maybe feelings

"Good morning class," the lecturer says from the board upfront, interrupting any and all conversations that were happening.

Mostly because none of us recognise him. Also because this is probably the first time in my two years of university that I've seen a young lecturer other than my brother. Maybe he's a young genius like Hajoon too.

"Ooh, check out the looks on that one," Jia says softly, tapping her chin like she always does when she's impressed by something.

"Don't ogle," is Micheal's response, but the way his eyes are also fixed on the new lecturer is very contradictory to his statement.

On the one hand, the presence of this new guy has diverted my friends' attention from the genie. On the other hand, my glaring time got cut short. Nonetheless, I mentally prepare to make ignoring Cal for the rest of the period my mission.

It won't be too hard - I also focus in class. Sometimes. If it's interesting. Okay fine, on very few occasions. But just like this morning's class, I'm determined to just get this day over with and getting as much information about this damn necklace as quick as I can. That's the other mission.

"So," the guest lecturer says from the front, looking at the crowd with a sweet smile. "For this who don't know me, my name is Jung Lee." From here, I can tell that he's tall; maybe even as tall as Hajoon (wow, even more similarities with my brother) and he's sporting a good looking pink mullet.

As if reading my mind, Micheal nudges me in the side before commenting, "Looks like you and the hottie are hair twins."

"Don't be silly, Micheal," I say with a scoff, but a little laugh escapes as well. It's a good thing I'm bad at maths, because I don't think I could work out the odds of this happening. Let's just call it a coincidence.

"I'm a master's degree student in the faculty of Geology, and this is my first time teaching a college class," he says, and some people giggle in response. Probably because if the effortless way he says it, I don't know. "I was just chilling one day, procrastinating as usual when my buddy Dr. Kim Hajoon called me up and said that they want a knew guest lecturer for this Anthropology class."

"Oh, he knows your brother?" Jia asks, looking at me in surprise. I shrug, because let's face it - I have absolutely no clue who exactly Hajoon is friends with. I mean, there's a whole nine years difference between us anyway; no way am I keeping up with everything.

"Seems like it," I mutter, trying to look at my left where Cal is seated. For someone who doesn't like keeping his mouth shut, he sure is super silent right now. Not that I'm complaining about it or anything - if only he was like this all the damn time.

"In fact," Jung Lee says, looking over the classroom with increased interest, "I'm given to believe that his younger sister is in this class as well?"

And unfortunately for me, everyone here in Gangnam International University knows that I'm the adopted sister of Dr Kim Hajoon. So everyone present feels the need to turn around that very second and look me straight in the eye.

I blink a few times, trying to force myself not to hyperventilate. You see, the thing about a lot of people staring at you is the fact that it reminds too much of back then - back when a lot of people came and saw me and asked questions and assigned me to different people that do the same thing all over again.

For a six year old who had just been abandoned by her only parent, it was quite the overwhelming experience. And not a day goes by where I just want to forget those sets of memories in the first place.

"Oh, there you are," Jung Lee says, crooked smile on his face when he sees me. I don't know if it's because of the pink hair or the audience at large - allow me to be deluisional regarding the answer.

I can tell by his expression that he means no harm in his little comment. But that doesn't mean I like being the centre of attention right now. It's why I tend to avoid large social gatherings at large - one of the few things I haven't mentioned to Jaeun in explicit detail yet.

"Uhm, yeah," I say weakly, trying to be polite about the whole thing. But the truth is, my heart is beating wildly right now. I can feel my palms getting more and more sweaty, and controlling my breath is staring to look like a challenge. A large chunk of my being wants to evaporate, to dash right out of this lecture theatre.

I mean, I'm close enough to the door - I could do it. Except for the fact that that would draw even more attention. And Cal is blocking my way to the exit aisle.

"Okay people," someone says aloud, seemingly addressing the crowd. "This isn't an exhibition, you guys can stop staring now." My eyes are wide, but somehow they expand to an even larger size. Because the person who spoke was freaking Cal Monroe.

The genie himself.

Somehow, the other students seem to listen and they all flip around to look back at Jung Lee. He continues talking about something, but I'm too distracted to focus on the content.

I look at Cal, my expression unchanged. I can't decide whether I'm relieved he helped or upset that I'm even paying attention. Again.

"I think the word you're looking for," he whispers, smug smirk on his features, "is thank, Mimi."

