I look at my phone again.
Classes are about to start in 10 minutes and I have no idea where my first class is.
I need to get going.
San is still not here and he is not replying to my text or picking up my calls.
I will deal with that ass later on.
Right now, I needed to figure out a way to my class.
I have seen pictures on San's phone and I have talked to Woojin a lot about Royals High in the past years but nothing could have prepared me for the real thing.
This place looked 10 times larger than what San had described to me.
Even the media and reporters who took footage of the schools for some conference or national announcements didn't do it justice either.
As soon as I step through the massive gates, I feel the air shift.
I am more aware and though I know in reality no one is looking at me I still feel eyes on me.
Is there an invisible blanket over the school like in the fantasy novels I read? Because the entire atmosphere around me seems to shift.
Should I ask someone for directions?
What directions would I be asking for anyway?
I don't even know where to go.
I know no one here except San and he is not here.
Speak of the devil, I feel a hand slap over my shoulder and I have never flinched as hard as I did right there.
I glare at the intruder and contemplate should I headbutt him or not.
"Yo, I told you to wait for me, why are you heading in on your own?" he puts his hands over my shoulder and I settle to elbow him in his ribs instead of a headbutt.
Asshole.
"Ouch, what was that for?" San clutches his side and looks at me with a pout on his face.
His hair is damp and the little droplets fall onto the collar of his shirt.
"Well I wouldn't have to go in alone if someone who promised to show up, actually showed up on time" I try to push him but he just wraps around his arms tighter and we both sway.
"I told you I was running a little late because of swim class. Don't be mad" He gives me a side hug and I try to pry him off me.
"Ugh, your hair is wet, you'll get water over me. Get away from me" I shove the side of his face in hopes he maintains a little distance and doesn't ruin my new uniform.
"The sports center is at the backmost corner so it took me some time. And I ran so cut me some slack" He smells of chlorine.
He looks at me with his puppy dog eyes and a hopeful smile. I have to let him off the hook.
I grumble and huff and see San break out in a smile.
He knows he is off the hook.
I elbow him again.
Smartass.
"Let's go, we'll be late for class" I divert his attention to a more important topic at hand.
"I talked to the reception and asked them to give you your first class off so you don't have to worry about missing class" he shrugs.
"Really? You can do that? " I ask.
Is it really this easy to take classes off?
I thought this school will be much stricter with their schedule, at least from what I used to hear from San.
"I can because I am class president. I told them you're the new scholarship student and gave them your information. They cross-checked and agreed. Also, they agreed because you need to go meet the Principal" He states, and my eyes bulge.
"Principal?" I ask.
"Chill, every scholarship student has to meet the principal before starting classes. Usually, it happens in the pre-week so that the student's classes go on smoothly but in your case, it was a little different" he shrugs as if this is general knowledge.
Well, it isn't general knowledge.
"And what about your classes? I don't think you can miss class" I reason.
"No, I can't miss class but for this week I can. I got permission. There's an inter-school competition coming up so I need to practice my strokes" he winks and I make a gagging noise.
"Eww San. Just gross" I huff and I see a few people staring at us.
Their stares are a little less intimidating because at least I am with someone I know.
"Hi, San" a really pretty girl with blonde hair walks up to us.
She smiles sweetly at him and then does that one-over thing with me.
Is she one of the friends San told me he'd introduce me to?
"Hi, Bahiyyih" he smiles curtly at her.
I know this smile.
This is the uncomfortable smile he gives whenever he is in a situation he can't get out of.
I search San's eyes to telepathically ask him what's going on but he doesn't look at me.
"I went to the sports center but you weren't there. You lied" she pouts and folds her hands over her chest.
She looks young. Her features are really sharp but there's a youth to her. She looks modelesque but who doesn't here?
She focuses her attention on San's arm that is still around me and turns her attention to me before extending her hands.
"Hi. I don't think we have met before, you seem like a new face. I am Heuning Bahiyyih. The freshman class president" she smiles a little too sweetly.
Her smile is blinding. It is a movie star's mega-watt smile.
"Uh hello, I am Park Yuri. I am new here, it's actually my first day, nice to meet you" I rub my hands on my skirt before shaking her hands.
I don't want to get nervous and babble out everything.
She just eyes it before smiling sweetly and shaking it.
"And how do you know San?" she asks.
I look at San and then his hands are still around my shoulder. I shake his arm off and he just scowls at me.
I know San is the senior class president. Let's not start a weird rumor on my first day.
"We went to the same school before" I try to clarify.
"We are really close friends" San states.
San and I speak at the same time and Bahiyyih just gives us an amused expression with a tight smile.
I look at San with a 'what the fuck dude' look.
He ignores me.
"Oh. Cute. Well, I'll see you around. And San I am still waiting on that meeting date" her smile is perfect.
Perfectly tailored for situations.
I sense some tension between the two but I have never heard San mention any girl before. I need to ask him about this later.
With that said, she turns back on her heels and walks away.
As soon as I am sure that she is out of earshot, I slap San's shoulder to get his attention.
"What was all that?" I ask and he shrugs.
Nuh-uh.
I am not having that.
"It's nothing. I'll explain everything later. Right now what is more important is getting you to the principal's office on time" San reasons.
I can't argue with that but I am not going to let this go this easily either.
We do a quick visit to the reception and get my routine before heading towards the principal's office.
The reception lady was a really sweet old lady who had a kind aura around her. She smiled and congratulated me on my scholarship and even gave me tangerine for good luck.
As we walk, San points to the different buildings and lets me know what is where.
There isn't enough time to actually go to the different buildings but San promises that he'll show me around properly during lunch.
There is a separate building for freshman and sophomores in the front, then a cafeteria, followed by a building for Junior and Senior high-schoolers.
The principal sits in a large office in the back building. There are a couple of buildings beyond this as well which I assume are the library and the activity center.
Too soon we are standing in front of a frosted glass door with the RH monogram with principal engraved on a sign board.
"I am really nervous. I need a little more time" I voice out.
There's no point in hiding it.
I am standing in front of the office with my documents and once I step through this door, I am seriously going to be a part of this school.
There is no going back from there.
Am I really ready for this?
San holds my hands in his and it calms me. Only a little but that little means a lot right now.
I just smile at him and he gives my hand a squeeze.
"If there's anyone who'll rock this shit, it's you. So get out of your head and go in. This is going to be the best year of your life" he winks and knocks on the door.
I widen my eyes as he quickly lets go of my hands and jogs away.
That bitch.
"Come in" a voice from the other side of the door calls.