. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
002.
⤷ ゛suspended ˎˊ˗

﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌

╰┈➤【 LUNCH is the most chaotic time of the day at Eunjang.

Building A is the boys' building. Building B is the girls', and the two buildings are connected through the large cafeteria and a hallway on the second floor. Because of their similar schedules, lunch is at the same time, meaning it's the only time the boys and girls from Eunjang are actually allowed to be in the same room.

Sae-bin and A-reum take their usual table near the window, where the lighting is perfect and the entire cafeteria has to walk past them at least once. Someone's already placed two perfectly cold milks at their seats.

A-reum squeals. "Ugh, they know me so well."

The two of them sit down, pulling out mirrors to fix their lipgloss and hair, until the girl from earlier appears.

A-reum pulls a face. "Who are you?"

"Da-hye," the girl stammers. She bows too low. "S-Sae-bin? I'm here. Like you said."

"So?" Sae-bin asks, extending a hand.

Da-hye pulls out three bills and places them on the table. Sae-bin slides the money into her vest pocket. A-reum lets out a slow 'ooooh', dragging the sound as Da-hye swallows.

"Sit down," Sae-bin says.

The girl sits immediately.

Sae-bin unsnaps another mirror from her bag, this one silvery, expensive, with custom initials engraved. She flips it open.

"Look at me," she orders.

Da-hye does.

"Hm," she hums in displeasure.

A-reum snorts.

"Your foundation is the wrong shade," Sae-bin announces. "You look like you dipped your face in flour. Stand up."

Da-hye shoots out of her seat.

"And what is this?" She points at the girl's cheeks.

"Blush?"

"It looks like someone slapped you."

Da-hye's shoulders curl inward. "I... I didn't know how to—"

"Sit."

Da-hye drops back into her chair.

Sae-bin drags her makeup pouch across the table, pops it open, and begins working. She holds Da-hye's chin between two fingers to tilt her face. "Close your eyes."

Da-hye obeys so fast it's almost embarrassing.

Sae-bin applies some color, then pulls out mascara. "Blink. Good. Don't blink now." When she finishes, she shows Da-hye's reflection in the mirror.

"There," she says.

Da-hye gasps and touches her face carefully. "I—I love it! Oh, thank you—"

"Do not ruin it by crying. Your tears are probably oily," Sae-bin says in the least welcoming tone imaginable. "You can go."

Da-hye springs to her feet, bows at a nearly ninety-degree angle once again, and scurries off.

"Oh my gosh." A-reum gasps suddenly. "Look. Look who just walked in. That's him, right? Oh my gosh."

Sae-bin follows her gaze lazily, finding Yeon Si-eun standing at the entrance of the cafeteria on his own, arms at his sides.

A-reum squeezes Sae-bin's arm. "He's kinda cute. He does look scary. You think he really killed that guy?"

"He didn't kill anyone," Sae-bin corrects.

A crease forms on A-reum's eyebrows. "How do you know?"

"Connections." She waves it off almost elegantly.

After lunch, the hallways clog with bodies again, little clusters forming, breaking apart, and merging again. Sae-bin and A-reum walk at the center, A-reum rather violent and pushing people aside when they're in her way, and Sae-bin always waiting for them to move with a cold expression.

They're passing the stairwell when A-reum stops dead in her tracks. Her hand shoots out and grabs Sae-bin's wrist. "There," she hisses.

At the base of the stairs, Da-hye is cornered by Choi Hyo-man and two of his friends. Hyo-man is one of those boys who peaked at fourteen and never recovered. He's the type to push people younger than him into lockers for fun because he's too cowardly to start fights with anyone who matters.

He's also Sae-bin's ex.

Da-hye is clutching her notebook to her chest, eyes wide. "I said sorry. I didn't mean to—"

"You bumped into me twice," Hyo-man snaps. "Are you blind or stupid?"

"I didn't bump into—"

He flicks her forehead.

A-reum's jaw drops. "Ew. Ew. Ew. He did not just flick her."

Sae-bin sighs. "He smudged my work."

Da-hye sees them approaching. Relief and terror mix on her face. She's not sure whether to ask for help or apologize.

Sae-bin stops right in front of Hyo-man. "What," she asks coolly, "are you doing?"

Hyo-man's smirk falters. "None of your business."

A-reum steps beside her, crossing her arms mockingly. "You're being annoying. Stop breathing near us. It's lowering the air quality."

