❦ ♪

CHAPTER TWO : bad impression

"tell anyone i was nice to you and i will kill you. mark my words."

❦ ♪

future dropouts
9 members

jiwoong:
hao ur partner is so pretty bro

gyuvin:
it was college and uni students joined
lunch so we all sat together and she sat
with us on our table with renjun

hao:
what

hanbin:
SHE'S REALLY INTIMIDATING HELP

hao:
did she join today?

ricky:
yes

ricky:
she came to our table and asked us about
you and she's lowk got a lot of confidence

ricky:
but like so do you

matthew:
she's not bitchy i just think she's
intimidating and has a big ego

hao:
great!

taerae:
her and renjun are really close too

ricky:
they're childhood friends i think

taerae:
oh makes sense

taerae:
but shes mad pretty in person

hanbin:
FR

hao:
wait why were u talking about me

matthew:
basically she wants to beat you

matthew:
in rankings

hao:
NO

hao:
no no no

hanbin:
don't stress him like that😭

ricky:
she does seem really smart though

hao:
not when it comes to dating boys
though apparently

gunwook:
youngjae💀

hanbin:
bruh he's in our first lecture tomorrow
he's sat behind me and hao😭

matthew:
unlucky

matthew:
so glad i'm not in your class

jiwoong:
yk i was sat next to her on the lunch table
😜😜😜🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞

taerae:
he almost fought for it😭

jiwoong:
i meannnnnnn

yujin:
why are you all simping for a girl

yujin:
u keep calling her pretty

matthew:
i wouldn't lie and call her ugly

yujin:
LOL

jiwoong:
do you think she has siblings..

jiwoong:
cause those genes must go hard

gyuvin:
i thought her and renjun were siblings

matthew:
it doesn't seem like it but i kinda thought
them two were siblings at first

ricky:
they kinda look alike

hao:
actually i haven't seen what she looks
like yet

yujin:
me 2

matthew:
REALLY??? WHY DIDN'T U TELL US

hao:
idk i didn't think about it

hao:
do any of u have a picture

hanbin:
let's make him wait until tomorrow
to see her

hao:
i'm still surprised that all you've been
doing is fangirling over her

hanbin:
cause she's hwang mirae

taerae:
i think the whole cafeteria was just
looking at her the whole time and
she sat with US

taerae:
because of hao

hao:
well i don't like her already

taerae:
omg...

hanbin:
whyy

ricky:
cause she's trying to beat him idiot

gyuvin:
well they're going to be class and project
partners for this whole year so like

hao:
i wish i could back out but they said i could
get a higher chance of getting a better job
if i do it so😊🔫

hao:
and my parents forced me to aswell

yujin:
hao it's okay she won't beat you!!!

hao:
help i'm meeting her tomorrow too noo

matthew:
you'll be fine

matthew:
she's not actually mean!

jiwoong:
just has confidence

—

— mei pov.
- 1st person.

the next day.

i almost die inside when i walk into the campus and realise i'm going to meet that zhanghao guy today. from all of the information i got from his friends, i'm definitely going to be better than him.

all they said is that he's also training to be a music teacher and he has a lot of confidence in himself when it comes to things that he likes. they even told me to not test him because he'd get upset but i'm not sure if i will or not.

anyway, i get that funky tablet out and try find where my first lecture is. i was struggling to find my timetable and i think i kept pressing the wrong buttons. so much for a top student. so smart.

"do you need help?" i hear, i turn around and face some guy who looked really familiar.

"you're chenle right?" i ask, completely ignoring his question.

he nods. oh so that's how i know him, our families are pretty close. "do you need help with the tablet?" he asks again.

i was going to tell him no, but since i actually know him and i'm struggling, i nod. "uh, yes please. this is really confusing." i say.

chenle takes the tablet and presses a lot of things, "so, i heard you're being paired with zhanghao?"

i sigh. "yeah, i am."

he chuckles. "good luck with that. you're really quite opposite people to me." he says, handing me my timetable.

"i thought he was similar to me?" i say in confusion, quickly taking the tablet back and thanking him.

"no way. you're both prodigies but that's it." he laughs. "anyways, that room is upstairs. there's a button that leads you there." he says, pointing at a blue button with FIND ROOM on it and i nod.

i'm just going to ignore what people are telling me about him and actually just focus on beating him.

