Sin-Jun

Earlier in the story, a character was introduced that I had assumed was unessential to the story. Sin-Jun, a transfer student from Korea, was Lee's roommate from her freshman year at Ault. She seemed quiet, very smart, but most importantly, happy. Well, not exactly happy but not UN-happy. She was a normal person with normal problems and feelings. Apparently, both me and Lee were mistaken. *Spoilers*

Sin-Jun was deeply depressed, enough to attempt suicide. She swallowed a surplus of pills but was, thankfully, found and rushed to the hospital. Lee goes to visit Sin-Jun and can not overcome her shock. Sin-Jun never showed any signs of depression. But then again, people who are really depressed don't let you see. They hide it inside of themselves, reluctant to accept it themselves.

I was a little disappointed in Lee's reaction to the situation. She was not very warm or comforting. Lee acted distantly and as if she had no connection to Sin-Jun. But then again, what was she going to do? What was she going to say? Someone depressed enough to commit suicide is not going to be healed with a few words from an old friend. I don't know exactly what I expected from Lee, but I feel that she could have handled the situation more gracefully.

Lee also meets David Bardo while she is at the hospital. He works in the cafeteria at Ault and recognizes Lee. Dave gives Lee a ride home and she "forgets" to give him back his gloves that she borrowed so that she would have an excuse to see him again. They end up making plans to go on a date. When Dave tells Lee that they will have to postpone for a weekend, Lee makes a huge mistake. The interaction happened while she was in a group of other Ault kids. Lee acts as though he is below her without quite noticing. I found this a little odd because she is usually hyper-aware of how her comments effect the sentiments of other people. Dave assumes that Lee is the typical rich Ault student and believes that she is embarrassed to be seen with him. He has no idea that Lee is a scholarship student from a middle-class family. Well, that ship burned like a stick of dynamite.

Strike Two Flea!