Friday, January 15th, 7:30 AM.
Seungcheol's (parent's) home.

“Yah, there’s something under the bed! Something crawled under it!” a voice yelled, sending Jaeha into an epic groan as she pulled her covers over her head like a snail retreating into its shell.

“Yah, don’t ignore me!”

Fine. She sighed dramatically and peeked out cautiously, half-expecting to see a rabid raccoon or perhaps an enthusiastic sock puppet from the Yoon family sleepover series.

“They are old tricks, Jeonghan oppa can do better. Besides, it’s a holiday! Let me sleep!” she mumbled, turning away like a drama queen who just lost a crucial scene.

“The breakfast will go cold! And you should really be at a family breakfast!” Seungcheol, her perpetually chirpy brother, called out.

Now, when the Yoon siblings spent the night, it was practically a law that Seungcheol would ensure they all participated in breakfast, lunch and dinner, treating them like family since he was convinced that food was the universally accepted love language.

“Oh my god, you’re my brother! I’m your sister! You can adopt me if you want, but let me sleep!” She protested, rolling over to fully embrace the sweet, sweet oblivion of her blankets.

“Mood,” he muttered, but before she could bury herself deeper into her pillow fort, he whipped the blanket off as if it were a magic trick gone rogue.

“Ugh!” she groaned, sitting up in a daze of annoyance, hair sticking up in a way that could rival a science experiment gone wrong.

“Brush your teeth, princess of the morning!” he commanded, like a royal subject demanding the favored one to fulfill their royal duties.

“Yeah, right.” She made no attempt to rise.

“If you do, I’ll give you my hoodie,” he tried, knowing the magic of garments could be her ultimate weakness.

But, surprise! She was already standing there, ready for action, hair still resembling a bird's nest. “What are you doing there? Get ready for the family breakfast! Hurry!”

Seungcheol shook his head with a smirk; he hadn’t really planned to hand over the hoodie, but she had this annoying talent of making him do things he vowed he wouldn’t.

“Fine, I’ll hurry!” she said, but with the kind of speed you’d expect from a sloth working on an 8-hour nap schedule.

“Breakfast won’t wait forever, and I specifically made your favorite pancakes,” he further teased, already salivating at the thought of bacon sizzling in the pan.

“Pancakes, you say?” she perked up, the magic word piercing through her morning fog. "Just remember, I take mine with extra syrup and a side of sleepyhead enthusiasm!”

“Deal! Now move it, sleepyhead!”

With a dramatic flourish and an exaggerated yawn that should have been award-winning, she finally stormed off to the bathroom, a little more awake and ready to tackle the day—or at least, tackle the sweet, fluffy pancake tower awaiting her arrival.

Little did they know, the ‘thing’ under the bed was actually just a forgotten stuffed animal that had seen better days, observing their morning antics with silent judgment.

It was a typical Friday afternoon, and the air was thick with the scent of ramen wafting from the kitchen. Jaeha leaned back on the couch, her legs curled beneath her, while Seungcheol sprawled out next to her, munching on chips.

“You know what, Jae? I think your argument about 9-5 jobs being outdated is as flimsy as my leftovers from last week,” Seungcheol declared, crunching down loudly for emphasis.

“Flimsy? Please! 9-5 jobs are so last century,” Jaeha shot back, rolling her eyes. “People can work anywhere now. Look at all the content creators and freelancers out there—living their best lives!”

Seungcheol flicked a chip at her playfully. “Yeah, and look at how many of them actually make a steady income. It’s called job security, Jaeha. Ever heard of it?”

“Job security? You mean the security of sitting in a cubicle, staring at a screen while your soul slowly drains away? No thanks! I’d rather take my chances on a gig economy!” she said, crossing her arms dramatically.

“Wow, so you’d rather be broke and stressed than take a stable job?” he countered, a smirk creeping onto his face. “Do you have a crush on living in your dad's basement forever?”

Jaeha shot him a glare that could rival a summer storm, not happy about her father being brought up. “At least I’d be happy in my basement! What’s your excuse for wanting to be stuck in a 9-5? Nostalgia for your childhood dreams of office supplies?”