"thanks." i say before quickly walking away and pressing the blue button. i had just realised i actually have no idea how to use this thing.

i keep looking up to make sure i'm 1. going the right way and 2. not bumping into people like every other person who never looks where they're going.

once i reach the room, the tablet screen goes blue and says YOU HAVE ARRIVED. i scoff and put the tablet into my bag.

i remember getting an email this morning to wait to be let in since this was my first lecture. they said it would be around 10:50am and the clock had just turned 10:50.

at least i was on time. but i stop and wait awkwardly, avoiding eye contact from boys turning to me in the corridor.

once i hear the sound of a door open, i turn and make eye contact with a tall man who has PROFESSOR S. LEE on his torso. he smiles. "just on time, miss hwang."

i nod and sigh as he leads me into the lecture room which looked very almost full. it already felt overwhelming for me but i brushed it off and stopped walking when the professor stops.

"this is hwang mirae, she's going to be joining us for this school year for a school project in her previous university. please treat her with kindness and be respectful. some of you may know her as the top student in the neighbouring university." he says loudly.

i completely forgot renjun emailed the headmaster to make the 'old school project' excuse so no one can judge me by the fact i actually got sent here for behaviour management.

anyway, i finally turn to the front and bow, not saying anything. professor lee smiles and looks around carefully. probably looking for the zhanghao kid.

"you can sit there, mirae." he says, pointing at the far left near the top of the seats. "in between hanbin and hao, please wave to let her know who you are."

i spot where the two were sat and recognise hanbin and zhanghao straight away,
not paying attention to the other many eyes looking at me. i nod. "thank you, professor." i say before walking towards my seat.

hanbin gets up to let me through and i thank him. i then give zhanghao a cold expression when i sit down. as i take out my things quietly, i was already feeling nervous when i'm usually never nervous and it was throwing me off.

the fact i'm here next to the top student that everyone in my old school was talking about is quite shocking. he was POPULAR there, everyone liked him. seeing him closer up now, i totally understand why.

but obviously, knowing more about him, i want to beat him. i know that i will be included into the rankings for this year and if i don't beat him, i'll be so mad at myself. i promised my parents i could do it.

but that's not my main concern anyway; i just want to know how i'm going to improve my behaviour. it's never that easy for someone to change the way they act as soon as they get into a new environment.

but anyways, once the professor started beginning the lecture and explaining, i had fallen right into place and i immediately calmed down.

i listened to the lecture which was pretty boring, it was just simple dance techniques which i'm positive everyone already knew. but still, i wrote a lot of notes.

i noticed zhanghao's notebook was really neat and had way more writing than mine. i sneaked at hanbin's and his were the exact same. maybe i was just simpler when it comes to notes but i don't know.

i have to accept the fact i'm not the top student in a top university anymore and things are going to be completely different and i have to adjust to the new life. i thought i'd be fine here. i'm still stressed at the fact this happened over me punching youngjae.

everything was going well until i heard giggling behind me. it was really loud and for someone who HATES sounds like that, i tried my best to save my temper.

but it was becoming way worse when i heard a voice talking. which had infuriated me already. they were far from a whisper, it was like whisper shouting. who the hell whispers like that during a lecture?

i run my hand through my hair and still carry on writing notes, still trying to keep them neat. usually when i'm pissed off, the pressure of my pen increases and the rest of my notes looked a bit different to the others.

i was actually doing well ignoring it all, since it was still going on for another 5 minutes. i don't get how anyone hasn't snapped already because if i was them, i would've.

"hwang mirae seems like such a whore." i hear. i resist the urge to turn around in offence and i kept calm. but what the fuck? who just chats shit about someone right when they're in front of them.

i can tell hanbin heard what they said, as he slightly turns to me to see my face, which was glued onto my pen.

i still choose to ignore it, though the giggling kept going. i don't get how the professor hasn't even heard or caught them yet. i know they're sat on the back row but still, it was really, really irritating.

the professor suddenly stops. "um, sorry guys but i forgot to print out something for you all. i'll be back in five minutes please bare with me. you can catch up on other notes." he says quickly, running outside in a hurry.

"mirae could get it."

"no she's a bitch."

the voices were so loud and i finally recognised one of them. of course it was youngjae. the one class i had with him is this one and he's sat right behind me. perfect.

once the giggling kept carrying on, i got fed up and i slam my hands onto the desk, making a loud noise and i think i made the two guys next to me jump. i close my eyes and breathe before i turn around.

i make eye contact with youngjae. "do you have no shame?" i ask. the room quickly went silent as everybody turns their head towards me. "you really like to run your mouth don't you?" i scoff.

"it's nice to see you again." youngjae winks. "i'm glad you're sat in front of me in this lesson, it's pretty entertaining."

i glare at him. "you're entertaining yourself by talking shit about me right behind me?" i laugh. "you're obsessed."

"you wish i was obsessed with you." he says.

