⋆⁺｡˚⋆˙‧₊☽ lab partners ☾₊‧˙⋆˚｡⁺⋆

PLEASE DONT BE A GHOST READER!!!
COMMENT AND VOTE! IT HELPS US WRITERS STAY MOTIVATED:) PLEASE JUST STOP BEING A GHOST READER!!

STOP BEING A GHOST READER!!
us writers work hard on these chapters. i know i ask this a lot, but i really don't like ghost readers because i work super hard on these chapters so when i see views going up but votes are not... its hard for my motivation!

if you see this chapter, since wattpad is glitching, just do me a favor and actually vote. the views aren't gonna be high because not many people are gonna get this, so please just vote. please!!

【 SEASON 1 EPISODE 3: PART TWO 】

Paloma and Kitty walked side by side through the bustling cafeteria of KISS, trays in hand as they searched for a place to sit. The air buzzed with chatter and laughter, but as they passed one of the tables near the center, the voices suddenly hushed.

Paloma immediately felt the weight of two pairs of eyes on her. At a nearby table, two girls leaned in toward each other, their heads tilted in her direction. The moment they made eye contact, the whispering began.

"Is that one Portland Stalker half or just white?" one girl muttered under her breath, but not nearly quiet enough.

"And is the other girl her friend?" the second girl snickered, eyes flickering between Paloma and Kitty.

Paloma felt her stomach twist, her grip tightening around the tray. She didn't even have to look at Kitty to know her best friend was already fuming. Kitty stopped mid-step, her mouth slightly open in disbelief.

"Wow," Kitty said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "You guys must feel so cool whispering like cowards."

Paloma sighed, shaking her head. As much as she appreciated Kitty's fire, she wasn't in the mood for this today.

"Yeah, have fun in here," Paloma muttered, already turning away. "I'm out of here. Sorry, Kitty."

Before Kitty could protest, Paloma turned on her heel and stormed out of the cafeteria, her chest tightening with frustration. She didn't care where she was going-she just needed to be anywhere but here.

Unfortunately, her bad luck didn't seem to end there.

The moment she pushed open the double doors leading into the hallway, she collided with someone-again.

A firm chest. A familiar scent of expensive cologne.

Paloma stumbled back, barely catching her tray before it fell to the floor. She didn't even have to look up to know who it was.

Min Ho.

Of course it was Min Ho.

He looked just as exasperated as she felt, eyebrows raised in mild annoyance. "Okay, this is getting ridiculous," he said, brushing imaginary dust off his pristine uniform. "Are you sure you're not trying to bump into me?"

Paloma scoffed, adjusting the tray in her hands. "Please," she said, shaking her head. "We've gotta stop bumping into each other."

She didn't wait for a response. Before Min Ho could smirk or say something obnoxious, she stepped around him and marched toward the library.

By the time she arrived, her frustration had cooled slightly, though the residual irritation still lingered. The library was quiet, a stark contrast to the chaos of the cafeteria. It was the perfect place to eat in peace-at least, that was the plan.

Until she saw Dae.

He was already sitting at a table near the windows, hands clasped together like he'd been waiting for someone. His eyes lifted the moment she entered, and before she could even think about avoiding him, he was already calling out.

"Paloma, wait," Dae said, standing up.

She sighed. "Not now, Dae."

"Please," he insisted, his tone pleading. "Just-just give me a second."

Paloma narrowed her eyes. "If this is about Kitty, you're wasting your breath."

Dae hesitated. "I just-I need you to explain things to her. She won't even let me talk to her, and she thinks-" He ran a hand through his hair, frustrated. "She thinks I cheated on her with Yuri."

Paloma folded her arms, unimpressed. "Because you did."

"It's not like that, I swear!" Dae rushed out. "I didn't-Yuri and I aren't-"

Paloma held up a hand. "Dae. Stop." Her voice was firm, her patience worn thin. "Kitty's pissed at you, and honestly? She has every right to be. She trusted you, and you screwed up. I'm not going to be the middleman here. If you really care, you'll find a way to fix it yourself."

Dae opened his mouth, but Paloma was already shaking her head.

"Leave Kitty alone," she said one last time before turning away.

And this time, she didn't look back.

The monotonous hum of the chemistry classroom barely registered in Paloma's mind as she tapped her pen against the edge of her notebook, lost in her own little world. The page in front of her was covered in random doodles-flowers, stars, and a half-finished caricature of Min Ho with exaggerated sunglasses and an annoyingly smug expression.

She was so absorbed in her doodling that she completely missed the part where the teacher announced lab partners.

It wasn't until the scraping of chairs echoed around her that she finally looked up, blinking in confusion as students shuffled into pairs.

Wait. Lab partners?

Paloma glanced around, expecting to see Kitty making her way toward her, but instead, she was still sitting alone.

Until Min Ho pulled out the chair beside her and plopped down.

Paloma frowned. "What are you doing?"

Min Ho leaned back in his seat, completely unbothered. "Sitting."

Paloma rolled her eyes. "Yeah, I see that. I meant why are you sitting here?"

Min Ho tilted his head toward Kitty, who was grinning at them from across the room with an enthusiastic thumbs-up.

Paloma's stomach dropped. Oh no.

She groaned, dragging a hand down her face. "Of course. She's trying to matchmake us."

