Moments / SEVENTEEN ONESHOTS ✓

1.5 1 ➻❥ Fighting Perfection - (high school au) Soonyoung + Park Binna

! TW: mildly graphic bullying scene involving physical violence !

***

Narae's boot heel firmly held my face to the ground.

"Look," she drawled, "the dirt is where it belongs."

I choked on the familiar metallic-salty grains of earth as I tried to breathe through my mouth.  My nose was still swollen from the punch she had given me earlier.

"This is why you shouldn't mess with me," Narae snarled.  "This is only the beginning of your payment.  I want $50 by tomorrow afternoon or your mother will be receiving you covered in milk."

With an air of finality, she bent down, slapped me in the face, and turned on her heel to leave, showering me in more dirt.  With my cheek stinging and definitely red, I tried to steady my breathing.  My hands shook as I pushed myself off the ground and spit out the dirt from my mouth, Ick.  With the amount of times Narae had made me lick it, you'd think I'd have gotten used to the taste, but it was still disgusting.

Slowly, I gathered my scattered possessions and dropped them into my bag.  I had no desire to go home in this state—if my family knew I was being treated this way, I didn't know how much they'd suffer.  The bullying committee wouldn't be able to do much anyway.  Narae had plenty of friends.  If I ruined her reputation, who knew how much harassment I would face in retaliation.

I brushed my skirt off and shook the dirt out of my hair.  Time to walk home slowly, so the red handprint on my face would have time to wear off.

***

"Mom," I said.  "I really don't like this private school."

"You don't like it?"  About to take a bite, Mom put her chopsticks down in surprise.  "But it has the highest reputation around here!  Your brother swears it's the best he's ever been to and your grades are excellent."

I shifted uncomfortably.  "I just don't think I fit in very well."

"Where would you prefer to go?  JYP Academy is too expensive for us and your brother said he didn't get enough hands-on experience from YG Preparatory."

"Actually... I was thinking about public school."  I braced myself for the coming storm.

Mom's eyes sharpened.  "Park Binna, that's out of the question!  The public school is filled with germs and druggies and stupid people and... and they'll corrupt your brain!  They'll corrupt your brilliant brain!  You are too good for public school.  Don't ask me that again!  SM's School for Masters is where your brother found his genius and so will you.  Why are you not glad that your father and I waste our days away working so that you and your brother can have a privileged education?  Is it really that hard to understand?"

"No, Mom, I-"  Tears pricked my eyes.  "I'm being bullied."

A tense silence filled the room to the brim.