"WE DON'T REALIZE HOW MUCH RACISM HAS TAINTED OUR SELF-IMAGE AS HUMAN BEINGS."
- Ruby Dee

MI-YOUNG PARK WAS EXTRA CAREFUL.

Sitting at her vanity table, she carefully applied her makeup, and it was taking her forever.

Ugh, this is why I never put makeup on before school.

Applying the finishing touches, Mi-young quickly left her room to meet Taehyung and Jimin downstairs.

The three left the Park abode promptly and started their walk to school.

While walking, Taehyung couldn't keep his eyes off of her.

"I see you're wearing makeup, Mimi."

"Y-yeah, do you like it, Tae?"

He poked her squishy cheek with his finger, smiling.

"I think you look beautiful."

"R-Really?"

"Mhm. Wear makeup more often, it really makes a big difference."

She ignored the future hassle of waking up earlier in the mornings and the struggle it would take to put makeup on at all. Because she would do it, regardless.

All she wanted was to be beautiful.

~•~

"So, are you from North or South Korea?"

Is that a legit question?

"Do you speak Chinese?"

No...

"Dude, how can you see?"

Through my eyes?

"Why is everything made in China?"

I don't know, ask them.

"Do they call Chinese food in China just food?"

Are you kidding?

"Why are your eyes so squinty?"

I can't help it.

"Do you how how pudgy your cheeks are?"

Obviously, I live with them.

"You really need a tan."

I'm working on it.

"You get straight As right?"

No...

Noise. All Park Jimin heard was noise.

And he had enough.

He had enough with the questions, the looks, the stares, and he had enough with the jokes that weren't even funny.

At least, they weren't funny to him.

Dreading the rest of the day, he walked into math class only to find out there was a worksheet to do the entire class period.

And worst of all, the worksheet was being collected and graded at the end of class, so he had to actually do it.

While working on it, he noticed a girl next to him copying off of his paper.

Does she think she's being slick?

"Hey, we're supposed to be doing these worksheets individually."

"Sorry? I don't speak Chinese."

"Eyes on your own paper, you ditz. Does that sound like Chinese to you?"

"C'mon, help me out. I can't just get straight As like you."

What. Did. She. Just. Say.

"Straight As?"

"Yeah, I mean, you're good at math."

"And how would you know that?"

"Because you're Asian, duh. You're like called A-sian for a reason."

She rolled her eyes and started to twirl her blonde strands of hair around her perfectly manicured finger.

Fine, I'll show you an A-sian.

For the rest of the worksheet, Jimin carelessly guessed and put down random numbers as answers.

Handing it over to the blonde bombshell, he smiled.

"Here you go, enjoy!"

She squealed and smiled with glee.

"Thanks cutie! I really need to bump up my grade!"

"Oh yeah, of course, don't worry about it!"

What'd he say? Park Jimin had enough.

~•~

3, 2, 1—

The bell rang and Jungkook smiled.

He quickly ran to his locker, grabbed his lunch, and scurried outside to his usual lunch spot at the bench.

I can't be late!

Out of his lunchbox, he pulled out a bag of strawberries that had "for Mi-young, my strawberry <3" written on it.

Strawberries for a strawberry! Get it? Cause she's a little cute strawberry? No? Just me? Okay.

He giggled to himself.

He waited for Mi-young to come to eat lunch with him like last time, but she never did.

Why isn't she coming?

He pouted.

Isn't she going to sit with me again? Didn't we have fun last time?

He nibbled on his bottom lip and thought of possible scenarios as to why Mi-young wasn't at the bench yet.

Maybe she's meeting with a teacher? Or maybe she's in the library studying? Or maybe she's in the bathroom? Or maybe she's still walking over? Or maybe she got lost?

Then he heard a cheerful laugh in the distant.

Her laugh.

Eyes searching, he stopped when he found her walking with him.

Oh.

He quickly looked away at the heart-wrenching sight, and looked back down at his lunchbox.

Or maybe, she just doesn't like you.

The silence echoing in his ears as he was left alone, as usual, only reminded him of the past.

Why does he always win?

Jungkook was always alone.

Jungkook was alone in his mind, heart, and, most of all, Jungkook was absolutely alone in this cruel world.

Eyes crestfallen, he ate the strawberries alone.

~•~

While washing her hands in the school's bathroom sink, she heard a couple of girls next to her gossiping whilst looking at themselves in the mirror.

They were constantly giggling and smiling at each other, and all Mi-young could think was—

I wish I had some girl friends.

The two girls noticed Mi-young's presence.

Mi-young smiled brightly, her eyes smiling with her mouth.

The girls only giggled in response.

And then they did the most unexpected thing.

They made slanty eyes at Mi-young.

And Mi-young was absolutely embarrassed and flustered.

Smile falling, she looked away while the girls left the bathroom giggling.

She looked at herself in the mirror and frowned.

She had enough of the teasing, the hurting, and she had enough of the insecure feelings that seemed to follow her wherever she went.

She just wanted to feel good about herself.

Sighing, she left the bathroom to meet up with Taehyung and Jimin.

And she only had one thing on her mind.

I can't wait to get my eyes fixed.

~•~

A/N: In case you guys were wondering what "made slanty eyes" meant, it's the gesture in which someone pulls their eyes sideways to make it appear more/overly slanted or to appear like "slits."

I feel like I should've made a warning before I started writing this book lmao but oops, it's too late now!

Warning! Angst ahead as well as more offensive and racist actions!

Also, did anyone remember the "blonde bombshell" from somewhere else? *cough* she was mentioned in an earlier chapter *cough* but lmao it's fine if y'all don't remember!

I have my last exam Friday so I'll be able to update more often, hopefully!

aLSO MY CHAPTERS ARE GETTING LONGER YEEHEET IM IMPROVING!

*cough* wasn't able to read over this chapter as much as I usually do since I'm "studying" for my exam, forgive me senpai *cough*

I hope you're all happy and healthy and sleeping lots! I love you and have a great morning/day/night :) ❤️