Morning dragged itself into Seoul without ceremony, grey clouds hanging low as if even the sky hadn't fully woken up. Yoon Taehyun locked his apartment door and checked it twice out of habit, then paused, keys still in hand.
"…I'm really gonna get scolded again," he muttered to himself.
The walk to school was uneventful, which honestly felt suspicious. A few convenience store doors chimed open and shut, buses hissed at stops, and somewhere a dog barked like it was personally offended by the day's existence. By the time Taehyun reached the school gates, his shoulders had relaxed, his expression settling into the familiar blank-neutral look that made teachers think he was quiet and classmates think he was chill.
Class 2-C was already loud when he slid open the door.
"Oi, Taehyun!"
"Yo, you alive?"
"Two days absent and you didn't even die? Disappointing."
He raised a hand lazily in greeting. "Good morning to you too, assholes."
A chorus of laughter followed as he dropped into his seat. His benchmate immediately leaned over, squinting at him.
"Bro. You look fine."
"I am fine."
"So why were you absent?"
Taehyun shrugged. "Life."
Before the interrogation could continue, the bell rang, and their homeroom teacher walked in with her usual tired sigh, as if she'd already used up all her patience on the stairs.
"Alright, settle down," she said, tapping the board. "Attendance."
The class quieted—mostly.
When she reached his name, she paused. "Yoon Taehyun."
"Here."
She adjusted her glasses, scanning the register. "You were absent for two days."
"Yes, ma'am."
Murmurs rippled through the room. Someone whispered, "Told you he eloped."
"I received a letter," the teacher continued. "From Jang Hoyeol."
At that name, several students immediately turned to Taehyun, grinning.
"Ohhh, the legendary letter."
"Senior Hoyeol writing excuses now?"
Taehyun resisted the urge to sigh.
The teacher looked up. "However, the letter did not include a reason."
A few people snorted. Taehyun opened his mouth—
—and felt his benchmate's knee bump into his.
He glanced down. His benchmate subtly lifted his pant leg and pointed at his own knee, mouthing, use this.
"…I had a knee injury," Taehyun said after a beat. "Couldn't walk properly."
The teacher studied him, eyes sharp. "A knee injury."
"Yes."
"You don't look injured."
"It healed fast?"
A beat.
Then the teacher sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "You kids and your bodies made of rubber… Fine. Just be careful. And next time, submit proper documentation."
"Yes, ma'am."
As she turned back to the board, his benchmate leaned in, whispering, "You owe me ramen."
"Make it cup noodles," Taehyun muttered.
During class, his phone vibrated softly in his pocket. He checked it under the desk.
Taehyun: Next time you submit a letter, include the reason.
Taehyun: I almost got cooked.
Three seconds later—
Hoyeol: Almost? So you didn't?
Hoyeol: Weak. I expected better drama.
Taehyun typed back.
Taehyun: I said knee injury.
Taehyun: You're paying for it later.
Hoyeol: Worth it.
Break time exploded like someone uncorked the class.
Chairs scraped, bags slammed shut, and conversations overlapped instantly.
"Did you hear?"
"They opened a new first-year class."
"Yeah, 1-D."
"Some guys went to scare them already."
Taehyun's friend plopped onto his desk. "Wanna go watch?"
"Why would I want to watch first-years get scared?" Taehyun said. "That's lame."
"You say that but you always look bored."
"I'm bored because it's lame."
The classroom door slid open before the debate could continue.
"Wow, what a warm welcome," Hoyeol's voice rang out. "I'm touched."
The atmosphere shifted immediately. Heads turned, and someone muttered, "He's here."
Hoyeol strolled in, hands in his pockets, grin lazy. He spotted Taehyun instantly and threw an arm around his shoulders.
"You survived school without me? Proud of you."
"Get off," Taehyun said flatly.
"You missed me."
"I really didn't."
Their friends gathered around, chatter growing louder.
"Hyung, you hear about the first-years?"
"Some idiots went to rag them."
Hoyeol's grin faded slightly. "They did?"
"Yeah, but it's nothing serious."
He looked at Taehyun. Then at the door.
"…Yeah, no."
Before anyone could react, he grabbed Taehyun's collar and dragged him up.
"Hey—!"
"Come on," Hoyeol said. "You're coming with me."
"Why am I coming?!"
"Emotional support."
Their friends burst out laughing and followed, curiosity winning over common sense.
Class 1-D was louder than expected. The moment they reached the door, voices spilled out.
"What's with your hair?"
"Trying to stand out already?"
"You know school rules, right?"
Inside, a girl stood near the window, stiff as a board, light blue hair catching everyone's attention whether she wanted it or not. The boys weren't touching her, just circling like it was a game.
"Enough."
Hoyeol's voice landed hard.
The room froze.
"Out," he said, tone flat. "All of you."
Recognition hit the boys instantly.
"…Shit."
They didn't argue. Chairs scraped, feet shuffled, and in seconds the room was empty except for the girl, Hoyeol, Taehyun, and the small crowd watching from the doorway.
Hoyeol turned to her. "You alright?"
She blinked, then nodded quickly. "Yes!"
She bowed a little too deeply. "Sorry for getting you worried, brother!"
The silence that followed was brutal.
"…Brother?" someone whispered.
"Oh," another said, disappointed. "Never mind."
Hoyeol scratched his head, embarrassed. "It's alright, just dont get yourself involved into these kind of stuffs and focus on what you came here for , alright."
"yes, brother" she said quickly. "Thank you."
Rumors that had barely formed died just as fast.
The bell rang, sharp and loud, snapping everyone back to reality.
"Alright," Hoyeol said, stepping back. "Go to class."
As they walked away, Taehyun glanced back once, just briefly, before the door slid shut.
He didn't know why.
And he didn't think about it again.