Following the nationwide exams, most of the third years stop coming to school. Returning to normal lessons on the Friday definitely feels unfair for Taehyeon but he supposes that is an injury too far for the third years. They aren't supposed to stop attending lessons but the teachers don't seem to be concerned about absences after chasing down every minute of lateness throughout the rest of the year. At least, that is how his sister Taeri explained it in all her expertise.
Thinking back to all the fun she had hanging out with her friends and taking pictures at all the trending cafés on weekdays, Taehyeon knows he will skive off the last weeks of school too when his turn comes. In the instance that both himself and Bada are single, Taehyeon already has plenty of ideas for them to spend their free time. For now, Taehyeon is stuck daydreaming a year into the future.
Minjun says he is going to keep coming to school. He texts Taehyeon several times to remind him to keep a look out. Taehyeon is determined not to look anywhere near the classroom's corridor windows. He doesn't know what he is supposed to do if he sees Minjun now. Knowing that Minjun is still burdened by trying to include him in his social circle isn't a good feeling and the forced friendship has almost run its course. Their lives are already beginning to diverge.
Whilst Taehyeon's relationship with Woobin has stalled since the beginning, it is just the reality of being cautious and shy. Woobin isn't the only one. Taehyeon is feeling incredibly shy about Woobin too. It must have been passed on when they kissed. When Taehyeon builds up enough of his courage, he will pass that along to Woobin through a kiss too. By then he is sure he will have totally recovered from a silly little crush which can't lead to anything.
When the weekend comes around, Taehyeon is glad not to have any plans. He texts Bada a few times and relents to give Eunji the same honour. Most of the weekend is eaten up by grinding on Dynasty of Destruction. All in all it is a good time. Taehyeon can't complain. He shouldn't complain. He wants to complain though.
"You look rough," Taeri squeaks when Taehyeon collapses into his seat on Monday morning. "Did something happen?"
"I got Jumong and got a reward from Yi Sunsin." The desk is oddly comfortable beneath Taehyeon's head. Adding his backpack as a softer surface creates the perfect level of comfort. This isn't so bad. He has already reminded himself of his weekend victories and now he has found the perfect way to get through the day.
"What are you talking about?" Taeri asks. "Did you not sleep at all?"
"I'm not sure."
"You look like a zombie, Taehyeon. You look really sick."
It would be nice if Taeri realised that Taehyeon needs quiet right now. And for the rest of the day. He sighs as he struggles to lift the weight of his head off his backpack.
"Look, this was like my last chance to stay up all night playing games. From now on we're all going to be forced to stay up to study. All those sleepless nights are going to feel like a waste when we don't get into the universities we hope for, but these past few nights have been worth it for me."
"You stayed up for three nights in a row?" Taeri squawks.
Taehyeon isn't at school to do maths. At least, not on behalf of other people. He readjusts his makeshift pillow and settles in for the morning.
"You should go to the nurse," Taeri chirps earnestly.
"No way, he can't go," Minjeong says as she all but falls into her chair. Taehyeon sits up and is surprised to see that she really is talking to them. This is just like how it was before she fell out with Jeongwon and attempted to murder Taehyeon. Odd. Maybe things will just go back to normal now and everyone will stop trying to make him think of convoluted situations to repair somebody else's friendship.
"Why can't he go to the nurse?" The hesitation in Taeri's voice wavers out of her throat. There is no need to sound scared. Kim Minjeong is nobody to be afraid of.
"We're going to choose our room assignments for the glamping trip."
"Today?"
"Yes, Taehyeon, today! We're leaving the week after next. We need to sort this out."
"You're not thinking of rooming with me, are you?" Taehyeon asks because he doesn't understand Minjeong's threatening aura.
"Shouldn't they be tent assignments?" Taeri asks.
"Boys can't share a room with girls," Minjeong mutters. "I'm just saying, I overheard Miss Ahn talking so we need to make our choices today. They're not even giving us a few days to try to find somebody to make up the number of people to a room. Shouldn't they have started organising this well before now?"
"Maybe," Taehyeon allows. The danger in this situation isn't immediate. He'll close his eyes until the teacher gets here. With any luck a five minute power-nap will give him all the energy he could ever need on a Monday morning.
