On the last day of summer vacation, Hong Aera was walking hurriedly toward the back of the school, irritation buzzing in her head.
I overslept…!!
Her mind immediately jumped to the image of that bear of a man, the student dean.
He was probably already standing at the main gate, arms crossed, eyes sharp, ready to chew her out.
And of course, he's gonna give me shit again about my hair.
It's already a pain in the ass just coming to school during break. Can't they cut me some slack…?!
She reached the back wall of the school, glanced around once, then climbed up and over the wall and fence with practiced ease. Landing on the other side, she paused and stared at the school building looming ahead.
"…I don't even think I can graduate at this rate."
Some time passed.
She was now tucked behind the back of the building with someone else, the two of them each holding a cigarette with a small clip so the smell wouldn't stick to their fingers.
"The dean wasn't standing out there today," the girl beside her said casually.
Hong Aera looked over sharply. "Huh?"
"I mean it," she continued. "There was no one at the main gate. Maybe 'cause it's the last day of vacation."
Aera clicked her tongue.
Seriously… they just do whatever they want.
They didn't notice the shadow lingering at the corner of the building.
Aera replied bitterly
"What is this? kids at other schools go all out with hair and makeup."
"Right~~ right," the other girl scoffed. "Coming to this school was a mistake. Seriously."
Then-
"Hey!! Who says you can smoke?!"
Both of them jumped, instinctively tossing their cigarettes away.
"I-it's not a cigarette!"
"It's a smokeless cigarette!"
Aera's eyes snapped toward the voice and immediately narrowed when she recognized him.
"…Ah, what the fuck!!"
The guy burst out laughing. "HAHAHA! Were you surprised, Hong Aera? Let's smoke together!"
Veins popped on both girls' foreheads.
"Are you crazy, you psycho bastard?!" Aera snapped. "My heart almost dropped!"
"It's not funny at all, fuck!?"
They bombarded him with insults all at once.
"I fucking hate you, you crazy bastard!!"
"He really thinks he's clever!!"
"And what's with that shitty T-shirt?!"
The guy stood there, shrinking under the verbal assault, scratching the back of his head awkwardly.
"Ah… no, I just-"
From Suwon's description, this guy was "Sseuri-hyung" not his real name, just a nickname.
It came from his ridiculous hair, which stuck up like Super Saiyan 3.
To dodge the school's hair regulations, he was frequently absent.
He'd been held back a year, so people called him "hyung," but only in name.
At the start of the semester, he'd tried acting tough until everyone realized he wasn't much of anything.
A lonely hyung, quietly enduring life in silent neglect.
Smokers often took his cigarettes, though he always claimed he wasn't being ripped off, just "being generous."
Even Suwon wasn't scared of him.
He was that kind of hyung.
Sseuri-hyung stepped closer, hands shoved into his pockets, a lazy grin on his face.
"Why're you smoking in a place like this?" he said lightly. "You've got some nerve, lol. Want a cig?"
Hong Aera leaned back against the wall, unimpressed.
"I've got cigarettes too, you know. And don't act like we're close."
Sseuri-hyung clicked his tongue, then pulled out a sleek black case.
He opened it with a little flourish.
Inside were black cigarettes.
"Bet you don't have this kind," he said proudly. "Black Death."
Hong Aera eyes flickered to the case before she could stop herself.
…That's expensive.
It was a rare brand back then.
Hard to get even so to a student.
She looked up at him flatly.
"…How many are you giving me?"
Sseuri-hyung grinned. "All of them. I've got a ton at home."
"Tch."
Still, she took one.
Not long after, the other girl made her excuse and left, clearly not interested in sticking around with him. The space felt quieter with just the two of them, smoke curling lazily into the air.
Sseuri-hyung kept sneaking glances at Aera, his ears turning faintly red.
"…Don't the teachers say anything about your hair?"
She exhaled slowly, not even bothering with polite speech despite the age gap.
"Is this really the time for you to worry about other people?" she said dryly. "The back of your hair's longer than a girl's."
She glanced at him, then scoffed.
If he were even half as good-looking as Yoon Seojin… or that oppa…
Look at his face.
He looks stupid.
Sseuri-hyung laughed awkwardly. "You've got a big mouth for someone younger than me, you know… HEHE."
Damn it… she's pretty…!!
Then-
from the other corner of the building, a teacher suddenly appeared.
He had that weird fan-shaped haircut and was gripping a thick wooden stick in one hand, a cigarette hanging from his lips.
"HEY YOU THERE!!"
Both of them froze instantly, gasping as if the sound alone had nailed their feet to the ground.
The teacher stomped closer, voice rough and furious.
"Where do you think you are, fucking smoking in a non-smoking area?! What class are you brats from?!"
They slowly turned their heads.
"…We're screwed," Aera hissed. "It's Buchae-kkol…!!"
"We got caught because of you, asshole!!"
Sseuri-hyung turn his body facing the teacher. "R-Run, Hong Aera! I'll say I smoked alone!!"
She didn't even listen.
By the time he finished shouting, Hong Aera was already sprinting away.
Sseuri-hyung glanced over his shoulder, heart pounding.
This shitty school… if I just dropped out, then..
He caught a glimpse of Aera disappearing around the corner.
"…Hah."
His shoulders sagged with a faint smile. "…That's enough. As long as you're safe…"
Before he could finish muttering, a shadow loomed over him.
Buchae-kkol was already right behind him, stick raised high.
-
Hong Aera walked calmly down the hallway, posture relaxed, as if nothing had happened.
…I didn't get caught right?
Every minute, every second there were a hundred things I wasn't supposed to do.
All stress, and I don't even have anything I want to become, yet all they ever say is "just study."
"Do you like your hair?"
"Yeah, I think it's okay."
Aera glanced ahead.
Jinkyung was brushing her bangs, staring into a small hand mirror.
"Hm… maybe I should cut it a little shorter…"
Seolhyo stood beside her, dabbing lip tint onto her lips with her finger.
"Yeah. I'll cut it for you."
Seolhyo noticed Hong Aera briefly but walked past without stopping.
Everywhere I go… just annoyances.
Hong Aera reached her classroom and dropped into her seat by the window.
"Yeah… today?"
Hai-an sat at their seat, phone pressed to her ear with both hands.
"I don't really have plans oh, you don't either? Then…"
Hong Aera walk to her seat ask her.
"Who is it?"
"Hm?" Hai-an glanced up, then smiled awkwardly, clearly dodging the question.
"Just… a friend, you smoked, didn't you?"
Hong Aera sit at her seat beside her.
"Do I smell?"
She glance at her sideway, arms crossed.
This so called 'friend'… why does she have so much to hide?
"KYAAAAK!!"
"How can they all be so handsome?!"
Hong Aera's gaze drifted toward the TV cabinet, where a group of girls were crowded around, watching something.
…Ah. A super-senior MV.
Honestly, the only thing I could rely on anymore was stuff like this.
Wow. Damn. Kim Heechul is insane. Isn't he way too handsome?!
"I like Geumhyuk!"
"Geumhyuk's so charming, right?!"
Hong Aera leaned deeper into her seat, cheeks faintly warm.
"Hmph. Heechul oppa is the best, you guys…"
An image flashed through her mind a tall guy with long hair.
If I dated someone as cool like that…
Even this shitty school life would feel special.
Secretly kissing behind the other kids backs.
Then Seol Hyorim's face crossed her thoughts.
Hyorim, dating Yoon Seojin.
…If that happened, at least I could face that arrogant face of hers.