By the sacrifice of Sseuri-hyung the one everyone had ignored has managed bent the iron rule of the school.
On the TV mounted at the front of every classroom, the principal appeared, posture stiff, voice carefully measured.
"After reviewing student feedback and recent incidents,"
he announced, "the school has decided to relax the hair regulations."
For a moment
the classroom went completely silent.
Then it exploded.
"WE DID IT!!"
"We can grow our hair out!!"
"Freedom!!"
"Sseuri-hyung, you mad bastard you changed history!!"
Park Dong clutched my shoulders, wailing. "I'm never cutting my hair again!! NEVER!!"
Some students were actually crying, wiping at their eyes while laughing, hands tangled in their hair like they were checking it was real.
Still dropping out like that…I bet that guy's regretting it now.
Our homeroom teacher snapped his glare toward us.
"You really that happy, you idiots?"
"Of course!!" we shouted back in unison.
-
The second semester began with its iron grip night study sessions until 10 p.m. Classes even on Saturdays, and schedules packed so tight it felt like we barely had room to breathe.
But despite all that
the students' faces were blooming with smiles.
For one reason, and one reason only:
the relaxation of the hair regulations.
For the first time, Sangji High looked alive boys slicking their hair back or letting it fall wild, girls trying new cuts, bangs, or colors.
The school that once looked like a military camp now looked like a festival.
Just outside the PC bang, I leaned against the doorframe.
My hair, now grown out, fell loosely over my eyes sharp yet smooth, like it had been sketched by a careful hand.
Black strands brushed my lashes, slightly tousled, giving me an effortless cool.
My gaze was steady, dark, and observant, the kind that lingered on things left unspoken.
My lips, relaxed into a calm line, held a weight of quiet confidence.
A group of girls approached, nervous but determined, one of them twirling her phone in her hand.
"Um… can we get your number?"
"Which school are you?"
"You're so handsome. Do you have girlfriend"
I unwrapped a candy slowly, the crinkle of the wrapper, and popped it into my mouth.
A faint sweetness spread across my tongue as I looked at them with the calmest smile I could manage.
"Sorry," I said, voice even but gentle, "I already have a girlfriend."
Their faces fell into a mix of disappointment and awe.
I pushed off the door, sliding my hands into my pockets, and turned toward their seat where they are playing.
Inside the PC café, Suwon, Park Dong, and Jisung were crowded in front of their screens, shouting over the clatter of keyboards and mouse clicks.
"HEY!! I'm dead that guy's got no grenade." Suwon staring intently at the screen.
"Kill him!! KILL HIM!!" Park Dong barked, half standing from his seat.
"I got him!!! YEEAAAH!!" Jisung roared, throwing his hands up.
He spun toward them, grinning like a maniac."KAKAHAHA!! Did you see that save?! That was insane!"
Park Dong scoffed, jabbing a finger at Jisung's monitor."You dumbass, I already had him half dead."
Suwon shot back immediately."What are you talking about? I did everything!"
Their voices overlapped as usual.
Suwon glanced to his side and froze for half a second.
At the nearby PC, a couple sat close together. The boy played casually with one hand while the girl leaned in, kissing his cheek, whispering something that made him smile without even looking away from the screen.
…Tch.
Suwon clenched his jaw.
I'm jealous. Damn it.
Just then, I walked up behind them and rested a hand on the back of Suwon's chair.
"How long are you idiots planning to play?" I said flatly. "Let's go."
Jisung didn't even turn around."Five more minutes!"
Park Dong nodded furiously."Yeah! This is the last round, for real!"
Suwon sighed, eyes still glued to the screen."…You said that three rounds ago."
-
The four of us walked down the side of the road, the afternoon sun warm and lazy overhead.
Jisung trailed a few steps behind, staring hard at the three of us in front like he was inspecting something suspicious.
Park Dong glanced back."You heading home?"