Hyo-man's friends snicker, then realize A-reum is staring at them, and shut up instantly.

"I didn't do anything," Hyo-man mutters, suddenly defensive. "She bumped into me."

Da-hye shakes her head frantically. "I didn't—"

"Shh," Sae-bin says. "I didn't ask you."

Da-hye goes silent.

"Apologize."

Hyo-man scoffs. "Why would I apologize to—"

"You flicked her," Sae-bin interrupts. "On the forehead. It ruined my work."

"Your work?" He repeats.

Sae-bin adds, "Try that again and I'll make sure you're suspended before dinner."

"You can't—"

She raises an eyebrow.

Hyo-man swallows, Adam's apple moving. Eventually, he mutters, "Sorry."

"Say it properly."

He grinds his teeth. "I'm sorry, okay?"

"Again," Sae-bin says.

Hyo-man snaps, "Sorry!"

"That was worse," A-reum sighs out.

"Hyo-man, I don't care about you. I don't care what you do. I don't care who you bother, but if you touch someone who paid me for something, you're interfering with my income."

A-reum nods as if Sae-bin has just announced a divine law.

Sae-bin lifts one finger to point at Da-hye's papers in his hand.

"Drop them."

The papers float to the floor.

"Good boy," A-reum says mockingly.

His nostrils flare, but he doesn't fight back. He shoves his hands into his pockets and storms off, muttering under his breath.

A-reum waves at his back. "Bye!"

When he's out of sight, Da-hye hurries to pick up her papers, bowing repeatedly.

"Why were you letting him push you around?"

"I- I didn't let him," Da-hye stammers. "He just... he's always been like that to me."

"So you're weak," A-reum concludes cheerfully "Don't let it happen again."

Da-hye nods. "I'll repay you. I swear I will."

"You already did," Sae-bin says. "At lunch."

A-reum lifts a finger. "But you did pay cheap. Like, really cheap. She's being generous not charging extra."

"Sorry!" Da-hye squeaks. "I can bring more tomorrow!"

Sae-bin sighs. "Relax. It's fine."

A-reum's jaw drops dramatically. "Fine?"

"Yes, fine."

Da-hye stares at them. "Am... am I supposed to leave now?"

A-reum glances at Sae-bin. "No. Just walk with us."

"Walk? With you?"

A-reum clasps her hands. "Isn't it obvious?" She links her arm through Da-hye's, nearly knocking the poor girl off-balance. "Let's go!"

Da-hye nearly cries again.

"Not in public," Sae-bin warns. "Your mascara will run."

Da-hye wipes her eyes.

A-reum shakes her gently. "She listened! Oh my gosh— Sae-bin, she listened! She's perfect already."

"You said it again," Sae-bin points out.

All three of them walk into class. A-reum drops into her seat by the window. Sae-bin sits beside her, legs crossed, back straight, pulling out her lip tint. Da-hye hovers near them.

"Sit."

Da-hye chooses the desk in front of them.

A-reum leans forward, chin in hand. "Okay, lessons one."

Da-hye nods vigorously.

A-reum grins. "See? She listens. Why can't you be this obedient, Sae-bin?" She points with her pen at a girl across the room. "Okay, see her? That's Joo Bit-na. Fake to the bone."

Da-hye nods again.

A-reum points her pen toward another group of girls near the back. "They tried to copy our hair ribbons last month. I almost transferred schools. And that girl over there is a crybaby. We have more drama, but I'll tell you later— moving on, boys. Most of them are either boring, stupid, loud, or all three. Except maybe four."

Da-hye looks frightened for someone reason. "Who are the four?"

A dreamy sigh escapes A-reum's mouth.  "First, my hallway crush," she announces proudly. "Park Hu-min."

Da-hye's head jerks up so sharply Sae-bin thinks she might've pulled something.

"Park Hu-min?" She squeaks.

A-reum lights up instantly. "Oh my gosh, you know him??"

Red blooms on the girl's cheeks. "Park Hu-min as in... Baku?"

"Yes! That one!"

"That's my cousin," Da-hye whispers.

A-reum blinks so hard it's almost audible. "You... are related... to my hallway crush?"

"I didn't think that mattered—"

"Mattered?" A-reum practically yells. "He's adorable. He waves at everyone— even the janitor! And he sparkles."

"He... doesn't actually sparkle—"

"In my heart he does," A-reum hisses.

