Minjeong and Yunjin give each other a silent fist bump as they take their first steps into the principal's backyard. And what a nice yard it is; a great oak tree stands in the center, and a brick path meanders around the property and leads to an artificial pond filled with fish. A small garden full of different flowers and vegetables Minjeong isn't familiar with is pushed to the back corner, near where she and Yunjin entered from.

"Let's give Mr Yu his 'last day of school' gift." Minjeong says as she shrugs off her backpack. "After all, we'll miss him this summer."

"Nah, I won't." Yunjin mutters under her breath. Her parents are making her take summer classes to better up her college applications, as well as play student ambassador for the incoming freshmen. While she certainly doesn't look the part of 'malcontent teen'— with her designer clothes and perfect grades— she's usually the one who takes the most pleasure in their illegal activities.

"Dibs on the tree!" Minjeong points excitedly at the oak in question, hoping to cheer Yunjin up. "I wanna do the tree."

Yunjin smirks at her enthusiasm, seemingly pushing away her thoughts of summer. "Go for it. Just remember that we only have an hour or so."

Right. One hour until Mr Yu gets back from some school board meeting, one hour until he'll flip his shit when he sees what they've done to his precious yard.

She and Yunjin quickly get down to business— Yunjin takes a giant bottle of bleach from Minjeong's bag and starts to carefully pour it around the tree. Minjeong gets a good grip on some of the toilet paper she bought earlier and takes careful aim.

By the time they're finished, the once majestic oak is covered liberally in gauzy toilet paper and the area around its trunk is bleached.

Minjeong and Yunjin step back and admire their work. "It's beautiful." Minjeong breathes, wiping away a fake tear. "I think we really captured the spirit of our school."

"A-plus for execution." Yunjin nods in agreement. "Your aim has really improved this semester— you even hit the top branches."

"And your pouring technique—" Minjeong clutches dramatically at her heart through her shirt. "— it's so powerful, so full of emotion."

Yunjin snorts. "Yeah, the emotion being 'I hate this fucking place'. Glad it came across clearly."

The fun ends— or really begins, in Minjeong's opinion— when they hear a car pull into Yu's driveway. Minjeong throws a silent victory hand in the air and allows Yunjin to catch it and drag her towards the fence. But Minjeong digs her feet into the ground when she realizes Yunjin left the bleach by the tree.

What is this, amateur hour?

"What are you doing?" Yunjin hisses when a light comes on in the house. "It's not like they're going to brush it for prints."

Minjeong snatches the bottle anyway and hurries back towards Yunjin. "If you start getting lazy, it sets a bad precedent—" Her lecture is cut short when her foot tangles in the wire surrounding the garden.

Shit.

She flails as the ground comes up to meet her, letting go of the bleach so she can try to catch herself. The landing is still rough and she feels thorns scraping against her palms. Nearby, there's a faint sound as the bleach empties out of its container and into the surrounding plants.

Before she can grab the bottle again, Yunjin is hauling her up and over the fence. "Leave it!" She joins Minjeong on the other side just as the door to the backyard slides open, and they both peer through the slats in the wooden fence to see the principal's reaction.

Mr Yu steps out onto the patio, looking formal as always with his pressed pants, crisp white shirt, and dark blazer.

"What in God's name..." He starts, gaping at the tree.

Minjeong clamps a hand to her mouth, trying to hold back laughter. Beside her, Yunjin is breathing hard from their close call but a smile slowly forms on her face as Mr Yu notices the bleached grass.

The man pulls out his cellphone and runs an aggravated hand through his hair. "Yes, I'd like to report a crime." He says through gritted teeth.

Minjeong and Yunjin share another fist bump. Movement near the door draws Minjeong's gaze and she finds herself staring at— Yu Jimin. The girl is dressed in a mini white dress with small flowers pattern and her black hair was tied back in a loose ponytail. She takes in the sight of the ravaged yard with a neutral expression until she spots the bleach container in the garden.

Even though Minjeong knows next to nothing about Jimin, the look on the other girl's face is still a sucker punch to her gut. The girl is colloquially known as the 'Princess' around school because of how silently condescending she is, choosing to eat and do class activities by herself rather than mixing with everyone else. But now she sees Jimin's eyes widen and her lips part as she assess the damage of what must be her garden. She kneels down to pick up the now-empty bleach bottle, her grip tightening around it.

Minjeong shifts slightly, some of her enjoyment beginning to dissipate at the sight of Jimin. The movement causes the grass beneath her to rustle and Jimin jerks her head up at the sound. Brown eyes lock onto her own through the wooden slats, causing Minjeong's heart to feel like it's somewhere in her throat.

Shit.

She doesn't waste another moment; she's halfway down the street before Yunjin even realizes she's not by her side anymore.

