High Schooler (10th, class of 2024).
Gay.
Single.
09/01/2006.
15.
Dog (WA)
Authored by Etienne.
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Post by Yeowoo Eum on Feb 5, 2022 22:35:05 GMT -8
Yeowoo had been to the school the previous day, a teacher in session day, not a real school day, to meet with the school counselors and get his classes set up. Moving in the middle of the year was weird, but at least schools in WA started later in the year than in Texas, and he was coming in right in time for the new semester. They'd gone over his IEP and old school schedule and gotten his schedule wrangled. His counselor had warned him that he'd be in classes with all Juniors and Seniors for just about everything because of how the math and science lined up, but Yeowoo hadn't really minded.
That morning, he'd dressed carefully to project an image. He might look a little bit small and delicate, doll-like as he'd heard often enough when he was younger, but he didn't want that to be the take away from his new classmates, even if things in the Seattle area seemed less stressful on that front. He'd seen so many rainbows in the school that first day he'd been there. He looked himself over in the mirror: black somewhat loose fitting pants with chains, combat boots, loose black denim jacket over a simple gray t-shirt, black bandana holding his hair back from his face, a few chains around his neck and a few more around his wrists to make the medical alert bracelet less obvious, simple silver hoop earrings. For finishing touches, he'd glued on his fake eyebrow piercing, counting out the seconds until the jewelry glue was dry enough to stay in place, and put on a simple black mask, one of the ones his eldest sister had sent him from Korea because they were more comfortable.
He looked over his schedule and the map that they'd given him again, and following the instructions to start the day at the counselor's office instead of going to his homeroom. There were a few last bits of paperwork that they'd needed to go over since they had been waiting on something from his school in Texas, and his weird schedule had needed approval from the principal.
The counselor walked him to his first real class of the day, Chinese 3, so that the teacher would know that he was getting there late with permission and also so that he wouldn't get lost (he had a map, so Yeowoo wasn't actually worried about that).
The counselor brought him into the classroom, and spoke to the teacher, when he came over, other students mostly working on some sort of worksheet or possibly taking a minute to finish homework. The counselor said, "Mr. Lin, I just finished up paperwork with your new student, and he should be showing up on your roster now if he wasn't earlier. This is Yeowoo Eum, he's a sophomore."
Yeowoo knew that the counselor had sent this all out in an email along with the fact that Yeowoo got preferential seating at the front because otherwise he couldn't see, and all the rest of his accommodations in the IEP at a glance. He wished that the counselor actually got his name right, but it was close enough. Mr. Lin said, "Welcome, Yeowoo, there's a seat free up at the front right next to Xander, and it looked like the two of you had your next class together as well."
Mr. Lin had pronounced his name like he was a native Korean speaker, despite being the Chinese teacher, but then Yeowoo remembered the counselor telling him that they offered Korean, and that it was the same teacher, he was definitely curious about that. It was nice that there was at least one teacher who would be able to say his name though, and who he could talk to in Korean if he ever really wanted to.
He was poised as he walked his way over to the seat up front, a little off from center, next to the other young man that Mr. Lin had indicated, wondering what his classmates would think of him. He gave his neighbor a little wave and tried to convey a smile despite the mask as he sat down next to him and started to tidily arrange his things on his desk, including the chromebook that he'd gotten this morning from the district. That was going to take getting used to.
There was some light chatter in the room, and Mr. Lin didn't seem to mind, doing a few things to finish preparing for the morning, getting slides up about a new unit, and apparently taking attendance. He said to his neighbor sharing the same two person table at the other end, since Mr. Lin had pointed him out, "Hi, I'm Yeowoo, nice to meet you, and I hope you won't mind me following you to the next class so I won't have to use the map so much."
Xander Pace
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existing is a full time job.
Bisexual.
Single.
07/15/2004.
19.
Sheep (WA)
Authored by Redeim.
Offline.
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Post by Xander Pace on Feb 5, 2022 23:01:20 GMT -8
Xander was woken by his younger siblings before his alarm actually went off, which annoyed him because he left for school earlier than they did. He rolled back over and was pinned by a cat, so he decided it meant he was to go back to sleep. He covered his head with a pillow to block out the noise of siblings and fell back asleep.
He was awoken some time later by his mother, telling him he was going to be late for school if he didn't get up. She unpinned him from the cat and told him to get up, turning on his bedroom light as she left. He noticed as he checked his phone the alarm was turned off. He didn't remember doing this. He ruffled his hair and got ready for school, thinking for a moment about what to wear before deciding on black leggings and his basketball shorts, along with a t-shirt and one of his thicker hoodies. It was cold, but not cold enough to require the snow outfits. He grabbed his backpack, making sure a mask was in the side pocket, and a piece of untoasted bread with some peanut butter on it and bid his mother goodbye. He'd get more food at school, so he wasn't worried about having such a measly breakfast.