“Hey! Office supplies are vital! Do you know how much fun it is to organize your pens by color?!” he whined, feigning deep hurt.

Jaeha couldn’t help but laugh. “You’re such a nerd! I’m sure that’s the most exciting part of your day. But tell me, do you also daydream about paperclips?”

“Don’t mock the paperclips!” Seungcheol shot back, pointing a chip at her now. “They keep everything together! Just like a 9-5 job holds society together!”

“Right, because nothing says ‘together’ like an endless stream of emails and back-to-back meetings,” Jaeha quipped, unable to suppress her smug grin.

Seungcheol sighed dramatically, rolling onto his stomach. “You’re impossible. It’s like arguing with a brick wall—a very annoying, sarcastic brick wall.”

“Congratulations, you’ve just discovered the beauty of Jaeha's brain! Now you know how I feel about your obsession with monotony!” she teased, poking him in the side.

“Monotony? This is the real world, Jaeha.” he replied, swatting her hand away. “People work hard for their money. I won’t be convinced by you and your daydreams about being a digital nomad.”

“Alright, Mr. Responsible. Let’s make a deal,” Jaeha said, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “I’ll get my creative freelancing off the ground, and when I have my first million, I’ll take you with Jeonghan on a beach vacation. You can spend your 9-5 days in the sun while I ‘daydream’!”

Seungcheol’s expression softened, and he chuckled. “Okay, fine! But if you somehow strike it rich, don’t forget your poor, sad, cubicle-bound brother.”

“Promise! You can help organize my pens by color while sipping a piña colada,” Jaeha shot back, laughing.

They fell into a comfortable silence, their familiar banter turning to giggles, as the argument melted away into the warmth of camaraderie they shared. After all, beneath their sibling-like teasing was an unbreakable bond forged in friendship, laughter, and all the colorful arguments that filled their days.

Something Jeonghan wasn't looking forward to. After spending too much time with Seungcheol, Jaeha starts to boss around and whine a lot, just like he does.

Saturday, January 16th, 8:30 AM.
Yihwa High school.

Seungcheol glanced at his watch. "3:30 is the leaving time, right?" he asked. She nodded. He set his alarm, ruffled her hair affectionately, and waved goodbye. "I'll pick you up at 3:30 then."

She waved back, feeling a mix of annoyance and gratitude as he rushed off. Why did he drop her off at 8:15 when class started at 9:15? Why can’t he listen? she thought, shaking her head.

Punctuality is very important, she still heard his voice in her mind, Who knows, you might see something rare. A monarch butterfly, maybe?

That was just one of the reasons she preferred Jeonghan over Seungcheol. Jeonghan dropped her off between 8:50 and 9:00—so much better.

As she walked towards her class, the sound of brakes pulled her back to reality. She half-hoped it was Seungcheol coming back to joke 'it was a prank! Sorry, let's go ditch our work together today'. Instead, she found herself staring at a familiar bike. Xu Minghao.

"Good morning," he said, removing his helmet and giving a small wave. She returned it hesitantly. "Good morning," she mumbled. “Didn’t think you’d be here this early.”

"I come early because I hate crowds. It’s peaceful," he replied. She nodded, feeling a bit of respect for his preference.

"Wait a second," he called as she turned to walk away. "You owe me. I need a favor."

"You were practically annoyed that I didn’t take your ride. That doesn’t count," she shot back.

"Okay, fine. But I did get your bag," he insisted.

"I didn’t ask you to," she replied.

"That’s not how it works. You owe anyone who helps you," he said.

She wanted to argue but couldn’t deny he had a point. Yet, the idea of being indebted to him made her uneasy.

“Just don’t ask for anything stupid,” she warned.

Taking a deep breath, she climbed the last few stairs, balancing a tall stack of books meant for the library. She wondered why Minghao completed all his assignments so early when he had a whole month left.

Placing the books on Mr. Gungyuk’s desk, she heard a voice call out. “Hey, first year!”

