Bittersweet | Do Kyung-seok

𝟬𝟵. rotten to the core

CHAPTER NINE
you wish you would have backed down

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     𝐊im Chan-woo had them gathered in the open sun at the university tracks. It was a hot day and a bunch of sweaty and nervous freshmen didn't help. Everyone was on edge as Chan-woo rounded them up like a bunch of disobedient children. Chaewon tried not to show emotions as she stood behind Mirae with the other kids. Eun, Jung-boon, and Soo-ah were in the front, facing the full impact of Chan-woo's words.

     The senior angrily threw his bag on the ground. He raised his voice at them. "Where's everyone else?"

    "Well, many have already gone home," Eun explained, being the only one who had the bravery to answer the angry senior. Besides, she was part of the student council. She had to say something.

    "You guys are the rudest freshmen in the school's entire history," Chan-woo said loudly, throwing a fit as he glared at them through his round glasses. "Do you know that, you jerks?"

     Chaewon clenched her fists, feeling a dull ache in her right hand where the bruise on her knuckles sat. Chan-woo tilted his head, trying to get a look at her, looking past Mirae like she didn't even exist. She knew it was her fault that he gathered all of them today. He didn't want anyone else. He just wanted her.

     "Is Do Kyung-seok not here?" He demanded. All the freshmen glanced at each other, confused. Chan-woo sighed disbelievingly. "I told you that it's all of your responsibility. Get ready for some real punishment. You're all dead meat."

    "God, has he lost his mind?" The guy beside Mirae, Wonho's friend, muttered under his breath. "Why do we have to get punished?"

     "All of you, in a push-up position," Chan-woo ordered.

    Eun looked at him like he was crazy. "Sorry?"

    "I said, in push-up position!" He barked. "Do I have to repeat myself?"

     Chaewon felt Mirae's eyes on her. Her forehead creased with worry. She slightly shook her head at her, knowing it was all her fault. It wasn't Mirae's. Or anyone else. This was all on her. Nobody tried to move either even when Chan-woo tried to threaten to hit them. It almost felt familiar.

     However, much to their luck, someone cut off Chan-woo's theatrics. His friend, Song Jungho, Chaewon recalled, ran down the steps and to the tracks where they stood. He looked almost embarrassed. He probably was. If she had Chan-woo as a friend, she would've shot herself already.

     "What is it?" Chan-woo demanded. "Why are you here?"

     "What are you doing now?" Jungho asked. "What will you do if someone records and posts a video of this?"

     Chan-woo glanced around, hands on his hips, looking like he had every right to be angry. Then he realized his friend was right. "All of you, run over there in 10 seconds. Now. And all of you must give your phone to Jungho with no exception."

     Chaewon scoffed under her breath. "Wimp."

     He kicked his bag on the ground towards Jungho. "Hold onto my bag and be on the watch."

     Then he walked off, making his sighs of annoyance loud and clear for everyone to hear. Nobody moved. They didn't even follow his words, fully knowing he had no right to have them do all of that for no valid reason.

    "That crazy jerk," Eun hissed.

     "He'll hear," Jung-boon warned.

     Chan-woo looked back, eyes darkening when he noticed none of them was doing anything. "Hurry up!"