Meanwhile, at the stair, the four of them were heading upstairs.
Seojin was lost in his own thoughts.
Did Seolhyo and the others already start fighting? I should hurry.
He glanced back at the other three. "Hey, why are you guys so slow? Walk faster."
Suwon looked at him curiously. "Why are you in such a hurry? There's still time before class starts."
Park Dong let out a disbelieving sigh. "I still can't believe it… puberty really is amazing. He used to just have a cute face back then. How the hell did he end up looking like that?"
Daegyu stiffened slightly.
The appearance of someone even better-looking than him left him threaten.
He stared ahead at Seojin's back, bitterness creeping into his thoughts.
This guy is already too much… and now another one shows up.
What, did God decide to shower them with looks.
He snapped out of it and put on a small smirk to mask his insecurity. I heard he got double eyelid surgery, Heh. Surgery really changes people."
Park Dong stretched his own eyelids with his fingers. "Then maybe I'd be good-looking too if I got double eyelid surgery?"
He already has double eyelids naturally.
Park Dong glanced at Seojin. "Honestly, earlier I thought you were going to beat up that hyung."
Suwon nodded quickly. "Yeah. Thank goodness that cool hyung was kind."
Seojin shrugged. "I was just threatening him. I wasn't planning to fight."
Park Dong quickly changed the topic. "So what do you think about him? He's Seolhyo's ex-boyfriend."
Seojin turned toward him, genuinely confused. "Think? Why would I think about him?"
He frowned slightly. "Even if he's her ex, their relationship didn't even last that long they only date like 3 days?, they're basically strangers at this point."
Suwon hesitated. "Aren't you worried though? That guy was insanely good-looking."
Seojin smirked and leaned closer to Suwon. "Worried? Why would I be?"
He casually ran a hand over his face clearly showing it off. "I'm way better anyway."
The three of them stared at him in pure exhaustion before collectively rolling their eyes.
Seojin didn't stop.
He even raised his hand as if holding an hand mirror, admiring himself.
"…This guy," Park Dong muttered.
And somehow, that smug little display made all of them even more annoyed veins practically popping out of their heads.
Suwon suddenly slowed, his head turning toward the hallway upstairs. "Hey… looks like there's a commotion. Someone's fighting."
Park Dong perked up, then burst into laughter, his voice echoing. "Really? Ha! Seriously you can't survive at our school without fighting."
Daegyu chuckled, shaking his head. "For real, lol."
Voices suddenly erupted at the corridor.
"Hey stop them! Get a teacher!"
"Call a teacher!"
"Hey! What the hell?!"
Suwon looked up, startled by the noise. "Hey… looks like there's a commotion. Someone's fighting."
Park Dong perked up immediately.
He threw his arms over Suwon's and Daegyu's shoulders and burst out laughing, his voice echoing down the stairs.
"HAHA seriously, you can't survive at our school without throwing hands, Be mature, yeah? You should settle things with words."
Daegyu chuckled, shaking his head. "For real. LOL."
Suwon stared at him, completely fed up.
…Look who's talking.
Park Dong continued, waving a hand. "I mean, what kind of idiots would-"
He cut himself off mid-sentence.
Seojin had already taken off, rushing ahead.
They followed his gaze and froze.
At the corridor, chaos had fully broken loose.
Seolhyo was locked onto Hong Aera, fingers tangled in her hair, trying to drag her away.
Hong Aera was struggling violently, reaching toward Irina who was wrapping Hai-an in tight hold fist buried in her hair, refusing to let go .
Students crowded around them, shouting, panicking, and trying to stop them.
The three of them stared, stunned.
"…It was you guys?"
The situation was settled immediately when the disciplinary teacher arrived.
He was standing with a large wooden stick raised behind his back, eyes blazing as he glared at the girls sitting on their knees in the floor.
"Seol Hyorim. Irina. Kim Jinkyung!!"
"These brats sneaked off and started fighting?! What are you delinquents?! If this is what you're into, then go join a gym, you little bastards!!"
He took a few heavy steps forward and stopped in front of Hong Aera and Hai-an, who were also sitting on their knees.
"…Hai-an," he said, his tone shifting slightly. "You used to be such a quiet kid. How did you get involved in something like this?"
"I'm sorry…" Hai-an muttered.
"Be more careful from now on."
"Yes…"
His eyes suddenly dropped to Hong Aera's hair.
Smack.
The stick came down lightly but sharply on the top of her head.
"This brat what's with your hair being so long?!" he snapped.
"I-I already got scolded by another teacher!!" Aera yelped.
Seol Hyorim and Jinkyung look at her.
Is this the same girl who went completely crazy earlier?
So annoying…
The disciplinary teacher rested the stick back against his shoulder and clenched his free hand.
