Hana:

"Oh wow, I'm so hungry!" I groan as we leave the classroom, ready for lunch.

"Let's head to the café then, yeah?" Hoseok says cheerfully, following me out.

"Yeah, everyone will already be there too," I mutter bitterly, "Why does Miss Lee always keep our class back?"

Before Hoseok can respond, I notice some high-pitched giggling behind me. I look over my shoulder, startled by the sound. Where I expected to see 3 children, I instead find 3 grown adult women quite a few yards away, just leaving the classroom. They are looking and gesturing towards me, whispering and giggling with each other.

All three of them have different aesthetics. The first girl is wearing a knee-length, flowery dress with black school shoes and frilly socks. Her blonde hair is up in pigtails, held together by an assortment of pastel-coloured pins. The middle girl is wearing all black; ripped jeans with fishnets underneath and a graphic cami crop top. Her black hair is thin and damaged, probably from straightening it too much. The third girl is wearing loose cargo pants with a loose-fitting crop top, the bucket hat on her head hiding most of her short blue hair.

In any normal situation, I'd take one look at them and start a conversation with them. They look so cool and fun, the sort of people I'd love to hang out with. But that laugh, that shrill giggle, pierces through me like fingernails on a chalkboard.

I stop walking, causing Hoseok to halt in his tracks. The girls keep walking, stopping once they have reached me.

"Hey?" I greet uncertainly.

"What do you want?" The middle girl asks, her eyebrows raised.

Well then, I frown, I guess attractiveness is all in the personality, huh?

"Sorry, I couldn't help but notice you watching me," I respond, "My name is Bae Hana,"

"We know who you are," The third girl rolls her eyes.

"Slut..." The first girl hisses quietly.

"Huh?"

"Okay, let's go," Hoseok grips my arm, gently trying to lead me away. I pull from his grip, folding my arms and glaring at them.

"Funny," I snort, "You'd think I would know who you guys are. Kind of hard to forget the sound of a banshee,"

"What did you say to me?" The middle girl moves forward, threateningly.

"Oh? Are you deaf?" I scoff, "Wouldn't surprise me. I'd be deaf too after listening to you three,"

"Hana..." Hoseok grips my arm again, "Let's just go,"

"Yeah, Hana," The middle girl mimics, "Listen to your boyfriend. Or is he your 5th boyfriend? 7th?"

Ahh, I see what's going on here.

I did not experience much, if any, bullying in school. In kindergarten, I got the normal snatching toys and silly little kid bullying. But in elementary school, I was pretty popular. Then in high school, I was just one of those people that everyone likes. I'm not sure why, maybe I was just lucky to attend school at the exact same time that a lot of decent people were attending, or maybe I am just charismatic.

But I do remember watching bullying in Korean dramas and seeing girls bullying other girls for their looks or for hanging around too many guys. These girls either like one of my friends, or they are the type of people who think girls and guys can't have platonic friendships.

Either way, they suck.

"Actually, I'm single," I respond, "Why? Are you interested in me?"

"W-What?" The middle girl stutters, "I'm not... are you...? What?"

"Sumi, enough," I look behind me to find Lee Minho, my new friend in one of my classes, glaring at the middle girl.

"Minho?" She pouts, "What are you doing here?"

"Oh my god, you are so annoying," Minho rolls his eyes, "Off you go,"

The girl, Sumi, huffs, and spins around, storming away. The other two girls give me one last disdainful look before following her.

"Hey," He smiles, beaming down at me, "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," I frown, "I had that handled,"

"Hana, you wouldn't have engaged with them at all if you had it handled," Hoseok chuckles.

"Why not?" I ask, genuinely.

"You don't bother with people like that," Minho explains, "There is no point. Bitter people will always be bitter,"

"Right," I pout, "One of them called me a slut,"

"Huh?" Hoseok asks. He obviously didn't hear her little hiss.

"Ah, I guess that's what it was about," Minho sighs, "Sumi is the type of girl who thinks a girl who has guy friends is a pick me, or, you know, a slut,"

I roll my eyes and shake my head.

Oh well, can't let people like that affect me.

Minho and Hoseok lead me to the food court, right up to the table my friends and I have claimed. Jimin looks up and smiles.

"Hey, guys," He beams, "Held back again?"

"Yeah, and some mean girls, nothing important," I explain.

Jimin jumps to his feet and grasps my shoulders, looking me up and down in a panic.

"WHAT? Mean girls? Are you okay? Did they hurt you? What did they say? Did you beat them up?" A million and one questions later, Hoseok speaks up.

