─────── 𝐂 𝐇 𝐀 𝐏 𝐓 𝐄 𝐑    𝟐𝟕 ───────

[11:03am]

If Heeseung was the ace, Kang Yesol was much more than that. She participated in almost every class the Pendulin 12 majored in. And if she didn't take that class it most definitely didn't mean she couldn't do it. Oh no, she could do everything.

Today she sat in beauty and lifestyle, just across from Shin Hari.

"Today students," Madame Blanchet, their teacher, began. "We'll be having more of a freestyle lesson. You'll be spending the first 40 minutes designing and planning a whole look including hair, makeup and outfit. And then we'll be presenting ahead of tomorrow's lesson where we'll begin executing what we've planned for the spring project of this semester."

The tall lady looked around, "Any questions?"

Everyone shook their heads.

Madame Blanchet clapped her hands. "Great! You may begin."

Everyone got to work, getting up to go to the shelves where all sorts of arts and crafts were stored. From colored pens to fabrics to even cutting knives.

Hari caught a peek of what Yesol was working on when she made her way back to her seat after collecting what she needed.

One thing that was driving Hari now that she was back was that she needed to prove herself better than Yesol.

This lesson was her specialty, her claim to fame.

[11:07am]

Third period on Mondays was Aera's free hour. And so she decided to use this time to head over to her uncle's carpentry store.

The bells that hung over the entrance door chimed loudly, letting Mr. Min know that a customer had arrived.

His shiny, bald head peeked out from behind the counter, "Oh, Aera, what a pleasant surprise!!"

She walked over to where he was, smiling. "Hi uncle Min! How are you?"

"I'm good," he replied, cleaning up his hands with a towel. "Now tell me dear, what brings you here?"

"Well," Aera carefully took out the tissue from her bag and placed it in front of him. "I was wondering if you could tell me where this piece of wood came from?"

Her uncle frowned, slowly bringing the wrapped up bundle closer to him. He unraveled it, carefully taking out the smooth timber in his hands. He examined it, bringing it closer to his hand and turning it around.

"Hmm, I'll take this in and look at it later for you. I'm quite busy now," Mr. Min explained, turning around to place the item in a drawer.

"Yeah, that's totally fine," Aera said. "Can I ask how long it will take though."

"Give me three days," he began scattering around his workplace, metal items clattering almost everywhere. "Just too many things to do these days."

"No problem, I'll be back in three days then," Aera picked up her bag, slinging it on her shoulder. "Bye."

"Bye Aera."

She left the store, making a left turn to walk back to the bus stop, unbeknownst of the figure that was watching her from behind a bush.

[11:47am]

"How come you're not at violin practice Jiu? I'm pretty sure I saw the others there," Ahyeun turned to the girl walking next to her.

"Well, I lost my bow. I'm getting a new one soon and until then my teacher said I can skip the lessons," Jiu shrugged.

"Oo, lucky you then," Ahyeun nodded, turning to her side and spotting a familiar figure sat in the corner of the table rows. "Look, there's Jungwon. Let's go and say hi."

Before Jiu could even properly answer, Ahyeun had left her side - already a couple of meters ahead. The girl rushed over to her, "Slow down."

"Oops, sorry," Ahyeun apologized, waiting for Jiu to catch up to her.

They both approached the half asleep Jungwon, who had a thick textbook open in front of him whilst his eyes dozed off as his chin rested on his palm.

The two girls shared looks before Ahyeun lightly tapped his shoulder. "Jungwon?" she asked, getting no response at first. She decided to shake him harder, "Jungwon?!"

He sat up, eyes opening wide in shock. "What the fuck?!?!"

Seeing a smiling Jiu and Ahyeun towering over him, he felt calmer. "You scared me."

"Aha sorry," Ahyeun apologized, rubbing his back. "You shouldn't be sleeping here anyways. It would've been worse if a teacher caught you instead."

"Aishh right," Jungwon stretched his arms.

"Why are you so tired Jungwon-ah, do you not get enough sleep?" she asked him, whilst an awkward Jiu stood next to her staring at the ground.

"I do... most of the time. Just not recently."

She looked down at the boy, her lips turning down. "Ah, please take better care of yourself. It's going to hurt you more if you don't."

Jungwon sighed, loudly packing up his stuff. "It's fine, I'll be fine," he stood up.

Ahyeun wasn't so sure, clearly he was overworked.

"Well then," she said, "Me and Jiu will be going."

The two girls stepped out of Jungwon's way, bending round the edge of the round table. Jungwon put his hand forward, stopping Jiu from moving further.

