"Well, well…" Park Dong squinted, a grin tugging at his mouth. "Look who finally decided to show up."
Daegyu barked a laugh. "Hah! Still, kind of a miracle you came at all."
"What wind blew you back here, huh?" Park Dong jeered, folding his arms. "Don't tell me you were scared the school might actually kick you out?"
Jinsu dropped down on the other side, dusting off his hands. "As if I'd give a damn about that." His stomach growled loud enough for them to hear. "I'm starving. What's lunch?"
"The dean's inside the cafeteria today," Daegyu muttered,
"Ah? Then let's go to snack store"
**********
Jiseong nudged me as we walked. "So why didn't you join Park Dong and the others?"
I shrugged, swinging my bag. "Not my thing. I don't like those."
He whistled low, eyes wandering the courtyard. "Man, you're wasting your looks. If I were you I'd work it left and right, use what you got."
Irina, who'd been hovering nearby, snapped her head around. "What's he talking about?" she demanded.
Jiseong waved a hand like it was nothing. "Oh nothing. Park Dong and Daegyu wanted Seojin to go flirt with girls with them."
Irina's face hardened. "Those two are a terrible influence." She jabbed a finger at the air for emphasis. "Don't worry, Seojin. If they try anything, I'll teach them a lesson. No bad habits around my friends."
I couldn't help the small chuckle that escaped me. "Appreciate the concern squad leader, Irina. But I'll manage it somehow."
She stuck her tongue out at me dramatically.
Jiseong leaned forward, smirking. "Anyway, why don't you have a girlfriend? With your looks, I bet a ton of girls already confessed."
I shrugged. "Never found anyone I actually liked."
Irina's eyes lit up immediately. "Then tell us what do you like?" She stole a sly glance at Seolhyo, already grinning.
I shrugged casually. "Never really found anyone I actually liked."
Irina's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "Then tell us—what kind of girl do you like?" She threw a mischievous glance at Seol Hyorim, her grin widening.
I paused for a moment, pretending to think. "Hmm… I haven't really thought about it, but I guess… pretty eyes?"
"Pretty eyes?" Irina echoed, raising a brow. I nodded with a faint smile.
Before anyone could tease me further, Seol Hyorim's voice cut in. "It's done."
Irina and Jinkyung turned to look. "Ooh, you look decent now, Suwon!""Yeah, that actually suits you," Jinkyung added.
Suwon admired his reflection in the hand mirror, his face lighting up. "Whoa, thanks, Seol Hyorim."
Then Seol Hyorim turned to me. "You too come here. Let's cut yours next."
I took Suwon's place in front of her. As she started trimming my bangs, I found myself staring into her eyes.
"Your eyes are really pretty," I said quietly.
She froze for half a second, then flushed and glared at me. "Shut up, or I'll mess up your hair."
I couldn't help but laugh softly.
The bell over the snack shop door jingled, and when I glanced up, I saw Yang Jinsu striding in with Park Dong and Lee Daegyu right behind him.
The bell above the snack shop door jingled, breaking the quiet hum of the clippers. I glanced over and saw Yang Jinsu walk in, with Park Dong beside him and Lee Daegyu trailing behind them.
I was still leaning slightly forward in the chair, Seol Hyorim close enough that I could feel the faint brush of her sleeve as she carefully trimmed my bangs her cheeks tinged with a soft blush.
Jinsu's eyes immediately landed on us. His expression darkened, lips pressing into a thin line as his gaze lingered on how close we were.
Seol Hyorim noticed them too, her scissors pausing for just a heartbeat before she wordlessly went back to cutting, lips pursed in concentration, as if their arrival wasn't even worth acknowledging.
"Hey," Jinsu called out flatly, his gaze settling on Park Dong. "You said you'd buy it. Hurry up."
"Uhh… yeah, yeah." Park Dong scratched the back of his head, already shuffling toward the counter.
Irina leaned back in her chair, smirking. "Well, well, look who decided to crawl out of hiding. Where've you been this whole time?"
Jinsu shoved his hands in his pockets. "Didn't have anything better to do. So I came." His tone was clipped, dismissive, like he wanted to end the conversation before it started.
Irina rolled her eyes. "Is that so."
Jinsu didn't respond at first his gaze lingered on us again, sharp and unreadable. I met his eyes briefly before turning back to Seol Hyorim, her pretty eyes fixed on trimming the last of my bangs as if nothing else existed.
After a moment, Park Dong handed Jinsu his Fire Burger. Without a word, Jinsu took it and turned toward the door.
Suwon, noticing him leaving, called out, "…So you came to school, huh?"
Jinsu paused for half a second, then replied flatly without looking back, "Yeah. Lol." His tone was light, but it didn't match his face.
He walked off, and Park Dong still awkward since he hadn't made up with Seol Hyorim yet hurried after him. "Hey, wait up, dumbass. Let's go together."
Suwon watched their backs disappearing through the door, his expression faintly uneasy. He seems pissed off…
**********
In the teachers' office, the sound of a wooden stick cracking against Jinsu's butt echoed like a gunshot.
"Why haven't you been coming to school?!"
Our homeroom teacher barked, hitting him again. "I called your parents they said even they can't control you! You think you can just slack off forever? Keep this up and you'll be kicked out!"
Jinsu bit down hard on his lip, face contorting, but he didn't talk back. He just stood there, letting the punishment rain down.
When he stumbled out of the office, he nearly crashed into Im Yongjin and Kang Hyuk, who were walking together.
"Tch, Jinsu," Kang Hyuk sneered, arms crossed. "I heard you've been hanging around Chulgyu. Better ditch that guy before you sink lower than you already have."
The girl beside Kang Hyuk gave Jinsu a pitying glance, then tugged Hyuk along. "Het, let's go the break might end soon."
As they left, Im Yongjin lingered, stepping close enough that Jinsu could feel his breath against his ear.
"Bring me a pack of cigars," Yongjin whispered, voice low and dangerous. "Put it under my desk before night study. Don't screw it up."
Jinsu's fists clenched. His pride burned, but all he could do was obey. "o-okay…"
***********
When class finally ended, lunch rolled around. Park Dong clapped Jinsu on the back.
"Come on, let's go eat."
Jinsu shook his head sharply. "The dean's in the cafeteria. I'm not going."
Park Dong clicked his tongue. "Then just cut your damn hair already, dumbass. We'll eat without you." He walked off with us, leaving Jinsu sitting alone in the classroom.
After everyone had left, Yang Jinsu remained alone in the classroom, slouched in his chair with both arms draped over his desk.His thoughts churned restlessly. It's been days, and I'm still not used to this. I'm going crazy… this place is suffocating.
He remembered the teacher's cautious looks, Kang Hyuk's dismissive tone, and Im Yongjin constantly telling him what to do and what not to.Being treated like a freak… am I just supposed to accept being seen as a fool? A pushover?
His jaw tightened as an image flashed in his mind Seojin and Seol Hyorim together at the snack store, sitting close, laughing....Tch. Fuck.
He pulled out his phone, thumbing through his contacts before pressing call."Hello? Oh, Cheolgyu. What are you doing?"
leaning back in his chair. "I'm skipping night class, lol. Can't stand being here anymore. You at the PC bang? Yeah, I'll head over."
Yang Jinsu eyes wandered and landed on Suwon's red sketchbook under his desk.
A slow, knowing smirk crept across his face staring at the sketchbook.
That bastard Ji Suwon maybe he didn't show it but i bet he's laughing so hard after i got dumped i'll make sure to get you screwed for once.
"Yeah.. ill be there soon~"