**** just for the sake of the story, let's say all the boys and YeongMi and Bora are in the same homeroom class so they can interact more, and once classes start they separate by grade level ****

"Yi YeongMi, I'm so glad you decided to join us today."

YeongMi held back a groan, ignoring the homeroom teacher.

She scowled when she noticed that the only open seat was next to Hoseok, but sat down nonetheless.

She knew she should have just skipped again. Was it too late to leave?

"I bet she was just sick," Bora spoke quietly, so that only the people closest around her could hear, "sick of seeing herself in the mirror." Bora giggled, nudging Soma and staring at YeongMi.

YeongMi pulled a face as she turned around to look at Bora. "That doesn't even make sense, there are mirrors in my room."

YeongMi spoke louder than Bora, and she caught Jimin's attention.

"Well, then maybe you didn't stay in your room."

"You're right, I was actually fucking your mom, you fucking cunt."

Hoseok tried to stifle a laugh; Yoongi didn't.

Bora stammered quietly before turning away with a huff, her hair flowing slightly before settling back down her back.

"I was sick, in a way."

"I'm sure you were," the teacher stared suspiciously, and YeongMi shrugged.

"I had a hangover."

The teacher was shocked that YeongMi had admitted it so simply; but then, it wasn't so surprising since YeongMi had long since stopped caring about what she said.

Namjoon had the decency to look alarmed, while Jungkook stared in concern.

"Office, now."

YeongMi sighed, grabbing her books and walking out without a word.

~

"Oh, what have you done this time?"

Mrs. Park didn't look up as YeongMi took a seat, instead letting out a resigned sigh.

"Apparently honesty is not an honourable asset to this school. Not really an honourable school if students get punished for telling the truth."

"Perhaps you were joking?" Mrs. Park gave YeongMi a pursuasive look that she ignored.

"I wasn't."

"I am trying to help you, you understand."

YeongMi clenched her fists, "well, I don't want any help, so give it up already. Just give me my detention and stop trying to understand me. You don't even know me, so don't try to understand."

Mrs. Park clasped her hands together as she stared at the difficult student. At this point she didn't know what to do with her; she didn't want to kick the girl out, but she had rules to follow, and more students to look after.

"I know more than you think."

"Oh please, what are you, my social worker? You don't know anything about me."

"I can guess that you're very lonely and isolated because of your parents schedule. I can guess that because of your brother, you feel like a failure to your parents because you haven't achieved what he has. I can guess that you doubt everyone's motives because of your status, and thus don't trust very easily. I can guess that you grew up with little friends, and I can guess that with all the moving you've done, you feel like you don't belong anywhere. Like you don't have a home."

The fact that she was right made YeongMi angry, her chest filling with fire.

So maybe she didn't have a home, so what. Maybe she didn't need one. She didn't need anything from anyone.

"Yeah well, that was truly touching, but that's just what they are, guesses." Despite her casual response, YeongMi's voice was a quavering hiss, and her hands were shaking, much to her annoyance.

"Well, if you're so sure that nobody understands, why don't you try to explain how you feel? Your worries, your burden?"

"Because it's mine, and mine alone."

"You're never going to get anywhere in life if you don't share your pain with people."

"You know what, I'm getting sick and fucking tired of people telling me that I'm not going anywhere in life. So really, thank you, but screw off, you don't understand and you never will, and I'm not wasting time trying to explain. I don't need to share things, I can handle it myself, I always have, and I always will. Why would this be any different than anything I've already been through, alone? It's not, so stop acting like you get it when you don't."

Mrs. Park sat in shocked silence as the girl stormed out, slamming the door so hard that the pictures on the wall shook.

~

YeongMi was in foul mood; not an uncommon occurrence. So she wasn't happy when her arm was grabbed.

She was even less happy seeing who it was.

"Wait, before you run away, I need to ask you something, please."

Namjoon's heart felt heavy with guilt. He felt that he was the one to blame for her hangover.

YeongMi jerked her arm away, but she didn't walk away.

Her heart started pounding. What did he want to ask?

"Why did you get drunk?"

YeongMi shouldn't have expected it to be anything else.

"My nights are none of your goddamn business, I thought that should be clear by now."

"But I want to know why."

"It's not like you care, just leave me alone."

"YeongMi, come on, of course I care. Even after everything, I'll still care."

YeongMi scoffed, "yeah sure, whatever. Just go away before your girlfriend gets all upset about you standing within 5 feet of me."

"Bora's not the boss of me, and she's not my girlfriend. We've already been through this."

YeongMi rolled her eyes, "yeah well, a few minor things have changed since then. Are you sure that she knows that you're not dating? Because I'd bet she doesn't."

"Well, what does it matter anyways?"

YeongMi glared as her chest twinged, pain spreading through her arteries. "It doesn't."

"Well, it seems like you care."

"Oho, trust me, I stopped caring the moment you said you didn't know me, so don't worry about it."

Namjoon let out an exasperated sigh. "Oh come on, don't obsess over that, it doesn't mean anything, please-"

"Yeah, exactly, it doesn't mean anything. None of it, okay? So just leave me alone, shit."

YeongMi quickly walked away, clutching her books to her chest in an attempt to hide the pulsating pain flooding her insides.

It didn't mean anything, so why did it hurt so much?