"I would advise anybody sleeping to wake up by the time I finish writing on the board," Miss Ahn calls out. Her high heels clip-clop loudly as she breezes into the classroom. Whilst the murmur of classroom chatter is as soothing as the gentle lapping of the tide along the shore, Miss Ahn is the rumbling rockfall pelting the serene sands.
Taehyeon does the best impression of alertness that he can but Miss Ahn also seems to be writing as slow as humanly possible. She must be doing this to torture Taehyeon specifically. He needs to physically wrench his eyelids apart and his teacher is teasing the potential to suddenly turn around at any moment. Straining against his exhaustion is futile.
Taehyeon gives up.
He sinks into the comforting embrace of his scratchy and rough backpack for the briefest of heavenly seconds.
"This morning!" Miss Ahn shouts as she slaps the blackboard. As bone-tired as he is, Taehyeon still manages to sit up quickly enough to see the stick of chalk crumble out of his teacher's hand.
Sitting upright and barely breathing, Taehyeon keeps his eyes open with the power of fear. He's awake enough. No need for Taeri to be sending fearful glances his way. Taehyeon isn't going to sleep another wink in his entire life.
"We are going to organise groups for the winter trip. I know you're all excited but you're all going to have a terrible time unless you put in the work now."
"We have to do work?" Taeri cheeps. She isn't the only one disappointed. Most of the other students in the class murmur to their neighbours, sounding as exasperated as if they thought they had done enough at this point.
"It's fun," Miss Ahn insists. She kicks the broken chalk to the side and points to the class president in the front row. "Seo Yuri, please hand out these forms to everyone. This is fun work. You kids need to learn that being prepared is the first step to having fun. Oh, I forgot the recommended packing lists. No matter, these are the important things to think about anyway.
"There are six students to a room, girls with girls, boys with boys, you will be subject to multiple teamworking activities with your roommates. Is there anything else?"
Miss Ahn taps her foot on the floor quickly but it doesn't seem to do much to jog her memory. Already students are beginning to murmur to one another about writing each other on their sheets. Taehyeon is keeping himself as quiet as possible. Beside him, Taeri isn't saying a word either. It is a shame for Minjeong to have been right for once. Glancing around the classroom, Taehyeon can't think of a single person who would invite her to join their group. She must have earned this through her reputation of being a secret spreader but it is difficult not to feel sorry for her all the same.
It is only after noticing Minjeong's lack of options that Taehyeon seriously considers his own situation. Numbers are against him. He is going to struggle to come up with a list of five other people who will choose him too. Just the thought of asking if anybody will want him in their room (or their tent, or whatever) is daunting. Taehyeon doesn't want to embarrass himself in front of his whole class by mustering the courage to ask and getting flat out rejected.
Whilst Taehyeon is counting up the boys in his class, the door is yanked open and bangs against the frame. Taehyeon barely has the time to turn and look at what happened before Lee Dongmin slams his hand on the desk.
The murmuring in the room dies down. Taehyeon would prefer not to have all these eyes on him whilst he is struggling with the reality of being unpopular. Dongmin bangs his hand on the table a few more times, just in case there aren't enough people looking.
"You're in my group. Hurry up and write me on your sheet. Bada will make an excuse not to be in the same group as me unless you agree first."
Taehyeon glances around. Seeing Minjeong facing the front of the classroom at a time like this is oddly disappointing. She loves to be the one to dig into any situation yet she is the only one who doesn't seem to care why Lee Dongmin sprinted here from his own classroom.
Taeri raises her hand. "Miss, can our groups be mixed from the other classes?"
"Yes, Taeri, you can group up with students from other classes to make up your groups of six," Miss Ahn replies. This is disappointing too. She should be shouting at Dongmin and telling him off for being disruptive. Instead she is happy to let him bother a hardworking student who just wants some sleep.
"Quickly. Write my name right now."
Taehyeon has nothing to lose. Dongmin is doing him a favour seeing as Taehyeon already has no other options. He writes down Dongmin's name and then Bada. He is already halfway to having a room of people he almost chose.
"Who else—"
Dongmin is already gone. His footsteps slapping against the floor echo down the corridor and another classroom door is thrown open.
"Bada, you're going to be in a room with me and Taehyeon!" Dongmin shouts.
Taehyeon doesn't need to hear more. He stands up to close the classroom door. He can't quite bring himself to apologise. He is the victim here. Thankfully Miss Ahn doesn't comment on it. She claps her hands together loudly and moves on to reminding them of the deadline to come up with a list of roommates.