And just like that, I'm back to loathing. I grunt a reluctant thank you in response, crossing my arms and looking back to the front of the class.

In the corner of right eye, I can see Micheal whispering something to Jia. She nods enthusiastically in response, and by the look of their expressions, there's no doubt that they're talking about Cal and me.

My supposed new boyfriend. I sigh softly, laying back into the uncomfy chair.

Today is going to be so long...

*

"If you'll excuse me, I have to use the restroom," Cal whispers in my ear suddenly, just as the class ends.

I frown in confusion. "Wait, what?" I ask, flipping my head in his direction before even thinking about packing up or getting up.

"Just because I'm a genie, Mimi," he replies smugly, "doesn't mean I don't have humanly needs. I was human once too, you know." He wiggles his eyebrows suggestively, but for once I'm too baffled to even respond in a snarky manner.

Did he just say that he was... human?

But before I can say anything else, he gets up and leaves. Luckily for me, the bathroom is close enough of a radius to my current position, which means that I don't have to get and like, follow him or something.

More and more people get ready to start leaving, some already out the door by now.

"So," Jia says, bringing me out of my thoughts. "You and the new guy? Cal, was it?"

"Jia," I say shyly, but it's more just a manner to make up for my crimson ears that'll betray me soon enough. "It's not...it's not like..."

"Oh, it's totally like that," Micheal replies bluntly, a knowing smile on his face. "Even the way he defended you a few minutes back. That's not normal stranger behaviour, man."

"Again," Jia says, tucking her hair behind her ear with a sly smile, "where did you meet this guy?"

"Uhm," I reply, trying to avoid eye contact with both of them. "You see..."

And then I do something totally unexpected. To both them and to me. I blurt out an entire different question. Because what better way to avoid lying than to change the subject, right?

"Do you guys where Jaeun brought this necklace?" I ask, holding the dreaded necklace in between my forefinger and thumb.

Jia and Micheal exchange glances, seemingly thrown off by the sudden shift in conversation. They're faces look almost identical, and I instantly feel bad for being vagiue with my firend. Friends are supposed to tell each other everything, right?

"Hey Kiki, you okay?" Jaeun asks, getting up from her seat. Micheal stays in his, leaning in to inspect my necklace lazily.

"Woah," he says nonchalantly. "Jaeun got you that? I wonder where he could've gotten this?"

"He said it was from an antique store," I reply, unsure. I for certain thought that the two of them might know about where he got. "I just, uh, wanted to know more about it?"

Jia raises an eyebrow. She never was one to suffer fools lightly. "Interesting," she says, now crossing her arms over he chest. "You never struck me as the antique type, Kiama. Is there maybe a reason Jaeun got it for you?"

I chuckle nervously once more. "Uhm, no, not really," I say. "He sort of just, surprised me with it?"

Micheal's eyes are still on the necklace. "It is kind of pretty," he says, squinting his eyes on it a little bit. "I can see why he brought it for you."

"So you guys...really don't know where he got it?" I ask again, feeling more and more dread pile in my chest. This means that I'll have to speak to Jaeun again. And things will obviously be awkward. Again.

"Actually, no," Jia says, a thoughtful look on her face. "In fact, he's been quite secretive the last week or so. Wouldn't tell us anything about getting gifts for you or anything."

"Maybe he just wanted to get you this fancy gift in secret," Micheal says, shrugging. "If ask me, that's very cool of him."

"Or very romantic," Jia says with a grin, but she dismisses herself really quick. "But anyway, to answer your question: no, he didn't tell us about this necklace. I mean, he gave you more information than the two of us. I would've guessed it's from any old jewellery store."

"And since when does Jaeun even gift jewelry?" Micheal comments, tapping his chin. "He got me a damn pizza voucher for my birthday last year."

"Oh, Micheal," Jia sighs, tapping him on the shoulder. "All you know how to do is complain."

"Complain?" Micheal gasps, and for the moment, it looks like the two of them are distracted from me again. And while they're going back and forth again, I think about what Jia just said.

Romantic? No way... I mean, Jaeun was just being... well, not romantic, right?

I mean, Jaeun is my best friend. And it was my birthday. He was just trying to be nice. Yes, it did catch me off-guard a bit, but in a good way. And the fact that I felt so fluttery yesterday has no relevance.

I think.

"Right, Kiki?" Jia asks me, snapping me out of my daze.

"Huh?" I ask, blinking a little too fast.

