Say You Won’t Let Go

“Oh, sorry Caity.” I could feel my face turn red with embarrassment. Thank God people couldn’t read thoughts.

“Look Darl, I know we’ve only known each other for a couple days, but if something is wrong you can tell me.” She said sympathetically, placing her hand on my shoulder.

I’ve only just arrived at Snowy River Leadership Campus. I was one out of 44 students here. It’s the third day, out of an entire term (nine weeks) of living here. I met Caity on the first day. We coincidentally bonded over small pants – truly a life-long friendship.

“Thank you, and yeah, I’m fine. Just tired. What school are they up to?”

I was really keen to get my laptop so I could email home. I missed everyone so much. I didn’t get to see them until week five and to me, that felt like a lifetime away.

“I think they’re up to Belmont High School, the one right before yours I believe. Yeah, look they’re calling them up now.”

I watched, intrigued to see the students. I hadn’t yet had the opportunity to really get to know everyone, and that was a priority for me. I was here with so many other people from all over Victoria, and I was going to be living with them. There was no way I would survive here without any friends and I wanted to get to know everyone. I listened carefully to each name as the teacher called them out.
And then, his name was called.

“Heechan Hwang.”

Oh my… It was like I died and went to Heaven.

“Caity, Caity, Caity!” I whispered whilst shaking her and pointing at him.

My face flushed with absolute lust as I stared at his face. The defined cheekbones and the shimmering, dark Asian eyes. Even his broad shoulders, I just couldn’t describe how perfect he looked. I was whispering to Caity, trying to get her attention quietly so I would not be called out, but also screaming in pure shock. I couldn’t help myself from suddenly becoming completely self-aware.

“Yeah, yeah he’s cute I know. Just pay attention – they’re calling Mount Eliza now.”

I got up slowly when my name was called.

“Grace Marshall”.

I walked over towards the teachers at the front of the room. I grabbed my laptop, spun around and I locked eyes with him, Heechan, for what would have been two seconds at most, though it felt like forever. I felt immediately uncomfortable and aware of every single thing I was doing. I started to awkwardly fix my shirt, to make sure that it wasn’t wrinkled and running my hands through my hair to try and straighten it out. He must have known that I was silently panicking as the next thing I knew he was walking towards me. Urgh, why does this always have to happen?

“Hey, I’m Heechan. Grace, right?”

“Yeah, that’s me, but a lot of people call me Gracie or G. How’d you know my name?”

Oh my God he knows my name! How does he know my name?

“Oh, yeah I have my sources… And Mr. Woodward also just called it out.” He laughs as my face stiffens.

Dear God, I am an actual idiot.

“So, Mount Eliza Secondary hey?” He asked unfazed.

“Ha, those sources are spot on! I do go to Mount Eliza, but I live in Frankston which isn’t far away. What about you?” I asked, putting my laptop down and leaning against the table. I was trying to be cool - it was not working out in my favour, as I am almost certain I just looked like I needed to go to the bathroom. Fun.

“Well, you see I’m a bit complicated – I was born in New Zealand, and my parents are South Korean, and we all moved here about 5 years ago. And I go to Belmont High School.”

“I see. That’s on the other side of the city, right? Damn, I bet that was a long drive, coming all the way out here in Marlo!”

Wow, cute and interesting!

“Funny that, we have very different lives but both ended up here.” I exclaimed, gesturing around the common room.

He was about to respond until our conversation was cut short as one of his friends called him over.

“Heechan! Get over here!”

A couple of them were gesturing towards me, raising their eyebrows and sniggering. He glares at them blushing slightly, and turns to me.

“Sorry, I have to go. But we’ll talk later, yeah?”

“Yeah sure. It’s not like either of us are going anywhere!” I called out after him.

My brain then caught up with what I had just said and I smacked my face in my palm with a groan. Side note to self - I should stop trying to make jokes.

I was very much swooning at the fact that he actually spoke to me! I wasn’t even going to acknowledge the fact that I was probably bright red, and how everyone must have seen that. Caity’s face just said it all. She somehow had both the ‘nice one girl’ and the ‘wow, you just embarrassed yourself on a colossal level’ look on her face at the same time. This is going to be an interesting term.