FAUX REAL

10

When I walk into Room 311, I'm relieved to find that Jennie is seated beside Jisoo, the only student at Hilton whose parents don't fly first class. Personally, I think it's great that we offer scholarships to the academically gifted seeing as our world-renowned faculty is often wasted on morons.

I hand Mr. Takanaki my late slip, thank God Mrs. Patella agreed to write one, and head to the back of the classroom, scanning for a free table. My choices are either to sit with Olivia, a friend of Rosé's, I don't know her very well but she seems fairly harmless. Or I can sit beside... Taeyong. Great. He's in this class too? I strut towards Olivia and plop my school bag down on the desk.

"Oh, sorry, lisa," She says, her eyes apologetic. "Talia is sitting here. She's just in the bathroom right now."

"Of course she is," I grunt, dragging my feet to the far table on the right side of the room as our photography teacher drones on about the syllabus. I perch down on the stool next to Taeyong, the scent of his sweet cologne wafting in my direction. Such a familiar scent. One that I used to love and spray on my pillows. But now it's equivalent to emotional feces.

"Why are you taking this class?" He whispers as I pull out my notebook. "Trying to up your selfie game?"

I don't understand him. One minute he's relatively nice to me, the next he's calling me a bitch. Whoever said women are hormonal clearly never interacted with high school boys before.

"I needed an arts elective," I explain dryly, jotting down notes as I listen to Mr. Takanaki review the grading rubric.

Thankfully, most of the assignments are individual with only two partner projects. Maybe I can ask the teacher to do them alone. I'll buy a tripod or something. Despite what people say, teamwork seldom makes the dream work.

"Oh," he hums. "And you chose photography?."

"Yup," I say. "It was either photography or painting. We both know I'm not artistic. At least with photography, I just point and shoot."

"I think there's a bit more to it than that" he muses with a low chuckle. "Otherwise everyone would be a photographer."

"Taeyong, please," I sigh, his laugh causing my gut to clench. I miss laughing together. I miss laughing in general. "I'm trying to listen to Mr. Takanaki. Stop talking to me."

What is his deal? Does he honestly think that we can be friends? Or maybe he's trying to get me to lower my guard so he can rip out my heart again. Did Seulgi put him up to this? Is this a game? Regardless, it's not happening. I will not be a pawn. If wants the honor of talking to me, he can date me. Otherwise, he can fuck off.

"Whatever," He mumbles as he scribbles in his notepad. "Just trying to make conversation."

"Well stop," I state in a stern tone. "You're distracting me."

We manage to get through most of the class without saying a word to each other, that is until her breaks the blessed silence by asking, "So are you really dating the new kid? I heard from-" He pauses. "What I mean is...is it true? You're with jennie now?"

Oh my God. I guess Seulgi passed on the message.

"Yes, I am," I confirm, turning my head towards him, his jaw twitching with irritation. He didn't have this reaction in the hallway. Interesting. "Is that a problem? Does it bother you?"

"Not at all," he says with a shrug, relaxing his muscles, his fingers fiddling with an eraser. "Do whatever you want. I mean, you just met the girl but sure, go ahead and date her. I don't care."