In the advanced classroom, Park Dong, Lee Daegyu, and Kim Jiseong huddled together, voices low but tense.
Park Dong looked between the two of them."We're handling this ourselves and we are not letting Heejun find out. If he hears anything, he'll butt in for sure."
Daegyu frowned. "Okay, but how exactly are we supposed to handle this?"
Jiseong crossed his arms. "I mean… we could just gang up on them too, right?"
Park Dong shot him a glare."And how the hell would that make us any different from them?"
Jiseong clicked his tongue. "…Then a straight-up fight?"
Park Dong nodded once."Win or lose, we're at least settling the beef they have on us."
Jiseong jaw clenched."That bastard Yang Jinsu… How could he do this to us? I'm so fucking pissed…"
Daegyu let out a long breath."All of this started because Seolhyo dumped him…?"
Jiseong muttered, frustrated, "If she had just agreed, none of this would've happened. Fuck."
Park Dong turned to him."What kind of logic is that? If it is like that, then the real cause was us enrolling in Naguk Middle in the first place."
"It's a cause dumbass."
Park Dong ignored him and continued, "Anyway… don't worry about it. I'll handle Cheolgyu."
Daegyu blinked. "Huh? You're gonna fight Cheolgyu?"
Park Dong let out a tired sigh."Honestly, even if the three of us went at Jin Gyeong, I'm not sure we'd win."
All three of them fell silent the image of Kim Jinkyung naturally big, intimidating physique (despite being a girl) flashed in their minds.
"Fuck…" Jiseong muttered.
Park Dong hopped down from the lockers and brushed off his uniform."Even if I get messed up, I'll at least land one clean hit."
He walked toward the window, jaw tight."I get fighting a friend… but ganging up on someone? That was way out of line."
Holding his phone, Park Dong looked back at the two."…So we're doing this."
Daegyu and Jiseong both nodded silently.
Meanwhile.
Chulgyu leaned against a motorcycle, arms crossed, while Jinsu stood nearby.The actual owner of the motorcycle hovered close, watching Chulgyu with terrified caution.
Chulgyu clicked his tongue."I'm planning to get a part-time job and buy one."
Jinsu snorted. "It looks expensive though, HAHAHA."
"Yeah? And you think something like this would be cheap?"
The owner raised his hand timidly."Umm… bro, can I leave now?"
Chulgyu rolled his eyes."Ugh. Get lost."
As the owner awkwardly wheeled his motorcycle away, Jinsu nudged Chulgyu."Hey, let me borrow it next time."
Chulgyu chuckled."…Those assholes from Naguk haven't called, right?"
Jinsu puffed his cheeks arrogantly."Nope. And even if they did, what the hell can they do? HAHAHA. Even Seong Heejun their strongest got wrecked, HAHAHA?"
Chulgyu's phone suddenly started ringing.
A furious, high-volume voice blasted through the speaker:"PICK UP THE DAMN PHONE! WHY AREN'T YOU ANSWERING, YOU IDIOT?!"
Jinsu blinked. "What the hell is that sound?"
"My ringtone."
Chulgyu smirked when he saw the caller ID."…Hah. Look at this bastard. HAHA."
He answered with a mocking drawl."Hello? You called to die or what."
But before he could finish, a voice ROARED through the phone:
"JEONG CHULGYU, YOU BASTARD!! WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU RIGHT NOW?!"
Chulgyu stiffened, caught off guard."…Are you out of your mind?"
"You're the crazy one, you scary-eyed bastard!! You think nothing's gonna happen after what you did to Heejun? You're fucked now! Get to Sangji High and come to the park right now!"
Daegyu and Jiseong stood beside Park Dong, horrified, thinking:"Fuck… don't provoke him more than necessary…"
But Park Dong wasn't done.
"If you don't come, I swear I'll consider you a coward who ran away! Don't show up if you're scared, you cowardly bastard!!"
