Chapter Text
*Mina*
[March 2022]
It's been a week since Jin's birthday, and winter break ends today, which means school starts... tomorrow. We're starting the first year of high school, and to be honest, I am as nervous as I am excited. Me, Jin, Yujin, Suho, and Jiho are all going to Haneul High. Although we'll find out tomorrow if we're in the same class or not.
*'Wanna be' by ITZY plays* That's my ringtone for Yujin, she's a huge ITZY fan. I pick up the video call and almost jump.
"Hey girl! You ready for tomorrow?" she says through a sheet mask. "If you don't have anything to do, wanna come over and have a sleep over?"
"First of all, what's up with your face? You almost gave me a heart attack." I say, calming myself.
"It's called a face mask. And are you coming or not? We can wear the masks together and watch a movie or something, it's the last day of winter break. We have to make the most of it!"
"Ok fine, I'll be there as soon as I'm done getting my uniform ready." I said, already getting started on it.
"Ok, bye, love you." she says, before kissing the camera of her phone and hanging up.
"This girl." I mutter, shaking my head and chuckling.
I quickly get my uniform ready, made sure everything I need is in my bag, grab my jacket and leave the house. I head over to my dad's gym next door to tell him I'm sleeping over at Yujin's.
"DAD! I'M SLEEPING AT YUJIN'S TONIGHT!" I yell from the entrance.
"OKAY." he yells back.
I put on my jacket and start to walk towards the bus stop, Yujin doesn't live far— just one bus ride and a few minutes of walking to get to her house. I reach the bus stop and sit down to wait for the bus, it's going to take a few minutes to arrive so I open my phone and send Yujin a text.
Me: Waiting for the bus :P
Yujin: Can't wait! (≧∇≦)ﾉ
Me: Do you have snacks?
Yujin: No T_T
Me: I'll get some on my way
Yujin: My savior \^o^/
Yujin: I owe you my life ^3^
Me: lol whatever
Me: The bus is here
*ping*
I get on the bus, pay with my phone and sit around the back. Then I checked my phone to see what reply Yujin sent, but I saw there were two notifications on my phone.
Yujin: Ok ╰(*°▽°*)╯
And...
Jin: Where you going?
Me: Wait, what?
Suddenly I feel a tap on my shoulder, I turn around to see... Jin.
"I said where are you going." He repeats.
"What are you doing here?" I ask, surprised to see him.
"I'm going to the market to pick up some things for my mum. What about you?" He replies.
"I'm going over to Yujin's."
He nods, "Come sit next to me." He pats the seat next to him.
I get up and sit next to him.
"So, are you excited for tomorrow?" I ask.
"A little, I guess, you?." He replies as he looks at me, resting his chin on his hand.
"I'm so excited, but I'm also nervous. I hope we all end up in the same class. Do you think we'll make a lot of new friends?"
"Not sure." He replies.
"Oh! This is my stop. See you tomorrow— bye." I say, hurrying to get off in time.
The air outside is still cool, even though spring is starting, it feels nice on my face. I stand there for a minute to enjoy the breeze and walk to the convenience store near the bus stop to grab some snacks before heading to Yujin's.
*Ding Dong*
Yujin's mum opens the door, "Hi Mina, how are you, dear?" She says, stepping back to let me in.
"Hey auntie," I take off my shoes, bowing my head, "I'm feeling good, how about you?"
"I'm good too. Yujin's in her room, waiting for you."
I walk to Yujin's room and, open the door to see her dancing around with headphones on. I sneak behind her and yank them off.
"Hey!" She yells, "When did you come in?" She asks confused, then her eyes drop to the bag of snacks in my hand. "Did you get the goods?" she asks, rubbing her hands together like a cartoon villain.
"Yes, I did." I say, laughing.
I help myself to Yujin's closet, pull out a pair of PJs and change into it. Then we sit on her bed, wrapped in blankets, watching a new drama that aired with snacks all around us.
A few episodes in.
"WHY WOULD THEY BREAK UP!?" She says, tears rolling down her cheeks.
"They love each other— why break up. That's just stupid." I say with tears in my eyes.
After that, I destroy her in 6 rounds of Street Fighter.
"You've got to be cheating!" She exclaims.
"You just suck." I shrug.
"It's not fair— you have real life experience." She says, making up excuses.
"That has nothing to do with clicking buttons on a controller, you're just bad."
Eventually, we go to sleep.
*Bzzzzzz Bzzzzzz*
I wake up at the sound of my alarm, quietly turning it off and slipping out of bed so I don't wake Yujin. It's only 5 am and I don't want to wake her.
"Mmmmhh," Yujin groans. "What time is it?" She asks, still half asleep.