"She'll go with me," Jungwon said. Ahyeun frowned, confused.

"Why?"

"I want to speak to her about something, I hope you understand."

His statement didn't at all resolve her skepticism. "Oh, uhm yeah. Sure."

Jiu looked at Jungwon dumbstruck. "What?" she muttered in his direction.

Ahyeun wasted no time getting out of there and she was gone within seconds. Now only Jungwon and Jiu were left behind.

"What did you want to speak about?" Jiu hesitated asking as they began walking.

"I've been thinking."

She gulped. "About?"

"You."

"Oh, why?" Jiu strenuously chuckled.

"You remind me of someone," Jungwon explained. "Someone I knew years ago."

"Who?" She was now curious.

"This girl. I think I liked her, like a lot but I probably fucked up the only chance I had with her."

Jiu pouted, "Oh no, how so?"

Jungwon turned his head to the side, looking down at the girl who was straining her neck up slightly. "Let's just say I didn't treat her very well."

Jiu let out a little laugh that ringed in his's ear. "What, like in cliche stories where the girl's bully is mean to her because he's secretly in love with her?"

It sounded impossible, too romanticized to happen in real life.

"Yeah basically."

"What was her name?" Jiu asked as they stepped out onto the lawn.

He shrugged, "I don't know, I never asked."

She blinked, side eyeing him. "Where is she now then?"

"I don't know that either. After the whole bullying thing I didn't see her around ever."

"Do you miss her?"

"A bit, yeah."

Jiu bit her lip anxiously, "You know how you said I remind you of her, can I ask how?"

They stopped walking, turning face to face.

Jungwon stared at her intently to the point where Jiu felt like she would explode if he didn't turn his gaze.

"It's the eyes, you have the same eyes. Light brown ones."

He paused, rethinking something in his mind. His hands trailed down, gently pulling Jiu's left hand towards their faces. Using his thumb, he caressed her brown heart shape on her wrist. "And this birthmark, she had a similar one here too."

Jiu was well aware of their close proximity, their warm breaths mingling between the air they shared, her hand in his hands.

"Oh," was all she said, continuing to watch Jungwon's fingers never ungrasp her palms.

[3:12pm]

Jongseong couldn't wait to get out of school, he was on a very important mission.

Striding up Millway Cross, he entered into Davenport City- the neighboring district to Pendulin. His journey continued a couple more kilometers, further into the city center and into the depths of a maze of endless roads.

He stopped outside a red door. The familiar number 182 plate hung in front of him.

Jongseong reached out to press the doorbell, stepping down from the porch again to wait.

A lady opened the door, peering out. Her face soured as soon as she saw who her guest was.

"Ahh Park Jongseong," the lady pursed out her lips in a thin line. "How can I help you?"

"Mrs. Lee. Chunhee," Jongseong said, pointing past her shoulders. "Is she in there?"

Her face hardened, "Even if she was you can't see her."

"Why not?"

"She's not feeling very well."

"But it's important."

"It can wait."

"Absolutely not," Jongseong retorted. "You don't understand."

"I do not need to understand!" she raised her voice, before swiftly cleaning her throat. "I've given you my final word Mr. Park, Chunhee is not free as of the moment."

Jongseong paused, carefully thinking of his next move. "It's about her baby. Our baby."

Mrs. Lee's eyes widened, but she tried to let it show. "I'll see what arrangements I can make."

She turned around and closed the door behind her, leaving Jongseong waiting for her again.

After a couple of minutes, the door opened again. This time revealing a tired looking Chunhee.

"Jongseong."

"Chunhee," he stepped forward, reaching for her hands but she was quickly to push him away.

"Please don't touch me."

He stepped back again, feeling guilty.

"Why are you here?" she coldly asked.

"I heard about your..."

He looked at her stomach, Chunhee's arms consciously crossing over it when she realized.

"Yeah and?"

"Is it mine?"

Chunhee's jaws tightened, and Jongseong could swear for a second he saw her hands shaking. "I don't know Jongseong."

"How could you not?"

She let out a small shrug, "I-I just don't."

"Who else would it be?" He raised his eyebrows.

Chunhee's face shot up, "N-no one, I didn't have sex with anyone else around that time."

He slowly stepped towards her. She flinched when his cold fingers caressed the side of her face. "Then it has to be me."

She gave up because there was no arguing that. "Y-yeah, you're right."

Sliding his hands behind the back of her head, Jongseong pushed her face towards his chest. His other hand wrapped around her waist.

Chunhee burst out crying on his shoulders, gliding her arms tightly across his torso.

———