THE BET (TripleS mochiz)

2 | First day

—present

It was Chaewon's first day at her new school Hanwav Arts High School. She had a hard time sleeping the night before Chaewon had spent most of the night wide awake, her mind spinning as she thought about everything that could go wrong on her first day. She'd read so much about Hanwav Arts High School—the classes, the amazing art programs, even the legendary performances its students put on. But now that it was her turn to walk through those doors, the pressure felt almost overwhelming.

Morning came, and she forced herself out of bed, rubbing her eyes. She stared at her uniform laid out neatly on a chair, the crisp blazer and plaid skirt looking pristine in comparison to her old uniform she'd been used to. She took her time getting dressed, adjusting the collar, then smoothing down the sleeves, hoping it would make her feel as confident as it looked.

Standing in front of her mirror, Chaewon checked her appearance one last time, pulling her long, dark hair into a neat ponytail and securing it with a soft pink ribbon, a touch of her own style. She applied a bit of lip balm, concealer, and a hint of blush, she wanted to look fresh but not too done up. She didn't want to stand out too much, but she still wanted to make a good impression.

As she glanced at the clock, her nerves hit her again. Her hand lingered on her phone, scrolling through messages from her old friends, who had all sent her encouraging texts. "You'll be amazing!" they wrote, with an added wave of emojis. She smiled, feeling a bit more grounded, and tucked her phone into her bag.

Her personal driver arrived just on time, stepping out and opening the door with a respectful bow. Chaewon took a steadying breath. This was it.. this was really happening. The realization made her even more nervous, but she didn't want to show it. She managed a small, grateful smile before sliding into the back seat.

Once she was settled, she put in her AirPods and started a playlist she'd made the night before, a mix of songs that always made her feel at ease. She watched the familiar streets fade into new ones as the driver headed toward Hanwav Arts High School. Each passing moment felt surreal, like she was watching her own life from outside herself.

Chaewon leaned back, trying to calm her mind, but thoughts of her new school flooded in. Would the other students like her? Would her art be good enough to fit in with Hanwav's best? She didn't want to stand out as the "new girl," but she also didn't want to fade into the background. There was a delicate balance, and she wasn't sure if she could find it.

The car finally pulled up to the massive campus, and Chaewon felt her heart skip. The building was stunning, with wide glass windows and elegant architectural touches that made it feel like stepping into an art gallery rather than a school. She took out her AirPods, stowed them in her bag, and took a steadying breath.

"Here we are, Miss Chaewon," the driver said gently.

She nodded, thanked him, and climbed out, clutching her bag a little tighter as she looked around. Students moved in groups, some chatting and laughing while others rushed to their classes. She took a step forward, and the driver gave her an encouraging nod before driving away.

She put on a poker face, as she had promised herself a month before that she would be different this year, more confident, bold, and she wouldn't let anyone push her around this year.

—

Inside the main building, Chaewon scanned her schedule, looking for her first class: Visual Arts, Room 203. As she made her way down the unfamiliar hallways, her nerves returned. She tried to follow the signs, but the sprawling hallways started to look like a maze. She was completely lost.

Just as her heart sank, she heard a voice behind her. "Need some help?"

Chaewon turned to see a girl with short, silver hair and a friendly grin. "First day?" the girl asked, her tone light.

Chaewon gave a shy nod. "Yeah... I'm looking for Room 203?"

"Ah, Visual Arts! You're close," the girl said with a laugh. "I'm Shion. I'm in the dance department, but my friend's in that class. I'll take you there."

Relieved, Chaewon followed Shion through the hallway. Shion chatted easily, telling her about the school, mentioning which teachers were strict and which students had big reputations. She even pointed out her favorite spots—the rooftop terrace, the dance studio with the best mirrors, and the cafeteria with surprisingly good coffee.

Finally, they reached Room 203. "Here you go! Just so you know, everyone here's pretty chill" Shion said with a reassuring smile. "If you ever want to watch a dance practice, swing by the studio sometime!"

Chaewon thanked her as she entered the classroom, glancing around to see a few students setting up easels and arranging art supplies. She took a seat near the back, hoping to ease into the day without drawing too much attention.

Class started, and soon the teacher handed out their first project assignment, a self-portrait. Chaewon's mind raced as she tried to think of a way to capture herself. She started sketching, finding a rhythm in the familiar movements of her pencil. Art had always been her escape, a way to express things she couldn't always say out loud.

As she worked, a girl with soft brown eyes and a gentle expression glanced over at her drawing. "Wow, that's amazing," she whispered. "Are you new here?"

Chaewon looked up, surprised at how pretty the girl next to her was. "Yeah, just transferred. I'm Chaewon." she replied with soft smile.

The girl smiled warmly. "I'm Hayeon. Let me know if you need any help with anything. It can be a bit overwhelming at first."

Chaewon nodded, feeling a bit more at ease. Between meeting Shion and now Hayeon, she felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe this school wouldn't be so daunting after all.

The rest of the day flew by. Between classes, she spotted familiar faces in the hallways and even had a quick lunch with Shion and her friend Joobin. Chaewon quickly got along with them and felt like maybe transferring wasn't so bad. As the final bell rang, Chaewon gathered her things, feeling lighter than she had that morning. She walked toward the front of the school, her steps more confident.

Outside, she found herself standing by the entrance, watching the sunset cast a warm glow over the school grounds. She took a deep breath, feeling like she'd taken her first steps toward something new, something wonderful.

As her driver pulled up, she felt a tap on her shoulder. "Wow you're pretty rich huh?" Chaewon turned around and saw the pretty girl from art class.

She gave her a awkward smile, and nodded not sure how to respond. "I guess?"  Hayeon let out a light chuckle, finding her reaction a bit cute.

"Don't worry almost everyone here is, including me of course" giving her a pat on her back before leaving.

As hayeon waved goodbye to her Chaewon felt an unusual feeling in her stomach, as if butterflies were swarming inside of her. After waving back, she slid into the car, smiling to herself. Maybe Hanwav Arts High School would be the start of something amazing.

— hayeon pov next