Page 28 of XOXO

I think he’s talking to me, but then Nathaniel says, “It’s not like they’ll kick me out.”

“One can hope.”

And then he’s gone, walking down the hall without a backward glance.

“I’m going to be late to class!” Youngmin says. “Bye, Jenny, Nathaniel-hyeong!” He gallivants off in the opposite direction to Jaewoo.

“That’s our classroom,” Nathaniel points a few doors down. “Shall we?”

I follow him, though I’m not really paying attention to where I’m going. What just happened? In all the scenarios I’d imagined for our second meeting, I never thought Jaewoo would dismiss me. It’s like in this new setting, he’s a completely different person.

“Jenny?” Nathaniel’s waiting for me, sliding back the door to the classroom. “You coming?”

“Yeah.” I hurry forward.

Inside, the classroom is laid out with rows of desks facing a whiteboard. The teacher hasn’t yet arrived, so I check the seating chart on the podium at the front of the room. I’m seated a row from the back, next to the windows. As I approach my desk, I notice that all the seats are paired in twos, and my seatmate is none other than Sori. She appears as thrilled as I am at this turn of events.

“Good morning,” I say. At least I can attempt a new start.

She turns her head to look out the window.

I sigh, pulling out my seat. On the opposite side of the classroom, Nathaniel is seated by a tall, lanky boy who is engaging him in animated conversation.

Everyone seems to be talking to their seatmates, except for Sori and me. I wonder if we could have been friends if I hadn’t bumped into her desk and read the message on that postcard.

A message that had been signed: XOXO. Which could either be a well-used sign off or... a secret hidden in plain sight.

I go through the possible candidates. Youngmin’s too young, I can’t see it. Sun maybe, but he wasn’t in the hallway just now, when I caught sight of Sori’s expression. Also, the end of the postcard was written in English, not Korean. Which leaves Jaewoo and Nathaniel. I look over at Nathaniel, who’s currently laughing and joking with his seat partner, the complete opposite of my roommate. Sori and Jaewoo share at least one thingin common: At any given moment, I have no idea what either of them are thinking.

My phone chirps in my pocket. I slip it out to see a text from my mom.

I paid the school your tuition.My scholarship only accounted for half.Let me know if there are any issues.

I text back,Okay. Thanks, Mom.

No, “hope you’re having a good first day of school,” but that’s not a surprise.

I’m about to put my phone away, when I hesitate. I open up my messages and scroll back to a few days ago, to when I sent the text message to Jaewoo that I was coming to Seoul.

Hey, so, I’m actually going to be in Korea for a couple of months to visit my grandmother. If you’re around, I’d love to see you.

The message is now marked “read.”

I blink a few times. But when did he read it? A few days ago or just now when he saw me in the hall?

Sori bumps me hard in the shoulder and I look up to see a girl standing in front of my desk, tapping her shoe against the floor.

“You have to wear the uniform correctly,” she says, pointing to my sloppy tie, “otherwise the whole classroom will be penalized.”

Is she serious? I look over at Sori, but she’s gone back to staring out the window.

“Hurry,” the girl says, “you still have a few minutes.”

I scramble up from my seat.

Outside in the empty hall, I pick a direction at random, hoping to stumble upon a bathroom. I curse my past self who hadn’t carefully read the rule book. I’m going to be late for my first day of class.

“Student!” A teacher approaches down the hall, and I sigh in relief. He can help me— “You need to be in your classroom right now!”

---