Stars illuminated the galaxy on the ceiling. In the small bedroom, hair treatment and styling tools lined the dressing table along with dozens of skincare products. A YouTuber demonstrated hair techniques, though there was no one in front of the little screen.

"Hanbyeol," her mum poked her head through the door. "Make sure you go to sleep soon. You start your new school tomorrow."

"Yes, mum," the girl replied, still focused on fixing her hair in the mirror.

It was nearly two years later and Hanbyeol was now in her second year of high school. Throughout the years, she bought new hair products and watched various tutorials. She had improved her looks immensely and her silky, wavy hair now bounced down to her waist. Being parted differently and with no bangs in front of her face, her light brown eyes were now shining to the world.

Of course, she didn't have enough money to spend on her face as well. It was only last month that she bought skincare products when her sister said that she would never spend money on them. She bought them straight away out of pettiness.

Hanbyeol finished her night routine before going to sleep, dreaming about her transformation at her new school. While she slowly changed her hair at her old school, she still felt the weird sneers and rough shoulders since they remembered her previous look.

Her blotchy skin now also began disappearing due to her recent skincare routine. It wasn't clear as a diamond, but a bit of makeup would cover up the rest as it continued to improve. Hanbyeol also decided not to worry about the small mole under her eye; it was part of what made her stand out and it was part of her – a 'beauty spot' as her mum called it.

The girl was starting fresh with a new look at a new school. This was what made her smile about most as she woke up the next day, starting her daily routine before the sun was up. She was finally showing her fully transformed self, and she felt like she could do anything.

"Are you sure you'll be alright at this new school?" Hanbyeol's mum asked her when she arrived downstairs for breakfast.

"Of course, mum," Hanbyeol reiterated for the tenth or so time. "I really wanna be part of a band but the school band now sucks. Saebom High has a good one."

That was the main reason the girl begged her mum to transfer schools, and it wasn't a lie. Nearly everyone was leaving her old school band and the only people who stayed were terrible.

Her mother, Eunbin, was a teacher and was changing to work at Saebom High. When Hanbyeol found out, she requested to transfer right away. To help her case, the distance to the school was almost the same as her old one, just two minutes further.

"Besides, I'll be with you," Hanbyeol kissed her mother's cheek before she sat down for breakfast.

"What about Dohee?" her mother asked again.

"She left a few months ago cos her family moved to Jeonju."

Hanbyeol also had to reassure her parents that she wasn't being bullied and that it wasn't the reason for her transfer.

Once she finished her toast and fruits, she packed her bag, and her mum drove them to their new school. Her sister, Hanbin, left early to go to Seoul University; she was eager in her first year to hang out with her many friends.

While Hanbyeol loved her sister, she used to be jealous of how beautiful she was. Their aunties would always say that their names should be switched around – that Hanbin was a boy's name and that Hanbyeol was a pretty name. The younger sister would laugh it off but clung onto her mum's old words: 'Being happy and being yourself makes you keep shining the brightest.'

Today was like dyeing your hair or changing your style – simply trying the next chapter of your life, and if you didn't like it, you could always write the next part. Fill your back cover with all of who you are, not reviews from others.

But what if people thought she was ugly, and no one liked her? Subconsciously biting her lips, Hanbyeol shoved that thought to the back of her mind as she stared out the car window to the blue sky.

When the mother and daughter arrived at Saebom High, the younger girl immediately headed for the teachers' office, not wanting her mother to worry over her more. As they parked in the staff carpark, there were hardly any students on the way. The few early risers stared in awe as Hanbyeol walked by in the same grey uniform and maroon blazer.

With an elegant aura, the school had clearly seen many generations. The main building was wide and towered high with four storeys. Despite its crusty grey on the outside and vines crawling up, the inside was more modern, though the walls reminded Hanbyeol of her grandmother's clothes.

"Hi, I'm Park Hanbyeol," she bowed to her new homeroom teacher when they met in the office. "Nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you too. I'm your homeroom teacher for class 2-5," Han Joonwoo introduced himself.

In the wide office, teachers sat at their desks filled with papers, books, and sticky notes on their computers. As Mr Han discussed the basic school rules and notices, he also mentioned that another transfer student was arriving that day. Hanbyeol's posture relaxed, glad that she wouldn't be the only stranger.

A minute later, a beautiful girl walked in with her younger brother. The girl's brown hair, which was a few shades lighter than Hanbyeol's, reached her chest, while her pretty, red lips highlighted her symmetrical face. She appeared very modest but the way the two siblings bickered with their eyes was sweet.

"Hey, I'm Park Hanbyeol," the other girl waved, trying not to stutter or play with the ends of her hair around her waist.

"Hi, my name's Lim Jugyeong, but you can just call me Jugyeong," the pretty girl replied with a small smile.