He arrived at school just after the second bell had rang, so by the time he went to the office to pick up a late slip and then arrived in his homeroom, he was a couple minutes late. He dropped his backpack by his desk and with prompting fixed the mask so it was above his nose. He proceeded to continue to sleep through the rest of home room.
He was awoken by the bell, looking a bit dazed as he pulled out his Chinese workbook and textbook. He had finished the workbook assignments done in class, and with prompting he did some of the stuff he was supposed to be doing for homework. It was then the counselor came in with a small student in tow. He mostly ignored the boy until it was decided he'd lose his extra desk space. It was only when the boy introduced himself that he got a proper look at him. Oh shit, he's cute. He thought, swallowing down the initial urge to become extremely flustered. "Um, I'm Xander. And uh, that's fine, I guess."
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High Schooler (10th, class of 2024).
Gay.
Single.
09/01/2006.
15.
Dog (WA)
Authored by Etienne.
Offline.
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Post by Yeowoo Eum on Mar 17, 2022 5:32:10 GMT -8
Yeowoo determined pretty quickly that while the Texas school schedule may have been a little further along in the school year, his Chinese 3 class had been a fair bit behind where Mr. Lin's Chinese 3 class was. He watched enough media in Chinese and had been self studying ahead out of boredom that he was pretty sure he'd be alright, but he figured that it would probably be a good idea to come to Mr. Lin's office hours that he'd mentioned at some point, or find someone to study with. He took copious notes, several with questions, and just in general seemed to be paying full attention.
When they were given the chance to work independently and the light chatter started up again, he leaned over and asked Xander, "Hey, your class is a little ahead of where mine was at my old school, can I ask you some questions on the worksheet as we go if something isn't making sense?"
He figured that he could figure it out, or just ask the teacher, but Mr. Lin was helping another student, and Yeowoo wanted to make friends.
At the end of class, Yeowoo discreetly packed up early glad that most of the work was on the chromebook so he could save that for the last thing to put away and have it not look like he was anticipating the leaving time. He hoped that Xander didn't walk to fast. He'd like to be on time to his next class, and following Xander seemed like the easy way to do that, but if he had to he'd follow the map and get there in his own time.
As the bell rang, he smiled over at Xander, hidden behind his mask, and said, "So, math? It's pretty close by, right?"
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existing is a full time job.
Bisexual.
Single.
07/15/2004.
19.
Sheep (WA)
Authored by Redeim.
Offline.
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Post by Xander Pace on Apr 10, 2022 10:04:01 GMT -8
Xander shrugged, "I don't see why not." He replied simply, twirling his pen as he read over the questions. Occasionally he had to look up hanji, but most of the time he was actually pretty good at remembering Chinese. It was part of why he stuck with it even after the mandatory two years of language. That, and Chinese was a useful language to be comfortable in.
Xander was quick to pack up before the bell even rang, resting his head on the desk again, not raising it until the bell rang again. He grabbed his backpack and stood up, stopping and turning when Yeowoo spoke to him. "Uh, yeah, it's not too far. C'mon, I'll show you." He offered, smiling behind the mask.
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High Schooler (10th, class of 2024).
Gay.
Single.
09/01/2006.
15.
Dog (WA)
Authored by Etienne.
Offline.
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Post by Yeowoo Eum on May 4, 2022 5:30:18 GMT -8
Yeowoo hoisted his thankfully light backpack up. That was one point in favor of the district assigned chromebook already, though he'd go back to a rolling bag if he had to. He was tentatively glad for the rainbow patch he'd attached to the pocket and the rainbow keychains and pins he'd attached all over the bag, hopefully it would help him find the other queer kids that in theory existed with much more frequency in schools in WA.
He grinned at Xander, knowing that it would be hidden behind the mask, but hoping that enough of the expression was conveyed. He said, "Alright, lead the way, but not too fast, I'm still taking it all in, new place and all that, don't want to get lost later."
It felt like a flimsy excuse, but he was pretty sure he'd hit the right note with slightly flamboyant delivery that Xander shouldn't question it too much. Xander might think that he was lazy, but Yeowoo would much rather that than sick and frail. Especially since Xander looked vaguely sporty.
Trying to keep his tone casual and make conversation with the older boy who had been friendly so far, he asked, "So what do you do for fun around here?"
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existing is a full time job.
Bisexual.
Single.
07/15/2004.
19.
Sheep (WA)
Authored by Redeim.
Offline.
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Post by Xander Pace on Jun 22, 2022 20:23:32 GMT -8
Xander thought a moment, "Uh... Hang out at the beach, go shopping, eat, watch anime, oh, I'm in some clubs, like Anime Club, KPop Club, and GSA."
