Stars in the Morning Sky (Suho x OC | True Beauty)

Chapter 1

Stars illuminated the galaxy on the ceiling. In the small bedroom, hair treatment and styling tools lined the dressing table along with dozens of skincare products. A YouTuber demonstrated hair techniques, though there was no one in front of the little screen.

"Hanbyeol," her mum poked her head through the door. "Make sure you go to sleep soon. You start your new school tomorrow."

"Yes, mum," the girl replied, still focused on fixing her hair in the mirror.

It was nearly two years later and Hanbyeol was now in her second year of high school. Throughout the years, she bought new hair products and watched various tutorials. She had improved her looks immensely and her silky, wavy hair now bounced down to her waist. Being parted differently and with no bangs in front of her face, her light brown eyes were now shining to the world.

Of course, she didn't have enough money to spend on her face as well. It was only last month that she bought skincare products when her sister said that she would never spend money on them. She bought them straight away out of pettiness.

Hanbyeol finished her night routine before going to sleep, dreaming about her transformation at her new school. While she slowly changed her hair at her old school, she still felt the weird sneers and rough shoulders since they remembered her previous look.

Her blotchy skin now also began disappearing due to her recent skincare routine. It wasn't clear as a diamond, but a bit of makeup would cover up the rest as it continued to improve. Hanbyeol also decided not to worry about the small mole under her eye; it was part of what made her stand out and it was part of her – a 'beauty spot' as her mum called it.

The girl was starting fresh with a new look at a new school. This was what made her smile about most as she woke up the next day, starting her daily routine before the sun was up. She was finally showing her fully transformed self, and she felt like she could do anything.

"Are you sure you'll be alright at this new school?" Hanbyeol's mum asked her when she arrived downstairs for breakfast.

"Of course, mum," Hanbyeol reiterated for the tenth or so time. "I really wanna be part of a band but the school band now sucks. Saebom High has a good one."

That was the main reason the girl begged her mum to transfer schools, and it wasn't a lie. Nearly everyone was leaving her old school band and the only people who stayed were terrible.

Her mother, Eunbin, was a teacher and was changing to work at Saebom High. When Hanbyeol found out, she requested to transfer right away. To help her case, the distance to the school was almost the same as her old one, just two minutes further.

"Besides, I'll be with you," Hanbyeol kissed her mother's cheek before she sat down for breakfast.

"What about Dohee?" her mother asked again.

"She left a few months ago cos her family moved to Jeonju."

Hanbyeol also had to reassure her parents that she wasn't being bullied and that it wasn't the reason for her transfer.

Once she finished her toast and fruits, she packed her bag, and her mum drove them to their new school. Her sister, Hanbin, left early to go to Seoul University; she was eager in her first year to hang out with her many friends.

While Hanbyeol loved her sister, she used to be jealous of how beautiful she was. Their aunties would always say that their names should be switched around – that Hanbin was a boy's name and that Hanbyeol was a pretty name. The younger sister would laugh it off but clung onto her mum's old words: 'Being happy and being yourself makes you keep shining the brightest.'