He sucked in a breath and shouted one last thing:
"And YANG JINSU make sure you drag him with you!!"
Yang Jinsu blinked, confused."Wha… what was that call about? I think I heard Park Dong's voice…"
Chulgyu's jaw tightened. The phone shook in his hand not from fear, but from rage. A menacing smile crawled across his face as he listened, eyes narrowing. He stuffed the phone in his pocket, and the grin turned into something colder.
"These bastards," he muttered, voice low. "I'm going to rip them to pieces."
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHA"
**********
They slipped back into the classroom. Park Dong and Kim Jiseong pulled on their PE uniforms like wearing their combat gear on.
"You told them where to come, right?" Jiseong asked.
"Yeah," Park Dong said. "were going to wait to them."
"I'll handle Yang Jinsu," Jiseong said, jaw hard. "Don't stop me if I get heated."
"how about me?" Daegyu curiously ask what his role are.
"You're the referee." Jiseong said with a short, bitter laugh.
Suwon who'd been taking his toothbrush at his locker looked at them, concern folding his brow. "Where are you guys going? You didn't even eat. Is something happening?"
Park Dong glance at him. "Its our business. Don't worry about it."
But before he walk. He turn his head to Suwon. "You haven't gotten an apology from Jinsu, right? You should get what you deserve. How long will you put up with it?."
Suwon stare at him. Park dong just reach out his shoulder and pat it and walk away with the two.
The hallway buzzed with chatter. I leaned against the window beside Seol Hyorim. A few girls had clustered around her, one tugging gently at her sleeve.
"What tint are you using, Seolhyo? Can I see it?."
Another chimed in, "Your bangs really suit you too did you cut them yourself?"
Seolhyo glance at her and reach the tint to her. "I use this one."
Seol Hyorim watched the scene unfolding in front of her, her thoughts tightening.Why are they pretending to be close…?
She glance beside her and sees Seojin, surrounded by girls. The sight made her brows knit together in an instant.
Meanwhile, the girls around me were chattering nonstop.
"Seojin, are you free this weekend? We're planning something fun maybe bingsu or a movie. You should come!"
"Yeah! You always refuse when we invite you. Just come with us this time!"
I gave them a vague, polite smile, trying not to look too awkward.
But then I felt it the sharp, burning stare from the side.I glanced over, confused… only to find Seolhyo glaring straight at me like I'd just committed a crime.
I blinked, completely lost. …Huh? What did I do now?
Three familiar figures striding down the hall. Park Dong, Jiseong, and Daegyu each of them stiff.
Seolhyo noticed them. She called out, "...You guys ditching night study?"
They just past us answered still looking ahead "...Yeah."
"...Okay," Seolhyo replied, casually, though curious decided not to dwell on it seeing they still ignoring her.
After they walked past us, after only a few steps, Park Dong stopped. He turned, and called to us.
"Seojin! Seolhyo!"
"If you've got nothing to do this weekend, let's hit up Karaoke or something."
Seolhyo blinked, caught off guard. Then, tilting her head slightly, she tried to hide the curve of a small smile as she answered, "I'll think about it~."
Seojin look at the girls around him. "Looks like I'm not free this weekend, maybe next time"
I stared at their backs as they walked away, their silhouettes shrinking with each step. A heavy silence lingered in my chest I knew exactly what they were heading into.
I exhaled slowly, forcing a faint smile onto my face before turning to Seolhyo. "I'll be back at my class. Gonna take a nap before night study."
She tilted her head. "...Sleep? Now?"
"Yeah," I said lightly, waving a hand as if nothing was wrong. Then I turned, walking off without waiting for her to question me further.
But out of the corner of her eye, Seolhyo watched me. why is he going therehis classroom was on the other side. Her brows knit together, suspicion flickering in her gaze.
Sensing something was off, she quickly excused herself from the group of girls still fussing about makeup and quietly trailed after me.