"Interesting. Park Hu-min... Ba-hee's cousin," Sae-bin finally speaks.

"It's Da-hye."

Sae-bin turns back to her mirror, unbothered, while A-reum grabs Da-hye's shoulders. "Tell me everything. What are his hobbies? Does he have a girlfriend? Is he secretly dumb? Does he use too much cologne? Has he ever been arrested?"

"Uh... his IQ is quite—"

"I knew it! I know a smart guy when I see one." A-reum snickers with pride. "Ah, he's so..."

Da-hye buries her face in her hands.

"Don't embarrass her," Sae-bin says, though she doesn't sound like she cares very much. "We still haven't covered the rest of the boys."

"Right, right. Okay, so we have Park Hu-min. Then Choi Hyo-man, who's Sae-bin's ex and wants to be who Hu-min is. He's a bully but really not that strong."

"Ex?" Da-hye peeps.

"Yeah. Let's see... the sport boys are pretty cool. Some of them are ugly, but I'll allow it. Avoid manga nerds and people like Hyo-man."

"And that's it," Sae-bin concludes.

A-reum snaps her fingers. "No, that's not it."

"No?" Da-hye asks quietly.

"No," A-reum says. "You forgot the newest one. Yeon Si-eun."

Da-hye stiffens. "The rumor boy?"

"The rumored killer," A-reum corrects cheerfully.

Sae-bin rolls her eyes. "He's not a killer."

"No, but it's a sexy rumor," A-reum says. "Did you see the way he walked into the cafeteria? Iconic. Sae-bin wants to know more about him."

"I don't," Sae-bin says.

"You do."

"No."

A-reum singsongs, "Liiiiiar—"

Before Sae-bin can roll her eyes again, the classroom door bangs open. Their teacher stumbles in. "Seats!" she calls.

⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘

When the final bell rings, A-reum springs up instantly. "Da-hye. Information. Now."

Da-hye barely has time to gather her notebook before A-reum hooks an arm through hers. They step into the hallway, swallowed by the noise of lockers slamming.

"So. Park Hu-min. My sunshine. My god." She leans closer. "Tell me everything you didn't get to say before that class ruined my life."

Da-hye fidgets with her bag strap. "Um... what do you want to know?"

"Everything!" A-reum cries. "What he's like at home. What he eats. Whether he sleeps weird. Does he talk in his sleep? Is he secretly mean?"

Da-hye gives a small, shy smile. "Um... Hu-min is... really extroverted, I guess? At home, too. He talks a lot. Always humming. Even when he's brushing his teeth."

A-reum gasps as if Da-hye has revealed he has wings. "Adorable."

"He's always moving around," Da-hye continues. "He can't sit still. And he eats a lot. Like... a lot. My uncle constantly complains about groceries disappearing."

"He's perfect. Literally perfect."

They resume walking, A-reum rambling excitedly about wedding colors and Sae-bin tuning her out. Da-hye finally manages to relax around the two girls, until they turn a corner.

A girl stands near at her locker. She looks small and mousy, shoulders tense. A-reum spots her and sighs, eyeing Sae-bin.

Yoon-jeong bows her head so quickly her hair falls in her face. "Sae-bin."

Sae-bin stops walking. "Your hair looks greasy."

"I washed it this morning," the girl defends.

"Then your shampoo is cheap."

A-reum bites her lip, watching silently. She never participates, but she doesn't stop Sae-bin, either. Da-hye is unable to move.

"I'm sorry," the girl mumbles.

Sae-bin taps the girl's locker. "Why are you apologizing?"

A-reum groans. "Okay, okay, she's fixed. Can we go? I'm starving."

"You smell," Sae-bin adds as she steps back.

A-reum pulls Da-hye along. "Come on. You'll get used to it."

Da-hye forces a small nod. Groups glance over as they pass, every single time. Da-hye watches as a pair of juniors straighten their uniforms nervously when Sae-bin walks past. She notices a group of girls whispering. Sae-bin's expression doesn't change, but her chin lifts every time someone else looks.

A-reum notices the way Da-hye is staring.

"What's that face for?" she asks, nudging her.

Da-hye startles. "Oh! I just, um, nothing."

"Liar," A-reum singsongs.

Da-hye hesitates. She really, really doesn't want to cause trouble— but curiosity bubbles up, and the hallway noises swallow her voice enough to make her feel safer when she leans toward A-reum and whispers: "Sae-bin really... likes when people stare at her."

