after having that eventful lunch with hongjoong, they made their way back to their respective classes, not missing how other students were murmuring when hongjoong tried to put his arm around mingi as they went off.

when sooyoung stepped into her classroom, she immediately noticed minjee who was already seated.

"hey, did you eat well?" the transferee tries to start.

the shorter hummed and nodded. "yeah. you?"

"yeah."

awkward. sooyoung thought, wanting to bang her head on the desk.

lessons went by quickly, and soon came their last class.

"the teachers are having a seminar and unfortunately that includes me." the teacher announces which some students let out celebratory noises. "don't be too excited. you'll still have to wait one more hour to go anywhere. until then, stay in this room."

the adult walked out after hearing a few groans and telling the class president to keep an eye on the students.

while minding her own business, a pair of hands suddenly slammed down on her desk, making minjee flinch.

"im sooyoung!" a furious voice almost screamed. the whole class wonderingly moved their gazes at the trouble waiting to happen.

the mentioned girl looked up with a dull face, making eye contact with joonsoo's boar-like face. before she could ask what else he wanted, he immediately yelled,

"you had my dad fired, didn't you?!"

sooyoung was confused at his sudden outburst but tried not to let it faze her. "what bullshit are you sprouting this time?"

barely finishing her sentence, the things on her table were flung away. "don't play dumb with me! you had my dad fired because of yesterday!"

whispers of gossip spread across the room. she really didn't want to talk about anymore news regarding her family, however, she had absolutely no idea what this ogre was yapping.

minjee saw the slight confusion of her friend. "joonsoo, you're going too far-"

"shut it, squirt." the bully glared. "you think you can talk back to me just because she's keeping you around? that's what you do best, isn't it? leeching off others?"

"i still owe you for that pen, right?" the tone of sooyoung's voice became darker, catching the attention of the guy. she reached for something in her bag, "here." and threw it right at his face.

it took a while to comprehend what she tossed, and upon realizing what it was, it made the people around know who had more authority.

it was a stack of cash. lots of cash.

"i even added the interest." sooyoung then faked a pout. "i guess you'll need it now more than i do."

you could basically see smoke coming out from joonsoo's nose from the way he was breathing out of anger.

the girl batted her eyelashes. "what? are you gonna hit me?" she smiled maliciously and leaned forward. "go ahead. i'll have more reasons to sue you."

"you bitch! i'll fucking-" a book abruptly hit the back of joonsoo's head, causing sooyoung to glance behind him.

"do you ever shut up?" a lilac haired boy yawned, looking like he just woke up. "so goddamn loud."

"joonsoo, i'll to ask you to stop stirring up trouble or i'll have to tell the teacher about this." the class president spoke up.

sensing that he has been cornered, joonsoo fumingly retreated back to his seat, mumbling about how this wasn't over.

the bell eventually rang, indicating their dismissal.

"jee, you wanna get ice cream?" sooyoung initiated, wanting her best friend back.

"sorry, soo. i have volleyball practice. maybe next time."

"got it." the girl sighed as she saw minjee rushing to get out the classroom.

she was picked up by their family van as usual, except her mother was already inside the car.

"mom! you're early." she kissed the woman's cheek.

"well, i just wanted to see my daughter." mrs. im said.

the girl grinned. "oh, right. did dad happen to fire a guy named yang?"

the mention of the name earned her a piercing stare. "i fired that son of a bitch. why?"

sooyoung gaped at the words of her mother.

mrs. im snapped out of it as she sighed. "sorry, he just really gets on my nerves. my secretary was assaulted by that eyesore, and she doesn't want to sue him."

"why don't you just send him to jail?" her daughter questions.

"i want to, sweetie, but nobody wants to testify against him because they're scared they'll be frowned upon. and i'm not a witness, let alone a victim." the woman massages her temples. "sometimes, i wish murder was legal."

sooyoung nodded, scooting closer to her mom. "yeah."

-

it was almost six in the evening when hongjoong was free to go home. he managed to sneak out during lunch to eat with sooyoung and get on the good side of her friends- who he liked more than he intended.

this resulted him to spend detention during the end of the day rather than at noon.

walking pass the gymnasium to get to his car, he heard a minacious voice along with another person who sounded scared.

at first he thought it was none of his business, but then decided to check it out because was he curious.

he lazily walked towards the noise and peaked.

"you're going to tell that whore to get my dad his job back." a familiar awful voice threatened.

"i-i can't. please, stop."

"you know what i can do, squirt! do as i say or else-"

hearing the girl wince, hongjoong decided to step in. "okay, play time's over."

"kim?"

"you know it." hongjoong poked the inside of his cheek with his tongue. "now, why don't you let the chick go?"

joonsoo scoffed. "what? you got this midget's back, too?"

the blue haired boy sighed, rolling his eyes. he made eye contact with minjee who looked twice as frightened rather than being relieved.

"tell you what," hongjoong cocked an eyebrow at the guy. "i'll talk to my old man about your dad. in return, leave her alone."

joonsoo squinted his eyes in suspicion. "you think i believe this offer? you never keep your promises."

"you think this is an offer?" the aqua-haired male snickered. "bitch, this is a warning. and it's the only one you'll get."

the bully glared at the shorter boy, then at the girl he was cornering. "you've gotten soft, kim."

"last chance, yang. either take it or have a round two of what happened with wooyoung last time." hongjoong had a piercing stare that made the other two feel a shiver.

joonsoo clicked his tongue, scowling at minjee for the last time before walking away.

once the bully was gone, hongjoong noticed the girl still keeping her head low, as if scared. "you good?"

"yes." minjee stood up straight.

"minjee!" a somewhat distressed voice came jogging towards them, holding two bottles.

"jongho." the girl finally seemed to relax a bit.

jongho protectively stood between her and the his classmate. "kim, i suggest you stop bothering people who has nothing to do with you."

it was the first time hongjoong saw this ice cold prick actually show some emotion and he would be lying if he said he wasn't amused.

"chill, choi. i was just walking by." he shrugged.

the ravenette turned to his best friend, asking if she was okay and why she looked so tensed.

"i'm okay, jjong." she assured. "as he said, he was just walking by."

jongho took another look at hongjoong, thinking she was pushed to lying.

"let's get that ice cream you promised after i change, come on!" minjee ushered. "stop frowning at people. this is why they get scared of you!" she joked, shoving him ahead of her.

"thank you." she muttered only for hongjoong to hear before linking her arms with the ravenette who complained she still reeked of sweat and told her to get changed quick.

sooyoung sure hangs out with interesting people. he thought, arriving at his vehicle. that girl is the definition of interesting herself. i shouldn't be too surprised.

"you seem to be in a good mood despite getting detention, young master." the driver speaks.

hongjoong looks at him through the mirror. "what made you say that?"

"well, your smile made it a bit clear." the older man informs as he started the car.

the boy cleared his throat and opened his phone to avoid more talking.

i was smiling?

a/n: we finally got an ot8 appearance 😭 AND THEY'RE SO PRETTY WITH THEIR NEW HAIRS