After the whole cafeteria fiasco, you and the guys headed to your English class, a sense of relief washing over you as you stepped into the familiar classroom. The smell of old books and polished wood was comforting, and you felt a spark of happiness knowing this was a subject you genuinely enjoyed.

You settled into your seat next to Elijah, who gave you an encouraging smile. "I'm glad we didn't let Linea get to us," he said, his voice low enough for only you to hear. "You handled that like a pro."

"Thanks, Elijah. I just can't stand how they always have to make everything so dramatic," you replied, rolling your eyes. "But it's good to know I have you guys to back me up."

As the teacher began the lesson, you could feel the tension from earlier slowly dissipating. But your comfort was short-lived. A group of girls from your class, the ones who typically followed Linea's lead, shuffled into the room and immediately spotted you seated with Elijah.

You could almost feel the whisper of their judgment in the air as they exchanged glances. One of them, a girl named Mia, sauntered over, her confidence almost radiating. "Oh look, it's Y/n, the class's favorite girl," she said, her voice laced with sarcasm. "Sitting with the loser again, huh?"

Elijah tensed slightly beside you, but you squeezed his hand under the desk, trying to remain calm. "I'd rather sit with someone who's kind than deal with fake friends," you shot back, your tone steady.

Mia smirked, clearly unfazed. "Kind? You mean someone who's just too nice to see that he's way out of your league? Good luck with that," she taunted, her friends giggling behind her.

You felt a wave of irritation rising in your chest, but Elijah leaned closer, his voice a soft whisper. "Ignore them. They're just trying to get a reaction," he reassured you, but you could see the frustration in his eyes.

"Maybe you should stick with people who actually appreciate you," Mia said, crossing her arms. "Just saying."

You took a deep breath, determined not to let her words affect you. "I appreciate genuine friends, not wannabes," you replied, your voice steady. "But thanks for the advice, Mia."

She opened her mouth to retort, but before she could, the teacher called the class to order. With a final glare, Mia walked away, her friends trailing behind her.

As the lesson started, you leaned back in your seat, feeling a mix of relief and lingering irritation. Elijah turned to you, a proud smile on his face. "You really stood your ground. I admire that."

"Thanks," you said, returning the smile. "It's just exhausting sometimes. Why can't they focus on their own lives instead of trying to mess with mine?"

"Because they're jealous," Elijah replied, shrugging. "And they know you're better than them. Just keep doing you, and don't let them drag you down."

As the class continued, you felt more at ease, focusing on the lesson and the words of encouragement from Elijah. Surrounded by supportive friends, you knew you could handle whatever came your way.

"You all will get a short story assignment this week," said your teacher, Mrs. Rosief, her voice carrying over the hum of chatter in the classroom. "You may work with a partner or alone—whatever you prefer. The choice is yours!"

Excited murmurs spread through the room, and you could feel the energy shift. Writing a short story was one of your favorite assignments, and the thought of collaborating with someone made it even better.

You glanced at Elijah, who was already looking at you with an eager expression. "Want to partner up?" he asked, a hopeful smile on his face.

"Absolutely!" you replied, your excitement bubbling over. "I think we'll make a great team."

"Alright, everyone, you have the rest of the week to brainstorm ideas," Mrs. Rosief continued, moving around the classroom to hand out paper and guidelines for the assignment. "Make sure to choose a theme that resonates with you. I want to see your creativity shine!"

As the papers were distributed, you and Elijah began discussing potential story ideas. "What do you think about a fantasy adventure?" you suggested, your mind racing with possibilities. "We could create a world where anything is possible."

Elijah nodded enthusiastically. "That sounds amazing! We could have characters who face challenges and learn something valuable along the way."

Just then, Jisung leaned over from his desk behind you, clearly intrigued. "What's this about a fantasy adventure? Can I join?" he asked, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

You exchanged a glance with Elijah. "The more, the merrier!" you replied. "But we should make sure our ideas mesh well."

Felix, overhearing the conversation, chimed in as well. "I want in too! I can help with the plot twists. I've got some wild ideas!"

You laughed, feeling the infectious enthusiasm. "Alright, we'll form a little team then! Let's meet up after school to brainstorm."

As the bell rang to signal the end of class, you gathered your things, already buzzing with creative energy. "This is going to be so much fun," you said, glancing at Elijah and Jisung. "I can't wait to see where our imaginations take us."

