OUR HEARTBEAT [BEOMJUN] ✅

thirty-four

"Ms. Lee?" I said, stepping inside the empty classroom.

"Yes?"

It was early, before first period, and Ms. Lee sat at her desk with a laptop open in front of her. She was probably prepping for the other class she taught-computer programming.

"I have some editing requests from the live show on Friday." I placed a piece of paper down in front of her. I had made a list of everything I hoped could be cut from my less than stellar performance.

She read over the list. "This is a bit of overkill. I think taking out the word cousin would do the trick nicely. The exchange was very entertaining and will be good for the show and for you. It was some of your best work."

"Please." I didn't care about that. I cared about my cousin and how it made her feel.

Ms. Lee nodded. "Okay."

"Thank you." I stood there, unable to move. Maybe now was the time to ask her about switching jobs again. Someone else would probably love the chance to host. If we kept Sieun the same, listeners probably wouldn't even notice.

"Did you need something else?" she asked.

"No." I left before I changed my mind.

-----

It took Arin giving me the silent treatment through all of History for me to come to a realization. No matter what had happened over the weekend, we needed to talk about it.

So, at lunchtime, I found Arin at her locker and marched over to her. "Jeno needs us right now to walk with him from Spanish to the library."

She turned around. "Okay."

It shouldn't have surprised me that she would readily agree. It was Arin, and it was for my brother, but I was a little surprised. We walked down the hall together.

"Are you done giving me the silent treatment, then?" she asked.

"What? You're giving me the silent treatment. You didn't even answer my text yesterday."

"You didn't text me yesterday," she said.

Hadn't I? I brought out my phone. I'd texted Liz; I was almost certain I had texted Arin, too. But when I clicked on her name, there was my written-out text waiting to be sent. I handed her the phone.

"Aw," she said, reading it. "That's sweet."

I smiled, my spirits lifting a little.

Jeno was waiting outside his english classroom and when he saw us, he looked relieved.

Arin hooked her arm through his, and we headed for the library. "You just need to walk around with me on your arm a few times, Jeno, and everyone will think you're cool."

"I don't care if people think I'm cool. My only goal is not to get punched."

"This will help with that goal as well," Arin assured him.

"You don't have to go to the library," I said. "Why don't you eat lunch with us?"

"I'm good in the library."

"Okay."

We dropped him off, then stood outside together.

The campus at lunch wasn't exactly the most private place for confessions. "Can we go sit in my car?" I asked Arin.

"That sounds ominous."

"It kind of is."

That shocked her silent and she took hold of my hand and we walked to the car together. We got inside; me in the driver's seat and Arin beside me in the passenger side. For once, Arin waited in silence while I tried to figure out what I needed to say. Finally I spoke.