B A R C O D E

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      "Hyungwon-ah! It's your first day at your new school, you need to get up! And your birthday is next week!" Hyungwon's mother yelled. Their family had just moved to the states from Seoul. His brother was attending college in Massachusetts, and they wanted the financial cut of in-state residency. This meant Hyungwon had to move too. They live right outside of Boston in a small, crowded town. He wasn't opposed to moving here since his best friend, Changkyun, lived there as well. They have been best friends since they were babies even though he was a year older than Changkyun. A year ago Changkyun's father got a job offer as a college professor, so they moved. Hyungwon grumpily lifted himself out of bed and got into the shower. He turned the water on and stepped in to feel the burning water pelt his skin. He loved that feeling. He washed his face, hair, and body and stepped out to find a hoodie and jeans sitting on the bathroom counter. He slipped on the black ripped jeans and his oversized gray hoodie, dried his hair, and looked in the mirror. I can't believe I have to do this, he thought. He ruffled his hair and walked downstairs into the kitchen.
"I made you breakfast and packed you some snacks!" his mother smiled brightly as she placed down a plate of two fluffy pancakes in front of him.
"Eomma, I'm almost seventeen. You didn't have to do this."
"Just eat it and be grateful," she laughed.
"Gomawoyo," he giggled. He ate the food and checked his phone.
                                                   ⟦7:30 AM⟧
"Shit mom, I'm gonna be late!" he yelled running towards the door.
"Have a good day Wonnie!" she yelled.
Hyungwon ran through the door and down the street to his bus stop. The yellow bus was about to close the door when Hyungwon ran up to it.
"Just in time kid," the bus driver smiled.
Hyungwon bowed and found a place to sit. All eyes were on him as he took a seat on the crowded bus. He shyly put his hood over his head and popped in his headphones. As Fancy ran through his ears he received a text.
⟦Kyunnie:3⟧
How's the bus? I was gonna walk with you but your mom said you had already left.
    ⟦Wonnie:p⟧
                    I uh... I almost missed it... heh
As Changkyun continued to scold Hyungwon on being late, the bus arrived at the school. The bright gray bricks with dark blue ones creating the pattern of a sachem and large windows made the school look amazing. The bus pulled in and all the kids walked off the bus. Hyungwon saw Changkyun sitting on a bench by the entrance and quickly ran over and hugged the small boy.
"Hyungwon, you made it! You finally got your tall skinny body out of bed and did something!" Changkyun smiled.
"Well yeah, I just had to ride the bus," he scoffed.
"Well knowing you it probably didn't go well," he giggled.
Hyungwon lightly punched the boy's arm. "You're such a jerk."
    "Good luck there buddy boy. It's gonna be a fun ride," he said and ran into the school.
Fun ride? he thought. He walked into the school and looked at his schedule. Hundreds of students gathered in the entrance and in hallways finding their way to class. He wandered and finally found his way to class. He smiled at the teacher and introduced himself. He said he could pick any seat he wanted as long as nobody was there. He found a desk unoccupied in the back and sat down. There was a backpack on the desk next to him but he decided to not bother finding out who it belonged to. He laid his head down still not fully awake and listened to music until the bell rang.