The New Girl | 𝘈𝘛𝘌𝘌𝘡

Something Isn't Right Here

As soon as I take my seat in English, I get a weird feeling in the pit of my stomach and have no idea why. Seonghwa smiles at me but doesn't say a word as I take my seat beside him.

I look at him and Wooyoung, waiting for someone to explain the strange silence, but I'm distracted by the giant splotch of maroon on Wooyoung's neck. "Wooyoung, holy—"

"—Anna," Seonghwa cuts me off with a slight shake of his head.

Wooyoung's face is now bright cherry red, but it's not out of bashfulness. If anything, he looks... ashamed?

"Morning everyone!" EJ strides into the room with a bright smile.

A few of the students mumble 'good morning' back to her as she scans the room.

"Today, we're..." her voice trails off as soon as her eyes fall on Wooyoung. "Um, I'm actually going to have you guys write a short reflection on the reading. It doesn't have to be anything special, just your thoughts about the story so far. If you'll excuse me, I have to go make a call."

The room let's out a few groans at having to do a writing assignment, EJ gives us a tight smile before walking out the door. Seonghwa stares Wooyoung down, watching him shrink into his chair with guilt.

"You fucked up, Woo. We agreed that we weren't going to do this anymore," Seonghwa says in a hushed voice before standing from his chair and walking out of the classroom just as Jongho arrives late.

"Where are you going, hyung?" Jongho asks.

"Cleaning up Wooyoung's mess," Seonghwa answers before leaving.

ELLAJIN

As cliché as it sounds, my heart hurts. There's a lump in my throat that's making it feel impossible to talk, and it feels like the blood in my veins has simply stopped circulating.

I'm such an idiot for getting this upset over a guy!

I force myself to take a deep breath, but it doesn't help. I crumble back against the wall of the girl's restroom, shaking as I try to keep my emotions in check.

"You should have known better," I quietly scold myself as I release a tear. "Why wouldn't he sleep with her? She's beautiful and young and confident. He probably only saw you as a challenge because you're older."

"Noona?" A melodic voice calls through the door with a soft knock. "Noona, it's Seonghwa."

I don't answer at first. I just frown at the door.

Of course, Seonghwa would come to comfort me like the sweetheart that he is.

"You know, Kim Seonghwa?" He says in a light tone. "Your favorite dongsaeng? Who hates knowing that you're crying when he can't give you hugs to make you feel better?"

I really can't say 'no' to these boys

I unlock the door hesitantly and open it just enough to let him in. As much as I hate crying in front of other people, I could really use a hug right now.

Seonghwa does just that, wrapping me in a warm hug as soon as he's safely inside. Even though I'm the older one, Seonghwa has always had a talent for making me feel safe.

"I'll kick his ass for you," he says softly, and I laugh slightly.

"Oh, sweetie, I love you but you couldn't harm a fly," I tease.

"I'd do it for my noona," he assures me. "You're my family. I'll always stand up for you."

"Please don't say anything to the rest of the guys." I'm definitely upset, but that doesn't mean I want Yunho and Jongho to tear Wooyoung in half.

"I would never," he promises, "and neither will Anna."

"I like her," I tell him suddenly. "You better be sweet to her."

"I don't know how to be any other way." He hugs me tighter, which only makes my heart hurt all over again and my tears resume flowing.

"Why can't every guy be like you?" I groan into his chest.

"Wooyoung has a sweet side to him too," he tells me. "You know that as well as I do."

I frown at the memory of him at the tea shop with that girl. "It's my fault."

"What?" Seonghwa pulls back slightly to look at me. "What are you talking about?"

"I hurt his feelings," I confess. "I called him a baby, even though I know that he hates when I remind him that he's younger."

"Yeah, he clearly didn't take that well," Seonghwa chuckles lightly and sighs.

This must be such an awkward conversation for him to be having. "We don't have to keep talking about me and Wooyoung. I know it's weird."

"Yeah, it's pretty weird," he admits, and we both giggle slightly. "This is what you get for rejecting me when I was 12."

I snort at that. "Yeah, serves me right."

ANNA

"Miss Kang, a word," Madame's voice makes me freeze in fear just as I was about to leave her class and get to safety.

I begrudgingly turn on my heels and walk over to her. "Yes, Madame?"

"We need to discuss your assignment in partnering class," she says calmly. "I'm sure you've noticed I didn't give you the easiest partner to work with."

"It's fine," I say quickly, even though I know that working with Mingi is going to be a challenge.

"He's a gifted dancer, but he lacks discipline. I felt it was fair to tell you that pairing you with him is not a punishment. Your recommendation lettters spoke very highly of your character, and I believe that Mr. Song will improve his own work ethic by working with you."

I let out a small sigh of relief, glad to know that she's not actually trying to punish me by having me pair with Mingi for class. "I'll do my best."

"That's all I ask." She smiles and pats my shoulder. "You may go now."

I bow to her before leaving the studio and find Yunho, Yeosang, and Wooyoung looking at a bulletin board outside of the studio. Wooyoung has a fat lip, and I can't help but wonder if Seonghwa did that after English class.

"Anna-banana!" Yunho waves enthusiastically as if I couldn't already spot his tall self across the hallway.

"Hey guys," I raise my hand in a wave and look around at the three of them, "what are you looking at?"

"Studio times for partnering," Yunho tells me.

I look at the paper posted on the wall and scan over the sheet to find me and Mingi's names on the list.

"So you're Mingi's partner?" Yeosang asks. If I didn't know better, I would think he sounded nervous about the fact.

"Yeah, I am," I tell him, and he gives his friend a look. "What?"

"It's nothing," Yunho says quickly. "We should really head to class before dad embarrasses us again."

"I did no such thing!" A loud voice says from right behind us.

"Uncle Hobi, you scared us!" Wooyoung clutches his chest as if he's experiencing a heart attack.

"Sorry," Mr. Jung laughs and pats him on the back, but then he notices the cut on his lip. "Who's girlfriend did you sleep with?"

"Dad..." Yunho says in a warning tone, and Mr. Jung frowns.

"I was only kidding!" He holds his hands up in innocence.

"Me and Seonghwa had a slight disagreement, but it's been resolved." Wooyong puts his hand over the cut self-consciously. "I'll be in class in just a minute."

Wooyoung excuses himself, leaving the rest of us to awkwardly make our way to class. Yeosang and I trail behind Yunho and his dad, who are whispering the entire way. I try to look at Yeosang for a clue as to what happened in the last few minutes, but he just smiles and acts like everything is normal.

Something isn't right here...