[003], aera attends a party. and regrets. 

THE door to Aera's dorm is thrown open violently. In the doorway stands Yena, her eyes wide, her face bright red, her hair a wild mess, and her chest heaving for air she can't quite see. Aera removes her eyes from her MacBook in front of her and waits for Yena to say something. 

      Thrusting her fist into the air, Aera can see a crumpled-up piece of paper neatly tucked away in the tanned fist. "Party!" That is all Yena manages to say before slumping forward onto the ground, wincing as she holds her side. "Now this is a reminder for why I never participated in P.E. class." 

       Aera rolls her eyes and climbs off her bed, joining Yena on the ground. Reaching across, she pries the paper from Yena's tightly closed fist and smooths it out, reading it slowly. "Bangchan's throwing a party? Tonight? But it's Wednesday?" 

      Yena scoffs, "okay? And?" 

       "It's a school night, Yena." 

      "We're going, Aera," Yena says sharply, staring up at the frowning girl, "if we don't go, it's like social suicide." 

      Aera scoffs, "you know I'm all for parties! Except when they fall on a school day." 

      Yena opens her mouth and then hesitates. "I was about to say you could find your next boyfriend at the party but then I remembered you swore off boys." There's a long, drawn-out silence. "Something happened over the summer, Aera, what was it?" 

       Aera gives Yena the nastiest glare she could muster up, "could you be any more psychic?"

      Yena grins and thumps her chest, "it's the one thing I pride myself on!" 

      "I met someone, fell in love, and then found out love isn't all that it appears to be. It's ugly and nasty, bringing out the worst in people — but yet, I still hope for a love like the movies," Aera sighs dramatically and stares back down at the party invite. "Do we have to go?" 

        "First off, that sucks, but I'm glad you're still pursuing love, and second, yes. We're going. Jungwon and the other two are going." 

       Aera narrows her eyes, "how do you know that? You haven't talked to them since Monday." 

      "I overheard Heeseung talking about the party with Sunghoon, so I naturally assumed the Three Musketeers are going, since they're friends with Heeseung and his cronies." 

        "Jake and his cronies," Aera corrects, and then she rolls her eyes, "just get over it, Yena, it was never their intention to hide that from us." 

        "Let me be dramatic in peace. I always let you be dramatic in peace." 

       "Yeah, well, this is different. I was dramatic over breakups, you're dramatic over nothing." 

       Yena gasps, offended. 

      Aera sighs, "fine, I'll go to the party." 

      Yena wiggles around on the ground happily, but pauses when she's pinned beneath Aera's pointed stare. "You'll be taking responsibility for my failure in all my classes this year, okay?" 

      Yena groans but nods her head, giving into Aera's uncomfortable stare. This was her destiny; her fate — to be Kim Aera's scapegoat. Aera helps Yena off the ground and hands the paper back to her, "let's go across the hall, it's time for you to let go of your dramatics. They miss you." 

       "They're probably out with Jake who's probably making out with some girl." 

      "Or boy," Aera says, "don't discriminate." 

      "Have you seen him make out with a guy?" Yena asks Aera with an upturned nose. 

      "Yes," Aera answers matter-of-factly, "and it's been with Park Sunghoon. Many times." 

      Yena squints at Aera, "I can't tell if you're being serious or not." 

       "Not so psychic now are you?" Grins Aera triumphantly. 

      Yena scowls and crumples up the party invite even more before chucking it in Aera's direction. "You're a fucking menace, Kim Aera." 

      "But you love me," coos Aera, fluttering her eyelashes. 

      Yena ignores Aera and walks out of the dorm, mumbling something about needing a shower. Aera lets Yena go, not bothering to question the lack of towels, soap, and shampoo needed for a shower to properly work. 

       Aera turns back to her bed on the other side of the room and groans, hearing loud music filter through the paper-thin walls. Another reason why Aera and Yena were desperately saving up to get an apartment off-campus. They'll have respectful neighbors. They'll be able to be independent. Collecting up her books and MacBook, Aera heads down to the library at the center of campus, squinting as her eyes adjust to the bright library lights. 

      Aera is hit with silence as the doors slide open. The familiar aroma of books fills Aera's senses and she relaxes. Books are piled high throughout the tall building, steps resting against shelves as Aera walks deeper into the library — Aera felt like she was in Hogwarts. The roof was tall, allowing for everything to feel freer, more open, and the shelves towered over everyone, books filling every spare space, top to bottom. Desks were spread throughout the library, P.C's sat in corners of the room which were often always taken up by students. 

