A throbbing headache welcomed me as soon as I opened my eyes the next day.

Waking up, I did my first thing - checking my phone of course!

...

I read the messages of my school group chat, for the last time.

With a heavy heart I let out a deep sigh as I pressed the "Exit group" option.

I've been doing this for quite a while yet I'm still not accustomed to this pain.

Placing my phone back down, I recalled dad's words about what he told about my new school a.k.a Seoul International High School.

"...arrival time at 8" without wasting a minute more, I hopped into my washroom since it was already 6:30 am.

Taking my shirt off I supported my palms over the sink as I looked at myself in the big washroom mirror.

"...no point of getting beefs today" letting out a hopeless chuckle, I said to myself as I glanced at the impressions all over my body done by my dear dad on the account of disciplining me.

I ran the shower as the hot water engulfed me in its embrace thinking it would eventually take my headache away.

Unfortunately it didn't. Nevermind.

My parents have already left for work so it was all me spending the last few minutes home alone while searching through the fridge for something edible for breakfast.

Nah. Not even a morsel left. Very usual of them.

Sighing, I checked the time.

7 a.m.

"...nah, I'll just grab something on my way if possible..." slinging my backpack over my shoulders I stepped out, for a new struggle once again.

...

I stopped by a cafe that read "Cloud 9" on the big board that was hung outside of it. Judging from the outlook, it seemed newly opened.

"...I guess a hot cup of coffee will shoo away headache." I thought as I made my way towards the entrance. Being the early hours of morning it was deserted except for a young girl who was wiping the tables. As soon as the bell chimed signalling my presence, she glanced at me, giving me a huge smile and went towards the counter.

"Good morning sir. What can I get you?"

"A normal cappuccino please."

"Alright. Anything else sir?"

"No."

"Okay that will be $2.62- oh wait! Are you a student sir?"

"Well...I guess so."

"Okay then it will be $2.50 for you. We have special pass for students that allows 4.5% off on coffee."

"I see. It's a thoughtful one. But aren't you a bit too young to work? I mean you should be going to school now..."

"Oh no no sir! I do go to school. It's just a shift of my part-time job."

"Oh I see... anyways, here's the money."

"Good timing! The coffee is ready too! Here you go sir. Thank you for visiting. Have a nice day ahead!"

"Yeah...thank you...uhm..you too..have a nice day ahead." I stuttered my way out of the cafe.

'A good start to the morning' I thought as I sipped on my coffee.

...

Standing right now in front is the gate of the prestigious Seoul International High School.

"...or else you can bid goodbye to your surname forever..."

Dad's words have been bleeding my ears since last night and now it's trembling my legs.

Mustering up courage, I walked inside the school.

To say I was flabbergasted, would be the least. The school had a huge campus with tidy green fields on both sides with some trees and a paved path in the middle where stood a beautiful fountain. It seemed like the tall school buildings were protecting the green fields.

Following the flow of the crowd I moved towards one specific building.

But couldn't figure out where the principal's office could be.

"Um..excuse me?" I asked a boy with shoulder length blonde hair.

"Yes?"

"Can you please tell me the way to the principal's office?"

He scanned me for a second and then said, "Yeah, the last room on the first floor of this building."

I thanked him and went off my way.

Turns out, the previous building that I was going towards was correct.

...

And now I was here. In front of the principal's office.

Taking a deep sigh, I gentle knocked on the translucent door.

"Come in." A deep male voice was heard from inside.

I opened a small part of the door and peeped my head in. The older male, apparently the principal seemed to notice it as he motioned me to come in.

"Joshua Hong, that's right?"

"Yes sir..."

"Alright your dad had talked to me months back. Your class is Class 11A-4D. Wait for your teacher to come so she can take you to your class."

"O-okay sir.."

I was fidgeting with my fingers as I realized dad lied to me about my performance again.

Marks doesn't bother him, status does.

And that's why he pulled me out of my previous school because it wasn't a so-called "prestigious" one.

My thoughts were interrupted when I heard the door opening.

"Oh good morning Mrs Hwang. Here's the transferee student I was talking about."

"G-good morning ma'am..." I almost half-whispered my words to the middle-aged woman.

"Good morning. Don't worry sir, I'll take care of him. Please follow me." she said as she motioned me to follow her to my classroom.

My class was on the second floor. Sliding the door open, she went in first. The chaotic class went quite when they saw her.

I guess she's a strict one.

Adjusting the glasses over her nose-bridge she said in a loud voice, "Okay class we're going to have a new student with us. Be respectful and friendly to him. Please introduce yourself."

Nervously taking a small step forward, I sighed and being the introduction thing.

"Hello my name is Joshua Hong. I'm from LA. I hope we can be good friends."

A lot, and when I say a lot it means A HELL LOT of reactions were observed.
For girls it was mostly a whisper-squealing kind of sounds; I think I managed to hear one or two 'oppas' too.
For boys, it consisted of few glares, few full body scans through eyes and some with their I-don't-fucking-care attitude.

So much diversity wah...

"Okay good morning Joshua. I hope you enjoy your school. I'll now assign you a seat beside Yoon Jeonghan. Jeonghan please raise your hand so that Joshua can know." she said facing the front again.

I noticed a hand raising up from the middle rows. Going closer I realized it was the same guy I was asking for directions to the principal's office earlier.

"Hi...I'm Joshua..nice to meet you...again." I said as I sat down beside him.

"I know... and it's not nice for me to meet you again." that Jeonghan guy snickered out.

I let out an inaudible "oh..." as I returned facing the blackboard.

There are students of prestigious institutions afterall.

Mrs Hwang was about to start with her lessons when suddenly the door slid open with a loud sound that made us look towards that direction.

It was a student. A girl.

But I was bewildered when I recognized the face of the girl.

"...café girl..?"