Suwon nodded."Yeah. Gotta get permission too."
Jisung hesitated, then finally blurted out, irritation slipping into his voice."…Hey. Are you guys doing jump rope or something?"
The three of us stopped and turned around at the same time.
I pulled the lollipop from my mouth, tilting my head at him."…Huh?"
Park Dong."What are you talking about?"
Suwon added, genuinely confused,"Why jump rope?"
Jisung clicked his tongue."Because you three all got taller over the break."
I smirked."Isn't that normal?"
Suwon shrugged."We're at that age, you know."
Park Dong snickered, eyeing Jisung from head to toe."Why didn't you grow?"
Jisung's jaw tightened as he glared at us, clearly fed up."I grew one centimeter after entering school…"
Suwon burst out laughing."HAHAHA!"
Park Dong wiped imaginary tears."That's it? Damn, that's tragic."
I reached out and patted Jisung's head."That's kind of pathetic, honestly."
I slipped the lollipop back into my mouth, rolling it lazily between my lips."I was already tall in the first semester, you know. Guess I grew a bit more."
We reached the pedestrian lane when Park Dong suddenly stopped.
I followed his gaze.
Ahead of us stood Seol Hyorim's group this time with Park Mijin and Shin Sujeong tagging along.
"Hey," Jinkyung nudged the others, pointing. "It's Seojin's group."
Irina smirked, her eyes glittering with mischief."Wow. The swan and his three ugly ducklings."
Park Dong bristled instantly, cheeks faintly pink as he snapped back,"Shut up, dimwit!"
Seolhyo's eyes met mine, and she smiled softly."Where'd you guys go?"
I walked straight toward her without hesitation, the others trailing behind. "We were at the PC bang. What about you? Why aren't you home yet?"
Her smile deepened, soft and warm. "We went to take our ID photos. You know, for memories before we grow our hair out."
The girls' gazes slowly drifted toward Seojin.
Mijin squinted at him, staring a little too hard."Is it just me… or does Seojin get more handsome every single day?"
Irina scoffed but still nodded."You're not imagining it. Since first semester, he's been growing his hair out. He already looked good back then, but now?"
She clicked her tongue. "He's turning into a full-on male god."
Jinkyung laughed quietly."Isn't that kind of unfair to the other guys? Even when he had that ridiculous haircut, he still looked decent. Now add the hair?"
She shrugged. "That's a straight-up upgrade."
Shin Sujeong chewed on the stick of her lollipop, eyes half-lidded."With a face like that, anything would look good. No matter what he does."
Park Dong groaned loudly."Enough already! Stop feeding his ego he's unbearable as it is!"
Then, as if flipping a switch, he leaned closer to Irina, squinting at her."Anyway, let me see your ugly face. That photo's insane did you Photoshop it? Are you wearing contacts too? You're trying way too hard."
Irina let out a soft chuckle, smirking at him."Super pretty, right? Dumbass?"
Park Dong laughed."Did all the other pretty people die or something?"
But his thoughts was saying another thing.…Ha. She's seriously cute.
Meanwhile, Seojin stepped beside Seolhyo and leaned down slightly."Let me see your photo."
Seolhyo hesitated, then pulled one out and showed it to him.
I looked at it and couldn't help smiling."…You're really cute, babe."
Seolhyo froze.
Her face turned red instantly as she shot me a glare."I told you not to call me babe!!"
I just chuckled at her outburst and casually snatched the photo from her fingers."I'll take this."
She stared at me, still flustered."…Then give me yours too. You have one, right?"
I took out my wallet, slid her photo inside where I'd see it every time I opened it, then pulled out my own ID photo and handed it to her.
Seolhyo took it, eyes softening as she looked down at it then smiled.
Someone nearby cleared their throat loudly, as if reminding us we weren't alone.
Seolhyo finally noticed the others watching her with teasing grins and immediately face flushed again.
One by one, the girls handed over their ID photos to us.