✩ఌPiece of cakeఌ✩

★ꕥpart 1ꕥ★

Seugmin's alarm clock blared at 6:30 AM, pulling him out of a restless sleep. He rubbed his eyes, adjusting to the dim light filtering through his bedroom curtains. Today was the day he had been both eagerly anticipating and dreading all summer: the first day of school. He swung his legs over the side of the bed and sat up, yawning widely. The butterflies in his stomach seemed to have woken up before him, flitting around anxiously. He took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves.
"Seugmin! Breakfast is ready!" his mother called from downstairs.
"Coming, Mom!" he shouted back, his voice cracking slightly from the early hour. He quickly dressed in the new clothes his parents had bought for him—crisp jeans and a blue shirt that matched his eyes. As he made his way down the stairs, he could smell the enticing aroma of pancakes and bacon.
His younger sister, Mia, was already at the table, her face sticky with syrup. "You excited for your first day?" she asked, her mouth full of pancakes.
"Yeah, a little," Seugmin replied, trying to sound more confident than he felt. He sat down and started eating, savoring each bite. His mom placed a lunchbox next to his plate, and he smiled up at her gratefully.
"Remember to be yourself, and you'll do great," she said, ruffling his hair affectionately.
After breakfast, Seugmin grabbed his backpack and headed out the door, his mom reminding him to take the bus stop at the end of the street. The walk felt longer than usual, every step filled with anticipation. When he finally arrived, a group of kids was already there, chatting and laughing. He recognized a few faces from the neighborhood but didn't know any of them well.
"Hey, you're Seugmin, right?" a boy with curly hair and a friendly smile asked. "I'm Jake. We live on the same street."
"Yeah, I know," Seugmin replied, feeling a bit more at ease. "Nice to meet you, Jake."

The bus arrived shortly after, and the kids piled on, filling the seats with excited chatter. Seugmin found an empty seat near the back and sat down, placing his backpack on his lap. As the bus rumbled down the road, he stared out the window, watching the familiar scenery pass by. His thoughts were a whirlwind of what-ifs and maybes.
When they finally arrived at the school, Seugmin followed the crowd of students into the building, feeling a bit like a fish out of water. The hallways were bustling with activity, and he had to dodge several groups of kids to avoid getting trampled. He found his locker and fumbled with the combination, finally managing to open it on the third try. He stuffed his backpack inside and grabbed the schedule he had received in the mail.
"First period, math," he muttered to himself, scanning the room numbers. He found the classroom and took a deep breath before stepping inside. The room was already half full, and the teacher, a tall man with glasses and a kind smile, was writing on the whiteboard.
"Good morning, class! My name is Mr. Thompson, and I'll be your math teacher this year," he announced. "Please find a seat and we'll get started."
Seugmin chose a seat near the window and sat down, feeling the eyes of his classmates on him. He glanced around, trying to get a sense of the room. A girl with braided hair and glasses was sitting next to him, organizing her pencils.
"Hi, I'm Seugmin," he said, offering her a friendly smile.
"Hi, I'm Emily," she replied, smiling back. "Are you new here?"
"Yeah, first day," he said, feeling a bit more relaxed. "How about you?"
"I've been here since last year," Emily said. "If you need any help finding your way around, just let me know."
"Thanks, I might take you up on that," Seugmin said, grateful for her kindness.
The rest of the class went by in a blur, with Mr. Thompson explaining the curriculum and handing out textbooks. Seugmin tried to focus, but his mind kept wandering to the other classes he had yet to experience. When the bell finally rang, he gathered his things and followed Emily out into the hallway.
"What's your next class?" she asked, glancing at his schedule.

"English," he said, checking the room number. "Room 204."
"That's on the second floor. I'll show you the way," Emily said, leading him to the stairs.
They chatted as they walked, and Seugmin found himself relaxing more and more. By the time they reached the English classroom, he felt like he had made his first friend.
"Thanks, Emily," he said as they reached the door. "I really appreciate it."
"No problem. See you at lunch?" she asked.
"Yeah, see you then," Seugmin replied, feeling a surge of gratitude.
The English class went smoothly, with the teacher, Mrs. Parker, introducing herself and going over the syllabus. Seugmin found himself enjoying the subject, especially when Mrs. Parker mentioned they would be reading some of his favorite books. When the bell rang, he headed to his next class, feeling more confident with each step.
The rest of the morning passed quickly, and before he knew it, it was time for lunch. He made his way to the cafeteria, scanning the room for Emily. He spotted her at a table near the windows, waving him over. He joined her, along with a few other kids he recognized from his classes.
"Hey, Seugmin! This is Alex and Jenna," Emily said, introducing him to the others.
"Hi, nice to meet you," Seugmin said, smiling at them.
"Nice to meet you too," Alex said, offering a fist bump. "How's your first day going?"
"Pretty good so far," Seugmin replied, feeling more at ease. "How about you guys?"
"Same old, same old," Jenna said, rolling her eyes playfully. "But it's always fun meeting new people."