★ | #01 | chocolate milk
"what happened to your shirt?"

.𖥔 ݁ ˖ nicole's radio station
is now playing...

ever since new york • harry styles
"must this hurt you just before you go?"

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march,1999.

SHE tossed the napkin in the trash, a sigh leaving her lips as she tugged her blazer shut, attempting to cover the beige-colored stain left on her white blouse.

Senior year was hell.

School was hell.

Seong Haewon left the girl's bathroom, backpack swung over her shoulder as she kept her head hung low in embarrassment, pushing through the crowded hallways, insecurities rushing through her as her shoulders tensed up.

The slight breeze brushed against her skin delicately as she stepped outside, a heavy breath falling from her lips as her grip on the strap of her backpack loosened, relaxing underneath the newly spring air.

Her walk from there was more relaxed, as less people were found in the quiet of the school garden.

Haewon brought her hand up, threading her fingers through her hair, eyes wandering around in search of a comforting presence she was accustomed to.

As her eyes fell on his familiar face, hunched over a notebook as he tapped his pencil against his lips in concentration, headphones plugged into a Sony walkman.

She huffed out a small laugh before she quickened her steps, wrapping her arms around his shoulders from behind abruptly in a successful attempt to startle him.

"Boo." She said plainly, not much effort put into her words as he jumped in surprise from the contact.

Haewon stifled a laugh at his reaction, removing her arms from his shoulders as she shrugged off her backpack, taking a seat across from him at the picnic table he had claimed to use.

"Hello to you too, Haewon." Lee Heeseung snickered, rolling his eyes playfully as he pulled his headphones off of his ears, letting them hang loosely around his neck.

His hand reached out, pushing a small, paper bag across the table to reside in front of her, his gaze shifting up from his notebook to look at her.

"I got cookies for us to share from the vending machine." He murmured, eyes narrowing slightly upon notice of the stain on her blouse peeking out past her blazer, which she hugged close to her chest.

"Oh, really?" Haewon raised a brow, resting her chin in the palm of her hand. "This is why you're my best friend."

"Why? Because I get you snacks? Are you using me, Seong Haewon?" Heeseung scoffed teasingly, shaking his head as Haewon laughed and pursed her lips, shrugging it off nonchalantly.

"Hey, man, you take what you can get." She smirked, a sigh of content falling past her cherry pink lips.

"Yeah, right." Heeseung clicked his tongue, brushing off her joking antics before changing the subject to a different matter.

"What happened to your shirt?" He questioned, raising a brow as he set his pencil down, now giving her his undivided attention.

"Oh," Haewon let out, gaze shifting down to her stained blouse as her gaze sharpened at the thought, rolling her eyes slightly, "chocolate milk." She replied.

"Chocolate milk?" Heeseung breathed out a laugh, tilting his head off to the side. "How did you manage to do that?"

"I spilled it on myself." Haewon responded, as Heeseung stared at her, unconvinced as he rolled his eyes.

"Yeah right, you liar. What really happened?" He raised a brow, doe eyes boring into hers as he waited quietly for an honest response.

The girl groaned in annoyance, muttering a string of curses underneath her breath. "Kim Miyoung."

His expression softened, pressing his lips together in a thin line as he skimmed over her expression.

"She's still bothering you?" Heeseung frowned, drumming his fingers against the wooden table top.

"I would've assumed she'd be mature and leave you alone and focus on her work given that we're already in senior year. But, I assume I held her higher than she truly is." He added on, furrowing his brows.

"It's whatever though. I don't really care anymore." Haewon confessed, hand reaching into the paper bag as she pulled out a cookie, bringing it to her mouth to bite into.

Heeseung sighed at her words, but chose not to push the topic as he recognized her disliking further discussing her classmate.

"Well, I think you look pretty good. The beige color adds character." Heeseung mustered up, earning a cheeky smile from the girl as he huffed.

"Does it? Thanks, man." Haewon giggled, biting into the chocolate chip cookie with her right hand as her left hand passed him one.

Heeseung hummed in response, accepting the cookie from her as his gaze shifted back down to his notebook, of which had caught her attention.

"Whatcha working on?" She asked, tilting her head off to the side. Heeseung rested his chin in the palm of his hand, peering down at everything jotted down in the page lines.

"Going over chemistry notes." He muttered, sighing quietly as he looked down at the schoolwork.

"Boring." Haewon whispered out loud enough for him to hear, clearing her throat as her gaze shifted off to the side. Heeseung huffed at her antics, shaking his head and clicking his tongue.

"At least I have good grades." He let out, earning a gasp as the girl reached out to slap his arm.

"I'm offended!" She grumbled, as he winced slightly as her hand came into contact with his skin, rubbing the area where she had hit.

"I'm not wrong!"

"My grades are just fine!"

"You're going to have to retake the whole grade if you continue on like this." Heeseung pointed out, earning a string of curses from his best friend.

"I hate you sometimes." Haewon snickered, crossing her arms over her chest as her eyes skimmed over his features.

"Actually, my teacher is suggesting that I find a tutor." She murmured, calming down as she blinked slowly, grimacing at the thought. "I hate the idea of that."

"I can literally tutor you." Heeseung offered, chuckling as he took note of her sudden mood swing.

"Yeah, but that's boring. You and I are supposed to do fun stuff together, like gaming or something. Not study. I wouldn't be able to take it seriously." Haewon expressed.

"Haewon, think about it. Would you rather be stuck with me, or some random kid that your teacher assigns you to? Pick your poison." The boy reasoned, watching as her face contorted into a mix of emotions before giving in and groaning.

"I hate you." She grumbled, sighing dramatically as she took a bite of her cookie.

Heeseung laughed, eyes forming two small crescents. "I'll come over after my practice tonight."

Although basking in dread as she wished she could wipe the smug smile off of his face, she nodded her head reluctantly, fingers brushing through her hair.

______________

★﹐authors corner ．﹗﹑1.1k words
imagine i just return from the dead with the entirety of this fic wrote out? that'd be funny fr

anyway

this is your official welcome to ephemeral! i've been working on this in private since january and i'm excited to be able to release it for you all to read.

i hope you all enjoy reading as much as i enjoyed writing! feel free to share your honest opinion about each chapter; feedback is always welcome.

also, i'm just realizing this is my first book that's not based off of a song haha

thank you for choosing to read my work! i'm so very grateful. i love you all <3
january 20th, 2024 - 11:13pm.
not proofread.