Startled, she turned to see a senior glaring at her like a storm cloud.

“Why do you have Xu Minghao’s assignments?” he demanded, looking ready to explode.

“What’s your problem?” she replied, feeling a mix of irritation and nervousness. “He asked me to help him because I owe him."

"Owe him? Yah, don't lie to me." he shouted, making her glower back at him.

“Why would I lie? Feel free to ask him yourself,” she snapped, handing him the library keys before leaving, not wanting to stay a moment longer. God, she wished she knew he was gonna be in the library.

Kim Mingyu. The Don of the school, gained popularity immediately in his first year because of his family fame. She knows he is best friends with Minghao because Seungkwan knows all the gossip.

As she rounded a corner, someone pulled her into the hallway. “Yah!”

Seungkwan stood there, a mix of anger and concern on his face. “What were you doing with Mingyu?”

“Why?”

“Minghao and Mingyu are best friends,” he replied making her shrug, as if that already known piece of information meant little to nothing to her.

“You’re going to get hurt messing with them! They’re not just any troublemakers," he cautioned. His eyes wrinkled in worry making her soften at his concern.

“This ‘Minghao’ everyone says is cold-hearted? It’s fake,” she said confidently. “He helped me get my bag back and even dropped me home.”

Seungkwan’s eyes widened in surprise. “What!? Seriously?”

She nodded, and he put his hands on his head in disbelief. He was silent until they reached their class. “So it was Minghao who sent you to the library?”

She nodded again.

He groaned, “Yah! What if they say something to you? What if they hurt you?”

She couldn’t help but laugh. “Like what? I can handle myself.”

“Yeah, but he could get you suspended! Kids like him don’t play fair!”

“And why would he do that?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Because that’s just how they are,” he said, frustration spilling out. “Rich and spoiled bitches.”

Realizing he had a point, she sighed. “Fine, I’ll keep my distance,” she started to say, then paused. “Wait, I agreed to treat him to lunch.”

Seungkwan looked horrified. “You what!? Are you crazy? You can’t just—”

“Relax, it’s just lunch!”

Yihwa cafeteria, 1:15 pm

Seungkwan's heart raced as he nervously eyed the two guys sitting across from him. He shot a glance at Jaeha, who was silently munching on her food, seemingly unbothered by the tension swirling around them. With a slight furrow of her brow, she offered no words of encouragement, simply focused on her meal.

Minghao, the shorter of the two, leaned forward, his gaze sharp and inquiring. "You have something to say," he prompted. Panic surged through Seungkwan's veins as he felt all eyes on him—the weight of expectation heavy and suffocating.

"Seungkwan?" Minghao's voice broke through the haze of his racing thoughts.

Seungkwan gulped, his eyes darting between Jaeha and Minghao, trying to find the right words. "Why are you associating yourself with her?" he blurted out, his tone dripping with protective concern. His glare was fierce, a silent warning that set Mingyu, who had reluctantly tagged along with Minghao, on edge.

"You have a prob—" Mingyu started, but Minghao held up a hand, cutting him off before he could finish.

"I don't plan to, really. Jaeha came in early, and I hate being in the library alone without Mingyu. I never expected him to come early today, so I asked her to submit my assignment for me," Minghao replied casually, resuming his meal as if they weren’t in the middle of an escalating conflict.

Seungkwan's eyes narrowed, disbelief etching into his features. "Why her?" he pressed, unable to suppress his suspicion.

Minghao merely shrugged, his gaze drifting to Jaeha, who continued to eat, blissfully unaware of the drama unfolding. "She owed me," he remarked, a hint of something darker lurking behind his words. A chill ran down Seungkwan's spine at the way Minghao eyed her—something didn’t sit right with him. The instinct to protect Jaeha flared up, igniting the protective friend within him.

"You—" Seungkwan began, ready to defend her honor, but before he could muster another word, Jaeha jabbed a piece of bun into his mouth, cutting him off mid-sentence. He shot her a glare, momentarily thwarted by her playful defiance.

