"Good work Sooyun" She watched as her biology teacher placed her previous test face down on her desk. 100, 100, 100 repeated over and over in her head. Any less of a score would fully tear her apart. Exhaling through her mouth, she flipped the booklet over, searching desperately for her result.
99. Not 100. The closest mark to it, but not 100. Her face remained stoic but her mind was anything but stationary. Inner voices scattering around words of discouragement. Telling her she was insufficient, a terrible student. Telling her she was not good enough.
The Moon girl then felt pressure on her chair pushing her forward slightly. Here we go, the worst part about getting a 99."Mm judging by that posture I'm guessing you didn't get full marks. You know who did though?"
Immediately her spine shot up, jaw clenching as she twisted her body, shooting a hostile glare at the infuriating boy behind her. His fingers held up his test, clearing showing one 1 and 2 zeroes written on the front. Her gaze dropped to the score before she looked back up at his stupid smug face.
"What'd you get then huh? 98? 97?" he asked inquisitively. Sooyun gritted her teeth. The nerve of this idiot. But she knew, not saying anything said so much more than speaking up.
"99" she murmured. Ashamed when the number rolled off her tongue. Another wave of insecurity crashing down on her.
"What was that?" Sunghoon placed his test down, using his now free hand to cup his ear, indicating that he 'could not hear.' But he could. It was clear he could. The way his smirk had instantly widened and his eyes showed a confident glint in them.
"Ninety. Nine." She sounded out every syllable like a kindergartener, resent pouring out. The Park boy's eyebrows shot up just a millimetre and she knew he was about to give his infamous speech to her.
"Oh. Well there's always next time. You know being one away from 100 is just a sign that you can achieve 100-" and after that she droned everything out. She knew there was no sincerity in his tone. Every word that came out of his mouth was solely spoken to ridicule and insult her.
The bell rang, halting Sunghoon from continuing his sentence. She hurriedly stood up, wanting nothing more than to escape his utterance. In the middle of packing up the Moon girl's pencil dropped to the floor. Bending down, she picked it up, doing one last thing before returning to standing. She shoved everything into her bag and took one last look at the 99 before cursing herself and cramming it in too.
Sooyun took a few steps away from her desk before turning back and looking at the Park boy. He too was ready to leave. He took one step away from his table causing it to flip upside down and clatter. Everyone in the class turned to him, some concerned, come amused. But no one was happier than the girl who caused it to happen. She watched as his eyes scanned down to his foot, clearly displaying his white shoelaces being tied to the table leg. His head snapped to her in fury and she let out a little chuckle before turning around and leaving the classroom, pleased with herself. She wasn't the type to let his snarky attitude slide.
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"Sooyunnnn~" clutching her school lunch cautiously she made her way over to her best friend who was calling out to her. Taking a seat across the vibrant girl she greeted her.
Jang Hayoon. Sooyun's polar opposite and closest friend since elementary school. The two had been inseparable ever since Sooyun had stood up for Hayoon when an ill-bred idiot had made fun of her for her whacky hairstyle on the first day of third grade. The girl was known at school for her unique hair and though some judged her for it at the beginning, it was apparent that everyone slowly followed in her path. She was always getting detentions for not following the dress code but it never fazed her.
"How was bio?" Hayoon picked up her chopsticks and began eating causing Suyoon to also look down at her unpleasant meal. She grimaced and moved her tray to the side.
"Trash. That jerk ruins everything" she looked to the side of Hayoon nodding her head up slightly motioning for Hayoon to also turn around. Her friend's eyebrows drew together before she turned around too. Her face relaxed as she turned back to Suyoon.
"Sunghoon? Well that's surprising" Suyoon tilted her head and pursed her lips. One of her friend's biggest traits was sarcasm and right now it was not helpful.
"He's such a-" she rolled her eyes inhaling strongly "I can't even explain" Hayoon chuckled, taking another bite of her food then pointing her chopstick at Suyoon.
"You sure you're not just hangry or something? You should eat" The Moon girl wrinkled her nose, eyeing her food in disgust. Her friend sighed shaking her head.
"Seriously Suyoon? You're such a picky eater. Come on, you need to eat something. How else are you gonna do all those calculations?" She pressed her finger against Suyoon's head, a held back smile following.
"Ok ok" She stuffed a piece a sushi in her mouth rolling it around her tongue before shoving it down her throat. Her eyebrows shot up and she choked frantically hitting her chest.
"Suyoon!" Hayoon quickly got off her seat and hit her friend's back hardly, catching the attention of everyone. The cafeteria went silent and all that could be heard was Suyoon coughing. Finally, it came to a stop as the sushi piece wriggled down her throat and she gasped.
"Water" Hayoon shoved a water bottle into Suyoon's face, opening it for her. The Moon girl drank, eyes widening as she realised the room's awkward atmosphere. She set the bottle down wiping her mouth and shifting in her seat. Instantly everyone started talking again. She cringed, placing her face in her palms.
"Please tell me that didn't just happen" Suyoon opened her eyes expectantly, thinking her friend would look at her confused at what she was talking about and saying that she had zoned out or daydreamed. But no, she was met with a pitiful face.
"Oh God.." she rubbed her face feeling extremely embarrassed. She could feel colour race to her cheeks and all she wanted to do was hide in a hole. In Neptune. Of course that would be impossible. Neptune's a gas giant. But anything would be better than being here right now.
"Fuck my life" she muttered out, earning a huff opposite her.
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ALRIGHT second chapter out what are we thinkingggg?? Lmk in comments and pls vote!
YOU ARE READING
goodbye atelophobia, psh
Roman d'amouratelophobia - the overwhelming fear of imperfection "I'm way smarter than you" "I can't say the scores agree" moon sooyun and park sunghoon experience their last year of high school together. their rivalry is thriving, hormones are raging and futur...