They're back at Yunjin's place twenty minutes later, both of them panting over the kitchen table. "What the hell was that about?" Yunjin asks.

"She saw me." Minjeong answers between gasps, trying not to freak out. "Yu Jimin saw me through the fence. Do you think she'll point the cops in our direction?" There's only a handful of blonde short hair girls at their school and she's the only one among them who likes to play chicken with the law.

Yunjin grimaces, her hands curling into fists on top of the table. "I'm not sure." She says in a calmer voice than Minjeong expected. "She doesn't know us at all, right? And maybe she didn't really see you."

It sure looked like she did. "What should we do?" Minjeong bites anxiously at her bottom lip. Her mom would kill her if she had to be picked up from juvie one more time.

"Just stay away from their house, I guess." Yunjin suggests, running a hand through her hair in thought. "There's really not much we can do— it's not like we can bribe the Princess."

But the words have Minjeong perking up.

"What if we could?" She wonders aloud. When Yunjin gives her a questioning look, she elaborates. "She only saw me because we were right next to that little garden of hers. The bleach I dropped probably killed most of the plants there. Maybe I could buy some flowers for her or something."

Yunjin expels a dismissive snort. "And then what, wine and dine her?"

"I don't see you coming up with anything!" Minjeong says defensively. Whatever, she's definitely onto something with this idea.

"That's because I don't think she saw me." Yunjin points out, moving to get some a bottle of soda out of her fridge. She tosses one towards Minjeong, who snatches it out of the air before it has the chance to hit her head. "This is your problem, not mine."

"You suck." Minjeong mutters around the rim of her bottle. It was Yunjin's fault she was even in this position— if it weren't for that stupid bleach bottle she forgot to pick up, they would both be in the clear.

"I'm not the one who got caught." Yunjin replies. With an irritating smirk, she adds. "Looks like you'll have to brush up on your botany."

Minjeong waves her hand in a dismissive fashion. "Whatever, they're just plants. You stick them in the ground and put some water on them. How hard could it be?"

—

Jimin doesn't care about the tree or the grass around it, even though her dad's acting like it's an absolute travesty they got vandalized. While he curses and dials the number for the police, Jimin is drawn to her garden, a twisting sensation churning in her stomach.

She sees the empty bottle of bleach first, tipped on its side. She smells it— the dizzying, almost overpowering scent of chemicals seeping into the soil, choking the roots and seeds and life underneath it.

They were gone for less than two hours. How could somebody have done so much damage to her dad's yard, to her garden during that time? She had spent months selecting and planting seeds, studying what could grow in a mixed garden and what she would have to plant separately. She came out here every day to water her plants, to check on the progress of her flowers, herbs, and vegetables. It had been her place of peace and quiet when the house became suffocating under the weight of her dad's expectations.

Now all of that was gone.

Destroyed.

Poisoned.

It was obvious someone from school had vandalized the yard— but Jimin couldn't pinpoint a suspect until she picked up that damn bleach bottle and heard a noise coming from the other side of the fence.

When she looked up, she found herself staring right into someone's eyes. A pang of familiarity strikes at Jimin's chest, but the sensation is quick to pass when the criminal bolts.

Hours later, Jimin's sitting at her desk, staring out the window that overlooks the backyard. It's pitch black, which is probably a good thing because otherwise she'd see her ruined garden. She absentmindedly taps her highlighter against the pages of Cold Mountain— number four on the list of literature books her dad suggested she get through before senior year starts. But her attention is elsewhere, beyond the pages of the book.

She still can't stop thinking about those beautiful eyes.

More than that, she can't stop thinking about who those beautiful eyes are attached to. Because there was also a few loose strands of hair going across the person's forehead. Soft, blonde short hair that could only belong to the one person in the entire school who would do something so vile.

Kim fucking Minjeong.

Jimin knows all about that little delinquent, even though they've never spoken a single word to each other. She's heard every known exploit of the girl from her dad over the dinner table; how she locked Mr Lee in a supply closet and taught his class for three periods straight, how she played a recording of pornographic noises over the speakers during a pep rally, how she superglued all the senior lockers shut on their prank day.

Her dad knew Kim Minjeong was responsible for all those incidents, but never had enough proof to do more than give her detention or an occasional suspension. The girl would probably cause him to have a stroke due to stress. What made it even worse was that she was considered popular by her peers.

Apparently all it takes is above-average looks and a fondness for illegal activities to be well liked. Popularity had never been a concern of Jimin; she never sought it out and had no intention of ever doing so.

Being the principal's daughter already made her an outsider, and thanks to how incredibly strict her dad was, anyone who ever did something even remotely against the rules tended to avoid her. The rare students that did try to befriend her did so in order get her dad's attention, presumably to get their way into a letter of recommendation for their college applications.

Jimin finds it easier to keep to herself.