"It was nothing Hana couldn't handle," He chuckles, "And Minho,"

Jimin looks at Minho as if gauging him. After a moment, he lets me go and bows slightly to Minho.

"Thanks for looking out for her," He mutters bitterly.

"It's okay," Minho smirks, giving me a quick glance, "Hana was the first person to talk to me here, so I'm really grateful to her,"

"Well, you can join our weirdo friend group," Hoseok cheers, slinging his arm across Minho's shoulders and leading him to the table. Hoseok places him beside Namjoon before taking the seat on his other side, next to Seokjin.

"I... I have... friends," Minho mutters, but Hoseok ignores him. Seokjin starts talking to him, immediately welcoming him into the group, as usual.

Jimin continues a conversation with Taehyung, who gestures for me to sit beside him. I slide into the seat, looking down the table at my friends.

I couldn't care less what a bunch of strangers say about my friendships. Sure, I'd love some female friends, but it doesn't keep me up at night. I like solid, positive friendships that bring substance into my life, regardless of sex or gender identity.

Jimin and Taehyung start talking about something I am not interested in, so I look around the table. Seokjin is still talking to Minho and Hoseok. Jungkook has joined Jimin and Taehyung's conversation. But Yoongi is just watching Namjoon carefully. I look at Namjoon and frown. He is staring harshly at Minho as if expecting him to do something.

What the hell Namjoon? Why do you keep starting fights with everyone?

. . . 

Namjoon:

"Are you sure?" Yoongi asks, sitting on Namjoon's sofa as he watches him pace in front of him.

"Yes, I'm sure. Z said so," Namjoon snaps.

Why didn't you confront him? We should find out where he lives.

"Listen, let's calm down," Yoongi insists, "Maybe he is just like me?"

In the food court at lunch today, Z informed Namjoon that he can't read Minho either. Yoongi had noticed Namjoon's sudden change in behaviour and requested to 'hang out after school' to ask him about it. Namjoon had work first, so Yoongi waited for him to finish. So, tired and exhausted, Namjoon is finding it hard to think too much about the situation.

"Yoongi is right, Z," Namjoon says, stopping his pacing, "He could just be a cult child,"

Another cult member? How many cult members are there?

"We could just ask him," Yoongi shrugs.

Namjoon sighs and moves to the sofa, sitting down.

Yoongi sits beside him, thinking deeply.

I don't remember seeing a necklace, so he's not wearing a protection pendant, Z supplies.

"Yeah, I don't think I saw a necklace either," Namjoon nods.

"Maybe a bracelet?" Yoongi suggests, picking up on the conversation.

No.

"Nah, didn't see one," Namjoon responds, "Maybe an anklet? Or a little charm he carries in his pocket?"

"Maybe..." Yoongi groans, "I think I should just ask him. At least I have an excuse..."

"Do you remember seeing him at any meetings or anything?" Namjoon asks.

"No, I don't recognise him," Yoongi ponders.

"Do you think your family would know?" Namjoon asks. Yoongi's expression goes cold, and he immediately regrets asking.

"I'm not contacting them," Yoongi says firmly.

You could just simply confront him, Z suggests again, sounding agitated.

"Z thinks we should confront him," Namjoon repeats.

"I think you should stay away from him," Yoongi says, smirking, "that didn't go well last time," 

Yoongi is right. He did a terrible job of asking Yoongi about his necklace, so he should probably leave this to him.

"Yeah, yeah, I know," Namjoon sighs, "Can you confront him then?"

"I mean, I guess," Yoongi shrugs, "I'll try,"

Tell him to tell Lee Minho that he recognises him from a cult meeting. Z explains, he should be more receptive to that.

Namjoon repeats what Z says, watching as Yoongi becomes more confused.

"Does Z know what will work?" Yoongi asks.

No. But I do know what ends up starting a fight with some non-existent person I can't read.

"He knows that certain things will lead to a fight, he just can't see the person you will be fighting, which suggests it is Minho," Namjoon explains.

"Well, I think we are going in circles... so if you leave it with me I'll talk to him, okay?" Yoongi finishes, looking sternly at Namjoon. He nods in response, smiling.

"Thanks, Yoongi. I appreciate it," Namjoon leans back, relaxing, "Want to watch a movie?"

Yoongi chuckles, leaning forward and grabbing the remote.

"Let's start that anime," Yoongi suggests.

You kids...

Namjoon chuckles at Z's response, watching as Yoongi switches over to a streaming service. 

(A/N) 🫰🫰🫰 

Any StayArmy? 🙋‍♀️