Suddenly, I'm Engaged

Yeol

Liam enters at the back door of the classroom. He walks nonchalantly and sits on his chair like the way he used to, crossing his legs to avoid hitting the teacher’s table. He never gets used to it. This room is too small for seventy high school students. He almost wanted to donate some aircon for their classroom but Mrs. Madrigal, the principal, wouldn’t agree on that because it can bring some issues for a public school using air-condition and wasting energy for some luxury. Something that Liam couldn’t understand but couldn’t complain about at the same time. Now, he learned how to use a fan to relieve the hot weather, somehow. It works, believe me.

He looked around the room and saw Aliah staring intently at her phone. It seems like she’s waiting for somebody else’s text message or call.

“Hey, Liam! Who are you going with tomorrow?” A boy next to him asked as if he’s waiting for Liam to throw back the same question to him.

Yeah, right. Tomorrow will be the Prom Night and he couldn’t care less about it. He has no reason to attend and he’s not in the mood to be a wallflower while everyone smiles and enjoys their dates. A picture he wouldn’t imagine being at. So he just shrugged his shoulder in response. He took the book from his bag and starts reading to cut the conversation as he is uninterested in tomorrow’s big event. The poor guy just turns his back on him and got irritated at how Liam treated him coldly.

The picture of Aliah who keeps staring at her phone or spacing out from time to time keeps playing on his mind. He’s reading the book but couldn’t turn the page for his focus was not on it. He wanted to ask what’s going on but he couldn’t gather words to say without being nosy at the same time. Timing! Timing is all he needs and everything will go smoothly. All he needs is the right timing so they could talk without being obvious that he wanted to ask Aliah what’s going on. He gathered all the courage he has and was about to stand up from his chair when Zaine arrived and stand right in front of her. D*mn that timing.

Liam just pulls his uniform as if he’s fixing and removing all the wrinkles on it. He manages to sit down naturally without ruining his cold image. He looked around from time to time and looked on his watch simultaneously as if he was waiting for the teacher to arrive because the class will start in just a few minutes. That was smooth, Liam.

He saw Zaine acting like she wants to hug Aliah but she declined. There must be something going on. He is sure of that. But what is it about, no one knows. Or should he say, he wouldn’t know?

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Class ended but still, Liam couldn’t find the right timing to talk with Aliah. He wanted to console her like the way she did back then but he couldn’t return the favor. The timing doesn’t allow him to. He wants to do something but he receives a call from Mr. Moon that he will pick him up from school right after the class. They have to go somewhere to attend some business matter which is the main reason for him going there.

As he was walking towards the main gate, he saw Aliah walking with heavy steps. Her short strides compliment the gloomy aura she displays all over her body. While everyone is being excited for tomorrow, here’s this young girl acting like she’s going to a funeral.

They were about to reach the main gate and he was about to call her attention when a loud honk from the black sleek car caught his attention, it was Mr. Moon. He was never too late, that’s why Mr. Shin keeps him for a long time. When he looked back on where Aliah was walking, she suddenly disappears. Maybe she already walked towards the other side of the street. Mr. Moon lowered the car window to see what keeps Liam from walking, he gestured his hand in the air as if saying he’s on his way. He crossed the street immediately and rides in the car.

Mr. Moon was explaining to him what the business meeting is all about but Liam’s mind is on somewhere else.

“Liam, do you follow?” Mr. Moon snapped him back to reality. He just nodded in response while still thinking about her first-ever friend, Aliah.

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Finally, they came back home after meeting over dinner. Mr. Moon is the in-charge of the entire meeting and all he did was eat while listening to everything he doesn’t understand at all. He never imagined himself being part of the company at this young age but he was left with no choice. He wants to lessen the burden of his grandpa, even this way.

He took a bath and was about to jump on his bed when someone knocked on his door. Guess Mr. Moon has more things to discuss. As he opens the door, he saw Mr. Moon holding a custom-made smoking grey tuxedo. But he was puzzled what kind of business meeting would they have to attend tomorrow that he has to wear such kind of outfit.

“Wear this tomorrow and be ready to go out by 5 pm.” Mr. Moon walked away as soon as he gave the tuxedo to Liam. He has a rough idea of what’s with tomorrow’s event and he doubts that it will be just a business meeting.

But since he is too tired for today, he ignored the tuxedo and just tucked himself on the bed. And in just a few minutes, he fell asleep like a baby.

Today must be really special because Liam even went to a salon to have some new hairstyle. They must be going to some kind of party. He looked at Mr. Moon while talking with the woman in her 30’s who seems like the stylist and they are discussing what kind of style to have and for what event it has to be. Though for men, it’s almost looked the same as long as you wear a tuxedo.

The stylist starts doing her magic and was able to finish in just half an hour. Every girl in the salon was in awe at how handsome Liam was. Of course, he has the looks even before but today is different. He looks like a celebrity with his tuxedo and his slick side-parted hairstyle. And now, he’s sure what’s going on and where he’s headed to. And he’s starting to get annoyed with Mr. Moon for fooling him. He was exasperated and walked with his furrowed brows because he’s sure that he is not going to prom.

As soon as they arrive in the car, Liam looked at Mr. Moon and looks at him with displease for deceiving him. But then he realized, he wasn’t deceived after all because he never bothers to ask. So maybe Mr. Moon took it as if they understand what’s going on. Besides, he didn’t tell him that he wouldn’t like to attend the prom. So basically, it’s his fault and Mr. Moon is just doing his job diligently. He released those furrowed eyes and his gaze became calm. He closed his eyes for a moment as if thinking for a few seconds.

Maybe it’s not a bad idea to treasure a memory of being the Prom King for once in his life, he thought.