single. (+ chanbaek)

[00] PROLOGUE

AUTHOR — [KAM] / [ subjonginnie ]

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  HAJOON HAS SEEN her before — though he would never imagine she would be in a place like this with a red plastic cup in hand. He has also seen her in much different clothes and a different hairstyle and with a naked face, rather than now. A graphic band tee of sorts, black jeans, black, tied up boots up to her knee. He saw her in her high school uniform all the time, with her hair down and a more or less bare face than a painted one. Not that her makeup is heavy, but it is noticeable enough on her.

  She's alone, sitting on the bench of the foyer, hunched over with her elbows on her knees. The girl looks blankly at the loud party ahead, then down at her drink, then up again. She sits back, sighing.

  Hajoon decides to plop himself down next to her. When he does, she freezes, glancing at him briefly.

  "You seemed lonely," Hajoon offers a smile to her.

  The girl shrugs. "Not really. My friend just dragged me here, and I guess I'm just trying to relax a bit. Parties are anxiety inducing for me."

  Hajoon hums. "I get that. Who's your friend?"

  "She's a junior, you probably wouldn't know her."

  "I know you, though."

  The girl blushes, clenching her plastic cup. "H-How?"

  Hajoon smiles a bit wider. "Just seen you around?"

  He notices how her shoulders relax and a relieved smile comes over her lips.

  "What?" Hajoon chuckles a little.

  "A part of me thought you might have been some kid stalking me or something."

  Hajoon puts his hand to his chest, mock gasping. "Ouch, warn me next time you're gonna offend me."

  An even bigger smile breaks on the girl's face as she leans back on the bench. "I'll think about it."

  "Seriously though," Hajoon slides a bit closer to her, "who's your friend?"

  She points to a girl dancing with one of his friends. Hajoon recognizes her too — she's always hung around the girl he's next to now. Her friend is a bit wild, compared to the girl.

  "She didn't want to go alone and our one friend bailed on her. So I'm here, and frankly," she pauses and gags. "I don't think she needs me anymore."

  The friend has already begun making out with Hajoon's classmate. Hajoon tears his eyes away, also gagging a little. "Yeah, okay, wanna sneak out of this with me?"

  The girl blushes a little. She parts her lips to say something, but barely a squeak comes out and her face reddens more