"Ohhh," A-reum murmurs. "You noticed."

Da-hye flushes. "Was I not supposed to?"

"No, no. It's good. It means you're not totally oblivious. And look, you're right. Absolutely loves when the hallway parts for her. It's validation for her."

Da-hye whispers, "That sounds kind of lonely."

A-reum's heels stop tapping against the floor for just a moment. "Yeah," she says. "It is. But don't ever tell her that."

Da-hye nods quickly.

"She's been like this forever."

"But... you're her friend."

"Yes, because I don't care about any of that."

"You don't?"

"Nope." A-reum grins. "I like her because she's entertaining. And prickly. And smart. And when she cares about someone, even secretly, she cares really hard."

Da-hye looks at Sae-bin, who in this exact moment is scowling at her phone.

"And am I...?" Da-hye trails off.

A-reum shrugs. "She's testing you. But she picked you, didn't she? That's something."

Da-hye's cheeks warm.

"Why are you two whispering?" Sae-bin asks sharply, out of nowhere.

"Nothing important!"

"Then stop sounding suspicious."

Da-hye shakes her head frantically. "We weren't! I swear!"

Sae-bin narrows her eyes at them, then turns away, letting her hair swish dramatically over her shoulder.

"Is that why she, um, bullied that girl? For attention?" Da-hye then whispers. "And don't you ever tell her that's... not good?"

"Do you want to be the one who tells her?"

"No."

"Then there's your answer," A-reum says.

"But..." Da-hye tries again, "you don't bully people."

"I'm too lazy for that."

"And you don't seem like you enjoy it."

"I don't," A-reum says easily. "Not my thing."

"Then why stand next to her when she does?"

A-reum pauses yet again. "Because she's lonely, like we said. Loneliest person I know."

Da-hye frowns, as if the words don't sit right. "Do you spill everyone's deepest and darkest secrets?"

"It doesn't take a genius to figure out that she's lonely," A-reum defends.

Sae-bin clears her throat. "What's it that you're talking about now?"

"Boys."

"Disgusting. Walk faster."

A-reum giggles and tugs Da-hye along, who whispers: "Where are we going?"

"Assistant Park will bring us home!" A-reum explains. She sounds like it's obvious.

"Who?"

"Assistant Park," A-reum repeats. "You didn't know? Sae-bin's father is Oh Jin-won, the assemblyman. Assistant Park always picks her up. And me! And now you, too. He'll be here anytime soon."

"Oh." Da-hye blushes again. "Okay. But I can walk home. It's fine!"

"No, no. You should—"

Sae-bin's phone starts ringing. A-reum sees her freeze. Da-hye bumps into her back before skittering away.

"Oh no," A-reum mutters under her breath. "It's him."

"Who?" Da-hye whispers.

A-reum makes a face. "The parasite."

The phone rings again. Sae-bin answers it. "What." Her tone is more clipper than ever.

The voice on the other end speaks.

"No. I was busy," Sae-bin responds.

A pause.

"I didn't ignore you. I just didn't feel like answering."

Da-hye's brows pinch. She instinctively steps closer to A-reum. "Who is it?"

"Geum Seong-je."

"I've heard of him. Isn't he... um... trouble?"

"Capital T. Bold font. Italicized. Underlined twice."

Da-hye looks horrified. "And she's talking to him?"

"Talking?" A-reum scoffs. "They dated for a week."

"A week?"

"And then they broke up."

"Oh..."

"And then they got back together."

"Oh."

"And then they broke up again."

"Oh."

"And now," A-reum waves toward Sae-bin, "they're doing... this."

"No. I'm not avoiding you," Sae-bin says.

More talking on the other side.

"I said I'm not."

Another pause.

"Fine," Sae-bin murmurs. Three seconds later, she adds: "Not now. I'm with people. No. Not them." Her gaze flicks over her shoulder, briefly landing on A-reum. "She's not listening."

A-reum grins. "I'm listening so hard right now."

Da-hye pulls her back before she gets smacked.

Sae-bin continues: "Yes. I'll come by." A pauses. "No, not right away. Later."

An even longer pause.

"Then wait." Finally, the call ends. Sae-bin lowers the phone, expression unreadable as she turns to her friends.

A-reum crosses her arms. "So. Seong-je again?"

"Yes."

"Amazing," A-reum mutters. "I hate him. And I hate you more when you talk to him."

"I don't care."

