After dinner, you step outside, lighting a cigarette. The night air is cool, crisp—a contrast to the burn in your lungs. You exhale, watching the smoke curl into the sky.
"You know, you can't be smoking if you're in this family, right?" The voice is smooth but edged with superiority.
You glance over. Nayeon stands there, arms crossed, her stance elegant yet cocky.
"I don't care. I need my everyday smoke." You take another drag, savoring it.
Without warning, Nayeon snatches the cigarette from your fingers and tosses it onto the ground, stomping it out with calculated precision. The sharp click of her heels echoes in the quiet.
"Hey... hey, you don't need to do all that," you mutter, annoyance creeping into your tone.
"You don't tell me what to do," she counters, unbothered. "Also, I've got news for you."
"What is it?"
"Dad said you're going to our school. So make sure you wake up at 6:34."
You roll your eyes as she turns on her heel and walks back inside. Without missing a beat, you reach into your boot and retrieve another cigarette, lighting it up.
"School, huh..." You sigh, taking another slow drag.
After finishing your smoke, you slip back inside. The house is dark, silent. Pulling out your phone, you switch on the flashlight, navigating the stairs to your room.
---
**Tomorrow morning, at 6:34.**
"GET UP, EVERYONE! IT'S TIME TO GET READY!"
The sudden scream jolts you awake. You sit up too fast, your head colliding with the wall. A loud ringing floods your ears.
"Jesus Christ, she's loud," you groan, rubbing the side of your head.
"You'll get used to it," comes a voice from across the room. Dahyun stretches casually, unfazed. "See? It doesn't even hurt my ears anymore."
You watch her, unimpressed, as she walks out, leaving you to drag yourself out of bed.
Half-dressed, still waking up, you barely register Nayeon stepping into your room, holding up a set of school clothes.
"Here. Wear this."
You eye the outfit in disgust.
"I'm not wearing that."
"Yes, you are. Put it on."
"No, I'm n—"
Taeyeon walks in before you can finish.
"Here, Y/n. I know you don't like girly stuff, so I got you the boys' uniform," she says, handing over another set of clothes.
"Really, Mom?" Nayeon's voice is sharp, irritated.
"What? Y/n doesn't deserve to wear something she hates. So put it on. Your sisters are waiting for you," Taeyeon says, ignoring the glare her eldest daughter shoots your way before leaving.
You glance down at the clothes, processing the moment.
"Well… that's nice of Mo—" You stop yourself mid-thought. Were you really about to call her Mom?
You shake it off and get dressed.
---
**Downstairs.**
The family is already waiting when you finally descend the stairs.
As you step into view, one of the sisters subtly blushes, though you don't catch who.
"Are you ready yet, or are you just gonna stand there looking dumb?" Jihyo's words cut through the silence.
You blink, momentarily stunned. The irritation rises, but you bite it back. You're trying—sort of.
Holding your temper, you join the others, following them outside to the van. A massive van. No—bigger than that.
The ride to school starts in silence—awkward, heavy. Until:
"So, Y/n, did you ever go to school before?" Sana's voice is gentle, curious.
"Actually, no. This is my first time."
Gasps erupt around you.
"So you've never gone to school? Like, never?" Chaeyoung asks, eyes wide.
"Yup. Never."
"Wow~" Jihyo murmurs, distracted as she scrolls through her phone, biting her lip.
"What is it?" Jeongyeon asks.
"Look, everyone! It's RM. Isn't he hot?"
"Omg, yes," Momo chimes in.
"So fine," Sana adds.
Voices overlap in agreement.
You glance at Sana, amusement flickering across your face. Something about her tone…
**Gay.**
Not just her, though. All of them.
Jihyo snaps back to the conversation. "How about you, Y/n?"
"Say what now?"
"Ugh… how about you? Isn't he fine?"
"Uh… yeah, no."
"What?! He's the **top hottie** out here!"
"Yeah, no. How about Soojin?"
"Who's that?" Mina asks, brows furrowing.
"Yeah, who?" Tzuyu echoes.
"It's a s-she," Sana stammers.
Silence. Stunned expressions.
"A **girl?** Ew," Mina says.
"Yeah."
"Ew." Jihyo wrinkles her nose.
"How did Sana even know? We don't even know her," Nayeon remarks.
"Right? How did you know?" Dahyun presses.
"I—I—I…" Sana falters, glitching.
"I mean, I'm a lesbian, so…" You shrug.
"A **WHAT?!**" Chaeyoung nearly chokes.
"DON'T EVEN SAY IT! UGH!" Jihyo groans.
"Jeez, fine," you mutter. "But come on, you can't tell me she ain't fine as hell."
You pull up a picture.
Silence.
"I—I mean sh—" Tzuyu stammers.
"NO! OH GOD, HELP THEM, PLEASE!" Jihyo exclaims.
"We're all **STRAIGHT** here, okay?" Nayeon asserts.
"Are you sure about that?" You smirk.
"What?" Momo frowns.
"I mean, to become straight, we all start off as wiggly worms."
"YEAH, NO! WE'RE S-T-R-A-I-G-H-T," Jihyo declares, overly dramatic.
"Okay, okay, calm down."
"Okay, we're here," the security guard announces.
"Ugh, finally," Nayeon sighs.
Everyone exits the van. You follow.