The faint smell of detergent clung to the hallway as Irina and Seolhyo dragged their mops across the polished floor.
I leaned lazily against the window, lollipop between my lips, chuckling at Irina's swollen forehead.
Irina finally snapped, spinning on her heel and jabbing the mop toward me. "Stop it! It hurts, you know!"
I lifted both hands in mock surrender, grin widening.
Seolhyo, barely holding in her laughter, teased, "How's your forehead, lol?"
Irina gingerly touched the bruise still red on her skin. She winced. "Still hurts. Park Dong, that bastard… This time, I won't forgive him so easily."
Seolhyo's laugh rang down the hallway, but her amusement cost her.
She swung the mop too wide and splashed water over someone's sandal.
"What the hell shit!!" a voice snapped.
We all turned.
Standing there was Hong Aera, socks damp, glared at Seol Hyorim but her eyes darted on me.
"Oh sorry!" Seolhyo blurted, but froze when she noticed Aera's face.
The girl's expression shifted the moment her eyes landed on me.
A faint blush crept over her cheeks before she spun her head away, though her gaze kept darting back.
I popped the lollipop deeper into my mouth, unfazed, but Seolhyo caught it immediately.
Her eyes narrowed at Hong Aera.
Aera walked off with her friend, she threw one last glance over her shoulder. "Yoon Seojin… With a face like that he totally could become an actor. And why does he hang around Seolhyo-rim of all people? She's such a bitch annoying, cocky, always acting she's something, just because her brother's got her back."
Hai-an, walking just behind Hong Aera, gave a small, hesitant smile. "Hmm… she doesn't really seem like that kind of person, though…"
Hong Aera shot Hai-an a sharp glare.
"What do you mean she's not like that!? Girls like her always act like they're something special when they're not. Seriously fuck."
Hai-an turned her head toward us, eyes lingering on me for a moment.
"But Yoon Seojin really is handsome, even with short hair. But don't you think those two are a bit close? Maybe they're dating or something."
Hong Aera narrowed her eyes and looked back at me and Seolhyo standing almost shoulder to shoulder."…Fuck. They really might be."
***********
Sometime later, in the Advance classroom, Park Dong was on his knees, forehead pressed dramatically to the floor.
In front of him sat two bulging bags of snacks like ritual offerings.
"I was wrong, hyung-nim," he groaned, voice low with exaggerated despair. "This is my tribute. Please, accept it."
He slowly raised his head, only to meet Irina's cold gaze.
He lowered his gaze again, afraid that even looking at her might make her angrier.
For a moment, the air was tense then she crouched down, peeked inside the bags, and her expression flipped instantly.
"You really do know my taste," she said with a laugh, her mood brightening like sunshine after rain.
Park Dong, still kneeling on the ground, answered cautiously, "Y-yes… of course…!!"
Without hesitation, she slung an arm over his shoulder, grinning wide.
"I forgive you, You can drop the honorifics, you punk!!."
"HAHA...o-okay..."
Then, rising with both bags cradled happily in her arms, she tugged Park Dong to his feet and pulled him toward the door.
"Lets go sidekick!! It's normal to get a little hurt goofing around with friends," she added lightly, swinging the snacks like trophies.
"...Yeah, right," Park Dong muttered, ears turning red as he followed her lead.
But inside, his thoughts were far less calm.
This is strange…
*************
School was finally over.
Seolhyo, Irina, and Jinkyung were walking across the field toward the school exit.
Seolhyo glanced at Irina. "Meeting your boyfriend?"
"Yeah! He's coming to pick me up!" Irina said cheerfully.
"Must be nice," Jinkyung sighed then shot Seolhyo a teasing grin. "So, what about you, Seolhyo? Seojin not taking you home?"
Seolhyo ignored her tone. "I'm waiting for his text. He usually messages me before we go together."
Irina raised an eyebrow. "Seojin walks you home? Girl, your brother's gonna beat him up if he catches him."
"Don't worry," Seolhyo grumbled. "He only walks me a few buildings away, then leaves before my damn brother sees us."
Right then, her flip phone buzzed.
She immediately pulled it out and checked it.
Meanwhile the the six of us Park Dong, Suwon, Inseop, Ono, Junhyun, and me trailed down the field on the way to school exit.
Junhyun stretched. "We're gonna be at it until almost dawn. That okay?"
Suwon nodded. "Yeah. My parents are sleeping over at my aunt's tonight."
Park Dong glanced back at them. "Aren't you guys going home?"
"Nah," Suwon said. "We're thinking of hitting the PC bang."
"Really? That's rare. You don't usually play games."
"Well… figured I'd give it a try."
Park Dong grinned. "Let me join too. How about this winner doesn't pay for the PC time?"
Then he looked at me. "How about you?"
I didn't even look up, still tapping my phone. "Just a second, I'm texting Seolhyo."
After pressing send, I glanced up. "What did you say?"
Park Dong trying to hold back. "couple bastards… We're going to the PC bang. Wanna come?"
I thought it over. "Let me ask Seolhyo first."
Inseop stared at me. "The hell? Why do you have to ask her? Is she your girlfriend or something?"
I just smirked at him.
Inseop blinked, then looked at Suwon for confirmation.
"Yeah," Suwon said casually. "They're dating now."
Inseop's jaw dropped.
He smacked the back of my head. "I can't believe it you actually pulled it off!?"
I just chuckled and went back to texting Seolhyo.
"Can I come with the guys? They're planning to go to the PC bang."
My phone buzzed almost immediately.
[Seolhyo]
"It's already late though…"
[Me]
"We'll just play for a bit. I'll call you when we're done."
[Seolhyo]
"Hmph… fine. You better call me, and don't stay out too long. School tomorrow, you know."
[Me]
"Yes, ma'am."
Seolhyo shoved her phone back into her pocket and turned to Jinkyung.
"Seojin's going with the others to the PC bang," she said casually.
Jinkyung raised an eyebrow. "Oh? You're okay with that?"
Seolhyo shrugged, a small smile tugging at her lips. "It's just a game. He's calling me anyway, so I'll know when they're done."
Jinkyung smirked, teasing her. "Hmph… he prefers going to the PC bang instead of walking you home?"
Seolhyo rolled her eyes. "He's just hanging out with the guys. What's the big deal?"
***********
Suwon slammed his keyboard. "Lost again come on!!"
Inseop threw his head back. "Damn it! How many games have I lost now?!"
Both of them started pounding their keyboards like it was the reason they're losing.
"Stupid garbage game!!!" Suwon yelled.
Suwon spun his chair toward us. "Hey! Take it easy!!"
Park Dong and I were already laughing at them.
"Hehehe, careful," Park Dong teased, "I might get a nosebleed too."
I smirked. "This is me being on you, HAHAHA!"
Suwon pointed at us, affronted. "This isn't fair! This is our first time playing this!"
Park Dong clicked his tongue. "Then you shouldn't have bet in the first place, dumbass."
While the chaos continued, Ono was quietly downloading some retro games in the corner, completely detached.
Junhyun, on the other hand, was watching something on his screen face suspiciously flushed.
Inseop leaned closer to us. "Why are they so good at this…?"
Suwon nodded desperately. "Right?! Did they eat video games for breakfast or what?"
Park Dong straightened his back, smug as hell. "Hehe, I get stronger when there's a worthy rival."
Suwon suddenly perked up. "Oh right you used to play this a lot with Irina."
Park Dong's grin faltered instantly. "Y-yeah, this… this"
His eyes narrowed a little, thoughts shifting.
…This is strange.