The Only

Home Away From Home

As you may know, after losing a great chunk of my sanity, my mind has inevitably turned into my worst enemy. It is a terrible experience, seeing as it technically controls every fiber of my being, further leading me to mentally spiral out of control. These intrusive thoughts guided me to acquire little-to-no sleep in the last few nights, especially after that way-too-specific conversation with Bogum the other day.

It is quite a difficult task to get a goodnight's sleep to begin with, but my usual case of overthinking has doubled—maybe, even tripled. I feel an immense amount of guilt for those that must deal with me on a daily basis, solely because of the fact I've evolved into a very grumpy, monstrous version of myself as of late.

The abnormal, wacky-ass atmosphere that swarmed throughout ninety-nine percent of the student population at Kwang Academy only worsened my mood. This week, everyone—mostly, the girls from every single grade-level—grew chattier, which easily equates to a higher amount of gossip floating around. Compared to my first day at this nosy school, things had amped up astronomically. Either something is up, or something is different, but since it's an average day, I couldn't pinpoint what the fuck was going on.

Across the metal picnic table, Joohyun focuses upon a stack of binders and folders relating to her duties as class president. She mentioned something about coordinating a future dance, but once I heard the word 'dance', my ears tuned the rest out.

I, on the other-hand, am scanning the entirety of the crowded, open courtyard that was bustling with what-seemed-like endless conversations. School had just wonderfully ended, but the spellbound looks on all my passing classmates' faces never seem to budge.

I hate to disrupt her, but I just had to know:

"Why is everyone acting so weirdly this week?" It was not an unusual occurrence to see so many students still lingering on school-grounds, but something switched. "Did anything happen or am I just imagining things?"

She emits a deep, hefty sigh, shoulders hunching in dismay of the topic at-hand. She doesn't want to get into it, but the reason why was unbeknownst to me. At least, she's acting normal, unlike the other freaks around here.

"Didn't Bogum tell you?" Tell me, what?

I blink. "I don't think so."

"News had spread about Seojoon transferring here earlier than expected." I could almost burst out laughing at the unenthusiastic and depressing tone she was using. "He was supposed to start next semester, but it turns out his first day is next Monday."

Well, that makes perfect sense as to why everyone appears so psychotically bewitched and distracted. How foolish. Indeed, it was reminiscent of my first day here, but I fear that the craze had quadrupled due to Seojoon's unforgettable title of an elite basketball champion and of course: his everlasting teen-model popularity.

"That's considered news?" I fight the urge to roll my eyes, but I don't succeed. "You're kidding, right?"

"I wish I was," she grumbles, flipping through yet another pile of papers.

"I'm sure Seungwan is losing her shit," I snicker, visualizing the fangirl planning a geeky welcoming parade for Seojoon's timely arrival.

"Oh, God, don't remind me. You should've seen how she was acting in the student council room during lunch," she says. "No offense to her—I love that girl to death—but when it comes to Seojoon, she is the definition of crazy."

"It's not like he's going to notice her or the rest of the student body's efforts to get his attention."

"What do you mean?"