"Eat your negativity," she said, a teasing smile breaking across her face as she waved her chopsticks like a wand.

Minghao couldn’t help but crack a smile at the sight, a rare and unexpected reaction that made Mingyu raise an eyebrow. When had Minghao ever smiled around anyone else?

After a moment of silence, Minghao and Mingyu finished their meals, the former spoke a few words of gratitude to Jaeha for the food, and departed from the cafeteria, the tension dissipating with their exit.

Seungkwan, still feeling the remnants of frustration, let out a quiet huff, lightly tapping Jaeha on the head in annoyance. "Why'd you stop me? I could’ve handled that." His voice was muffled as he tore into his food, chewing violently in a mix of emotion and stress, trying to calm the storm brewing inside him.

She chuckled, unfazed. "You were about to make it worse, you know. Besides, do you trust me?"

Seungkwan paused, looking deep into her eyes, and felt a flicker of reassurance. "Maybe…" he admitted begrudgingly.

"Then chill," she replied, her laughter mingling with the clamor of the cafeteria, and just like that, the knot in his gut began to loosen. Jaeha was right; she knows what to do in a situation like this so she could take care of it.

And truth be told, Jaeha was extremely cautious the whole time the two seniors were on their seat.

Oh and Vernon was also with them, just blending with the background, not wanting to associate with any of them. His luck was ridiculous, why did he even become friends with these two again?

Yihwa compound, 4:15 pm

Jaeha stood alongside Seungkwan and Vernon, anxiously awaiting her self-proclaimed brother’s return. Despite feeling out of place, Vernon was unwilling to leave, caught up in Seungkwan’s insistence that he stay.

“Where is your brother?” Vernon asked, distractedly typing a reply to his mother. Jaeha’s phone buzzed just then, and she smiled at her brother’s message.

“He's away on a uni trip. He’ll be back in five days and eighteen hours,” she reported. Vernon gaped at her, and Seungkwan just nodded with the knowing acceptance of a friend who had seen it all before.

“This is normal,” Seungkwan said, grinning. Just then, Jaeha’s phone rang. She exchanged glances with her friends, and a conspiratorial grin spread across her face.

As she answered, she felt a peculiar urge to keep the conversation private. “Hello?” she greeted, her voice bright and teasing.

“Moshi moshi~” came her brother’s voice on the other end, an instant chuckle escaping him. “Where’s Seungcheol?”

“Not here yet; will be here any minute though. Seungkwan and Vernon are waiting with me,” she replied, trying to keep her tone light.

“Who’s Vernon?” he asked, sounding confused.

“Oh, he’s a new friend I made. He’s half-American. Pretty cool, right?” She beamed, sharing a laugh with her brother, who nodded in agreement, though she couldn’t see him. The comment made Vernon smile to himself, a warm fluttering feeling in his chest. Seungkwan glanced at him with a grin, both friends considered him as part of their group.

“Yeah, I know someone from America too,” he replied, his voice drifting. “Mid-term transfer student. He struggles a bit with our language, so I’m helping him out while he assists with my English. But forget that—why isn’t that idiot there yet?”

“Not sure. He’ll be here—don’t worry. By the way, how's your day been?” she asked, changing the subject.

“Fine. We had a field trip to a hotel and spent ages analyzing the financial operations of a company for our assignment. Honestly, it was a drag. Some students think I’m spoiled because of how I dress. Like, what do they expect me to wear? Torn-up shorts and a t-shirt? Of course I like to dress well!” he ranted, and Jaeha listened sympathetically.

From the corner of her eye, she spotted Seungcheol pulling onto the campus. “Gotta go; Seungcheol is here to pick me up!” she said quickly. She waved goodbye to her friends, who shared an amused look. She walked over to Seungcheol before offering an earphone.

“Now he can hear you,” she said playfully.

“Finally! You’re late! What if she got kidnapped while you were away?” Jeonghan shouted at his best friend as she climbed onto the bike. Seungcheol’s eyes widened comically.

