the bell rang, indicating that it was time for recess.

"well, see you after snacks, class." the teacher, who sooyoung now knew as ms. hwang, says.

"soo! i'm going to go to the cafeteria since jjong's going to treat me ice cream." minjee excitedly sprung off her seat. "wanna come?"

just as the new student was about to answer, a classmate yelled, "the principal is looking for a -ooyoung?"

sooyoung sighs. "right. i'm supposed to meet him. i guess i'll see you later, minjee."

the short girl pouts but nodded. "do you want anything?"

after shaking her head as a 'no', sooyoung said goodbye to her friend before heading to the principal's office.

somewhere in front of them, a boy groaned. "can't even eat in peace. doesn't he ever get tired of me?"

his seatmate chuckled. "it's the first day and he's already looking for you, wooyoung. must be nice being his favorite, huh?"

"shut up, yeosang." wooyoung rolled his eyes as he went out the door.

on his way there, he notice the girl he never wanted to make contact with. he exhaled inaudibly, walking silently behind her since he wishes not to talk to her.

that was until she spoke first. "don't you have anything better to do than bug me to the ends of earth, you jerk?"

wooyoung scoffed. "not everything is about you, ms. perfect."

sooyoung's face twitched at the attitude. "you know, i hope your charger only works in one angle."

when she didn't hear a reply, she turned around to see wooyoung going inside a door with the label 'principal's office', which she just passed by. she cleared her throat and took a few steps back, entering as well.

"you couldn't wait 'til next week, pops?" wooyoung nonchalantly says.

the principal sighed in exhaustion. "i'm only getting older because of you, wooyoung. and why are you here?"

the purple haired boy shrugged. "you tell me. you're the one who called."

"i called for sooyoung, not you." the principal chuckled. "there you are, ms. im."

sooyoung gave him a bow. "ah, yes. good morning, sir."

"so, i'm not needed, yes? bye, then." wooyoung raises a hand, going for the door.

"on second thought, jung, you stay." the old man smiled. "you will be guiding ms. im around campus, after she gets her requirements and settle some things."

"why-"

"come here, ms. im." the principal gestured her to come to the table, not paying any attention to the complaining lilac. "i'm mr. lee."

some minutes went by, and sooyoung finally finished taking all the papers such as her schedule, the books she needed, and the requirements per subject. it took longer since wooyoung tried to sneak out multiple times and mr. lee had to warn him.

"i hope you have a wonderful time in this school." mr. lee warmly tells her, prompting the two to go before they get late for class.

once they were outside the office, sooyoung wanted to tell him that he doesn't need to accompany her since he seemed very bothered by her. "you don't-"

"you can get lost, for all i care. i don't wanna spend anymore time with you." was all he said before stylishly speed walking away from her.

"atleast we can agree on something." she muttered with a sneer, making her way back to her classroom.

-

lunch time finally came which made minjee squeal excitedly. "come on, come on, come on! we're gonna have so much fun!"

sooyoung giggled seeing how thrilled the other was. she let herself get dragged by the short one who was bouncing and walking backwards to face her.

"oh, is there anywhere you want to go? anything you wanna try? any-" minjee couldn't finish all her questions as she bumped into someone.

"watch it, midget." the guy scowled, along with his friends.

if sooyoung didn't know any better, she'd say minjee looked scared.

"sorry." she quietly mumbled, making the guys scoff and walk away.

"um, i wanna know who the fuck they were." the transferee cocked one eyebrow. "they look like trouble."

"they are." minjee linked their arms together as she moved closer to the new girl. "that was yang joonsoo. his father is a boss from this really huge company, so he kinda just do whatever he wants. his friends are really just there to make him look cool and are irrelevant."

sooyoung snorted at the last remark. "he thinks he's in wattpad?"

minjee laughed as well. the two step foot in the cafeteria where it seemed to be really busy.

"jee! over here." they could see a brown haired boy waving to them, sitting with san and two other boys as they made their way over to them.

"why is it so crowded?" minjee asked as they stood by the table.

"it's the first day of school, genius." a coconut haired boy deadpanned. "here, eat it while it's hot." he gestured at an extra tray.

minjee grinned. "thanks, jjong! i'm starving." she was about to sit down, but she realized something. she gasped. "sooyoung! oh, no. do you want me to line up with you?"

