tangled; park woojin

18

Lunch with the Brand New™ boys and Hayun became a regular thing now. They don't have to make an arrangement for it, or tell each other that they'll be sitting together. It just happens naturally, like they've been doing this for the past 100 years. Well, maybe, the boys have been doing it for the past 100 years since Soojin rarely ever sees them with other people. Come to think of it, it was kind of weird. But Soojin can't complain. She's more than thankful that she actually has lunch buddies now (apart from Hayun, of course).

No matter how hard Soojin tries to dismiss it and just brush it off, the Brand New™ boys are seriously a thing here at school, and probably outside, too. Their music is pretty okay—not that she willingly wasted her mobile data on it, Donghyun practically forced his headphones on her. And, well, they're not that bad-looking. Daehwi is obviously a cutie pie, Youngmin is Youngmin, Donghyun's okay, and Woojin... yeah. She'll just stop at that.

She's not even sure she's allowed to say that about Youngmin. Hayun thinks he's too nice to Soojin and apparently not nice enough to her or something. Long story short, Hayun maybe has a crush on him. Maybe.

Soojin left fourth period early because their teacher allowed them to after they finished whatever they finished, so off to the cafeteria she went. Taking a seat at their usual table, Soojin took out her phone and waited for her friends to arrive.

The Brand New™ boys minus Daehwi arrived around the time the bell for lunch rang. They made their way to Soojin and put down their bags.

"Where's Hayun?" Youngmin asked suddenly after they got there.

"Is this how you greet your favorite friend now?" Soojin said. Yep, she speaks now.

"You loser, do your History essay first," Woojin said as they sat down.

"You still haven't done it?" Donghyun asked Youngmin, who nodded. Donghyun then initiated a high-five between the two.

"You're seriously celebrating the fact that you have to skip lunch just to cram that..." Soojin observed.

"Get on our level, Soojin," Youngmin said and exaggeratedly flipped his hair.

She and Woojin shared a look and then rolled their eyes at them. Yep, this has lately been a thing. Not like a thing thing. It's seriously meaningless, she swears.

Donghyun stood up and put his bag on. Youngmin followed suit.

"'Bye, I guess," Donghyun said. "Pray that their are still PCs available in the library."

"But maybe you can make us suffer less by giving us your sources?" Youngmin tried to suggest.

"Just go, sweetie," Soojin told him.

And so they went, leaving Woojin and Soojin together at their usual table.

"Really, though, where is Hayun?" Soojin wondered out loud.

"Probably just late because she was talking to everyone she bumps into," Woojin guessed.

"True."

"By the way, have you asked your mom about Buzzer Beat?" Woojin asked her. "It's in a few weeks."

Soojin knew that it's in a few weeks. Eighteen days to be exact. She's probably the most excited girl ever, but who wouldn't be if you're getting the chance to see the loves of your life for free? The only thing left to do is tell her mom about it. It wasn't exactly the easiest thing to do.

"I haven't yet," she answered him.

"Why not? You won't have to pay for anything. Maybe the taxi fare, but that's really not a huge thing."

"She isn't exactly my number one supporter when it comes to these things," Soojin explained.

"Hip-hop artists?"

"That and concerts in general."

"You're kidding," Woojin said. "Don't tell me you haven't even been to one."

Soojin's embarrassed smile gave him the answer.

"No way!" Woojin exclaimed a little louder than he should have, which led to people around them giving them the look. After muttering an apology, he continued, "That's just... You do know how often concerts are held here?"

"I know," Soojin said. "I've learned not be sad about it too much."

"You need to come to Buzzer Beat," Woojin said. "Like seriously. You can't miss this. And you'll be coming with me, Donghyun, Youngmin and possibly Hayun! Can't you sneak out?"

Soojin sighed. "I'd try, but I'd probably feel horrible about it. Betraying my mom, I mean."

"You're like, eighteen years old. You can't not have gone to a concert ever."

"Well, I haven't."

"You know what?" Woojin said.

"What?" Soojin asked.

"I'm gonna help you attend and enjoy the best show of your life," Woojin declared.

"You don't have to—"

"I want to."