MIN JAEYOUNG。

"study hard for the exams next week!" the teacher told us as he left the classroom, officially dismissing our school day.

i sighed in relief as i stared at my history book, "seems like i'll be studying more about you tonight."

miyeon tapped on my desk, gaining my attention in an instant, "are you gonna start studying tonight?"

i nodded, "the exams start on monday, miyeon."

miyeon pursed her lips, "i know..."

i tilt my head, noticing that she wasn't her usual bubbly self, "are you okay? you've been acting down these days."

miyeon shrugged and looked at me in the eye, "as long as you're okay, i am."

i chuckled dryly at her statement, poking her cheek as i said, "i'm always okay, miyeon. what are you talking about?"

she avoids my gaze, looking far onto the windows, "i guess i'm just caught up with my family's business."

"oh? is there something wrong?" i raised a brow in confusion, a bit worried that miyeon's undergoing pressure from her parents again.

"n-no... maybe... i just want you to be careful, always, okay?" miyeon forced as smile and went back to fixing her stuff.

my stomach churns at the uneasy feeling, "what do you mean..." i whispered lowly, staring at her back for awhile before starting to pack up my things as well.

i kinda didn't like how i have to study again for the exams next week. not that i hate studying, but exams are an actual pain for my brain. i can't help but get nervous whenever exams are nearing. i wanted to do well, at the same time i didn't really want to study that much.

after the three day exams, we have a shortened day to see our results and basically that's it, afterwards the remaining week of november is a whole break for the students. the reason is because a lot of people in heraphany would start preparing for efflorescence season. i mean, it is a month long festival.

"so, what are you going to do during the preparation week?" i questioned as we walked out the school building.

my hands wrapped around my backpack's straps as i walked her to her ride.

miyeon hummed sadly, "i'll be busy, you would be busy too."

"i'll be preparing for the grand ball, so are you."

i chuckled, "i almost forgot about that thing."

miyeon stifled a laugh, "i'll visit you some time at the party though!"

i scrunched my nose, "well, i will be in the kitchen throughout the whole thing anyways. it won't be that hard to find me."

miyeon scoffed, "did you see how big that place is!?"

i nodded, "i did, not even surprised."

miyeon grinned at me mischievously making me sneer at her, "what's with that grin." i say, a bit unsure on what she's up to now.

"i'll convince mrs kang to let out the kitchen once it's like during half of the party already! then you could enjoy it." miyeon exclaimed, her voice filled with excitement.

i shake my head, "the royal family wou—"

"like they actually would. no one really pays attention to the food after the dinner portion!" miyeon uttered.

i crossed my arms, "i bet you pay attention though."

miyeon chuckled, "of course, it's food after all."

"besides! the grand ball would just be people talking to each other, some even negotiate things at the ball." she deadpans, "we could also dance!"

i frowned, "i don't dance."

miyeon smirked, "i'll teach you! the waltz even!"

my eyes widened in horror, "oh heck no way in heraphany am i dancing."

miyeon laughed at me, "fine. but that doesn't stop me from teaching you to dance though..."

i glared at her playfully, "jung miyeon!"

"come on! it'll be fun! i'll even prepare a dress for you." she smiles.

i sighed, "if it makes you happy, then i guess i'll try."

miyeon's smile widened as she hugged me, "great! i promise! you'll have fun, i'll do my best to make it fun."

"it's a party filled with rich people, i seriously don't belong..."

"yeah right," miyeon replied in a sarcastic tone, "just promise me something."

i quirked a brow, "what?"

she then stopped walking and turned to face me, "that you'll be careful."

i gave her a ridiculed expression, "what do you even mean?"

she stares at me for a bit before smiling, "i mean, you'll be going to the library for a bit to grab some books right?"

i nodded slowly, eyeing her suspiciously, "yeah?"

"i just want you to be careful on your way home and on your way to the library." miyeon shrugged, "you're more important than you think, jaeyoung." she said before running towards her ride.

she waved me goodbye, "good luck on studying!"

i stifled a laugh, waving at her, "good luck with history."

she pouted, "don't even mention!"

as she drove off, i couldn't help but wonder why she kept blurting out phrases like that. it honestly worried me. since we were dismissed quite early today, i decided to drop by the library to search some books.

after indulging myself in a few books, i took my leave and went straight to the bakery.

upon entering the bakery, mrs kang told me that i didn't have to work today since i have to study for my exams, instead she let me study by the tables and wait for them to end their shift.

so i did. i sat on one of the empty tables, taking out the reviewer i had ready for me.

an hour had passed and i heard faint honking noises outside and i darted my eyes out the window to find the familiar black car.

i was about to stand up when i saw jaehyun, doyoung, and jungwoo walk out of the car.

i trailed my eyes back onto my reviewer once i notice them walking towards the bakery entrance.

keeping my eyes on the pages, i heard the door opens, welcoming the regular costumers in.

i could hear mrs kang welcoming them as she engaged a conversation with what i think was jaehyun.

i pressed my lips into a thin line, slowly writing what i thought was the right formula in solving the equation.