      Aera hears the familiar squeak of laughter and her body immediately inclines itself towards the noise. She maneuvers through the scarily tall bookshelves to find Jungwon, Sunoo, and Riki sitting at a long table surrounded by said scarily tall bookshelves. They weren't the only ones at the table, Park Sunghoon and Park Jongseong — the Parks — sat with them, looking on amused. Park Sunghoon was lazily sitting back in his chair, practically manspreading as he tips his chair backward, balancing it on the two legs at the back of the chair. Park Jongseong, on the other hand, was leaning forward, his elbow resting on the table and his hand cupping his cheek as he watches the three younger boys bicker amongst each other with a fond look on his face. 

       Aera wants to turn and leave, but Riki catches her figure and he grins brightly at the older girl. "Aera!" All of the attention is directed towards her and Aera feels stuck to her spot. She's a mere three steps away from the table. Aera wants to vanish into nothing. She wants the ground to swallow her up. Riki's waving her to walk the final three steps and slide into the spare seat beside him, but Aera restricts herself and gingerly walks forward, remaining standing at the head of the table. Park Sunghoon's and Park Jongseong's gazes were too much for her to handle. 

       Sunoo's smile was wide, "Aera! Sit down!" He also joins Riki's encouraging gestures to sit in the spare seat beside the youngest. 

       Aera forces awkward laughter, still feeling the intimidating gaze from the two other males occupying the table. "No, it's fine, I'm just here to look for some books needed for my biochemistry and microbiology classes." It has to be said now: Aera sucks at lying. She should never be told a secret because she'll eventually spill it and the consequences will be awful. Especially as Aera holds the books to the classes she's supposedly looking for. 

      Both Sunoo and Riki stare at the books in Aera's hands before looking back up at the girl, but they say nothing. Aera notes Jungwon's shit-eating grin on his face. "Still," Sunoo insists, "we haven't talked in ages." 

      "It's been a day, Sunoo," Jungwon rolls his eyes, "I'm sure nothing's changed in Aera's life." 

       Aera's cheeks heat up and she stares at the table instead of at Jungwon who still wore that shit-eating grin whenever he was teasing someone. "Uh, yeah, it's only been a day, Sunoo, I'm still the same person I was yesterday." Oh God, everything Aera was saying sounded cringe. She desperately wants to leave. She hates Park Sunghoon staring at her like that. And Park Jonseong staring at her like that. 

       "Oh," pouts Sunoo, but he still continues to insist, "you should still sit down, Aera!" 

       "Sunoo," Park Sunghoon finally speaks up, his voice was deeper than Aera expected. It was also incredibly attractive. There was an air of authority as he spoke and Aera's drawn into his aura, "Aera doesn't want to sit down," he continues to drawl out with a smug look on his face as his eyes flick over to Aera, "isn't that right?" 

        Immediately, Aera stiffens, ready to go on the defense if needed, "sorry, Sunoo," she manages to get out, "I'll sit with you another time," she promises solemnly. 

       "You better," Sunoo says, still pouting. 

       "Oh! Aera!" Riki's still looking enthusiastic and energetic as ever, "are you going to Bangchan's party tonight?" 

       Aera rocks back on her heels uncomfortably. She's social until she comes into contact with Park Sunghoon and Park Jongseong. "Um, yeah, Yena's forcing — no, she convinced me to go." There's silence and then Aera realizes she should add further to the slowly dying conversation, "are you?" 

        Riki grins and nods his head, "we all are! We could go together — if you want!" 

      Beside her, Aera hears someone laugh but it's covered up with a cough. She knows it's Park Sunghoon. Aera has a feeling Park Sunghoon's a little shit, so she's readying herself to avoid the boy at all costs now. She doesn't see the appeal in Park Sunghoon anymore. Sure, he's pretty, but his personality doesn't scream 'attractive.' 

       "Yena takes forever to get ready, so you'll be waiting for hours. We'll just see you at the party," Aera gives Riki a reassuring smile, "thanks for the offer, though." 

       "Walk with us next time, Aera," Jungwon speaks up with the shit-eating grin still pinned onto his face. God, even Yang Jungwon is a fucking menace. His personality did a full 180 compared to Monday morning. Maybe it's because he's around Park Jongseong, whose eyes soften ever so slightly when he stares at the younger boy. 

       Aera raises one shoulder, "okay," she caves in. 

      "I think we should let Aera go find those books she's clearly missing," Park Sunghoon speaks up once more with his dick-worthy drawl. 