“I’m sorry.” Seungcheol apologised, sounding rather serious than she expected. “I had to drop off a package from Dad. I rushed over as soon as I could. It won’t happen again.”

Jaeha smiled to herself, surprised by his earnestness. “Okay, I’ll call you later,” she said before they ended the call. As Seungcheol revved the bike, she slipped the earphone out of his ear.

“Stop worrying; I’m fine!” she reassured, shaking her head. “Can’t believe you took his side!”

“Hey, I care about my sister too, you know!” Seungcheol shot back, and Jaeha rolled her eyes but chose not to argue.

Later, as they sat together at the dining table munching on snacks and watching K-dramas, Jaeha found herself lost in thought. The scene on the screen blurred into the background as memories of Minghao teaching her to ride a bike played in her mind. Why did he bother? Does he have alternative movies? Is he using me to get to my brothers to take revenge?

“Are you watching?” Seungcheol’s penetrating gaze dragged her back to reality. She quickly shook her head, and he huffed in mock offense, pausing the show.

“What were you thinking about?” he pressed, genuine curiosity lighting his eyes. Jaeha hesitated, feeling a spark of anxiety as thoughts of Minghao crossed her mind again. She had an inkling that Minghao was somehow tangentially associated with Seungcheol, and she didn’t want to stir unnecessary trouble.

“Do you... know a guy named Minghao?” she inquired tentatively, gauging his reaction. Seungcheol’s expression immediately shifted to a frown.

“That bastard…” he muttered, his concern palpable. “Did he do something to you?”

Jaeha waved her hands dismissively, pushing his grip off her shoulders. “No, no, nothing like that. A few days ago when Seungkwan and I were leaving school, he bumped into me. There was plenty of room, but I don’t know what he was thinking…”

“Did he say anything to you?” Seungcheol’s brows knitted together in irritation.

“Indirectly,” Jaeha replied, unsure whether revealing everything would help or harm. “Seungkwan yelled at him for bumping into me, and he said I was standing in the way.”

“Other than that? Did he talk at all?” Seungcheol pressed, a fire igniting in his eyes.

Minghao’s words floated back into her thoughts. Let's say, my friend and your brother go back in days. Don't say him you talked to me. He'll kill my friend if he knew I was near you.

“He’s not your type, is he?” Seungcheol grumbled, oblivious to her inner turmoil.

“What the fuck kind of question is that?” she questioned with a disgusted face, gripping the strings of her hoodie to keep her reactions at bay as question lingered uneasily in her mind, knowing she might regret that decision one day.

“Good,” he replied, relief washing over his face, unaware of the tangled web of friendship, rivalry, and secrets they were unwittingly caught in.

"Well, is it true then? Him being your enemy and all that?"

"Good thing you worded it like that," he replied with a smirk.

"What do you mean?"

"If you had said 'we are his enemy,' it would’ve sounded like you were interrogating me, taking his side," he chuckled, and she couldn’t help but let out an awkward smile in response.

Good thing I didn’t say it then... she thought, her mind racing.

"Back in school, it was a whole different story. He'd pick fights with us incessantly. We tried to make it clear that we wanted nothing to do with his drama, asked him to just leave us alone. We laid it out for him in plain terms, and for a while, it worked. But things would flare up again; arguments erupted over favoritism and misunderstandings. He believed in things that we simply couldn’t get behind, and when we tried to change his mind, he got angry and fought back," he replied bitterly as he grabbed a plate of snacks and shuffled into the kitchen, leaving Jaeha standing there, thoroughly confused.

Let's just say my friend and your brother go back in days, she recalled from their earlier conversation.

"So it was a lie..." she mumbled to herself, a slow smile creeping across her lips. Drama, drama. He just didn’t want me to know that he had unresolved issues with my brother. Oh, if he only knew I was familiar with Seungcheol too, this whole conversation would’ve taken a different turn.

Curiosity bubbled inside her. What would happen next? She decided she wouldn't take anyone's side—at least not until she gathered the whole story. Though, part of her mused, maybe remaining clueless would be far less complicated.