cliff • kpop au

two.

PRESENT DAY

I walked into Kim's Bakery with a taste for a chocolate chip muffin and a hot chocolate, my cold hands stuffed into my coat pocket.

February was always a cold and bitter month, despite the fact that it's my birthday month. The wind felt like ice and glass against my skin, my nose always dripped, I felt like a huge puff ball with all of the extra layers on me.

My birthday was two weeks ago: I spent the whole day bowling, eating out at restaurants, and shopping with my Dad, which was great.

I would've spent the whole day with Taeyong, who I've become real close with, but I figured a day with my Dad would be better.

I looked through the different rows of muffins, pastries, scones, and donuts, my eyes being mesmerized by each treat.

And to think I wanted just a chocolate chip muffin...

"Mmm....which one should I get...?" I talked to myself, not knowing that I spoke out as if I were talking to someone else.

"How about the glazed donut? You always got that when you came here."

I turned to my left, seeing Jisoo's Mom behind the counter, that same smile on her face as if it was plastered there permanently.

Jisoo's parents have owned and ran this bakery ever since Jisoo and I were freshmen in high school, and whenever I came in, I always got a glazed donut, plus a muffin, which was on the house for me.

I think Jisoo's parents always admired me for one reason: I was Jisoo's only true friend. I've been by her side all the way from freshman year to this year, before she killed herself, so they always saw me as this sort of savior that rescued their daughter from loneliness. That is, until, you know, this whole thing happened.

"I think I will get it. For old times sake." I replied, grabbing one of the plastic bags and grabbing the treat, placing it carefully in the bag.

I approached the familiar counter, placing the bag on it.

"You sure you don't want another donut? It's on the house~"

"No, no, it's alright! I'll be fine Mrs. Kim!" I smiled reassuringly and she just nodded, ringing up my item and telling me the price for it.

While I fished through my purse to grab my wallet, my thoughts started swimming and clogging up my mind of that one particular day.

That one day that things starting going downhill.

As I walked out of the bakery, already munching on my donut, the scene replayed in my mind vividly.

It was the day after the sex tape was released.

💮💮💮

6 MONTHS AGO, SCHOOL

"Chaeyoung!" I heard a familiar voice call out to me, and I turned to see my best friend Kim Jisoo running toward me, her bookbag swung over her shoulder and her smile bright on her face.

"Hey Jichu, ready?" I asked, and she nodded eagerly.

"Let's go! Another day in hell." She chuckled, grabbing my hand and leading me through the front doors.

Our usual routine would be to meet up at the school's entrance, walk in together, and go to the cafeteria for breakfast. Usually we would just be in our own world, with no one paying attention to us and our weird nature.