"i'd rather die. fuck off youngjae, this is why no one likes you." a heard a few gasps and whispers but i wasn't even surprised.

youngjae cockily smiles and nods. "you think people like you too? you talk like you own the place, you're a bitch."

"i don't give a fuck about what people think about me. you're always up in my business as if i care about it."

"this is your second day and you're already being mean to students? wow, mei. what a way to improve." youngjae says, still having that cocky smile.

"you look like you're asking for another slap." i say. "stop chatting so much shit with your minions and go find something to do with your life cause you definitely aren't going to succeed in this school anytime soon." i snap.

"you won't either. you're next to zhang hao, he could beat you in a second." he shrugs. "you aren't that smart."

"at least i was always first in ranking, aren't you last in this university right now?" i hear some snorts around me.

youngjae scoffs. "still so fiesty, mei. and you still look hot too–"

i stand up in annoyance as i was going to shout at him again but i felt a hand grab my arm. i turn to face zhanghao looking at me. "don't, it's not worth it." he says.

i roll my eyes and yank his arm off of me before glaring at him. "lim youngjae you better watch your words this time. talk again and i'm going to do what you begged me not to do." i scoff and turn back around to sit down.

"aw you even have your nerdy bestfriend saving you, how cute." youngjae mocks with a high pitched voice.

"shut the fuck up." hanbin says. "leave them alone or i'll talk to the professor about it."

"whatever. you're the class favourite anyway." youngjae scoffs. "i'll talk to you another time, mei."

i curse under my breath and i look up to still notice eyes on me. "fuck off." i say, everyone quickly turned back around and i sigh.

i feel a tap on my shoulder and i face hanbin. he looks concerned. "are you okay?"

"leave me alone." i deadpan, facing the front of the classroom again. my blood was still boiling from earlier, my temper is so short and i already fucking hate this class.

just in time, the door opens again and the professor comes back smiling. "i got them. you can collect these at the end." he smiles.

❦ ♪

as the deadly 2 hour lecture ends, everyone was allowed to go wherever we wanted until the next lecture which was an hour from now.

as i walk out, i meet eyes with renjun who looks at me in concern. "you okay? you look out of it."

i scoff. "i already got into an argument."

he frowns. "with who? how come?"

"youngjae, talking shit about me behind me. he's fucking immature."

renjun sighs and pats my back. "let's get some strawberry milk to make you feel better." he smiles, dragging me away.

"so did you talk to hao?" he asks.

i shake my head. "no, he just non stop writes. i think i gave everyone a bad impression."

renjun laughs. "i'm sure they'll understand you, it's youngjae. no one likes him here."

i roll my eyes as we enter the cafeteria, "still. i look like a complete bitch now."

renjun and i walk into the line and i'm already annoyed at myself. i should've just kept quiet, why did i need to shout at him in front of everyone?

but then again it's youngjae, he deserves it. he's a fucking dickhead and i hope he fails this year. stupid cunt. i'm glad i did it.

"so, what are your opinions on hao?" renjun suddenly asks me.

i shrug. "he's kinda fine but i don't like him already, he's literally someone i have to beat this year."

he chuckles. "so you think he's attractive?"

i nod. "well yeah, but he seems big headed."

"YOU'RE big headed."

i hit his arm. "it's called confidence. i know i'm smart and absolutely a 10/10."

renjun side eyes me. "well you're sitting with him today, are you going to be as nice as you were yesterday or?"

"no." i say. "yesterday wasn't the worst but today i feel like hating everyone. chenle even had to help me do the tablet."

i quickly buy some strawberry milk and wait for renjun to get some noodles. the food looked so good here but i don't feel like eating. but those noodles looked really nice.

"okay, to hao's table we go." he says, pushing me forward.

"huang renjun!" i scold him. "i didn't think you were being serious about hanging out with all of them-"

he laughs. "after a week you're staying there by yourself~" he sings.

i would do anything to not be on a table with them. for many reasons that include i don't like them, they're boys, they have hao there and they all know who i am.

we arrive at their table and there was 5 people sat down, unlike yesterday. they all greet renjun and i sit down quietly, what is worse is that i'm sat next to hanbin. i must've given him a horrible impression.

"do you know almost everyone is talking about that thing with youngjae earlier?" hanbin asks.

i close my eyes in annoyance. "who?"

"i don't know, but it seems like everyone already knows about it. someone called you rude." another guy explains.

i scoff. "they can suck my dick. youngjae was chatting shit about me right behind me."

"what was he saying?" renjun asks.

"they called me a bitch, said i could get it, big headed, ugly. i heard all sorts." i say.

i don't care if anyone else in this university thought that about me, but the fact it was my own ex boyfriend blatantly doing it to piss me off was annoying.

