2.The tension is high at Hector Park High

There's Kimchi on the table again. For breakfast. I look at my stepfather. The genius and the billionaire Arnold Moon. He's about fifty, but you can never guess that when you look at him. I'm still not sure if it's the Asian genes or the plastic surgeries, though. Probably both.

"How's sleep, Dina?" Arnold finally notices me, folding the newspaper he's reading. I can't help but glance at his perfectly manicured hands. I suppress a shudder. This dude is just way more in touch with his feminine side than me.

"Good," I answer vaguely. I realize that the best way to deal with parents is just to give them one-worded answers to their questions.

"That's great," Arnold replies cheerfully, then we are silent for a while. 

"Oh. I meant to ask you. I left my Rolex on this table last night after dinner. Did you happen to see it?" Arnold queries suddenly, turning his attention back to me.

"Nope. Maybe Mom found it and kept it for you?" For once, I am telling the truth. It's one of the conditions that I've given myself once I made my decision to move to Botswana. I am not taking anything from Mom or Arnold with me. It's annoying, actually, considering how easily I can solve my problem by just running off with a few of the billionaire's stuff. I will not only have that plane ticket. Grandma and I will be living in comfort for the rest of our lives. But this is a matter of pride.

Arnold nods at my answer, unbothered again, "Probably." he rises from his chair, brushing non-existent crumbs off his suit. "Well, I'm heading off to work now. Why don't you go and remind your mother of the time? You'll be late for school."

***

"Are you ready?" Naledi Moon, my ever-lovely mother, steps out of the car with a big smile on her face. She's had this smile for days now, ever since I moved in with her and Arnold.  I can't say I feel the same way, though. I scoff instead at the building in front of me. Hector Park High, the Korean-American school they're making me attend now. It can be as fancy as it wants to be, but it's still more like Hell Park High to me. 

"No," I say in answer to my Mom's question. She sighs defeatedly and tries to brush an escaped tendril of hair from my face. I jerk away.

"Now, darling. I thought we agreed that this was for the best. You'd be safer and will have more prospects here. It's a good school, you know. There's no use fighting about it, really." she continues rather distractedly, rummaging for something inside her bag.

I glare at her, "No use fighting about it? Why? Because you're the Mom and I am just the child, I can't do anything about it? I have to give in to your every whim?"

Mom looks at me for a second to think it over. "Well, yeah." She answers, slightly lifting one shoulder. I give an exaggerated gasp, and she smiles. "Now, come on, honey. Don't be over-dramatic."

I scoff at her, knowing I have no choice.  Apparently, being Arnold Moon's stepdaughter has its major disadvantage. Because of his status, vultures are out for him and his kin. I won't be safe attending a public school anymore. I'm not scared about it, though. Not even the littlest bit. But Mom might just kill herself from worry. So here we are.

Grudgingly, I stomp my way toward the school entrance, my filthy boots sullying the pristine pavement leading to the building. I smirk to myself in satisfaction. 

"Have a nice day, sweetie! Don't frown too much, okay?" Mom calls out to me all the way from the parking lot. I roll my eyes at her again, waving her off. 

Students blatantly stare at me in curiosity as I step inside the building. I don't pay them any attention. Mom would've smacked me in the head until I smiled at them, correcting whatever horrible first impression they had of me. But she's not here anymore, and I can't begin to care. Making friends in a school that I didn't want to attend in the first place is the last thing on my mind. 

I try to come up with a plan of escape. But I haven't even traversed a meter yet when I bump into someone so forcefully and find myself on the floor.

"Great," I mutter, wincing at the pain in my butt. I wouldn't be surprised if that produced a bruise."Dude! Watch where you're going," I complain as I brush myself up, shooting the person an annoyed look.

The first thing I notice is his height. Tall and well-groomed. He has a handsome face, the kind that gets published in magazines. But it's his eyes that catch my attention, as they're studying my face intently, trying to figure something out. I return the gaze, annoyed. My head tilted a bit as he suddenly seems vaguely familiar to me.

And just like that, the clock stopped. Our eyes widen in recognition at the same time.

"Hey! I know you." He speaks first, face lighting up.

Shoot. I panic, my eyes shooting from left to right and then back. This can't be happening. 

"I'm sure you do," I reply, deciding to play it cool. I turn away from him, hoping I don't seem like I'm in a hurry. But the guy is quick, and he catches my arm easily.

