KISS DON'T TELL, k. taerae

✮ ONE

"Did you read the new chapter of Kiss Don't Tell?"

Sumin's head picked up, tearing her attention from the assignment she'd been working on to focus on her classmates' conversation.

"Oh my god! I literally started sobbing at the way Taerae was looking at Dohee. He's so in love with her, like, when will he confess?!"

A small smile picked at the corners of the girl's lips as she eavesdropped. One hand was cradling her cheek, her fingers playing idly with a strand of her choppy black hair. Her bangs were practically covering her eyes, and though Sumin knew she needed a trim, she was thankful the girls couldn't see her peek up at them now and then. It was amusing to watch the college students turn into lovestruck teenagers because of a drawing.

One of the two girls let out a dreamy sigh. "I wish I had someone who looked at me the way Taerae looks at Dohee. I don't even care that they're just doodles on my phone!"

"Right?! Ugh, why can't someone like Kim Taerae exist in real... What are you looking at?"

Sumin's head flew forward when someone's hand came in contact with the back of her skull. Her eyes shut on impact, but she didn't move to straighten after the blow. She had to fight the urge to scoff.

"I asked you a question, beanie."

Forcing a shallow breath, Sumin raised her gaze just enough to meet the glimmering face of Im Nara and her little posse of students with nothing else to do but bother her. Sumin propped her chin against her fist and smiled up at the girl. "I'm not looking at anything other than my assignment."

Someone in the group reached toward Sumin to grab the beanie on her head, but her hand moved quicker. She seized their wrist, turning around until her gaze landed on the friend of Nara's who used too much hair product.

"Let go, freak!" he yelled when he failed to pull his hand from Sumin's grasp. After another second of watching him struggle, she released his arm and focused her attention back on the papers scattered across her desktop.

Sumin had heard about what they did to another girl in their high school (her name started with Hye, but Sumin couldn't remember exactly what it was) and how she had to be transferred. There was a girl named after her in Kiss Don't Tell; Na Jihye.

Leaning back in her chair, Sumin let out a bored sigh and dragged her gaze to meet Nara's. "Aren't you all a little old to be acting like this? We aren't in high school anymore, you could get sued if you mess with the wrong person."

Nara's cheeks took a red hue at Sumin's words but didn't say anything to defend herself for a few moments. "So what?" she finally spat. "You're clearly unbothered. What's the harm?"

"You know, you're just like Nora." Sumin's mouth moved before she could stop herself. Though she wasn't particularly a fan of this group of students, she didn't want to start anything unnecessary with them either. They were simply bored, and she didn't want to provide them with any more entertainment.