Real Trouble

7

Ugh, Monday. But today, it's Donut Monday, once every month the girls and I go to Milk & Honey and eat for breakfast donuts. It's been a while since we all hung out, and honestly, after this boring weekend, I can use some sugar.

After breakfast, it's time to head back to reality. School. Ju-kyung and I enter Saebom High together, along with Soo-ha, Su-jin, and Tae-hoon, Soo-ha's overly affectionate boyfriend. They are chatting about something when I tune in.

"So, what happened with that pervert on the bus?" Soo-ha asks Ju-kyung, her eyes wide with concern.

"Wait, what? What pervert?" I ask, turning to Ju-kyung, my eyebrows furrowing.

She explains briefly about how there was a guy on the bus who tried to get too close to her, and how Su-Jin stepped in just in time. I feel a rush of anger and worry, clenching my fists. But before I can fully process the situation, the sound of a bike roars from behind us.

We all step to the side instinctively as the bike zooms past, and I mutter under my breath, "Does nobody follow traffic laws anymore?" But when I glance up, my eyes widen in surprise. It's him. The same guy I crashed into on Friday.

Soo-ha's eyes lit up, and she nudges me. "I guess Han Seojun is back." There is a mix of curiosity and excitement in her voice.

"Han Seojun?" So... that's his name.

Soo-ha, ever the dramatic, starts explaining like she is giving some kind of TV interview. "Like the Bermuda Triangle or a black hole in space, the charms of these two guys can suck you right in with no escape. Saviour Suho versus the rebel Seojun. They're Saebom High's two gods—the two towers."

Ju-kyung blinks and wrinkle her nose. "That was...cringey."

Her boyfriend, looking mildly offended, jumps in. "What about me?" he asks with a pout.

Soo-ha turns to him and practically melts into a puddle. "You're the only one I have eyes for!" She says it in the cutest voice possible, and I can't help but roll my eyes a little. Must be nice to be so lovesick all the time.

As we near the main building, Ju-kyung looks between Suho and Seojun, who are staring each other down like they are about to throw punches right in the middle of the courtyard. "What's going on with them? Do they not like each other?" she asks, clearly sensing the tension.

"They used to be best friends," Soo-ha sighs. "But things went sour. Now they always go after each other."

Class starts, and as if on cue, our tutor, Mr. Han, makes his grand announcement. "So, Seojun is finally back. Nice to see him again, right?" The whole class responds excited, everyone starts clapping like it is some kind of reunion special.

Mr. Han smiles. "Seojun, why don't you sit next to Suho?"

Seojun makes a face like he'd just been asked to do the impossible. "What?" he grumbles, looking around like he'd rather sit anywhere else.

Instead of heading to Suho's side, he make a beeline for my sister's desk. With a loud thud, he hits her table with his foot and says in the most rude, arrogant voice, "Hey, you. Move."

Ju-kyung looks around, confused. "Me?"

Seojun nods. "Yeah. This used to be my seat."

Before Ju-kyung can respond, Mr. Han interrupts, "She's sitting there because of bad eyesight, Seojun. Tae-hoon, why don't you switch seats with Suho?"

I shoot Seojun a death glare, the kind I usually reserve for guys who mess with my sister. You don't get to treat her like that, buddy.

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At break, I head to the bathroom, but when I come back, there's a group of guys surrounding Seojun's desk. I can't hear much, but whatever's happening, it doesn't look good. Seojun stands up suddenly, hitting the table dramatically before storming out with the group.

"Is he always getting himself into trouble?" I mutter to myself. Drama magnet, I swear.

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At lunch, Ju-kyung brings him up again, her curiosity clearly piqued. "By the way, Han Seojun seems a bit...rough."

Soo-ha, as always, is quick to add her two cents. "Oh, he definitely has a bad boy vibe. Rumor has it, it wasn't actually a leave of absence. They say he was suspended for beating a kid to death."

I snort, trying to hold back a laugh. "That's ridiculous."

Su-jin, ever the realist, shakes her head. "He said he took time off for family matters. Don't believe rumours."

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The rest of the day goes by in a blur, and soon enough, I'm back home, finally relaxing in bed. It feels like heaven. That is, until Ju-kyung suddenly bolts upright in her bed with the most surprised look I've ever seen on her face.

She rushes to her makeup desk, frantically doing one side of her face with makeup. I raise an eyebrow, watching her with mild concern. "Unnie, what are you doing?"

"Don't worry! I'll tell you all about it later!" she says in a rush, storming out of the room before I can say anything else.

Okaaay then. That's weird, even for Ju-kyung.

A few minutes later, she storms back in, this time looking even more frantic. "Mimi, can I borrow that helmet?"

I'm still in a daze. "Ye—" I start to say yes, but she snatches it up before I can even finish the word and dashes out again.

I stare at the empty space where she was just standing. "That's...definitely the weirdest thing she's ever done," I mutter, sinking back into my bed.