"so you shouted at him?" another guy i recognised as matthew asks.

"well yeah, i lost my patience."

"is it true that you dated him?" taerae asks.

i almost choke on the milk. "youngjae?"

"no duh. who else?" taerae says in a sassy tone.

i scoff at him. "i don't want to talk about what i had with him."

renjun coughs. "anyways, i think we should use this as a time to get to know mei– mirae."

i glare at renjun. "you really just called me m–"

"so!" renjun shuts me up with a smile, making the other boys on the table laugh. "it's obvious she's not in a good mood so you can ask me and i'll answer!"

i cross my arms and look at the table. i don't mind renjun doing this but i was still annoyed from earlier. i know it doesn't seem like a big deal  but if my day isn't perfect i feel like dying.

"don't ask anything personal or weird." i say, still staring at the table. i could find looking at this way more entertaining than when i kissed youngjae.

"when's your birthday?" the model guy– i think his name was jiwoong asks.

"july 26th 2000." renjun says, and for some reason that whole friendgroup turn to zhanghao.

"that's only one day after zhanghao's." matthew says.

i look up and make eye contact with hao. we end up both glaring at each other for some funny reason and look away as if that didn't happen.

"ah, they're very similar indeed." renjun jokes.

"i heard you major in music, how do you find it?" hanbin asks. i feel like i'm getting interviewed.

renjun turns to me, "answer yourself."

i roll my eyes. "yeah it's alright. i find it easy."

"are you good at violin?" taerae asks, i notice hao look at him with a weird look. oh right, he plays violin too. does he want to be me or something?

"i think i'm really good and probably the best. i've been at the top since i was younger." i shrug, i have to show off my skills some how.

"wow, you have a lot of confidence don't you?" hao scoffs. that was a bit rude for the first thing he says to me.

"and what about it? jealous?" i say back.

"as if. i bet i'm better." he smiles smugly.

i squint at him. "you really wanna bet? when did you start?"

"after high school." he says.

"since i was younger." i smirk.

"i could still be better than you." he shrugs.

"no way." i laugh. "i could have learned it for a day and i'd still be better than you."

he rolls his eyes. "you really think you can beat me so easily? god you're delusional."

"i'm not delusional, i'm honest. you don't know me, i definitely could." i say.

"you seem like someone i'm obviously better than." he mocks, i completely forgot we're on a table right now because his friends were just watching intently.

"yeah yeah keep wishing that i guess, i could beat you in rankings in a fucking heartbeat."

for our first conversation, it was definitely something. but still, my whole goal is to beat him. i couldn't care about my behaviour anymore even though i was stressing about it earlier.

❦ ♪

TIMESKIP : AFTER SCHOOL.

"mei the guests are here!" my mother shouts from downstairs. i quickly fix my hair and i tip toe down my stairs.

when the door opens, i stop and sit on the staircase, trying to see the people who were walking into my house.

"hello it's so nice to see you!" my father says, shaking the two other adults' hands. "looks like you brought your son here too." he says.

i squint, trying to recognise the guy wearing a black mask that just walked in. he looked awfully familiar to me for some reason.

"our daughter is coming down soon. mei!" my mother shouts. i watch the boy's eyes widen in shock and it does look like i know him.

i sigh and walk downstairs. i wasn't wearing anything special and i didn't really care about how i looked right now. once i reach the family, i put on a smile. "hello." i greet.

"ah you're mei! you're really pretty!" the woman says.

"ah thank you! you're also very pretty ma'am." i grin.

she chuckles. "what a nice lady! you can meet my son." she says, tapping her son and once we make eye contact. his eyes widen again. "take off your mask, dear."

he nods and takes his mask off. when i recognise him, i almost gasp but i keep calm. "oh nice to see you again hanbin!" i smile.

he looked pretty confused but he takes the hand i extended. "uhh, you too."

"let's all sit down first, the chefs are almost done cooking." mother says, leading us all into the huge dining room that was only ever used for these events.

i ended up being sat next to hanbin. this was very awkward. around two hours ago i was being a moody bitch on campus and now he has to see me like this. i hate life, so bad.

"so mei, it seems you've met hanbin already." his father says with a smile. "do you already know each other?"

i nod, "i'm going to his school for a school project. i see him around." i say in a really nice voice.

"ahh." his father nods. "that's good. you can be close friends, yes?"

