---
Chapter 14: But I'm Not Pretty
Su-ah looked at Ju-kyoung, who was glancing at Kangsu.
She almost laughed — Ju-kyoung was looking at Kangsu like she was an angel.
Obviously, Kangsu didn't mind. She seemed familiar with that kind of glance, only giving a soft smile in return.
Then she turned to Su-ah, who had already given her a big hug.
"Kangsu, you're here," Su-ah said, her voice low but sweet.
Ju-kyoung just watched them quietly.
Then Su-ah turned to her. "This is my best friend, Kangsu."
"I thought she was the goddess of our school…" Ju-kyoung said, then paused for less than a second. She just blinked.
"…But now you're here, maybe not."
Ju-kyoung shifted her gaze to the girl who stood there glowing.
"Enough with the butt-slapping," Kangsu said, but not in a serious tone.
She sat across from Ju-kyoung, smiling gently — like a wild animal studying its prey before swallowing it whole.
"Ju-kyoung, was it? Nice to meet you."
Ju-kyoung smiled back. "Nice to meet you too."
Su-ah gazed at her, unable to comprehend how perfect her face was.
"By the way, you're really pretty."
Ju-kyoung, still astonished, could feel every glance around them.
"Are you a trainee or something?"
Ju-kyoung looked at Su-ah, shocked by the question, and immediately shook her head.
Kangsu just nodded in disappointment, glancing at Ju-kyoung.
"I'm sorry. She talks too much," Kangsu said, looking from Su-ah to Ju-kyoung's back.
"She's like that. Try to be understanding."
Ju-kyoung pushed her hair back, showing her beautiful face. "No, it's okay."
---
Later that afternoon, she walked into the washroom with Soo-hoo.
She glanced at the cloth in her hand, then took it to a white basin sink attached to the wall.
She turned on the tap, remembering the incident. Her eyebrows furrowed as she carefully looked at the spot where the makeup had been.
"Granted, it was my fault… but did he really have to throw it at my face?"
She scrubbed harder.
"I'll get it cleaned, alright," she mumbled under her breath.
When she felt it was done, she turned off the tap and took a look — and froze.
"What…?"
It was even worse than before. The makeup had spread more.
She tried again.
"But why… why is it not coming out?"
Then it hit her. She gasped.
"Oh my goodness… it's waterproof. No, no, no. What should I do?"
"This is bad, this is bad, this is bad," she whispered, walking out of the washroom, flinging the cloth up and down to shake the water out.
On her third try, she accidentally flung it… right into someone's face.
She hoped it wasn't who she thought it was.
But it was.
It was Soo-hoo — the very person she was trying to avoid. And now she had literally slapped him in the face with the very cloth she had ruined.
He sighed, clearly frustrated.
"I… I'm sorry," Ju-kyoung said. Her throat felt dry.
"I'll get it washed and dried," she added quickly, already feeling sweat gather on her skin.
He didn't even reply.
"Throw it away," he finally said before walking off.
"Sorry…" she whispered, replaying his words in her mind.
"Agh!" She yelled, running after him. "Why would you throw it away?"
But she was already exhausted before she caught up. Her short legs couldn't match his long stride.
"I'll get it cleaned and return it to you!" she called, but he didn't even look back.
---
Kangsu and Su-ah walked toward Ju-kyoung, noticing Soo-hoo pass them without a glance.
It was obvious he'd noticed them — and obvious he was angry.
They found Ju-kyoung standing there, still looking in his direction.
"What happened to Soo-hoo?" Su-ah asked, her expression calm.
"I got something on his jacket and he wants me to throw it away."
Kangsu sighed. "He's throwing a fit over nothing again."
Su-ah gently touched Ju-kyoung's shoulder. "That's just how he is. He's good-looking, but also a psychopath."
"Is that it?" Ju-kyoung whispered.
Both girls nodded.
So he's got a rotten temper, Ju-kyoung thought.
Su-ah's eyes lit up as if remembering something. "Oh, Ju-kyoung, let's get dumplings."
Ju-kyoung nodded. "I'll go get them."
She was about to run off, but Su-ah quickly grabbed her hand.
"That's not what I meant," Su-ah said, surprised by her reaction.
Ju-kyoung looked at her, confused.
"I was suggesting we go get them together."
"Together?" Ju-kyoung repeated, her voice hesitant.
Su-ah nodded. "Yes."
As they began walking, Kangsu commented, "You're not giving her enough space to make new friends."
Su-ah pouted, her cheeks looking plump and adorable like a little kid.
"What's the problem? She's mine from now on."
She hugged Ju-kyoung around the waist, still letting them walk freely.
Ju-kyoung wasn't even surprised anymore by Su-ah's behavior — she just smiled.
"You really are outgoing," Kangsu said. "I have to hand it to you."
Su-ah just smiled and looked at the quiet Ju-kyoung, who was holding that jacket like it was precious.
"By the way, what are you into?" Su-ah asked, her brown eyes full of curiosity.
Ju-kyoung was about to answer before stopping herself.
I do like heavy metal and horror com… She changed her mind immediately.
"Reading and listening to music," she replied.
"What kind of music?"
Ju-kyoung just looked at her blankly, having nothing in mind.
"I'm a huge fan of ATEEN, and I love spicy food," Su-ah said with a smile.
Ju-kyoung smiled. "I love spicy food too."
"Yay, that's great! Let's have tteokbokki after school."
Kangsu and Ju-kyoung glanced at each other, then nodded.
"Okay," they replied in unison.
Su-ah practically felt on top of the world.
"Do you know that Kangsu and Soo-hoo are neck-and-neck in grades?"
Ju-kyoung had already guessed about Soo-hoo, remembering how the vice principal had praised his intelligence in the teachers' lounge.
But Kangsu? That was a surprise.
"She's got the looks and the brains," Su-ah said, smiling — while Kangsu shot her a glare.
Su-ah noticed the way Ju-kyoung looked at Kangsu.
"So you're not like that, are you?"
Ju-kyoung nodded. "I'm not. I'm not smart."
She hoped Su-ah wouldn't laugh.
"Perfect," Su-ah replied.
Ju-kyoung looked at her in surprise.
"Just stick to your good looks, like me."
Ju-kyoung smiled faintly.
But I'm not pretty, she thought, as they kept walking.
---