The Soulmate Paradox ✔

five: we don't talk anymore

"Wow, fuck you," is Gregory's reply, and just like that, the gold rush evaporates, leaving behind nothing but stone. Jeong-Soon feels like all the wind's been knocked out of him, and his knees buckle. The fire's disappeared from Gregory's eyes, his gaze ice-cold. His posture is completely rigid, hands clenched into fists by his sides.

"Excuse me," Mia interjects. Her voice is soft and calm as usual, but there's a steely edge to her words. "I don't recall my boyfriend saying anything to offend you."

"Your boyfriend," Gregory repeats, drawing out the syllables like they're a curse. For a moment, fear fills Jeong-Soon's heart---fear that Gregory might pull out their past like a trick from a magician's hat. He's both relieved and upset when a sneer spreads over Gregory's face. "Get over yourself, princess. You don't know shit, so keep your mouth shut."

Mia's mouth falls open, and Jeong-Soon can tell his normally sweet girlfriend is about to explode. He quickly shifts his hand to her shoulder, cupping her body protectively. "I'm so sorry. He's from---"

"---basketball," Gregory finishes, then tops the sentence off with a scowl. For just a moment, hope flares somewhere deep in Jeong-Soon's soul, because Gregory actually remembers the only sport he'd told him he played.

"Yeah." Jeong-Soon's voice sounds shaky to his own ears. He forces out a lighthearted chuckle. "Our team, uh, kind of beat his team two years back and I don't think he's ever forgiven me for that."

Mia nods understandingly, curling into his side, and Jeong-Soon's unbelievably glad for the fact that they've only been dating for a year---if not, she'd have known that he's never been on the basketball team.

The door bursts open, and Marilyn stumbles in, Magnus and Aimee in tow. Marilyn looks more dishevelled than usual, two buttons undone on her blouse instead of one, causing her ample breasts to peek out. Her bright blonde hair rises above her head in a messy bun, and her black miniskirt is riding unnaturally high up her thigh.

"Look who I found at the boba shop!" Marilyn chirps, ushering Magnus and Aimee into the cramped music room. The two have guilty looks plastered across their faces, matching cups of bubble tea clasped in their hands. "I swear, these two were acting sweeter than my brown sugar pearls..." Her voice trails off when she notices Gregory, and Jeong-Soon doesn't miss the way her eyes light up. "Gregory! I'm so glad you could find your way around!"

"Hey," Aimee greets, only to recoil when Gregory fixes her with a scathing glare. Jeong-Soon finds himself tightening his grip on Mia---he doesn't want Gregory's uncanny rage directed towards her again.

Magnus tilts his head. "Hey, weren't you that Northtide guy who---"

To Jeong-Soon's shock, Gregory actually gnashes his teeth at the other boy. "Yeah, I'm the dumbass with the Instagram nudes thing. Take a picture, it'll last longer," he snarls.

Magnus raises his hands, looking worried. "Whoa, calm down, dude, I'm sorry---"

"Don't bother," Gregory snaps. He turns to Marilyn, pinning their teacher down with a fury-filled stare. "I don't know why I even bothered to come." The door flies open once more, and with a resounding slam, Gregory Gan is gone.

Again.

Aimee drags a hand through her choppy pink hair, setting her bubble tea down on the nearest table. "What is his problem?"

"I know, right?" Mia echoes. "He was so rude to Jeong-Soon too!"

Marilyn totters over to the front of the class. From where he's standing, Jeong-Soon can see her hands shaking as she fumbles with the zip of her handbag. She knows him. Why does she know him? "I---I guess he's just having a bad day," Marilyn says, almost to herself. "Take out your theory exercise books, guys. We'll work on three-part writing today." Her chest rises and falls, trembling heavily.