Me, Myself & I (Catnipz)

Suspended.

 "As I see it, you three are the main characters here," he sighed, adjusting his jacket as he sat in his swivel chair. "You have five minutes to explain what happened, or the three of you will be suspended for a month."

"It's her fault," they both said simultaneously.

"Enough!" I yelled. "Both of you, shut up!" They stopped speaking immediately.

"Eunchae took us out of class with Kim Garam just to tell us that he had left on Wednesday. Minji scolded her for taking us out of class just for that instead of waiting for break. Eunchae meddled in things she shouldn't have, Minji got upset, and I called them to stop, but Eunchae offended me and Minji defended me. That's all," I explained quickly.

"I'll take Kang's explanation as the only true one," he said, taking out some papers from one of the desk drawers. "It's nonsense," he emphasized. "Causing such a fuss over something insignificant." He shook his head, pressing his pen that was previously in his jacket pocket. "You can go to class now." I stood up and left the office.

It had been the stupidest fight that could exist; this seemed more like an excuse for Minji to attack Eunchae.

"Can I come in?" I asked, and all eyes focused on me, as usual.

"Where were you?" asked the Math teacher.

"I was at the principal's office," I explained, and she let me in. Everyone exchanged knowing glances and whispered to each other.

"Hello," I looked up, and it was Minji sitting in front of me.

"Hi," I replied seriously, still tracing invisible drawings on the cafeteria table. "How did it go with the principal?" I asked, intertwining my hands and resting my head on them.

"Suspended for a week," she smiled as if it didn't matter at all.

"You're foolish, Minji," I said, hitting her arm.

"Hey," she protested. "Why? For defending you?" she asked, annoyed.

"Yes, you shouldn't have," I frowned. "If you had ignored her, this and this," I pointed to her lip and left cheek where she had been hit, "wouldn't have happened." She laughed.

"If she hadn't opened her mouth, this, this, and that wouldn't have happened," she pointed to her bruises and then to Eunchae, who likely also has bruises on her face and won't be the only ones. She had charged at her twice, and both times she ended up on the floor.

"And is she suspended too?" I asked, feigning indifference.

"No," she said angrily. "It's her first 'issue,' so she'll just have detention. Besides, I threw the first punch."

Here's the translation:

I shook my head disapprovingly at what had happened and stood up.

"Look at your lip," I stroked her cheek. "Doesn't it hurt?" I asked, and she stood up.

"Not at all," she smiled. "It was worth it, I've wanted to put that girl in her place for a long time." She took me by the waist and spun us around, leaving me facing away from the café scene.

"Why?" I asked, trying to figure out why she hated her so much.

"She's arrogant," she said, annoyed. "Thinks I'm scared of her," she laughed.

"Ignore her," I said, kissing her cheek. "Are you sure it doesn't hurt?" Her lip was swollen; she looked funny.

"I told you it doesn't," she ran her hands around my waist, hugging me. We were embracing in the café; this was a big step forward.

"You're a liar," I said, laughing.

"Of course not," she said, offended. "I told you it's nothing." I sighed; she would never admit it hurt.

"Are we going to the game?" I asked, changing the subject.

"Are we?" she mocked, shaking her head. "Not me, I'm suspended, which includes all extracurricular activities," she explained. "But you can, you're a cheerleader," she reminded me.

"I told you, if you're not on the team, I'm not a cheerleader," I put my hands on her neck and caressed it slowly.

"Why did you join then?"

"For you," I confessed, and her eyes widened. "When I found out you were on the team, I joined," I smiled.

"I don't believe you," she narrowed her beautiful eyes.

"I really did," I affirmed. "Only for you, Kim Minji," I wasn't entirely truthful, and for the first time in my short life, lying hurt me. "So we won't go," I grinned broadly.

"You know, I'd like to go see how they lose the game without me," she raised both eyebrows.

"Now who's the arrogant one?" she winked and moved closer to me slowly, but the loud bell interrupted us, forcing us to go to class. Minji rolled her eyes, and I laughed.

"Let's go," I said, taking her hand.

"No," she let go of my hand. "You go," she smiled. "For the umpteenth time, I remind you I'm suspended," I looked down. A week without seeing her! I don't know if I could bear it.

"Then..." I said as everyone started to disappear from the café. "See you later?" I asked, hoping for a "yes."

"Maybe," she replied as if she had no interest in seeing me at all. My jaw almost hit the floor. She let out a laugh and again moved quickly towards me trying to capture my lips, but I turned my face away. "Aren't you going to give me a kiss?" she asked, looking at me so tenderly.

"No," I smiled and turned around to leave the café.