By lunch time, Xander was already getting used to Yeowoo hanging around. They had pretty much the same schedule, so he figured it was good he was at least pleasant to hang out with. He brought the smaller boy to his friend group, mentioning to Yeowoo on the way out of the classroom that he was going to introduce him to his friends.
As he approached the friend group, he felt confident he'd get the boy's name right. He had heard Mr. Lin say it, and he was a native Korean speaker, so he trusted he could remember. But, as he got close enough to his friends, his mind blanked and he just tried his best, "Hey guys, meet uh... Yay-oh-woo." He quick muttered to Yeowoo, "I'm sorry I think I said your name wrong..."
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High Schooler (10th, class of 2024).
Gay.
Single.
09/01/2006.
15.
Dog (WA)
Authored by Etienne.
Offline.
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Post by Yeowoo Eum on Jun 22, 2022 20:30:14 GMT -8
Yeowoo processed things that Xander was mentioning and nodded, "Those sound like a lot of the types of clubs that I would be interested in."
Then he let the thought pass as they headed to their next class.
He was amused at how absent minded Xander seemed as they made their way through their next two classes together, but overall, their small bits of conversation were pleasant, and knowing that Xander was in GSA meant that Xander was someone he wanted to hang around at least some.
Yeowoo looked at Xander reproachfully at the horrific mispronunciation of his name. He sighed and said, "Rather."
He smiled hopefully at Xander's friends and said, "I'm Yeowoo, pronounced like 'Yo' followed by 'Ooo' not whatever he said."
He smiled nervously, glad that it was hidden by the mask and then asked Xander tentatively, voice relatively quiet but hopeful that it was an OK subject in front of Xander's friends, "When does GSA happen? You mentioned it earlier, actually all the clubs you mentioned."
He was glad that he had his own lunch packed because even if he could eat whatever the cafeteria was serving, the line was daunting. He wished that the weather meant that eating outside could happen that day, but he hoped that it would be feasible soon enough, and at least the windows and doors were open and there was plenty of space in the dining hall.
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existing is a full time job.
Bisexual.
Single.
07/15/2004.
19.
Sheep (WA)
Authored by Redeim.
Offline.
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Post by Xander Pace on Jun 22, 2022 20:45:01 GMT -8
Xander apologized and sat down, pulling out his lunch. He thought a moment about what day it was, but another friend told Yeowoo, "GSA is today after school! Most of us will be there. I'm Yuuki, by the way. Pronouns are they/them."
Xander, mouth full of food, pointed to Yuuki as if saying, "what they said." Once his mouth was not as full of food, he continued, "Anime Club is on Thursdays after school, and Yuuki, Joey, Kai, and Iskander," He pointed to each friend as he said their names, "are in that, all of us are in GSA, and Jungho, Kai, Yuuki, and Kyo are all in the KPop Club, which is on Mondays." He explained.
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High Schooler (10th, class of 2024).
Gay.
Single.
09/01/2006.
15.
Dog (WA)
Authored by Etienne.
Offline.
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Post by Yeowoo Eum on Jun 22, 2022 20:53:10 GMT -8
Yeowoo smiled and said, "Nice to meet all of you."
He had the sneaking suspicion that they were all also juniors, but he was also used to being smaller than everyone, so it wasn't a guarantee. He was pretty sure that he'd seen a few of the others in some of their classes that morning, but he couldn't place which of them, so he didn't bring it up.
He grinned at the news that GSA would be that afternoon, and his shoulders sagged in relief that all the people that Xander had just introduced him to were in GSA. Before he opened his lunch, he said, "I'm just going to call my mom real quick to let her know that I'm going to be staying late then. She's probably going to grumble about having to come pick me up instead of me taking the bus."
He pulled out his phone, calling his mom, glad that the cafeteria was less echo-y than the one at his old school had been. He was glad that she answered quickly, and he told her in quick Korean, "Umma I'm staying afterschool today for GSA, can you come pick me up about an hour after the end of the school day?"
She sighed and said, "Text me to let me know when it ends and so I don't forget, and I guess. I know that's important to you. I hope you're making friends."
He smiled a little bit and said, "I think so. Thank you, love you."
He put away his phone for the time being and carefully unpacked his lunch before taking off his mask, letting it hang from one ear so that he could put it back on quickly, and starting to eat. He had packed all banchan that were good cold and also things that he wasn't allergic to, and he covertly glanced at Xander and his friends to make sure that no one was going to be weird about the home cooked food, and was glad to see a mix of cuisines among them.
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existing is a full time job.
Bisexual.
Single.
07/15/2004.
19.
Sheep (WA)
Authored by Redeim.
Offline.