       Aera moves to hide her books and scowls at Park Sunghoon, noticing Park Jongseong's smirk. God, how are Sunoo, Riki, and Jungwon friends with these two? I mean, sure, Jungwon she can kinda understand now, but Sunoo? Riki? God bless them. "Good talk," Aera says awkwardly, stepping back from the table, "see ya around?" 

       "See you later! Come over to our dorm soon, we miss you!" Sunoo says brightly. Jungwon and Riki nod their heads in agreement. 

       "Yeah," Park Sunghoon speaks up again and Aera wants to smack him with her books. God, she's only been around him for five minutes and she's already finding something to hate about him, "good talk." He's obviously teasing her and Aera's so close to smacking with him with her books. It won't be a dream, but a reality. 

       Instead of getting smacked with books, Riki's foot reaches out beneath the table and pushes Park Sunghoon's chair, sending the older boy crashing off his chair, face-first. Aera hides her snicker beneath her hand and he scowls up at the girl who quickly turns and scampers away, letting the familiar sounds of Jungwon's, Sunoo's, and Riki's cackles fill the air. 

◾◾◾◾

Arriving at the fraternity Bangchan lives in, Aera notes the puke already spilled across the sidewalk and those stupid red and blue plastic cups filling the front yard and the gutters already. People are mixing around at the front of the party, and the so-called 'bodyguards' are no longer manning the front door and are, instead, making out with the girls around them. "I think we would've survived the social suicide," Aera comments, stepping over puke as Yena smooths down her short pink dress. 

      "No," pouts Yena, her lips painted a deep red, "we wouldn't have." 

      "You wouldn't have," corrects Aera, "I'm the definition of social suicide." 

      Yena scoffs, rolling her eyes, "no, no you aren't. You're just the known campus slut. There's a difference, Kim." 

       "Mmm, whatever you say, Kang." They step through the door and into the crowd of sweaty, drunk, and high bodies. Alcohol's already been spilled onto the ground, clothes lay on the floor and some shoe was already hanging off a light. Aera's hands grip onto Yena's and together, the pair of girls push through the crowd and enter the lesser crowded part of the fraternity; the kitchen. Bottles of alcohol litter the counter, along with the punch that Aera's never touched and she never would. Drinking punch at Bangchan's parties equals to you jumping off the roof, wearing only underwear and a bra, praying someone will catch you — you'll then end up in the hospital will mass amounts of debt to pay off because of the medical bills. 

        Yena picks up the nearest open bottle of alcohol and takes a large sip. "What if it was drugged?" Aera muses. 

       Yena shrugs, "you'd save me, and, Bangchan's very against it. You know, last year, some girl was drugged at one of his parties and when he found out, he beat the guy bloody. I don't think anyone's brave enough to drug drinks at his parties ever since that incident." 

       Aera rolls her eyes at Yena's nonchalance, but grabs two plastic cups and lets Yena pour some alcohol for them both. "Don't get shit-faced, okay?" Aera tells Yena, "I don't want to carry you home again." 

        "No promises!" Grins Yena, raising her cup in the air. Area taps her cup against Yena's and drains the alcohol filling the cup. 

        "Oh, and give me your cup if you need to put it down," Aera also mentions after filling up their cups once more. "I should be the only person you trust with your life at this party." 

       "Yes, mom," Yena's hand finds Aera's once more and she drags the taller girl out into the masses of bodies, squealing loudly as the music overtakes everything Aera can hear. She can see the vibrations the massive speakers make every time the bass sounds, she can feel Yena's hands gripping her body tightly, scared to be ripped away. She can feel the bodies around her, bumping into each other. It was a Wednesday night and yet, Aera's never felt more alive. 

       "I need to use the toilet!" Yena yells into Aera's ear sometime later. 

       "Okay! I'll come with you!" Aera shouts back, "I need to touch up my makeup!" 

       Once again, Yena's hands grip Area's tightly and they work their way towards the bathroom, past the couples making out pressed against the hallway walls, walking past doors shut and obvious sounds of a certain activity sounding through them. Yena knocks on the bathroom door and when she gets nothing in response, she opens the door and ushers herself and Aera in. 

       The bathroom smelt of puke and a girl lay, knocked out, in the bathtub. Aera frowns, wondering where her friends were. Holding Yena's cup and hers in one hand, Aera kneels in front of the bathtub and gently shakes awake the knocked-out girl. She awakens slowly, dazed as she sits up and takes in her surroundings. "CHUG! CHUG!" Sounds through the frat loudly and the girl realizes where she was. "Oh shit." 

        "Hey, do you know where you are?" Aera asks gently, with the sound of Yena's pee adding to the normal college party noises. 

       "Yeah," the girl says, "I don't know where my friends are," her speech slurs slightly and Aera frowns even more. 