Lim Jugyeong was feeling the same emotions as the other girl. She didn't know what she would do if she embarrassed herself in front of this gorgeous girl with full, long hair. As long as her secret wasn't exposed, she was sure they could be best friends.

Jugyeong listened intently as their teacher shared the same discussion and gave her a school ID. She smiled at the nice photo, something that she wasn't used to seeing.

"I heard some top students transferred to our school," the boisterous vice principal greeted the new students.

The chubby man picked up Hanbyeol's report card and slowly nodded at the A's and B's. The girl didn't let her parents down, though she preferred to spend more time playing her guitar. When the vice principal inspected Jugyeong's grades, Hanbyeol stifled a laugh at his expression. Then he moved onto Lim Juyoung, Jugyeong's brother.

Mr Han was telling Jugyeong that grades weren't important when a tall, handsome boy walked in. The two girls looked at him. For some reason, he felt a bit familiar to both and Hanbyeol tried to figure out where she saw him.

Lee Suho had fair and clear skin with features that seemed to come straight out of a webtoon. Not a single strand of his dark hair was out of place, and he made the grey uniform look even better. With his angular jawline and deep eyes, he made nearly every girl swoon.

"He's so handsome!" Lim Jugyeong breathed out and quickly covered her mouth.

The stoic boy walked straight towards the two girls, handing some papers to their teacher. "Here it is, Mr Han."

Their kind teacher thanked him as he sat down in his chair.

"Please ask the class president to do this next time," Suho said, causing Hanbyeol to half scoff.

As he walked away, Mr Han called for him. "Suho, these are our class's new transfer students. Can you take them to the classroom?"

"Them? Me?" Suho's eyes pierced Hanbyeol.

Did he not understand Korean?

"Yes. Them. You," Mr Han threw back.

Hanbyeol giggled at his response, finding Suho quite weird and not to her taste. Slightly furrowing his eyebrows at her, he thought she resembled a quokka or one of those small animals that spread joy. He liked her humour though and how she seemed quite care-free, not staring at him now.

The boy then turned and walked off, causing Hanbyeol to glare at his back.

"Follow him," Mr Han told the two girls apologetically.

They nodded before hurrying after the good-looking boy. In the large building, there were teenage girls and boys standing with their friends whether you looked left or right. Swerving through the noisy hallways like two puppies following their owner, Jugyeong's wide eyes were glued to Suho while Hanbyeol tried to observe her surroundings from behind the other girl. The yellow walls and – ouch.

Suho's abrupt stop caused Jugyeong to bump into his back and Hanbyeol to bump into Jugyeong's back, her head hitting the other girl's head. The long-haired girl rubbed her sore forehead. This boy really seemed to be getting on her nerves. She hoped her laser eyes would burn into his back.

On the other hand, Jugyeong was panicking at the sight of her makeup on Suho's blazer. It was like a skin-coloured face mask stuck on the dark red top.

"Are we blood-related? Why am I your oppa?" Suho questioned the young girl who called for him.

"Oppa – no, sunbae, if you have some time -" the black-haired girl said, holding a box of chocolates.

"I don't."

The boy was blunt to a fault at times, but his words made Hanbyeol chuckle. Meanwhile, Jugyeong couldn't focus on their conversation as she tried to blow the foundation off Suho's blazer. It was sadly quite resilient despite her subtle huffs.

Everyone was startled when Suho whacked the chocolates from the poor girl's outstretched hands. The carboard hitting the ground echoed in the corridor as the tiny, brown spheres spilled out. Hanbyeol couldn't believe her eyes. That was a step too far, something that she equalled to the level of a bully.

When Suho continued to their classroom, Hanbyeol stayed with the other girl, who was about to run after the boy but frantically got out her mirror and makeup instead.

"Are you okay, Jugyeong? Your makeup looks fine," Hanbyeol reassured the girl.

In their classroom a few metres away, Suho ignored the greetings of his classmates as a certain new girl with a little beauty spot under her left eye preoccupied his mind. Her long hair was elegantly waved and parted a bit to the left instead of the short bird's nest that used to cover her eyes, but his memory served him well.

Suho pictured her a few years ago – eating sausages and listening to songs that he hadn't seen other girls listening to. She also didn't fawn over him at first sight like all the others. The boy's eyes lit up with interest for the first time in ages, making him look forward to the school year.

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*Pic is Lim Jugyeong

So, sad story time. I have two beauty spots under my nose. When I was younger, my grandparents used to be like 'get it removed with surgery', and I'd be like 'yeah, yeah'. But I knew I wouldn't cos I was like why the hell would I spend money on that? And now I'm like, it's also part of me and what makes people recognise me so much. 

And cos my mum always called them beauty spots, I never really knew what moles were until I was older but they're basically the same thing (I researched).

Thanks for reading! Next chapter coming this Sunday! Please vote and comment ~ let me know what you think so far :)