9 Chapter 9 - Charades (2/2)
'Is he asking a student about introducing him to women? This school somehow has a number of teachers who don't act like they're teachers.'
”I may be fluent enough in English to not require further education in the subject, but I'm still a student.”
”Huh!? So you didn't learn English because you were into foreign women? At that age, the interest toward the opposite gender tends to be more intense. I went out a lot too when I was in school.”
Somehow, James appeared to be filled with confidence as he reminisced about his past. Juho's father would make a similar face at times. Everyone's memory tended to beautify itself, both natives or foreigners alike.
”Thanks for lending me these. I'll see you in class.”
James handed the broom and the dustpan back to Juho and went into a classroom at the opposite side of the building. He was a pleasant person, a master of body language, and lover of nature. Juho thought about the kind of story that would come out with James as the protagonist, 'It'd probably have a feel of a rowdy street concert with cheerful melodies and cymbals that were particularly loud.'
”Aren't you determined.”
Sun Hwa had been the first to act on the mission given to the club members, the mission of getting a writing sample out of Baron. Accompanied by Bom, she came to Juho's class and said, ”I'm going to try talking to Baron today. Don't stop me.”
”I'm not going to. Do you have a plan though?”
”Of course! I may not look like it, but I can afford to be comfortable with my grades. I'm a thinker.”
”Don't you mean you just gave up on your grades?”
Sun Hwa glared at Seo Kwang as he sneered at her. Bom spoke up in midst of the staring contest, ”Sun Hwa has really good grades. Even in middle school, she was in top ten in the entire school. She's works really hard.”
”You hear that?”
”Huh! I'm surprised you even have time to study when you read so many comics.”
”Everything's a balance. I'm a woman of wisdom, so it's a piece of cake for me to hit two rabbits with one stone.”
”At the very least, I can see that you lack humility.”
Juho spoke up to put the conversation back on track, ”So how are you going to approach Baron?”
As if she was waiting for that, Sun Hwa replied with a smile, ”Head on.”
”I thought you said you were a thinker?”
Bom laughed nervously at Seo Kwang's remark. She seemed to be struggling to think of words to vouch for her friend. Considering her demeanor so far, it suited her.
Regardless of grades, there was no hesitation in the way Sun Hwa treated people. One could argue that the depth of a relationship wasn't proportionate to time, but with the exception of Baron, everyone in the Literature Club had grown very close to each other almost instantly. That was partly due to Sun Hwa's proactivity. Seo Kwang appeared to be social, but he's had a cautious and watchful side. Bom didn't speak much or act on things proactively. In other words, Sun Hwa was basically the captain.
”What good is a strategy when you're trying to win someone over? If your heart connects with that person, you can relate with them about anything.”
”OK, so let's say that what you're saying is true. How are you going to connect your heart with Baron?”
In response to Seo Kwang, Sun Hwa took out a book. There was a drawing of a hill on the cover. Covered in dirt, the five characters from the book were climbing that very hill. They generally gave off a pleasant impression.
”This comic is all that it takes to connect with a person heart-to-heart. You would know, Seo Kwang. A book has the power to move people's hearts.”
”So, a book. Guess I don't have a choice. I'll be rooting for you.”
Before they knew, their hearts were connecting. It would have been ideal if things played out like they had done between those two, but how would Baron respond?
Like a captain, Sun Hwa ran up to the second years' floor. The other three followed.
Bothered by Sun Hwa asking him to come out, Baron walked out into the hallway. Bom looked at Sun Hwa, looking even more nervous than her friend. Seo Kwang and Juho observed with fascination.
”Baron.”
”What?” he blurted out a short reply.
As if she had been expecting it, Sun Hwa continued, ”Would you write me something?”
Straight to the point. There was no beating around the bush to keep him happy. She stood tall and confidently before Baron. It was admirable. Having that kind of side to her, perhaps Sun Hwa was the toughest one in the club. With that spirit, she was worthy of being a general.
As if she were putting down her sword, Sun hwa pulled out her comic book.
”This was the comic that moved me the most my entire life. When you read this, you'll find yourself getting filled with companionship. I guarantee it. If you write about how deeply you've been moved, you'd be able to write at least ten pages. Baron, please by my companion.”
Bom turned pale. As if she didn't see that, Sun Hwa was confident. 'How would this plan work? Would it bring down Baron's wall?'
Appearing dumbfounded, Baron smirked, ”No.”
”Oh, come on!”
The two began quarreling. It was an argument between Sun Hwa trying to get Baron to take her book, and Baron rejecting her. He seemed to be caught off guard by how proactive Sun Hwa had been. It was visible that Baron didn't know what to do. He was not used to such an initiative. Perhaps that was going to work after all.
”Baron, the bell's about to ring. I have to go soon. Please, take it.”
”I said I don't need it. Just go already.”
”If you read this book, you'll be shedding tears before you know it, and your writing will practically write itself. You're going to want to find a companion and go on an adventure. Then, come find me in class.”
”I don't know where your class is, and I'm not planning on going there. Not to mention, I'm not writing anything.”
”Fine. Please just take the book then. Just the book.”
The two kept on quarreling, but even until the end, Baron didn't take the Sun Hwa's book.
<Charades> The End