Dull [Book III]

Threat

Soojung woke up surprisingly early when Tuesday came and told her father that he had nothing to worry about, first thing in the morning. Her apartment was still messy, she was still crazy, but today was not the day she would ditch first period again, or any period for that matter.

She went out her flat in her pajamas and into the elevator, so she could go down for breakfast across the street, where a place sold coffee and tea and whatnot. Coming back with a large paper bag in hand, Soojung treaded the corridor and was about to knock on a door, if only the owner hadn't opened it before she could.

"Wow, you're already up." Dohee greeted with a big smile, eyeing the bag Soojung brought.

"Breakfast is on me." Soojung raised it up and the older girl nodded, opening the door wider so she could come in. "I hope you're craving bacon sandwiches, unnie. I didn't know what I'm supposed to buy."

"Smells like coffee." She commented and led Soojung to the dining table. Their apartment interiors were very similar, except for the color because Dohee had pastel blue walls, and of course, her place was very much tidier than Soojung. "I thought you said coffee tasted like poison."

"The coffee's for you. I bought hot chocolate for myself." Soojung said as she open the bag and took the take-out boxes out. It was more than enough for both of them, but she rarely ever treated Dohee as much as the college girl did to her.

Soojung had been living in that apartment building ever since her freshman year and so was Dohee. The latter was in sophomore college year now and they had an unexplainable sister-like bond in more than three years of being next-door neighbors.

Strangely, even though Dohee was miles away from being similar to Soojung's friends, she liked hanging out with her... or maybe it had to do something with the fact that Soojung didn't have any siblings and enjoyed treating Dohee like her own unnie.

"How's the first day of senior year?" The older girl asked when they have settled on their seats. "I bet you stayed outside your homeroom."

"I didn't." Soojung shook her head and took a big bite on her sandwich.

"The teacher didn't make you stay out?" Dohee furrowed her eyebrows and copied her, biting on her food as well. "You're a lucky duck, then."

"No, unnie, of course I was told to go outside. I was more than thirty minutes late." Soojung pointed out. "I just didn't stay outside as told. I went to the rink."

Dohee shook her head. "You know, you really have to get used to attending classes. You're a senior now and it's an opportunity to attract universities. I totally understand if you goof off in your first three years of high school but you can't do that now."

"I'm not even sure if I'm going to college, unnie." Soojung admitted, grabbing her cup of hot chocolate and sipping a little to not burn her tongue. She had no clear plans of the future, to be honest, and Soojung wasn't planning anytime soon. "I don't know what I'll do after this school year."

"Well, you have to do something." Dohee shrugged. "You can't just stay in your apartment forever."

"I'll think about it. I have plenty of time, anyway." Soojung smiled. "For now, let's eat breakfast."

***

M and K were complete twenty minutes before class started, and it wasn't planned. Everyone knew they had to double the hard work and studying for upcoming college exams that even Baekhyun and Chanyeol who were known for being tardy, were starting to change their habits.

The twelve of them, just like they had agreed on during middle school before the leader wars, only had one place in mind: Gangnam University of Arts and Humanities... the one standing right next to their high school building. Although specializing arts in its name, the school offered a lot more courses and some of them even had stuff planned ahead of time. The only event they were waiting for was graduation day.