"Look at you, all in a haze," she says in a teasing tone, but then her line of sight flicks to something at the back of me. "But I'll let you get back to your boyfriend."

"What?" I ask haphazardly, until it clicks in my head who she may be talking about. I turn around, only to find myself a little too close to Cal Monroe's face.

Cal stands there with a playful smirk, having apparently returned from the restroom without me even noticing. His eyes glint mischievously as he catches Jia's remark.

"Why thank you, Jia," he says smugly, placing his hand on his hip. "The two of us have quite the day planned now that class is over for the day."

And if you look up the definition of perplexed in the dictionary, you'll see a picture of my face as it is right now in there. Why? Because even though I'm aware of the fact that Cal and I are supposed to figure this magic stuff out, the way he manages to phrase these things is always beyond baffling.

I spin around speedily, blinking a few times to pretend like nothing happened. First he defends me in class, and now he's all up in my business? Cal seriously needs to chill.

"Well, have fun lovebirds," Micheal says without missing a beat, clearly unbothered by anything happenimg right now. By now, most of the class has cleared out and knowing my friend, he surely wants to be gone as well. "See you in tomorrow's class, Kiki."

"We don't have class tomorrow, dimwit," Jia comments with a laugh, but based off her demeanour, I can see that she's also ready to leave.

And when they do, it'll be just me and the genie. Again.

Damnit...

"Where are you guys headed?" I ask, mainly just a ploy to prolong everything. You know, on the count of how I failed to get the necessary information from Jia and Micheal.

"Oh, well Micheal is going to English Lit and I'm going to meet my friends Emilia and Chaeryoung for lunch," Jia says, shrugging. "You?"

"Uhm," I say, wondering how I can possibly disguise hunting for information as a normal thing for a university student.

"She'll help with my assignment," Cal says, lying in speed. You know, as is his damn speciality at this point. "Isn't that right, schnookems?"

Someone make the earth swallow me hole. Please, I beg of you.

"Well, then we better get going," Jia says, waddling her way out of the seats and readjustimg her grip on her backpack. She roles her eyes at something Micheal mumbles in response, then looks at me again. There's something unreadable in her expression as she does this, and I almost frown at it. "I'll...text you later, okay?"

"Uh, yeah," I reply, nodding. When we say that, it's usually code for something serious. Although, considering all this lies I'm suddenly springing upon my friends, I know more than anything what she wants to talk about. Especially considering I've been avoiding answering her questions about Cal this whole time.

Ugh, I hate lying to my friends. Especially Jaeun - he doesn't deserve to be lied to.

With that, my two friends leave the lecture hall, leaving me and Cal in the row where we just had class.

"Thank goodness that's over," Cal says with a mini stretch of his arms, as if that entire interaction exhausted him. "I was beginning to think they would never leave."

"Excuse you," I say defensively, glaring at him. "Those are my friends you are talking about!"

"Yeah, and they were taking longer than the class did to end," he says with a shrug, like everything about his statement isn't riddled with offence. "We have things to figure and find out, you know. Or would rather be stuck with me for the rest of eternity?"

He blinks a few times, mocking innocence. "Ew, no!" I blurt immediately, shuddering to think about the slightest possibility of that happening. "Definitely not."

"Good, we're still on the same page," he says with a curt nod, looking past me at the board upfront. "The next step is to find out where your lover boy got this necklace."

"He's not..." I start, but what's the point of arguing with the genie? I sigh. "I tried to ask Jia and Micheal if they knew anything about where Jaeun bought this."

"And?" he asks, eyebrows raised expectedly.

It's my turn to shrug. "They didn't. He kept it secret," I reply, frowning in thought. "Although, other than the fact that Micheal is a massive blabbermouth, there might be another reason he kept the whole thing quiet."

"Oh, now she decides to use her brain," Cal says with an exasperated huff, but I pretend not to hear him. Like usual. "That's doesn't mean we know where he got it, though."

"Yeah, but we can figure it out," I say, still determined not to approach Jaeun today. Not until Jimin is gone, at least. "Maybe he kept it secret because he was scared that I might find out where he got it. There are a few antique shops in the area; perhaps we could go check it out?"

Cal narrows his eyes at me, clearly not happy with the plan. I mirror his expression, not willing to settle for any other option. I'm standing my ground, whether he likes it or not.

Eventually, he roles his eyes. "Fine," he says, running his hand through his hair. "Lead the way then, Mimi."

***