       "Did they leave you in the bathtub all alone?" 

        The girl runs a hand through her hair, "I guess so. I'm a sad drunk, so I don't blame them for leaving me here." 

        Aera rolls her eyes, "they're shitty friends. We girls have to stick together at parties. Hang out with Yena and I, you can find your friends later." 

        The girl smiles shyly, "really?" 

      "Yeah, more the merrier," Yena calls out, finishing up her long pee. 

       "Yena's the one peeing, I'm Aera," Aera says, helping the girl out of the bathtub. 

       "Chaeryoung," the girl says, leaning against Aera. 

       "You're really pretty," Yena comments, wiping her hands on the damp towel hanging off a crooked silver pipe nailed into the wall. Aera hands over the two cups to Yena and leans Chaeryoung against the sink before leaning in close to the mirror and fixing her makeup as Yena converses with Chaeryoung happily. 

      Pursuit Of Happiness sounds throughout the frat house as the three girls enter the kitchen once more to refill their drinks, and Aera finally sees Jungwon, Sunoo, and Riki. "Jungwon! Sunoo! Riki!" Aera calls out, waving them over to where she stands with Yena and Chaeryoung. 

      The three boys happily make their way over, "Aera! Yena! We've been looking for you," Sunoo says, enthusiastic as ever. 

        "Really?" Yena asks, dubious. 

       "Well, we've tried," Jungwon corrects, "but's hard with thousands of bodies pressing up against you. Speaking of, some people are getting a game of spin the bottle happening in the basement, wanna join?" 

       Yena snorts, "isn't that some high-school game?" 

       "You don't have to join, Yena," Riki challenges. 

        "I never said no," Yena mutters into her plastic cup. 

       Aera shrugs, "sure," she's always up for some sort of kissing game. Kissing someone you'll never see or talk to again is kinda thrilling. Aera turns to Chaeryoung who smiles, "I'll watch." 

       Aera, Yena, and Chaeryoung follow the three boys down into the basement, the music fading into background noise. Smoky haze fills the basement and Aera coughs suddenly, adjusting to the thickened air. 

       "Who has the blunt?" Yena asks the boys in front of them. 

       "Probably Bangchan," Riki responds, "he's somewhere over there," Riki points in a direction and Yena scampers off, pulling Chaeryoung with her. 

       Aera follows the three boys to the center of the room where there's already a circle in the making. Yena's suddenly by her side, giggling with Chaeryoung and the circle expands. Aera adjusts herself on the ground and then takes in the participants of the game. Her heart freezes at the sigh of the Parks, and then she knows Lee Heeseung and Sim Jake are somewhere within this circle too. 

       The bottle is spun. 

      It takes a while to reach Aera. True to her word, Chaeryoung observes while Yena patiently waits to either be chosen or for her turn, with a glint in her eye. Then, Park Sunghoon spins the bottle and it lands on Yena who giggles. Aera subconsciously moves back as Yena moves forward, meeting Park Sunghoon in the middle. There's an exchange of smiles and then they're kissing passionately. This is a college party. No one's holding back. 

       Yena returns to Aera's side, cheeks flush and her lips swollen. Yena doesn't say anything except sigh contently. 

    Eventually, it's Aera's turn to spin the bottle and she's not nervous — why should she be? Her eyes watch the bottle ardently, watching as it slows down, and then stops. Looking up, this is when Kim Aera gets nervous, finding a smirking Sim Jake on the opposite end of the bottle. His smirk is far too attractive for Aera's liking. His lips also look too inviting for Aera, but since the bottle landed on him, Aera has to commit. 

       Aera shuffles over to Jake, not liking how hot he looks. His smirk is still imprinted on his face and beside him, Aera can make out Park Sunghoon wearing the smug expression he was wearing earlier. 

      There's a tense second before Aera's hand curves around the back of Jake's neck and they're kissing each other harshly. Aeraleans in as the kiss grows deeper. A tongue poking around her mouth, teeth digging into a lip, hands gripping Aera's waist and hands tugging at Jake's hair. Aera can hear someone snorting, and The Weeknd's Starboy playing as she kisses Jake in front of her peers. Aera's desperate for the kiss to end, but, at the same time, she wants it to last forever. But, her lungs burn for air, so Aera pulls back, her eyes opening and staring into Jake's warm, chocolate, brown eyes. He smirks again. 

      Aera scowls and moves back to her spot where Yena's mouth is dropped open. "What the fuck. That almost turned into a —" 

       "Let's never speak of that again," Aera hisses, silencing Yena's thoughts.