"You're the girl who stole my wallet," Mr. Cool says, looking at me half in awe and half in what can only pass as tightly-concealed anger. I didn't even know such a thing was possible.

"I don't know what you're talking about." I deny, shrugging away from his hold. There are only a few things that I'm good at, and lying happens to be one of them. I am not backing down. 

"Yo, Mr. David Choi, have you seen Br--" a voice says behind the guy. Woah. Did it suddenly just get hot in here? This new arrival just might be the prettiest boy I've ever seen. I blink at him, momentarily forgetting the confrontation that I found myself in. 

"Hot and unavailable." Mr. Cool, (David?), says to me with a disapproving look. He must have caught me ogling his friend. 

I turn my attention back to David, putting a hand on my chest.  "Ouch. Well, there goes my chance." I tell him mockingly. 

"What are you guys talking about? What's going on?" asks Hot Guy, now beside his friend. But he receives no answer as Mr. Cool and I continue to size each other up. Not knowing what to do, Hot Guy gives me a hesitant smile and offers his hand. "The name's Kier. You are?"

"Never mind that," Mr. Cool says, grabbing his companion's arm. "Class is about to start. We better go." he starts to leave with Kier, stopping midway to give me another hard look.

"We're not done here." He tells me, obviously trying to intimidate. I just raise my eyebrows at him. There is a beat before he half-drags Kier toward the hallways. 

"Ow. Hyung." Kier complains, but David does not let up. I narrow my eyes at their backs. 

He seems really pissed about the wallet. Either that or Kier must be a boyfriend that he always has to keep away from eager girls. Or it could be both. Whatever it is, it's unfortunate for him, too, because I am not one to be shaken up. Besides, I don't plan on sticking around anyway.

***

So much for escaping. These people never seem to leave me alone. 

"So...this is your locker." Arianne Lee, the girl assigned to show me around school, gestures into the third locker door to our right. I let out an exhausted sigh. We've been walking down the hallways for what seems like forever. I don't understand why I ever thought of school buildings being of the same layout. I am starting to think Hell Park High is more like the RAF Mount Pleasant than a high school.

Arianne neatly tucks her bright red hair in her ear and glances at the watch on her wrist, restless. My eyes turn heavenwards. Apparently, she's the school's Vice President. So, she's busy as hell. She clearly has problems cutting a meeting short, though. What a people pleaser. 

"I can handle it from here, Arianne. Thanks for all your help." I finally tell her. 

Her eyes light up, "Are you sure? I'm so sorry, did it seem like I was in a hurry?" Arianne sheepishly asks.

"Hmm..yeah, kind of," I reply.

Ari laughs, surprising me. "I like you, Dina. You're quite perceptive. Just like me! Call me Ari, will you?" she says, offering her hand as if we're meeting for the first time again. 

I blink at her request. I don't know what to say, so I nod and shake her hand. Ari gives me another smile, "See ya!" she says before bouncing on her feet and disappearing into a corner. As soon as she's gone, I let out a sinister smile. Nice. Now I can leave this place. 

"Dina Matthews!" I jump out of my skin. A stranger with charcoal-lined eyes comes out of the classroom behind me, calling out my name. He's glaring at me like he's about to give me a piece of his mind. I frown at him, ready for whatever trouble he's about to cook up with me.

Until David and Kier appear behind him. "Shit," I mutter, and before I can even think about it, I am already sprinting into the next hallway. If I have to face Mr. Cool and his friends, it will take too long, and I am on a schedule. 

Behind me, someone curses, and three pairs of feet begin to give chase. You have got to be kidding me. Are they seriously planning on chasing me right now? I pick up my pace, bumping into people on the way. Thank God for these corridors that go on forever. I don't know where I'm going, but I should be able to get away from them.

"Hey! No running down the hallways! " an angry voice shouts, but I don't waste time finding out who it is.

Behind me, I can hear my pursuers arguing loudly, "Hey! Dina!" I hear someone shout behind me.

"Brad! Jeez. Come back here." I hear David call out to his friend. 

"Look at her! She's guilty. Why would she run if she's not guilty?!" Brad yells back to David. Suddenly, I hear two bodies hit the floor, followed by a series of Korean words that I'm not familiar with. I'm pretty sure they are swearing though. 

"Idiots," David comments, his voice unexpectedly so near to me that it makes me stop and turn by instinct.

"Aaah!" I scream and we collide with each other.