"that's not the right formula." i flinched at the voice, looking up to see doyoung staring down at me, or more like on the paper i have.

i furrowed my brows, "what?"

doyoung sighed and glanced over his shoulder, "well, seems like jaehyun would take a lot more time than we thought..." he muttered before pulling the chair in front of me and taking a seat.

he then tilts his head, offering his hand out. i stared at it in confusion, "uhh..?"

"the pen." he mumbled and i instantly handed him the pen.

he gripped on it, grabbing the paper with the equation on it. "do you even understand this?"

i smiled at him sheepishly as i shook my head, "i'm bad at maths."

doyoung scoffed, "thought so."

he then wrote something before handing it back to me. my eyes stared at the paper, "you solved it?" i looked at him.

he nodded before starting to explain how to solve the equation, however i couldn't really focus, causing his voice to fade away as i stared at him.

i didn't expect him to act less rude. all i know is that he dislikes me so much because of meeting his brothers.

i snapped out of my trance, wincing in pain as doyoung had just flicked my forehead. "ouch..." i stuck out my bottom lip as i narrowed my eyes at him.

he deadpans, "you're not even paying attention!"

"i got distracted!" i said, flustered.

he raised a brow, "by what?"

"you."

he flinched in his seat, eyeing me afterwards with a weirded out expression. "w-whatever."

suddenly, jungwoo takes a seat next to doyoung, smiling at me as he did. "oh, you're studying?"

i nodded, "exams are next week."

jungwoo chuckled, "good luck on your exams then."

doyoung sighed, "i'll explain it to you one last time, listen to me, okay?"

i let out a short chuckle, "okay then, bunny."

doyoung froze, "b-bunny?"

"you look like a bunny." i pointed out, a small smile tugging up my lips.

jungwoo grinned, "doesn't he?" and i agreed silently.

doyoung scoffed, "don't call me that."

i shrugged, "it's cute though."

he sneered, "no it's not."

"whatever you say, bunny."

he groaned, "do you want me to explain this or not?"

i immediately shut my mouth up and he gave me a dead stare, "good."

after his second attempt on explaining the solution, it all made sense now and i thanked him for giving me an easy explanation.

"do you study well, jaeyoung?" jungwoo asked me as he looked through my notes.

"i try to..." i hummed.

"what are the subjects you find hard to understand?" he questioned and i shrugged.

"well, there are times i understand a topic there are also times i don't, so it really just depends." i told him, "but right now, it's math."

jungwoo grinned, "do you want us to tutor you?"

i got shocked with his sudden statement, staring at him wide eyed, "wait what?"

jungwoo smiled, "well, we don't really have much to do these days other than training and preparing for the ball."

"maybe we could lend you a hand?" jungwoo suggested.

"i mean... is that even okay?" i muttered.

"well..." jungwoo chuckled and glanced at doyoung.

doyoung huffed, "what do you want?"

"let's help her!" jungwoo said.

doyoung furrowed his brows, "i already did," he uttered, pointing at the paper he handed back. "plus, you're alread—"

jungwoo slapped a hand over doyoung's mouth. "we'll help you!"

i chuckled, "you're already helping me with finding my family though..." i trailed off and he waved it off.

"come on, we can pick you up after school and we'll teach you at the palace."

with that sentence, i couldn't help but nearly choke with my own saliva. i certainly did not want to go back to the palace.

"p-palace?" i stammered, my eyes wavering.

doyoung hums, "don't you like the palace?"

i shake my head, "i don't like it at all." i said honestly.

jungwoo pouts, "but we aren't really allowed outside that much."

i sighed, "if it's okay with you..." i mumbled, eyeing doyoung.

doyoung crossed his arms, "it's not like i could even say no."

jungwoo gave him a little side glare before smiling at me, his fingers laced together, "then it's settled! don't worry, we won't do harm or anything."

i chuckled, "i guess so."

"hey, let's head back– oh, jaeyoung! hello!" jaehyun smiled at me as he approached the table.

i smiled back at him, waving as i said, "hello jaehyun."

"don't forget about tomorrow, jaeyoung." jungwoo uttered as they stood up.

i nodded, "okay then."

jaehyun raised a brow, "tomorrow? what's going on?"

"jungwoo thinks it's a good idea to tutor him for her exams." doyoung muttered.

jaehyun raised a brow, "oh? well, there's nothing wrong with that i guess."

"we'll see you again tomorrow then." jaehyun chuckled and patted my head before they headed out. "see you!"

i bit the insides of my cheeks softly as i watched the black car drive away. gripping tightly onto my pencil my eyes went back onto my notebook, a bit shock to see there was something written at the corner with the use of a black pen.

my brows knitting together in confusion, looking closely at the writing.

"pay attention to me next time i explain something to you. good luck on your exam, village girl. - bunny"

—

^^ suddenly imagine doyoung being like this throughout the whole tutor session djdnebdsk

he be hiding smth HAHA jk unless....

-jibin