Elijah smiled, his eyes shining with excitement. "I'm looking forward to it too! Just think of all the possibilities we can explore together."

With a sense of camaraderie building among you, you left the classroom, eager to start this new creative adventure with your friends.

-

Chan

Chan was fiddling with his silver ring on his finger, his mind elsewhere, when suddenly he felt a sharp jab at his side. He turned around, irritation flaring in his chest, ready to confront whoever dared to interrupt him. Beneath the surface, he could feel the wolf within him stirring, protective instincts kicking in as he prepared for a fight.

But he froze when he saw Linnea—one of the main mean girls—standing before him, flanked by her friend Stacy. The way she smiled, it was saccharine and predatory all at once. "Ah, darling," she said, her voice dripping with faux sweetness. "I was wondering where you'd gone off to. If you tell me, are you still hanging out with Y/n? Don't you think it's a bit... beneath you? I mean, she's so broken." Linnea rolled her eyes, her tone condescending.

Chan felt a growl rumble in his throat, but he stifled it. He could feel the protective heat rising within him, wanting to lash out at her words. "What do you want, Linnea?" he asked, keeping his voice steady but firm.

"Oh, nothing much," she replied, leaning in a little closer, feigning innocence. "Just checking on my favorite wolf. It must be hard keeping up with someone so... less than perfect."

Stacy snickered, clearly enjoying the scene unfolding before her. Chan clenched his fists, reminding himself that he didn't want to escalate the situation. "Y/n is amazing," he said firmly, his eyes narrowing slightly. "She's more than you'll ever understand."

Linnea raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on her lips. "Oh really? I just don't see the appeal. You could have anyone, Chan. Why choose someone so... damaged?"

Before he could respond, you walked into the hallway, catching the tail end of Linnea's remark. A wave of anger washed over you at the sound of her voice, and you stepped closer, glaring at Linnea. "I may be damaged, but at least I'm not a bully," you said, your voice steady. "I'm proud of who I am, and I don't need your approval."

Chan's expression shifted, a mixture of pride and admiration shining in his eyes as he looked at you. "Exactly. Y/n knows her worth, unlike some people," he added, his tone unwavering.

Linnea's smile faltered for just a moment, clearly taken aback by your confidence. "Whatever. You'll see. It won't last," she huffed, flipping her hair over her shoulder. "Good luck with that." With a final, disdainful glance, she turned to walk away with Stacy, their laughter echoing down the hallway.

As they disappeared, Chan turned to you, his anger slowly dissipating. "Are you okay?" he asked, his voice low and sincere.

You nodded, feeling a mix of adrenaline and relief. "I'm fine. Thanks for standing up for me, Chan. I don't know why they can't just leave us alone."

"They're just jealous," he said, brushing a hand through his hair. "And they don't understand what we have. But I do." He stepped closer, his gaze intense. "And I'm not going to let anyone make you feel less than you are."

In that moment, the warmth of his words wrapped around you like a protective shield, and you felt a sense of belonging wash over you. Together, you could face whatever challenges came your way.

You sighed, trying to hide your disappointment. "Hey, I was just asking if you wanted to join us for some brainstorming. Elijah, Jisung, Felix, and I are working on a fantasy project, and it would be awesome to have you with us."

Chan glanced down, his fingers still fidgeting with his silver ring. "I can't. I've got a meeting with JYP today. I'm really sorry," he replied, a hint of regret in his voice.

"Oh, right. I forgot about that," you said, forcing a smile despite the nagging disappointment in your chest. "You have to do what you have to do. I get it."

"I wish I could be there," he said, looking genuinely upset. "I love working on creative stuff with you guys. You know that."

"I know," you replied, feeling your heart warm at his words. "Maybe we can catch up later? After your meeting?"

Chan nodded, his expression softening. "Definitely. I'll make it up to you. Just let me know how it goes with the project. I want to hear all about it."

"Of course! I'll fill you in on all the ideas we come up with," you said, trying to stay positive. "Just focus on your meeting today. I'll be rooting for you!"

"Thanks, Y/n," he said, flashing you a small smile that made your heart flutter. "I appreciate that."

As he turned to leave, you felt a mix of excitement for your project and a little sadness at his absence. But you knew that Chan's dreams were important, and you would support him no matter what.

With newfound determination, you headed off to find Elijah, Jisung, and Felix, ready to dive into your brainstorming session. You'd make the most of it and save some exciting ideas to share with Chan later.