GUNS & ROSES | ꜱᴇᴠᴇɴᴛᴇᴇɴ

v. ✓

𝒗.

Edited.

In a frenzied rush, I bounded down the spiral staircase of Sakura High's library, desperately trying to make it to my next class—Music. The quiet hum of the library had almost lulled me to sleep, and I had accidentally dozed off after turning only a few pages.

I scolded myself silently, vowing never to force myself to read again.

"Ah!"

Once again, I collided with someone amidst my haste.

Not again, I thought, frustrated by the timing of it all.

"I'm terribly sorry!" I quickly bowed to the person I had bumped into, preparing to continue my mad dash. However, my wrist was firmly grasped, preventing me from escaping.

"What?" Irritation etched my face as I turned to face the person who had detained me. But as soon as my eyes met his, my annoyance dissipated. It was the boy with the scar—the same boy from this morning at the lake.

"You dropped this," he stated, his voice still gruff, devoid of any warmth. He extended a piece of paper toward me, and my eyes widened in recognition.

My music notes!

I snatched the paper from his outstretched hand and hurriedly shoved it back into the file I was carrying. "T-Thank you," I managed to stammer, feeling a slight tinge of embarrassment.

He remained silent, his gaze fixed on me for a few seconds before abruptly turning and disappearing around a corner of the hallway, leaving me perplexed and wondering about his enigmatic nature.

What's with that guy?

Barely making it to Music class on time, I settled in the last row of the classroom, hoping to avoid any further embarrassment. The two-hour lesson passed by in a blur as my mind wandered, unable to shake off thoughts of the boy and his distinctive scar.

The scar seemed personal, intimate—a secret he didn't want anyone to see. His reaction earlier when I inadvertently caught sight of it made that much clear.

Letting out a deep sigh, I gathered my notes and belongings, stuffing them into my bag before exiting the classroom.

"Dani!"

My head snapped around at the sound of my name. Jieqiong and Chaeyeon were waving excitedly from a distance. I walked over to them.

"Hi, both of you," I greeted with a smile. "Just finished class?"

"Yes, we're heading to the café. Care to join us?" Chaeyeon offered, her smile warm and inviting.

I shrugged. "Sure, why not."

Together, we walked to the café located across from the cafeteria. After ordering our drinks, we settled into seats near the window.

"So, what do you think of Sakura so far?" Jieqieong asked, sipping her drink through a straw.

"It's been good, I guess?" I replied, uncertainty lacing my voice. Describing my feelings about the school was difficult; after all, I had only been here for a week.

"Oh, I just received a text message from Doyeon," Chaeyeon interjected, her gaze fixed on her phone. "The Springfest is scheduled for next Friday."

"Next week?!" Jieqieong nearly spits out her drink, her voice tinged with half-shrieking panic. "Why are they informing us so late? How will we find time to shop for new dresses?"

Chaeyeon rolled her eyes, seemingly unfazed by Jieqieong's dramatic outburst. "Jieqiong-ah, you have a closet full of new dresses. Some even have the price tags still intact."

Jieqiong, already engrossed in her phone, muttered something about needing to contact her designer immediately.

Curiosity piqued, I interrupted their conversation. "What exactly is the Springfest?"

Chaeyeon smiled, but there was something unsettling about it, something hidden beneath the surface. "It's like a formal event, but the Sakura Springfest is grander and more special than any other school formal."

Intrigued, I raised an eyebrow. I had attended formals and proms in my previous high school, but the Sakura Springfest seemed to hold a unique allure.

"Oh, it's because of the food, the dancing, and the drama," Chaeyeon explained, her smile still tinged with an uncanny aura.

There was something off about her smile, something that sent a shiver down my spine.

Chaeyeon suddenly announced that she needed to return to class, and Pinky, still engrossed in her phone call, bid me a hurried goodbye before trailing after Chaeyeon.

As if on cue, the school bell rang, signaling the end of lunch.

***
quite short ud but more is coming!