"You should be grateful we're not calling your parents,"
he growled. "You're staying like that until night study. I'll be checking in regularly to make sure none of you move."
Irina had both knees pressed firmly to the ground, palms flat against the cold tiles.
Seol Hyorim knelt beside her, one knee down, clearly uncomfortable.
Jinkyung, on the other hand, looked steady as if being in this position was everyday to her.
"…Ugh, my arm hurts,"
"So embarrassing…"
Seol Hyorim glanced at Irina nervously. "Hey… Irina. I-I didn't mean to confront her. It just… turned out like this. I'm sorry."
Jinkyung nodded. "I… only realized what was happening after it was already over."
Irina didn't answer right away.
The silence stretched just long enough to make them tense.
Then she let out a quiet chuckle.
"It's okay."
Both of them looked at her in surprise.
"Honestly," Irina continued softly, "I didn't want to back down quietly either."
Seol Hyorim laughed weakly. "Heh…"
"HAHAHA."
"Wow, we look ridiculous right now," Seol Hyorim whispered.
"Stop laughing so loud," Jinkyung hissed.
"HAHAHA"
Hong Aera and Hai-an was in the same position as them.
Hai-an heard their laughter but didn't look.
She just stared at the floor.
School was finally over, and the three girls were walking across the field.
"I'm dead tired," Seol Hyorim groaned. "I'm going straight to bed the moment I get home."
"Seriously," Jinkyung added. "It feels like we just ran some kind of fitness test."
"Same," Irina said quietly. "I'm showering and sleeping right away…"
Seol Hyorim glanced at her. "Irina, do you want me to walk you home?"
"Yeah," Jinkyung chimed in. "Let's go together."
Before Irina could answer, someone suddenly hugged Seol Hyorim from behind, both arms loosely hooked around her neck.
Seol Hyorim startled for half a second then relaxed when she saw who it was.
Seojin rested his head against her shoulder and said lazily, "Won't you walk home with me, Miss Thug?"
Seol Hyorim flushed and elbowed his side.
Seojin dodged easily, bending away with a laugh before letting go of her and walking beside her instead.
Irina glanced at the two of them.
A bitter memory flickered through her chest.
"No thanks," she said calmly. "I don't wanna get in the way of your walking-home date. And I'm not a kid I don't need someone to walk me home."
She lifted her head slightly. "I know you're worried, but seriously… stop. I'm fine now."
."…Alright then."
Jinkyung waved. "Text me when you get home, okay?"
"Kay. Bye."
Irina walked off alone.
Across the street, she noticed a couple hugging sweetly, whispering to each other.
She looked down, memories surfacing of Kim Kwangwoon walking her home that meant nothing now.
…Cruel jerk.
She looked ahead.
I've always walked this road by myself just fine,
So why does it feel so dark today?
"Hey, hobbit!!"
Irina turned around.
Park Dong jogged up beside her. "You going home? Let's walk together."
She blinked."…Wait. Your house isn't this way."
"I'm on my way to meet a friend."
"Who?"
"Someone from another school."
She raised an eyebrow. "Whoa. Look at you, so popular."
Park Dong glanced at her face and grinned, clearly trying to lighten the mood. "Dude, your eyes are so freaking swollen. LOL."
Irina touched her eyes."Ugh… are they really that bad?"
"From the side it looks like you've got three eyes."
"Puffy. So puffy."
She scowled. "Damn it… sorry for being ugly, okay?"
He scratched his cheek. "I didn't say you were ugly. But I'll accept your apology."
"I swear, you're dead."
She took a deep breath. "Huuuuuh…"
Park Dong noticed her shoulders drooping and reached out, lightly pushing her backpack upward. "Hey. Straighten your shoulders when you walk. When you're slumped, you look even shorter."
She muttered, still downcast,"…What do you want me to do about it?"
For once, she didn't even get mad.
Park Dong frowned, out of ideas.
Grrrrroooowwwl!
Irina froze, face flushing as she clutched her stomach.
Park Dong stared at her, then slowly smirked."…W–Was that your stomach just now?"
"D–Did you hear that?!"
"How could I not hear it?" he said, trying and failing not to laugh.
She looked away, embarrassed. "T-Today I haven't eaten anything… that's why, okay?"
"LMAO," he burst out. "I thought your stomach was seriously pissed. Like 'Feed me, you cruel bastard! HAHA'"
Irina finally let out a small laugh ."Screw off. Hehe."
Park Dong patted her head. "Ugh, this punk… fine. This hyung will treat you to a triangle kimbap! They say you should help people who are struggling, right? Let's hit the convenience store."
She swatted his hand away. "Acting all cool over one triangle kimbap?"
"Even when I'm buying you food, you're still a pain."
She lightly kicked his knee. "Buy me cup ramen and a drink too!!"
"What are you, a pig. Fine. Let's go!!"