9. not normal

"Your place?"

"Yes."

"Wae?"

"To dance," Soojin rolled her eyes at that mocking answer, "of course, for the project. Didn't you hear Mr. Han say that we were the only ones with zero progress." Seojun said, sitting on the bench adjacent to Soojin's, he never really was the disciplined kind.

"Why do I have to come to your house?" Soojin asked, it was true that Mr. Han had stepped on that nerve which hurt the most by pointing out that theirs was the only project with no progress. "Also, I don't want to work on the topic you chose." She replied, after what she did with Jugyeong, explaining the psychology behind the actions of a bad character was the last she thing she wanted to do.

"We can go to your house..."

That drained the color from Soojin's face and she froze, she already got an earful and a slap for running around with a guy. If she ever did bring anyone home other than Suho, she should prepare a grave too. It was funny how she felt angry and fearful at the same time and her silence gave Han Seojun the answer he required.

"My place it is then." He replied, playing with the bike keys, "my mother's going to be so happy to see me studying." He smiled, lost in the happy thought as Soojin looked at him.

She remembered Han Seojun's mother, often the kind lady would drop in at Suho's house to check on the trio. Once Soojin had collided with her at the entrance and instead of yelling at her for being irresponsible, she asked her if she was okay. Soojin was touched at the gesture, because even the tiniest mistakes she did were often considered crimes in her household and if that was her father, she'd be in tears by then.

Some kids were lucky.

"Ya Han Seojun-ah," They turned to see Lim Jugyeong yelling at them, "you said you're gonna study with us for the finals!" She asked him, Suho and Su-ah behind them, noticeably pissed. "We're planning to study in the bookstore near my house, you wanna join us?"

Han Seojun smiled at the pretty girl, even without makeup, Jugyeong truly was the most prettiest since her smile made up for all of the other lacking features. Soojin was envious of that smile, so wholesome, so pure and so... She averted her gaze from Jugyeong to Suho, the boy who had now deleted her completely from his system. He didn't join for the dinner the other weekend, he didn't look at her side, he didn't even pretend to not know her, she just didn't exist for him.

It was the same as before, Soojin chuckled, humorless and sad, Suho didn't care much of her before either. It was just she and her rigidly stubborn heart.

"Aniyo, we've gotta start with the project." Seojun replied, still seated from across Soojin, "you guys carry on." He waved them a goodbye as Soojin watched Seojun's expression soften and she observed how lovesick he was for Jugyeong.

Every time they spoke, they were at each other's throats, but every time Jugyeong spoke, Han Seojun's gaze would soften, his smile would widen and of course, his sighs increased too. She noticed it, but she didn't have the heart to tell him to stop hurting himself especially when she wasnt over Suho either.

What a crazy world.

"So, gaja?" Seojun turned towards the girl and his cold expressions were back on his face. "Omma says she made me my favourite ramyeon and I cannot wait." He dreamily sighed, getting up from his seat and walking ahead.

Soojin was informed by her mother that her father would be out for a conference meeting and would arrive later the next day and she let out a heavier sigh. That meant Soojin could spend the evening the way she wanted. She walked slowly behind Han Seojun, booking a hotel room for herself for the night as Han Seojun hopped on his bike.

"Hotels?" Han Seojun's habituated nosey business made Soojin stare back at him. "Wae, we're not staying the night." He joked, laughing at it only to see Soojin's stare to intensify. "Aaresso, it won't kill you to loosen up a bit." He grunted under his breath, and Soojin paid the amount via her phone.

"But it will kill you if you don't shut the fuck up." She replied, eyes still focused on her mobile as Seojun mimicked her, this time silently and he straightened up immediately when she looked up at him. "Aish, why are you such a baby? I think I prefer the wannabe gangster more than this idiotic kid."

"Ya, I'm not a wannabe gangster." He ran his hand through his hair, as he peeked in the rearview mirror. "also, why don't you stop acting like royalty and be a normally sociable person. I swear, Suho's anti-social behaviour has rubbed on you too, no wonder you like-" He stopped, realising mid way that he was stepping on the wrong nerve and Soojin's gaze averted from her mobile to Seojun. "I meant..."

He stopped again, why was he justifying? Wasn't this exactly what he planned to do? Keep hurting Soojin, keep stepping on all her weak spots, keep destroying her self esteem and take pride in it. Then why did Soojin's sad eyes made him stop and why did she looked remorseful than the arrogant bitch she was.

"Text me your address." Soojin broke the silence, walking away, "I'll see you there."

"I could drop you," Seojun offered, even though his bike was his precious jewel. "I mean we do have to go the same way." He said it in the most obvious duh tone which Soojin didn't react to.

"I'll take a cab," She replied, holding the shoulder straps of the bag she carried. "I wouldn't want to die in an unfortunate accident with a wannabe gangster. I have a reputation to keep." She shrugged, walking away from him and Han Seojun gritted his teeth.

"Aish, this girl." He shook his head, turning the key and starting his bike, "she makes me want to kill her, or kill myself. Nowhere in between."

_

"Here,"

Her mother had handed her the hotel room key with the card, and honestly, this wasn't the response she expected from her mother when she told her that father hit her that day.

It was the first time, the first time his raging insults and pathetic words had been converted into a fiery slap which Soojin didn't see coming at all. For the first five minutes she was stunned, she had lost her balance as she stumbled but she froze in sheer surprise.

More like heartbroken.