"I know. But I swear if he shows up and— hey, what creature is...."

A boy is sprinting toward them from the gym building, backpack half unzipped, shoelaces loose, waving both arms.

"Hu-min?" Da-hye frowns.

"What?!" A-reum squeals.

Baku skids to a stop in front of them, trying to catch his breath. "Da-hye! I've been looking everywhere for you!"

"You're so loud— people are staring."

"They always stare," he says cheerfully. "Because I'm charming."

A-reum makes a noise.

Hu-min notices her right then. "Oh!" he chirps. "You're A-reum! I've seen you before." He looks at Sae-bin.

And Sae-bin looks at him.

His smile fades. "Hello."

"Hu-min," she replies calmly.

There's a beat of silence.

Then A-reum jumps in. "So why were you sprinting?"

Baku points both thumbs at himself proudly.
"Oh, I'm suspended!"

"You're what," Sae-bin says.

"Suspended," Baku repeats brightly. "Starting tomorrow!"

"But it's the first week of school!" Da-hye mumbles.

"I know. New record for me."

"Don't tell me you set off the fire alarm—"

"Nooo," Baku says, waving his hand. "That was last year." He looks at A-reum. "I'm Park Hu-min, but you can call me—"

"We know who you are."

Baku turns to Da-hye again. "I was going to walk you home."

"Oh! Um, I'm— we're— actually, we're getting picked up by Assistant Park," Da-hye explains quickly.

"Who?"

Sae-bin raises her chin. "My father's assistent."

"You're riding with Sae-bin?" Baku asks, pleasantly surprised. "Already? Wow, Da-hye. I didn't know you guys were close."

Da-hye turns into a tomato. A-reum turns into a fireworks show. Sae-bin turns into a statue.

"We're not close," Sae-bin says instantly.

"She's our friend," A-reum corrects.

"Ba-hee's... evaluating," Sae-bin corrects that.

"It's Da-hye—"

"Back to it! Why are you suspended?"

"Misunderstanding. Someone thought I broke a window."

"Did you?" A-reum asks.

"No!" he says, deeply offended. "I dove through it."

"You dove through a window?" Da-hye cries out.

"It wasn't on purpose," Baku says. "I was running really fast, and then Gotak called me from the other side, and... yeah. Anyway! Let's go, Da-hye."

"I said I'm driving with them," Da-hye protests, suddenly feisty.

"Then I can come too."

"No. You cannot," Sae-bin says.

"Yes, you can!" A-reum jumps in.

"No."

"Yes."

"I don't mind sitting on someone's lap if that helps," Baku says. 

Sae-bin grabs his sleeve and physically turns him around in the direction of the exit.

"Go home," she orders.

Baku salutes. "Yes, ma'am!" He takes one step, then turns back. "Oh! Da-hye," he says. "Tell my dad I'm suspended because I was protecting someone. It sounds cooler."

"You weren't protecting anyone!"

"I protected Gotak from loneliness," he says seriously. "He looked bored, so I ran faster. Bye!"

A-reum watches him leave with wide, amazed eyes. "Wow," she murmurs.

Not three seconds later, Da-hye's phone makes a sound. Sae-bin pulls a rather disgusted face when she sees that the phone must be at least 10 years old. "A-reum!" Da-hye gasps. "Look!"

A-reum peeks at the screen from Da-hye's shoulder, then yelps loudly. "Oh my gosh! Sae-bin, he asked for my number! Through Da-hye!"

"Lame."

"Here, here." A-reum quickly grabs her phone to exchange numbers with Da-hye, who also sends the number to Baku.

⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘

Once Assistant Park has dropped A-reum and Da-hye off at their houses, and Sae-bin is at home on her bed, scrolling through her phone, she receives a message.

A-reum

Double date this Saturday!!!!!
At our fav bar

Not coming

Plsplspls??
I need supporttttt
Baku says he has a friend

That's mature of him

DOUBLE DATE.

﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌

╰┈➤【 AUTHOR'S NOTES !

Help I was halfway through writing when I realized it sounds a little weird that both Hyo-man and Seong-je have something going on with Sae-bin but yeah idk I guess it's good lore

I don't wanna have a cringy storyline where she's been with all the guys 😭😭

+ for anyone confused about the timeline, we're now at the beginning of the school year, where Baku clearly gets suspended, meaning he'll later come back with the red hair !

Anygays I hope you enjoyed!! Don't forget to vote ★