"of course mr sung!!" i smile. "i'm sure he'll take care of me there, right?" i turn to hanbin.

he awkwardly nods. "uh, yeah. i will." he smiles.

soon enough, the chefs walk in with meals, placing them neatly in the middle. i always prefer to eat at home, the food here was always good. i watch hanbin's face and he does look satisfied with the food.

since this was a dinner for our parents to talk, they talked most of the time as our servants put food on our plate. i muttered many 'thank you's as new dishes were being placed in front of me.

"mei." i hear hanbin whisper. it was painful enough i had to be nice to him in this setting, since i did tell him to leave me alone earlier.

i turn to him. "yeah?"

"sorry for talking to you when you were in a bad mood.." he says. "i shouldn't have done that."

i laugh. "don't be ridiculous. it's fine, i should be the one apologising. i'm sorry." i say.

he smiles. "no worries."

"but," i whisper to him as the servants started to walk away. "tell anyone i'm being nice to you today and i will kill you. mark my words."

he awkwardly smiles. "um, of course. this is my third time seeing you anyway.."

"i know it's weird seeing me be like this but just deal with it. i'm not going to hurt you or anything." i say.

he nods.  "i wasn't thinking you would, anyway."

i smile. "oh also, do you have zhanghao's instagram?" i ask.

he finishes one of his bites and nods. "i do, why?"

"can you give me it?" i ask.

he turns to me. "uh why? i thought you two already disliked each other from that short talk you had today."

i snicker. "i do dislike him, but he seems fun to annoy. so why not?"

hanbin laughs. "i mean okay, but you can't tell him i told you." he takes his hand out.

i shake it. "i'll shake it only if you don't tell ANYONE about this dinner and that i was being nice to you, deal?"

"deal." he says, and i finally shake his hand.

"see? i'm not that mean." i say.

"i didn't think you were, many people just say you are." he shrugs.

"well that's because i actually have confidence. and i'm not scared to confront someone or be rude." i laugh. "but when dealing with people like youngjae i can be a bitch." i say.

he laughs. "i noticed."

"how's the food hanbin? is it good?" my mother asks him with a smile.

"yes, ma'am. it's really nice, thank you." he smiles.

"wow what a son you have! he's so lovely." my mother says. "you and mei are getting along well?"

"yeah, we are." he says.

"that's good! we'll be hanging out more these days anyway." she smiles.

you're joking. i have to be with him more. not that it's a bad thing but i can't keep being all nice whenever my parents have visitors over. if this becomes more frequent i'll be so mad.

❦ ♪

— zhanghao pov.

[9+ notifications from instagram!]
1: @meiirae has followed you
2: 9+ new messages from 'future dropouts'
3: 1 message from renjun.
4: 1 message from native koreans

native koreans
10+ members

xiaoting:
how's mei so far

chenle:
already has quite the reputation

renjun:
she argued with youngjae

yuqi:
AS SHE SHOULD

chenle:
she was struggling to use the tablet💀

ningning:
why does she have a tablet

yangyang:
we all have one

xiaojun:
i barely see mei at all but i saw her today
in the canteen she was say with hao

ningning:
OMG IS SHE MAKING FRIENDS
ALREADY

renjun:
it's been two days 😭

renjun:
she's only talked to hao's friendgroup

yangyang:
we should talk to her tomorrow

juhaknyeon:
she scares me but ok😊

we had a whole talk about violin at
lunch today

renjun:
I WAS MAD INVESTED

renjun:
they kept talking about who's better
at violin

shuhua:
mei obviously

no

ricky:
BYE DID YOU ACTUALLY

ricky:
wish i was there

renjun:
it was hilarious

shuhua:
so what are your opinions on her hao

annoying
she also followed me i think
she's @meiirae right

renjun:
yes???

chenle:
SHE FOLLOWED YOU

yuqi:
that's weird she follows like 40
people only

renjun:
she just texted me hao

renjun:
check your message requests

❦ ♪

m<3
@meiirae

are you a note higher in pitch because
damn that jawline is sharp

wtf

can you follow me back

didn't you tell me that you could
beat me in a heartbeat

broooooooo yes i did but still

are you a note lower in pitch because
i want to kick you flat

oh
he wants me guys

i want to slap you

you can only do that if i get a lower
grade than you 😜😜

ur annoying already

sorry top student did i shiver ur timbers

i'm going to block you

can you do it later i'm stalking
your account pls wait

...

ur violin pieces are good tbh
but i'm better

💀 we have music tomorrow
then we can see who's better

okay boyfriend

ur weird

u get annoyed easily it's fun
can't wait to beat you this year!

❦ ♪

TEEHEEEEEEEEEE ZHANGMEI
CRUMBS ALREADY

this was written at like almost 3am so ignore how bad it is already bye omggndksned