Min Ho scoffed. "Yeah, pfft... as if that would ever happen."

Paloma side-eyed him. "You hesitated."

"No, I didn't," he shot back quickly.

"Yes, you did."

"Did not."

"Did too."

Min Ho rolled his eyes and flipped open the chemistry textbook, clearly deciding to ignore her. Paloma huffed, already regretting the next hour of her life.

The teacher's instructions droned on about balancing equations, but Paloma barely processed it. She was too busy glaring at the worksheet in front of her, wishing she could burn a hole through it with her eyes.

Min Ho sighed dramatically. "Okay, genius, what's the first step?"

Paloma tapped her pen against her temple. "I don't know. Maybe reading the directions?"

Min Ho smirked. "Oh, so you do know how to read. Could've fooled me."

Paloma gasped, placing a hand over her heart. "Wow. You're so funny. Ever thought about doing stand-up?"

"Not really. I don't like performing for an audience of one loser."

Paloma kicked him under the table.

Min Ho yelped, glaring at her. "Did you just kick me?"

"Maybe."

"You're a menace."

"And yet, you love sitting next to me," Paloma said sweetly.

Min Ho scoffed. "Trust me, this is suffering."

They continued working on their assignment-if "working" meant trading insults back and forth while barely making progress.

At one point, Paloma nearly knocked over a beaker, and Min Ho caught it at the last second, giving her a smug grin. "You're lucky I have incredible reflexes."

"Yeah, yeah, congratulations, Spider-Man," Paloma muttered, rolling her eyes.

Min Ho leaned closer, smirking. "Admit it. You'd be completely lost without me."

Paloma raised an eyebrow. "I'd thrive without you."

"Sure," Min Ho said, obviously not believing her.

By the end of the period, their worksheet was only halfway done, and their insults had somehow devolved into childish bickering.

The moment the bell rang, Paloma shoved her books into her bag, looking over at Kitty, who was still watching them with a hopeful grin. Paloma made a gagging motion at her.

Kitty just wiggled her eyebrows.

Min Ho stretched, sighing dramatically. "Well, partner, it's been real."

"Yeah, real awful," Paloma shot back.

Min Ho smirked. "Can't wait for our next session."

Paloma rolled her eyes. "I can."

But as she walked out of the classroom, she couldn't help but feel the tiniest bit amused. And maybe-just maybe-a little flustered.

Paloma stormed down the crowded hallway, her blood still boiling from chemistry class. Students swarmed past her, laughing, chatting, slamming lockers-going about their day as if she hadn't just been ambushed by her so-called best friend. She spotted Kitty near her locker, nonchalantly flipping through a notebook, completely unbothered after ruining Paloma's life.

Paloma didn't hesitate. She marched straight up and slammed a hand against the locker door, making a loud bang. Kitty jumped, wide-eyed, then sighed when she saw who it was.

"What the hell, Kitty?" Paloma demanded, her voice sharp.

Kitty blinked at her with an innocent expression. "What?"

Paloma narrowed her eyes. "Don't 'what' me. You know what."

Kitty's lips twitched, barely holding back a smile. "Ooooh, is this about chemistry class?"

"Of course it's about chemistry class!" Paloma threw her hands in the air. "Why would you do that? Why would you stick me with Min Ho of all people?"

Kitty casually leaned against her locker, completely unbothered. "Because I'm just helping you out, bestie."

Paloma let out a frustrated laugh. "Oh, please. Helping me how? By forcing me to work with the most insufferable, self-absorbed, smug-"

Kitty cut her off, wiggling her eyebrows. "Attractive?"

Paloma made a gagging noise. "Oh my god. This is an intervention now. You need serious help."

Kitty just smirked. "Come on, Paloma, I see the way you and Min Ho talk to each other. It's classic will-they-won't-they."

Paloma recoiled. "Ew! No! We definitely won't."

Kitty shrugged, ignoring her. "You love bickering with him."

"It's not bickering. It's called torture," Paloma corrected, crossing her arms.

Kitty just gave her a knowing look. "Suuure. And yet... you had multiple chances to switch partners. Did I see you taking any of them?"

Paloma opened her mouth-then closed it.

...Oh, hell.

Kitty grinned, watching realization dawn on her face. "Exactly."

Paloma huffed. "You are ridiculous."

Kitty patted her shoulder, completely smug. "You'll thank me later."

Paloma rolled her eyes so hard they practically spun out of her skull. She turned and stormed off, muttering under her breath. But despite how infuriating Kitty was, a tiny part of her couldn't stop replaying every sharp remark Min Ho had thrown her way in class. The way his eyes had glinted with amusement. The way he'd leaned just a little too close when he accused her of screwing up the experiment.

And worst of all?

The way she hadn't completely hated it.

ASH SPEAKS!!!

i really am tired of wattpad and its glitchyness. none of my chapters are going through so i dont know if you guys will see this or not🥹

anyways my angsty minho and paloma<3

PLEASE DONT BE A GHOST READER!!!
COMMENT AND VOTE!! IT HELPS US WRITES STAY MOTIVATED:) DONT JUST COMMENT PLEASE ALSO VOTE!

STOP BEING A GHOST READER!!! PLEASE!!!
if you see this chapter, since wattpad is glitching, just do me a favor and actually vote. the views aren't gonna be high because not many people are gonna get this, so please just vote. please!!