And that happened when her mother wasn't home. Later that evening her father apologized to her, he would that time, and told her to focus more on studying if she didn't want to face it again.

Soojin remembered how much she cried that evening when her mother had arrived, she wasn't a kid, yet she cried like one and her mother took her in her arms when she explained what happened.

The next set of words broke her broken heart into zillion pieces.

"It's for your own good, Soojin-ah. You know how much he dotes on you after..." She stopped teary eyed yet she caressed the mark on Soojin's cheek. "How about you study well next time, and if he does that again, I'll speak to him." Soojin was too broken to speak, what else could she do. "For now, take this."

And it was the hotel room which Soojin's mother had booked for her so the girl could have a time-out from the house. It was a premium room, one of the best in the city considering her parents were friends with the hotelier too, but when Soojin entered the lavish room, the first thing she did was sit on the floor and cry.

And she cried herself to sleep, marking the first of many sleepless nights.

"Home, sweet home." Han Seojun smiled, when they entered the little place where Seojun lived. It was on the other side of town, more of the less developed side and she knew Seojun didn't live a luxurious life as Suho since Mr. Han had died when the kids were little and Seojun's mother spent her life battling diseases and paying money their father owed. She knew all of this because Han Seojun had told her this, back when they were...

Friends?

Were they?

"Omma is out to pick groceries with my sister," Seojun stretched his hands while plopping on the couch. "Until then, you can freshen up and I'll get some ramyeon for the both of us."

"That's okay," Soojin said, eyeing the place, it wasn't much compared to the giant house she lived in, but honestly, it felt homey than her house. "I'm full."

Seojun turned to look at the girl, full of lies, he wanted to say. The last thing he saw Soojin eat was the biscuits and fruits he had made her eat and that was hours back. However, he didn't want to pry in her personal life, all he wanted was for her to fall for him and then he could just break her heart.

What Han Seojun didn't know was that Soojin's heart was already broken and shattered and she didn't bother piecing them back.

Ramyeon's exotic smell hit the room when Soojin sat in the corner of the couch, still uncomfortable and trying to be at her best behaviour. She didn't want to upset anyone, especially Seojun's mother and hence she didn't move around, sitting in the corner while Han Seojun came out with a huge bowl and noodles that smelled delicious.

Soojin still had her school blazer on her, whereas Han Seojun now wore a black t-shirt over some faded blue jeans. "I know ramyeon is something beneath you," Han Seojun spoke aloud from across the room where he sat down, "but it's not half bad you know."

Soojin's nose flared up, because even though the packet noodles wasn't something she ate often but that didn't mean she considered it beneath her or belittled it. "ya Han Seojun, why don't you finish up the food so we can start? I have to get going too."

"Yes to a hotel," Han Seojun just couldn't get that thought out of his head, "I wonder with who."

"It's whom and that's not your concern." She retorted, a bit relaxed now that she was engaged in a banter with the notorious boy. "Why don't you slurp them down faster than being such a sloth."

"Wae, the best thing about ramyeon is the smell, and I'm going to take my time in eating it." He teased, focusing back on the noodles.

"Geurae," (fine) She got up rather instantly, "I'm gonna leave then." With that she stormed off the room, only to dash into someone and her eyes widened when she saw a lady on the floor, the groceries in her hand now scattered and besides her was another girl who held her arm. "I'm so sorry," Soojin felt extremely terrible as she got a hold of herself, helping the lady stand up. "joesonghamnida,"

Han Seojun had rushed outside when he heard the noise and was startled to see his mother being held up by the girls. He leaped towards her in worry, "Omma, gwenchan-eseyo?" He asked only for his mother to smile kindly at her kids.

Soojin on the other hand had tears in her eyes, her head lowered as she kept bowing and apologising, while she picked up the fallen groceries. "I'm really sorry, I should have..." The slaps, the mocking, the taunts, everything came back to her. She was taught to be well mannered, just as a princess should and seeing what she did, caused her great worry. "I'm sorry... I'm-"

Han Seojun had never seen Soojin at the mercy of someone else, she was helpless and in tears, and trembling if he was seeing right. His mother however took matters in her hands when she stopped Soojin from picking up anything else and held the girl.

"Aigoo, how much are you gonna apologize for a silly mistake." She kindly said and Soojin's heartbeats were running on a treadmill. She expected a slap, a retort, anything but kindness. "Never mind the groceries, sweetheart, aish you're shaking."

She really was, and Seojun didn't know whether this was an act or real. Han Seojun's sister however did not like the fact that Kang Soojin was here, but she didn't speak up considering her mother was here.

"Omma, this is Kang Soojin," Seojun spoke up, pointing at the girl, "my project partner and Soojin, this is my omma, the most prettiest lady ever, and that thing behind her is my sister." To that Go-woon hit him on the arm, only for Seojun to hug her back.

That helped Soojin breathe a bit more easily.

"Project partner," Han Seojun's mother was already so proud of her son, "and so pretty, ya Han Seojun, you better take care of the poor girl." She ordered and Seojun straightened up, "why are we standing here, come I'll get you some warm noodles and coffee." With that, Seojun's mother and her sister walked inside while Soojin stood silent, and sighed.

Was this how normal people lived?

Did everyone live this easy, this peaceful, this happy?

Then why was she not normal.

_

A/N please don't mind my korean, i Google stuff. Also, attached mockingbird edit on the duo, which I made edited ofc.