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Post by Xander Pace on Jun 22, 2022 21:08:05 GMT -8
Once Yeowoo was off the phone, Xander looked over to him, "Where do you live? One of us can take you home."
"If by one of us you mean you," Joey muttered, the only other one with a driver's license, though still not allowed to drive others.
Xander rolled his eyes, "Yes, me." He took another bite of food as he surveyed Yeowoo's lunch.
"Oh, is that Korean food? Is that uhhh... Mew?"
Jungho groaned, "This is why you need to come to the Asian-American Club! You're Korean Xander, do better. It's Mu. And that's only one of like... three mu dishes he brought."
"Well, sorry I didn't grow up with Korean parents." Xander snapped back, though he clearly wasn't actually angry.
Jungho looked to Yeowoo, "Which reminds me, if it's something you're interested in, the Asian American Club meets on Tuesdays after school." He said kindly.
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High Schooler (10th, class of 2024).
Gay.
Single.
09/01/2006.
15.
Dog (WA)
Authored by Etienne.
Offline.
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Post by Yeowoo Eum on Jun 22, 2022 21:21:44 GMT -8
Yeowoo was suprised at the easy offer of a drive, but he figured that Cedar Beach wasn't nearly as sprawling as anything in Texas. He said, "I live in a little townhome complex on Ashgrove Way, um, towards the Sound from here, right before it starts going downhill from the ridge. I'd have to look up the exact address. We just moved and I've not got it memorized yet. I hope that's not too out of the way?"
He giggled a little bit at Jungho scolding Xander, but his brain fixed on the mention of Xander being Korean and he turned towards him a little and said, "You didn't say that you were Korean too!"
He perked up at the mention of Asian American Club and told Jungho with a smile, "Oh! There wasn't anything like that at my last high school and it didn't even occur to me that there might be one here. I knew that GSAs were a thing, and that was something that I was hoping to find. I definitely want to go to that too. Xander, why don't you go?"
He told Xander, "This one that you pointed at is spicy mu saengchae, this one is a sweet and sour mu saengchae, and this one is mu namul."
He started on his myeolchi bokkeum, enjoying the saltiness of it paired with the mu namul.
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existing is a full time job.
Bisexual.
Single.
07/15/2004.
19.
Sheep (WA)
Authored by Redeim.
Offline.
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Post by Xander Pace on Jun 22, 2022 21:31:27 GMT -8
Xander thought a moment of if he noticed any moving vans on his street. "Uh I also live on Ashgrove so that's fine." Xander told Yeowoo.
"I uh... Forget I'm Asian... A lot of the time. I was adopted as a baby by white people." He explained to him. "So I feel pretty out of place in a club like the Asian American Club..."
He tried to follow on the different types of food Yeowoo had, but it all sounded the same to him. He then processed just what Yeowoo was currently eating. "Those are fish." He dead-panned. "With heads."
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High Schooler (10th, class of 2024).
Gay.
Single.
09/01/2006.
15.
Dog (WA)
Authored by Etienne.
Offline.
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Post by Yeowoo Eum on Jun 29, 2022 16:00:29 GMT -8
Yeowoo thought about Xander's explanation for a moment and then said, "But wouldn't that make a club like that an excellent chance to learn more about your background? Aren't you curious?"
He was slightly surprised that Xander was so surprised by his food, considering several of the other members of the group that he was sitting with had clearly brought food from home as well, and Jungho clearly was familiar with his food.
He nodded though and said, "This is myeolchi bokkeum, they're uh, anchovies in English I think. They're salty. If you don't have food allergies to it, want to try some?"
From Xander's initial reaction, he was pretty sure that the answer was no, but he was also curious to see how Xander would react. He glanced over at Jungho, feeling slightly conspiratorial. He was pretty sure that he was already invested in joining Jungho's campaign to get Xander to go to the Asian American Club. He was definitely excited that it was a thing that existed.
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existing is a full time job.
Bisexual.
Single.
07/15/2004.
19.
Sheep (WA)
Authored by Redeim.
Offline.
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Post by Xander Pace on Aug 2, 2022 9:17:29 GMT -8
"I mean... Kind of? But I just feel really out of place at the Asian-American club. Everyone there already knows their cultures."
Jungho pointed his chopsticks at Xander and stared at him pointedly, "Actually, you haven't been since we were freshman, there's a couple more adoptees in the club now. And they joined to learn their culture.."
Xander rolled his eyes at Jungho before looking at the anchovy, unsure of how to respond. He looked to his friends for what he should do. Jungho and Yuuki urged him to try it, so he took the fish hesitantly and set it on his lunchbox. Maybe by the end of lunch time he'd get up the nerve to try it. If not, he could just give it to Jungho. "T-thanks, I guess." He told Yeowoo.
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