inside the bus.
What the hell is going on with these two? Don't tell me Nana has feelings for Myung-soo all this time! It could also explain why I caught a glimpse of Nana sitting alone while Myung-soo and Woo-hyun were sitting together.
Taek-woon suddenly showed us a few hundred dollar bills in his right hand. "This will be the reward for those who will win the game."
"And what game exactly?" Mizuki asked him.
"Truth or dare. You know the rules," Taek-woon said.
Na-bi suddenly raised her hand. "Would you still care to explain to those students who are not even Korean?"
"Are you being serious right now?" Lav told her. "You're just straight-up insulting me and Isla."
"I didn't mention names. You did," Na-bi smirked at her before rolling her eyes.
"Okay. I'll be saying the instructions for everyone to understand and be reminded of, not because some of you here are not Koreans," Taek-woon said. "The rule of truth or dare is very simple. Choose the truth if you can say the truth and do the dare if you cannot say the truth."
"Who is going to ask questions or give dares to the players?" Woo-hyun asked him.
"I will," Taek-woon replied.
"Ah why you?!" Myung-soo exclaimed.
Ji-hoon commented, "That's really unfair, Taek-woon."
"I know everyone here mostly what most of you have done and hid as a secret," Taek-woon said. "But, don't worry. I will not reveal it."
Most of us remained intimidated by what he said. He must be joking. There's no way he can do it.
"All right, let's start..." Taek-woon took his phone out of his pocket. "Since we cannot spin the bottle or anything, I'll be using an application to put everyone's names who are on the same bus."
As soon as Taek-woon spun the virtual wheel of truth or dare, Nana was chosen.
"Me?!" She exclaimed, pointing to her nose.
"Yes. Truth or dare?" Taek-woon asked her.
"Truth," Nana chose.
Taek-woon nodded. "Who do you think is the most generous amongst these people inside the same bus?"
Nana glanced at all of us, scanning her eyes and looking for someone. Until she looked back at Taek-woon.
"No one."
"Seriously?" Eun-woo commented.
"Let me explain," she replied. "I don't think there is someone generous from you guys because obviously college is not all about teamwork. Therefore, I haven't seen or experienced meeting someone who can give more of something."
"Very well explained, Oh Nana," Taek-woon said. "Now, it's Nana's turn to ask a question for the next player who will be chosen."
The virtual wheel spun again and it chose Eun-woo. Nana quickly looked at him as we also glanced at my stepbrother who has a resting bitch face.
"Eun-woo, truth or dare?" Nana asked him.
"Truth," he answered boredly.
"If ever you're in love or fallen in love with someone, confirm if that person is inside this bus with us."
It took him a few seconds of silence while everyone remained to stare at him, waiting for his answer. I noticed that everyone was really focused on him, even Taek-woon.
"I confirm." I carefully glanced at him and saw him looking at me.