Chapter Text
ACORN'S POV
Dear Diary,
Exams. The real boss battle. Forget knife fights, forget rock wars. This is the endgame.
Ivan? Exempt. He is lounging in the hospital with free Jell-O, while the rest of us are bleeding ink onto test papers like martyrs.
The Exam War Zone
Scene: Lecture Hall.
Mizi: Whisper-singing Alien Stage lyrics under her breath while filling in bubbles. If she starts harmonizing with her Scantron, I am leaving.
Luka: Halfway through his essay, but also halfway through scrolling the forum for #JusticeForIvan. Priorities, man.
Hyuna: Answering with the speed and fury of someone who wants to personally strangle the periodic table. I pity chemistry.
Sua: Eerily calm. She finishes early, folds her paper like origami, and just sits there staring. Freshmen cry.
Hyunwoo: Cracked his knuckles before starting and has not stopped since. The sound echoes like gunfire every five minutes.
Till: Pale, sweating, probably one essay question away from writing his will in the margins. Ibani sits on his backpack outside the hall, yowling like a funeral dirge.
Me: I used my last pencil and am now bargaining with God using potato chips.
Spoiler: He doesn't want them.
The Iron Claw Harassment
Just when we thought stress peaked, guess who won't shut up?
Iron Claw.
Their leader — recently out on bail and definitely jobless — keeps spamming the forums:
"Alien Stage are frauds."
“They framed us.”
“Even their cat's a scam.”
Okay, buddy. You lost a rock duel and a knife fight. Stop subtweeting us like a rejected Sound Cloud rapper.
Of course, Luka cannot resist replying. Hyuna has to confiscate his phone mid-exam break. Sua threatens to hex the forums if it keeps up. Honestly? I kind of want her to.
Hospital Visit: The Soft Part (Unfortunately)
After the last exam, we drag our corpses to the hospital to check on Ivan. He looks way too cheerful for someone with stitches. Probably because he hasn't touched a math test all week.
"Miss me?" He says, grinning. Till immediately blushes. I immediately gag.
We're halfway through scolding him for smiling too much when the door opens.
Enter: Ivan's Dad
Mr. Sunshine Quarterback Sr. walks in, all tailored suit, sharp eyes, calm smile that screams "I could end you without leaving fingerprints."
He listens to our whole Iron Claw sob story. Nods once. Then:
"Don't worry. I will handle it tomorrow."
And just like that, mafia-dad energy radiates across the room. I swear Till stopped breathing. Mizi squeaked. Hyunwoo looked impressed, which is saying something.
Me? I am sitting there clutching a vending machine pudding cup like it's a stress ball, wondering if we just got drafted into a crime syndicate.
The Radio Silence
Next morning: Iron Claw = GONE.
No posts. No threads. No trash talk. Forums buzzing with "???" and conspiracy theories.
Did they vanish? Did they surrender? Did Ivan's dad actually...?
Dear Diary, I don't know what happened, and frankly, I don't want to.
All I know is: Finals nearly killed us, Ivan's dad is probably scarier than any professor, and if Iron Claw resurfaces, it won't be tomorrow. Or the next day.
Note to self:
Exams = worse than knife fights.
Ivan's dad = do not cross.
If I disappear, tell the world my chips deserved better.