"i can go with her. i haven't bought anything yet since i thought minjee would come with me, but jongho already bought your food. only your food." san said, slightly squinting his eyes at the boy named jongho who didn't mind him at all.

"thank you." sooyoung chuckled. "can you recommend anything?"

san stood up, leading her to the line which looked like it was going to take forever. "how about jajangmyeon? you can never go wrong with that."

"i'm allergic to oyster sauce." the girl informed, causing san to let out a small 'oh'.

"then, just ramyeon? or we could go for rice cakes." the boy place a hand on his chin.

"sounds good." sooyoung agrees. in that moment, she saw four men stepping in the cafeteria. "hey, san. can you tell me why wooyoung is so popular?"

san turns his head to the direction she was staring at. "well, isn't it obvious? he's hot."

sooyoung cackled at the bluntness.

"also because, rumor has it that he's never really dated after this girl broke him. and now, people are taking chances to," he signed quotation marks, "mend his heart."

the girl winced internally. so, it's my fault?

"that's bullshit." she unintentionally lets out, making san face her with a curious face. "if he changed because of one girl, he must think too lowly of himself."

san furrowed his brows together. "changed? he's been like that ever since he- do you know him? you seem to-" he gasps as he realizes, "you're the girl, aren't you?"

"no." sooyoung denies. "oh, look. we're next in line. better order quick." she nervously chuckled which added more suspicion.

the boy giggled at her jittering, and as he was about to tell the lady their order, another male cut in front of him.

"excuse you, we were next." sooyoung glowered at the boy.

"well, i'm hungry." he had blue hair, an eyebrow slit and was just the definition of inconvenience. "you'll have your turn."

"is what we should be saying to you. get lost." she could feel san tapping her and telling her it's okay.

"you're new here, huh? got any idea who you're talking to?" the blue haired boy raised one eyebrow.

sooyoung gave a sarcastic smile. "no. and i don't care. the last time i checked," she went closer to him and whispered, "there wasn't any special treatment for smelling like cigarettes."

the guy who cut in line scoffed with a smirk. "you know what, i'm feeling generous today. after you."

the girl faked a thank you, grabbing san with her. "wow, this school is full of jerks."

"tell me about it." san exasperated. "i really thought i wasn't going to have a peaceful lunch." he faced the lunch lady, told what they wanted and paid. they helped each other carry the trays back to the table.

"yey! you're back." one of the guys exclaimed. "we've been waiting for ages. i wanna talk to her, too!"

the two sat down beside each other, since other seats were taken.

"hi, i'm jeong yunho!" the auburn haired boy introduced. "and welcome to the social rejects!" he joked.

"i don't think that how you make friends." the boy beside him frowned.

"i was kidding!" he laughed which was very contagious. "bet you were scared for a hot second." yunho said to jihae.

"i'd gladly be in the social rejects club if you guys are in it." sooyoung countered.

"awe, i'm touched." yunho wiped a fake tear. "but why?"

"you guys are the only decent people i've met. i'd rather be with you."

"i do." yunho batted his eyelashes, earning a babe! from the boy beside him.

"oh, they're dating?" sooyoung asked san who nodded while chewing on his rice cake.

he noticed sooyoung having a blank expression. "why? is there a problem?"

"it's just confusing." the girl uttered, making the boy with green hair concentrate on what she's about to say next. "who tops?"

the question made san cough, wanting to laugh. sooyoung passed him a cup of water, patting his back for his to calm down.

"hard to believe, but that guy." he said after putting down the cup, pointing at the person beside yunho who was getting cuddles. "he's song mingi. he may look intimidating and all, but he's a pretty soft guy."

"they look cute." sooyoung beams. "what about him? is he with minjee?" she gestured at the boy who barely acknowledged her existence.

"that's choi jongho. he's not really the sociable type. the only person who managed to make me experience the word awkward." san exaggerated a shiver. "and him and minjee aren't going out."

"huh. they seem to like each other a lot." she whispered, earning a strong agreement from him.

"they do! they just don't know it yet."

the rest of lunch time, sooyoung enjoyed their company and jokes. they shared experiences and told her which clubs she should join. they even managed to get jongho to introduce himself properly to her. safe to say, she was really glad she found these people.