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❝Our world doesn't play out like a fantasy. We aren't some carefree princesses getting handed happy endings on a silver platter-you make one wrong move, and it's game over.❞
...
In a world where all control over their lives is illusory, a grou...
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—part 9.1—
After Hours
"..you weren't supposed to know about that yet."
—Emiko—
About an hour after the festivities had ended, the hall had cleared out, and the only evidence of the celebration was the mess left behind. Due to a constant cycle of retaliation between me and a certain trainer, our table was saddled with the task of making it look like no one had been there.
We'd been cleaning endlessly, and still half the dining hall needed to be wiped down. We were all getting restless.
"I can't believe Jaehyun stuck our table with cleaning duty."
With a mop lazily held in his hands, Jaemin's lips drooped, mopy as he smeared the thick bristles across the dining hall's floor. Everyone around him paid little mind to his complaint. They continued to scrub away at their separate surfaces, soap-soaked sponges and mops scattered across the room. He seemed to finally have had enough as he sank the mop into a soapy bucket of water, and slumped against one of the tables.
Groaning angrily at lack of response, Jaemin glanced around, "Are none of you ticked off? This is supposed to be the most important day of our lives, and that meathead has us scrubbing down tables!"
Jeno emitted a sigh, inattentive while he collected piles of dust with his broom. His next comment was targeted, undoubtedly, as I was certain I'd heard my name. "Well, maybe if Emiko hadn't sucker punched Jaehyun in the di—"
I whipped around, my own broom cutting through the air towards Jeno where it collided with his own. Our two brooms clashed, Jeno's eyes widening at the abrupt attack—though it was not undeserved. I found it hard not to smile at his reaction, impishness in my grin, "Hey now, I saved your ass yesterday. You should be thanking me."
Jeno smiled back, sweeping his foot to the right before advancing on me, our brooms clashing again like staffs.
"Oh yeah?" He attempted to push me back, my feet sliding gradually with each increase of his strength.
"Yeah." I stated confidently, struggling to stay in place, "You clearly didn't have the balls to defy him yesterday, so I did it for you. You're welcome," finally choosing to cease the playful fight, we both stepped apart, "Besides, if the cost of revenge is cleaning up a small mess. Then so be it."
My head cocked towards Jaemin as he released an offended—and extremely dramatic—gasp.
"Emiko," he began like a disappointed parent scolding their child, "You call all of this 'a small mess'?"
I prodded my cheek with my tongue, never wanting to succumb to Jaemin's naggings. But as I glanced around at the collection of discarded dishes and cutlery, food remains, spilt drinks, and footprints tracking the floor, it was hard to deny his point. I decided though, that I would abandon my pessimism for the day no matter how uncharacteristic it was of me.