"It's ok go back to sleep, there's still some time till school starts." I say gently.
"Where are you going?" She asks.
"Just going home, I'll see you at school." I whisper.
"Mmmmm." And she's out cold again.
I change back into what i was wearing yesterday— a hoodie and leggings— and jog to the gym. The gym I go to is a 30 minute jog from my house, but only 10 minutes from Yujin's.
By the time finished my workout, it was 6:11 am, and almost 6:40 by the time I reached home. I take a shower, change into my uniform, make myself a quick breakfast, get my bag, leave my dad a note, telling him I'm gone to school and head to the bus stop.
School starts at 8, but I like to go early, the quiet bus and empty hallways helps me calm my nerves and clear my head.
I get off the bus and walk to school. 'Haneul High School', it says in big letters at the entrance. I go inside and check the bulletin board—I'm in class 1-3. I find the classroom, open the curtains and sit in the random seat around the back. I check the time and it's 7:30 am, I get up to look around and see a couple of students coming into school. The way they look familiar with the school, seems like they're second years or third years.
I'm still roaming around when i see a teacher, I bow and greet her.
"Hello, teacher." I say.
"Are you a first year?" she asks.
"Yes, I am. My name is Mina Lee."
"Do you know what class you're in, Mina?" She asks.
"I'm in class 1-3, Ma'am." I reply.
"Oh, I'm your home room teacher for this year. My name's Mi Young Shin, call me Ms. Shin."
"Nice to meet you, Ms. Shin." I say with a smile.
"Well if you ever have any questions, feel free to come ask me. I have to go now, but I'll see you in class."
"Ok, Ma'am." I bow and go back to the classroom.
There's quite a lot of students in school now, since it's almost 8. I sit down and notice someone next to me.
"Hi. My name's Mina Lee." I say.
"Hey, I'm Hana Lim." She replies quietly.
"Do you want to exchange phone numbers?" I ask.
"Sure." She smiles.
*Ding dong Ding dong*
The bell for class rang and Ms. Shin came in, hushing everyone.
"Good morning, class. My name is Mi Youn—"
The door to the classroom burst open, interrupting her introduction, and Yujin slowly slips in.
"I'm so sorry I'm late, I got lost." she says, out of breath.
"It's fine, find your seat and make sure it doesn't happen again." Ms. Shin sighs.
Yujin sits in the empty desk next to me and waves.
"As I was saying, my name is Mi Young Shin and I'll be your homeroom teacher for this year, you all will call me Ms. Shin or teacher."
After that everyone introduces themself, and we have regular classes.
Me, Suho and Yujin are in the same class, but Jin and Jiho are in class 1-2.
When lunch came around, Jin and Jiho come to our class and we have a little get together.
"Mina, why didn't you wake me for school." She says, poking me in the ribs.
"How's your home room teacher?" Jin asks.
"She's nice." I reply.
"Nice?" Suho and Yujin say at the same time.
"She's so mean," Suho sulks.
"She's the devil! She's picking on me on the first day." Yujin whines.
"That's because you made a bad first impression." I tell her.
"Then what about me?" Asks Suho. "I didn't do anything, why's she picking on me?"
"Maybe she can sense the vibes of a trouble maker." I say, making the group laugh.
We all head to the cafeteria, get our lunches and go to sit down.
"Let's sit there." I point at a table with a girl sitting alone.
"But there's someone sitting there." Says Jiho.
"It's ok, I know her." I say, making my way to the table.
I sit next to the girl, making her look up.
"Hi, Hana. Mind if we sit with you?" I ask her.
"Oh, it's fine. Sit." she says quietly.
"Hey, so your name's Hana." Jiho says, sitting across from her. "It's as pretty as your face." He winks, making her blush.
"Leave the poor girl alone," Suho scolds. "Don't mind him— He's always like this."
After that we finish our food while chatting, put away our trays and headed back to class.
*Ding dong ding dong*
"Finally the day's over." Yujin stretches. "Freedom!" She says, making a run for it, but I grab the back of her shirt.
"No freedom for you, you have to go to cram school."
*(cram school is a for-profit private educational institution common in east asian countries.)*
"But I don't want to." She whines.
"Ok, I'll call your mum and tell her that."
"Hello, Aunty? Yujin said she won't go to cram school." I pretend to call her mum.
"Fine I'll go." She says, storming off and mumbling something I couldn't catch.
"Hey, how was class?" Jin came out of no where.
"It was alright, I have to drop off Yujin at her cram school so she doesn't run away like last time." I tell him.
"Hahah, good luck." He says.
"Thanks, I'm gonna need it, I'll see you later." I say, waving.