“Honestly, this stuff never gets old.” Mark sighed happily as he stirred his pot of spicy ramen, eagerly waiting for it to finish cooking.

He was sitting at their table for lunch with Lucas next to him and Jaehyun sitting opposite them. Lucas was busy stuffing his face with a sandwich stacked high with cold meats. A slice of egg slipped out the side of his sandwich and fell onto his lap. He quickly scooped it up and shoved it into his mouth with a satisfied expression.

“Fuck you're disgusting Yukhei.” Mark said, screwing up his face as he watched his friend eat.

Lucas glowered at him with his cheeks full, looking like a squirrel. “Don't call me that. I'll punch you.” He balled his fist at Mark, which was nearly the size of Mark’s head. Mark rolled his eyes and ignored him, instead talking to Jaehyun.

“Did you notice Jungwoo isn't here today? He's probably sitting at the hospital crying for his boyfriend.” Mark smirked.

Jaehyun laughed and nodded. “His weird little friend Jaemin isn't in either.” He glanced over his shoulder to another table where Jeno sat with Haechan, another kid from their class. Haechan, the brown haired boy, was being loud and obnoxious as always, but Jeno seemed distracted and distant.

Mark laughed, pleased with himself that three out of the four of their group were absent because of what happened yesterday. Although with Doyoung and Jungwoo out of the equation that meant he would need go find someone else as a target. Maybe Jeno would do. Jaemin was always stuck to him like glue which to Mark seemed a bit gay and annoyed him.

Mark happily ate his noodles while he pretended to ignore the loud noises coming from Lucas as he ate. Once they were finished eating, Mark made them wait until he saw Jeno get up from his table and wave goodbye to Haechan.

“Let's go.” Mark ordered as he got up from the table. Lucas stretched and cracked his knuckles with a grin on his face.

The three of them followed Jeno as he walked out the cafeteria and down a corridor to a stairwell leading up to the second floor. It was nice and quiet, with hardly anyone around. As Jeno reached the mid level of the stairwell, Mark sprinted up the stairs and pushed him from behind, causing him to fall face-first into the wall.

Jeno turned and backed up against the wall as the three boys approached him. There was an initial flicker of fear in his eyes but that was replaced with a scowl as he glared at Mark.

“Where have all your friends gone, huh Jeno?” Mark sneered, shoving him roughly into the wall.

Jaehyun and Lucas laughed as they circled him, trapping him against the wall.

“You’re despicable. Do you think hurting people is fun?” Jeno spat.

Lucas pushed him and he fell into Jaehyun, who grabbed his backpack and ripped it off him. Jeno tried to grab it back but Mark shoved him back into the wall, grabbing fistfulls of his shirt.

“What's wrong? Are you sad that those gay fags you call friends aren't here anymore.” Mark snarled. He kept Jeno up against the wall as Jaehyun unzipped his backpack and emptied its contents out onto the floor. His books and stationary fell over the floor at his feet.

“If you ask me, Doyoung got what he deserved, and Jungwoo will be next.” Mark whispered in Jeno’s ear. He let him go and kicked one of his textbooks down the stairs.

Lucas grabbed Jeno’s head and roughly pushed him down, messing his hair up in the process. Jaehyun laughed at him and high-fived Lucas.

“See you in class Jeno!” Jaehyun said mockingly as they left him to pick up the contents of his backpack.

The trio made their way outside to smoke out the back of the school. Lucas lit his and offered one to Mark, who took it and inhaled deeply. Jaehyun took out his vape, took a breath of it and exhaled a large cloud of sweet scented smoke.

“So how did Jeno know it was us?” Lucas asked, leaning against the wall.

Mark rolled his eyes at him. “You idiot. He obviously spoke to Doyoung.”

“But then doesn't that mean one of them is going to tell? I mean the headmaster said the police were going to get involved. I don't want to go to jail or anything.” Jaehyun said, his fingers nervously tapping against his vape.

“Don't worry, if anyone's going to get blamed for it it'll be me; you guys are just accessories. Besides I've got a plan.” Mark replied.

“And what's that?” Lucas questioned.

Mark smirked. “I'm going to be the second victim.”

“Huh?” Jaehyun looked at him as if questioning his sanity.

“Meaning you’re going to hit me, and make me look like another victim of this evil student and I'll play along.” Mark explained, using air quotations.

“Why can't I hit you? I'd do a better job.” Lucas moaned, stubbing out his smoke with his shoe.

Mark kicked him lightly in the shin but it was still enough for Lucas to flinch. “Because Jaehyun is more sensible than you and I know he'll stop when I tell him to.”

“Whatever.” Lucas said, sulking and stuffing his hands into his pockets.

Jaehyun laughed and flicked Lucas on the forehead before turning to Mark with a keen smile. “So, when do you want to do this?”

“Tomorrow morning at school. Then I might get the rest of the day off. Even if Jungwoo or Jaemin show up tomorrow and decide to tell the headmaster, she’s going to find it hard to believe it was me if I'm beaten up, didn't manage to see my attacker but I’m saying that it was the same person.” Mark replied.

A smile tugged at Jaehyun’s lips and he patted Mark on the back, clearly liking his plan.

“If only you were this smart right Lucas?” Mark smirked at his friend, who glared back at him.

“Shut the fuck up. I really will punch you.” Lucas warned.

The bell rung, signaling the end of their lunch break. Jaehyun put his vape away and they headed off to their next class.