"I see." She nods, tapping her foot rhythmically as she jots down his words. She pauses for a moment before asking, "Are you familiar with Han Sujin, Jake?"
The question takes him aback.
"Familiar with?" He scratches the back of his neck uncertainly, "Uh... I mean, we've introduced ourselves. That's pretty much it."
"Ah," Headmistress Jeong hums, "Miss Han is what we like to call a behavioral entrant - I'm sure you're familiar with the term."
Jake nods. Behavioral entrants are students with a rocky past, specifically accepted into Darisan as a form of reformation (or punishment) for disobedience and various other troublesome habits. He'd learnt that from Jay when the two first met a few years ago.
It comes as no surprise to him that Sujin happens to be one. In fact, it makes all the interactions he's had with her thus far make all the more sense.
Jay was pretty awful too at first, come to think of it.
"Originally, I figured we could just let things run their course as we usually do with these students," Headmistress Jeong continues, "But she seems to be a particularly challenging case. Initiating a physical fight on the first - let alone any - day of school is just unacceptable."
"Of course," Jake agrees immediately, "It was entirely uncalled for."
The Headmistress smiles, though there's a warmth missing from it that makes him shift in his seat.
"You're a very promising student, Jake." She praises, "I see a lot of potential in you."
His chest swells, "Thank you, ma'am."
"And Student Body President is no role to be taken lightly. You've earned this position because the students trust you, and the teachers trust you." A pause. "I trust you."
Jake gulps, feeling the weight of the world begin to settle upon his shoulders.
"As a representative and leader of Darisan Preparatory, it's times like this when the students should be able to rely on you for order."
"One hundred percent."
"So with that being said," Headmistress Jeong cuts straight to the chase, "I want you to keep an eye on Miss Han."
Jake has to blink a couple of times to convince himself he isn't imagining things, "Sorry, what?"
"You heard me right." The Headmistress confirms, "I need someone like you to make sure she's not stirring up any more trouble around here. I've already given her a firm warning, but we both know it's never enough to tell these kinds of people once."
Jake nods slowly, still trying to process everything in order to keep up with her words.
"You're aware of the Three Strike Rule, yes?"
He shakes his head.
"Of course. I don't see why it would have ever applied to you." The Headmistress laughs to herself, apparently forgetting just who she's having a conversation with, "I enforce the Three Strike Rule with all the students called into my office. After their first misbehavior, they only have three remaining strikes - for going against any of the rules in the rulebook, whether it be breaking dress code or defacing school property - before they're punished to a week of community service. No questions asked. No excuses heard. For every three misbehaviors after that, the punishment doubles."
Jake winces. Something in him can already tell Sujin's not one to stop at just three... Hell, for every hit aimed at Chaeyoung back in the gymnasium, the girl would have already racked up a good year of community service.
"You need to keep Miss Han in line, Jake." Headmistress Jeong reiterates, "I want you to have an extra close eye on her from this point onward, and report back to me immediately when all three strikes are up."
Jake's brow instinctively quirks, "Don't you mean 'if' all three strikes are up?"
The Headmistress straightens, "When all three strikes are up."
Yikes.
"Think of it as your first real challenge as President." She adds, "I mean, if you're going to be entrusted with leading an entire school, one girl shouldn't be too much to handle..." Her eyes are practically burning through his own at this point, "Right?"
"No! Of course not!" Jake pipes up a little too quickly, causing the Headmistress to give him a pointed look.
"I- Yep. Yes." He collects himself, "I'm on top of it, ma'am."
He's not sure whether his words have her - nor himself, for that matter - completely convinced, but he masks his doubt as best he can with a reassuring smile.
"I should hope so." Headmistress Jeong purses her lips, "Otherwise, I'd be disappointed."
Disappointed.
It's like a sucker punch to his gut.
Truth be told, there are not many things on Earth that can faze Jake Sim, much less that are able to reduce him to such a clammy-palmed mess. The mere thought of letting people down, however, most certainly takes a top spot on the exclusive list. It'd lie somewhere between his father's quiet rage, he thinks, and those spiders with abnormally long legs. (Yes, it's totally irrational. No, that doesn't change the fact that he'd rather throw himself into a body of shark-infested waters than spend even a second in the presence of one of those horrendous little creatures.)
Jake swallows the growing lump in the back of his throat.
"I won't let you down, Headmistress Jeong."
She nods.
"We'll see about that."
SAGE'S SPACE! 🗯️
a little more on our beloved jaeyun this chapter :') i'm not gonna lie, writing this hit awfully close to home... all those with people-pleasing tendencies & a crippling fear of failure say i 😔🤚
on a totally different note though, i just have to say reading all of your comments on the last chapter had me ROLLINGGG yall are so funny 😭 writing & reading this book wouldn't even be half as much fun without your input, you guys are the BEST !!!
til next time, sage ♡
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