Being alone with her thoughts was so much simpler than trying to fit in with her classmates. She didn't have to worry about liking the right songs, hanging out at the right places, or wearing the right clothes. All she had to do was focus on her grades until she couldn't think straight anymore.

She's brought out of her thoughts when she sees a flash of light outside her window. Squinting, she leans forwards and sees it again, this time accompanied by a shadow cast against the fence. Someone is in the backyard again, and Jimin thinks she knows exactly who it is.

She slams her book shut and marches her way outside, careful not to cause any noise when she passes her dad's room. Sliding open the back door, she slows her pace as she comes near the figure, who is kneeling over her garden.

The person is busy doing something to the soil, one hand gripping a flashlight. "Who are you?" Jimin demands when she's right behind them.

"Holy shit!" The figure squeaks, throwing up their hands in surprise. The flashlight goes whizzing past Jimin's head. "Are you actually a ninja or something?!"

The person turn around and Jimin's suspicions are confirmed; Kim Minjeong is once again trespassing in her garden.

"Haven't you ruined enough already?" Jimin nearly growls, pretty sure that in her current state she could take on the troublemaker in a fight.

Minjeong stands up awkwardly, wiping her hands against her ripped black jeans. "I wasn't trying to ruin anything, not here, at least." Her gazes shifts back to the soil.

"This kinda just happened. I wanted to plant some flowers and stuff." Minjeong looks strangely vulnerable standing here and rubbing at the back of her neck. "You wanted to plant flowers?" Jimin echoes flatly, trying not to buy into this whole 'cute delinquent' act Minjeong is pulling.

"That's what I said, right?" Minjeong kneels back down and picks up a wrapped item for Jimin to inspect. Confused and still a bit angry, Jimin takes a step closer. In Minjeong's hand is a bouquet of cut flowers, looking exactly like the kind one would buy in a grocery store. Jimin looks at them for a long moment before saying. "You know flowers need roots to grow, right?"

Minjeong stares blankly down at the bouquet. "...Yes?"

Even though this whole thing is completely Minjeong's fault, Jimin can't help but smirk in amusement. "You can't just stick flowers with no roots into the ground and expect them to grow, especially when that ground is full of bleach. What are you really after?"

Minjeong's reddening cheeks are visible even in the dark. "Look, we both know you saw me earlier," She starts, not a trace of guilt in her voice. "I take full responsibility for the rest of the yard, but nothing was supposed to happen to your garden. I wanted to replant the stuff that the bleach got on. Make it look okay."

"And why is that?" Jimin asks, crossing her arms over her chest.

"I was kinda hoping you wouldn't tell your dad about me. I'm pretty sure he would try to get me twenty five-to-life for murdering the yard." There's no real fear in the words, as if she's asking a favor for a friend. It's bizarre, to say the least.

Jimin considers her request carefully. On one hand, she would be able to see Minjeong get hauled off (or at least in a lot of trouble) for ruining her garden. On the other hand, there's something almost magnetic about the other girl. Her nonchalance and laid-back attitude are unintentionally drawing Jimin in, and she can't help but want to see more of her, especially since she won't have anyone else for her to interact with this summer. (The fact that Minjeong is practically her dad's mortal enemy has nothing to do with it nothing at all.)

Jimin makes her decision a few moments later. "I won't tell him about you." She says, feeling surprisingly satisfied when she receives a small smile, which is quick to drop when she continues. "In return, I want you to help me make a new garden. You'll be with me when I buy the supplies, pick out the seeds, and build the barrier around it."

"Oh..." Minjeong says in a small voice. One of her sneakered feet pokes at the soil. "You can't just use the same area?"

"Once bleach enters a garden, it kills everything in it." It's not a lie per-se, just an exaggeration. Besides, now she has an excuse to buy some new plants.

Minjeong levels a thoughtful stare at her. "Okay." She shrugs after a minute, reaching into her back pocket and pulling out her phone. "I'll help you out. Can I have your number? That way you can tell me when to come over."

Jimin taken back by how easily she agreed. "O-okay." She repeats unsurely. There's a pause and Minjeong raises an eyebrow in prompting.

"Right, my number." Jimin says, trying to inject some confidence into her voice. She lists it off and Minjeong types it into her phone.

There's more awkward staring after that, until Minjeong's mouth tilts into a lopsided smile. "Text me whenever. I'll make myself available." With that, she walks past Jimin to snatch her flashlight from earlier and begins to climb over the fence. When she has one leg on either side, she adds. "Feel free to keep those flowers. I'm not going to do anything with them." By the time Jimin nods and bends down to pick them up, Minjeong has vanished.

Jimin walks back into the house in slightly higher spirits than when she left it. Minjeong's bouquet is quickly put into a vase filled with water, and she situates it on the corner of her desk.

