"Park Haeun! Where have you been?!" Park Hyunbin, Haeun's "adorable" younger brother(as he liked to call himself) nearly pounced on her as she opened the front door.
Haeun scoffed, ignoring him and placing her bag on the table. She took off her nose mask and hat, placing them on the table as well.
"Were you sleeping with an Ajusshi?" Hyunbin said the last part with a smirk on his lips as his sister's face squeezed.
"You scoundrel." Haeun smacked his head, and he pretended it hurt.
"Ow ow. Such a bully." He cried.
Haeun entered their kitchen, thinking of what meal she could prepare for them. Her thoughts came to a halt when her eyes landed on the utter filth that was their kitchen.
Kimchi was splattered across the floor like the aftermath of a food war, and plates littered the sink. A little peek behind the trashbag, and she caught the sight of a tail. Probably a rat's tail.
"Park Hyunbin!" She roared and darted out of the kitchen, her eyes filled with bloodthirst.
She was going to kill him.
"Did you invite your friends over again?!" Hyunbin flinched from the intensity of her voice and a nervous smile crept onto his face.
"Maybe?"
"You!" Haeun flew at him, smacking his head and back and everywhere she could. He shielded himself, shouting and wriggling under her.
"Do you know how tiring it is working from morning to night?! I come home and you've messed up the kitchen. I am going to kill you!"
"Ahh. Noona!" Hyunbin pushed her off, and ran towards the entrance. He then sped out of the door, slamming it against Haeun.
"You better come back!" Haeun screamed, shaking her fists. She groaned, face palming herself.
Park Hyunbin.
20 years.
3 years younger than her.
Studying Business Administration.
Unlike Haeun, he was quite the trouble maker, and was fond of inviting his fellow first years to their house to play games and eat Tteokbokki and Samgyeopsal.
His only saving grace was that he did well in school. When the first semester grades were released, he ranked near the top of the class. That alone made it slightly easier for Park Haeun to resist the urge to toss him in the trash on multiple occasions.
She went to her room, plopping herself on her bed.
It was Sunday.
Tomorrow was Monday, and the start of a new semester.
She let out a sigh. She would need more money soon, as the monetary reserves their parents left behind were slowly running out.
Her thoughts slipped to Seo Minho.
People like him didn't have any worries in the world, since they had all the money she could only dream of.
Seo Minho.
The crown prince of Daehan University.
That was a close one.
Haeun deliberately wore masks and covered her hair when she was working, so that people wouldn't recognize her.
She didn't need anybody's pity, and she did not want to be looked down on.
The faint creak of the front door opening drifted into her hearing, and she shut her eyes tightly.
She had to wait.
If she saw Park Hyunbin right now, she would actually kill him.
~
Students rushed around, trying to get to their various classes.
Second semester at Daehan University had finally begun, and Park Haeun was anything but prepared.
Hyunbin had blown her an exaggerated kiss as he sprinted off toward his own campus, his sneakers slapping loudly against the pavement.
She had forced him to scrub up the disaster he and his friends had left in the kitchen before she let him go.
Rightfully so.
By the time Haeun arrived at her own department, the campus was already buzzing.
Students crowded the walkways with cups of coffee, laughter spilling from little groups huddled together.
Posters for clubs flapped on bulletin boards, and someone was already blasting some Kpop music near the student lounge. She went straight for her locker.
Park Haeun struggled with the stubborn lock, yanking at it until it finally clicked open with a loud clang.
She let out a sigh and shoved her books inside, mumbling to herself about how she already hated the semester and it hadn't even properly started.
"Unniiiiii!"
Haeun flinched at the sing-song voice and turned her head. Choi Yuna, her best friend and partner-in-suffering, was bouncing toward her, a wide grin plastered on her face.
Choi Yuna was slightly shorter than Haeun, and had short dyed purple curls that fitted her round face.
"You look too happy for a Monday morning," Haeun muttered, reaching for her notes.
"That's because I have news!" Yuna squealed, practically slamming her palms against the locker beside Haeun's. "You will not believe this."
Haeun narrowed her eyes. "If this is about another one of your K-drama idols, I swear—"
"No! This is real life drama!" Yuna leaned in, lowering her voice like she was about to leak government secrets. "Seo Minho. THE Seo Minho. Guess what?"
Haeun froze.
Her hand, halfway through grabbing her pen, stopped moving. "…What about him?"
Yuna looked like she was about to explode. "He's taking an elective with us! This semester! I heard from Yoonji, who heard it from her cousin, who heard it from—"
"Yuna." Haeun cut her off, slamming her locker shut with a loud bang. "Do you realize how ridiculous that sounds? A law major, heir to a whole conglomerate, deciding to sit with broke Culinary Arts kids?"
"I'm telling you! It's true!" Yuna's grin widened, her eyes sparkling. "He registered for 'Introduction to Cultural Cuisine.' That's our class, Haeun. OUR class."
No way. Out of all electives in the entire university, he had to pick this one?
Before Haeun could scoff again, the whispers of students rose like a wave. Phones were out, some girls were squealing softly, and others were gasping.
Yuna's eyes grew huge. "Speak of the devil."
Haeun's pulse skipped as she slowly turned her head.
There he was. Seo Minho.
Walking casually down the hall like he didn't have the entire university staring at him. Dark hair swept neatly back, eyebrows furrowed in a frown.
He had a different countenance on his face, unlike what she had seen the day before.
His face was tight, squeezed, like he was angry.
Park Haeun swallowed.
Without warning, his eyes flickered towards her.
Right at her.
Haeun's stomach dropped. Did he recognize her? Did he know she was the one that spilled food on him the day before?
Yuna clutched Haeun's arm. "Oh. My. God. Did he just look at you?!"
Haeun glared at her friend. "Choi Yuna! You watch too much drama, and now you're imagining things."
Yuna was too busy eyeballing Seo Minho as he walked past them, his hands deep in his hoodie pockets.
His cologne trailed behind him, and so did a multitude of girls ranging from first year to final.
The semester had just started, and Haeun already wanted to vanish.