Her phone vibrates from its spot on the bed, and when Jimin opens it she sees a text from an unknown number simply reading 'Kim Minjeong ;)'. An unbidden smile crosses her face at the sight; one of the most notorious troublemakers in SM Academy's history is going to help her with gardening.

Summer break is certainly looking up.

—

"You did what?!" Yunjin exclaims, looking away from the TV screen and towards Minjeong in total surprise. In response, her Mario promptly topples off Rainbow Road.

"Why the hell would you give her your number?"

Minjeong simply shrugs, not allowing Yunjin to break her concentration. She's going to win this round. "It seemed like a decent idea at the time. I doubt she'll actually want my help." She clearly isn't the gardening type, something Jimin probably realized five seconds into their conversation.

"This means you're basically at her beck and call." Yunjin persists, cursing under her breath as Mario gets hit with a green shell. "She can blackmail the hell out of you if she wanted to."

"She's not like that." Minjeong protests.

Sure, that's a premature assumption to make since she's only had one interaction with her, but it feels right somehow. Jimin's only interest seemed to lie in her garden. For some reason, the idea of helping her doesn't grate against her nerves as much as she thought it would.

Last night's talk with Jimin had certainly been interesting. She tried so hard to come off as cold and angry, but seemed so flustered when she actually got Minjeong's number. It was— almost cute. Minjeong not entirely sure how she could be the offspring of Principal 'Stick Up My Ass' Yu.

"Yes!" She whoops a minute later when she wins the track. She shakes Yunjin around the shoulders as Yunjin mutters darkly at her controller, having never been one to lose graciously.

Minjeong's mom happens to come through the door right in the middle of Minjeong's victory lap around the living room.

"Hey girls," She greets them tiredly as she heads into the kitchen. "You two haven't set anything on fire today, have you?"

"Of course not, Ms Kim." Yunjin says with an easy smile, attitude turning on a dime. She always did have a soft spot for Minjeong's mom, probably because her own was never around. "We save it for Sundays."

"I'd expect nothing less from you." She responds as she begins to heat up some leftovers. "Minjeong, I'm only here for a couple hours. I have to go back to the hospital to cover for someone. You can hold down the fort by yourself, right?"

"Mom, I've seventeen." Minjeong groans dramatically. This is far from the first time she's been home alone at night, but her mom always double checks with her regardless.

"I'll make sure she stays out of trouble." Yunjin assures her, looking so innocent she might as well have a halo shining around her head.

"Speaking of trouble—" Her mom starts, causing Minjeong to stiffen minutely. "I heard your principal's house got vandalized yesterday. You guys wouldn't know anything about that, would you?"

Yunjin opens her mouth to respond but Minjeong starts talking first. "Of course not! Why would we do such a thing?" She nudges at Hyewon. "We were at your place all day, right?"

Yunjin obliges her with a nod. "Yep. We were hanging out with Yizhuo and Aeri until it got late." Yizhuo and Aeri didn't care if they were used as alibis; nearly all of them were into mischief of their own.

Minjeong's mom side eyes them as she settles onto the couch. "Mhm..." She hums doubtfully. "That had better be true, because I would hate to see either one of you end up in trouble again. Especially you, Minjeong. I don't like that I'm on first name basis with all the officers around here. You won't be a kid forever— life will get a whole lot harder when you turn eighteen and keep causing trouble."

"I told you we didn't do it!" Minjeong protests, feeling frustrated despite— or maybe because— her mom is right on the money. She doesn't want this lecture, no matter how well-deserved it might be.

"Alright." Her mom sighs, holding up a hand in surrender. "I'll drop it for now. Just try to keep your noses clean this summer, okay?"

Minjeong and Yunjin murmur their assent before turning back to their game.

"Ready to lose again?" Minjeong asks playfully as she picks a new racetrack, trying to push her mom's words out of her mind.

"Don't count on it." Yunjin retorts, gripping her controller tightly. "You're going down this time."

Minjeong's mom watches them as she eats, alternatively cheering both of them on and then giving Minjeong a high five when she she inevitably wins again. "Alright, I'm off." She says after she finishes her dinner. She stands up and gives both Minjeong and Yunjin a kiss on the head. "Don't stay up too late."

Minjeong turns and gives her a grin. "We'll behave. Have a good night!"

Her mom nods as she grabs her keys. Pausing before she opens the door, she says. "Could you add bleach to the grocery list? It seems like we ran out of it last night."

Minjeong's smile fades. "Sure thing, mom." She answers weakly even as her mom closes and locks the door. Beside her, Yunjin's eyes are wide with surprise.

"I think we just got played."

____

hope you guys enjoyed! leave your vote and comment if you enjoyed it, really appreciate it if you does! <3 let me know if there's any mistake!