✦ PART ONE OF STEP ONE

THE BIRTHDAY BASH
by 𝒈𝒐𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒑 𝒈𝒊𝒓𝒍 - OCT 7 1:06 AM

𝒈𝒐𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒑 𝒈𝒊𝒓𝒍 here! Your one and only source into the scandalous lives of Seoul's elite! After the Sunday Dinner fiasco, the twins have decided to go offline only making their appearance at school but an anonymous tip spotted them at a mutual friend's birthday bash. Unfortunately, only 4 of the 5 Avengers were present at the event because we all know it isn't SOOJIN'S scene to party with the commoners. Many says she has a different level of class comparing to her girls.

While the twins may have thought they could lay low, Ivy Week is fast approaching, and we all know the spotlight shines brightest during this time. My advice? Tread carefully if you're in their shoes.

And speaking of caution, I'd steer clear of the troubled trio- our very own it girl, the queen bee, and the wild angel. We all know everyone is on edge during Ivy Week so anyone will do anything to get what they want. So I wish you the best of luck but I guess luck doesn't exists in the world of the rich. You know you love me!

xoxo gossip girl 💋

『 MAR 15 - 7:09 PM
SOCCER FINALS
1339 DAYS TILL GRADUATION
THREE YEARS INTO THE PAST 』

𝐉𝐀𝐘'𝐒 𝐑𝐄𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐍 𝐓𝐎 𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐇𝐖𝐀 𝐀𝐂𝐀𝐃𝐄𝐌𝐘 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐀𝐒 sudden as his departure had been. However, there were some who held onto resentment over his absence without a goodbye. While some expressed their frustration openly, others buried their hurt, refusing to acknowledge it. And yet, a few tried to maintain a facade of positivity despite the sadness lurking beneath their smiles.

FELIX was one of those who was in disbelief after hearing news of JAY's departure to boarding school. Just the week prior, they had celebrated a victorious soccer game, advancing their team to the finals. Little did Felix know, that night would be the last time he saw his friend.

The duo had been a force on the field, earning themselves the nickname "the freshmen freak duo" for their remarkable chemistry and athleticism. So when Shinhwa's soccer team lost by a mere penalty point in the final game, Felix couldn't help but lay the blame on Jay.

Hours after the game had ended, the lights still glowed in the boys' locker room. Four figures lingered, the last of the team cleaning out their lockers.

"Did he say anything to you guys?" Felix's voice echoed in the quiet room, his back turned to his friends as he faced his locker. "Before he left?"

A moment of silence followed. The tension was thick, especially after FELIX'S outburst during the game. JISUNG spoke carefully, "JAY mentioned something about leaving Shinhwa before the school year ended, but I didn't know if it was true."

A few were surprised and looked at each other in confusion since they were also in the dark about his departure. "So you knew and decided to keep your mouth shut?" SAN added, his voice edged with frustration.

Another pause hung in the air before JISUNG responded, his tone hinted with annoyance. "It wasn't my place to say anything. And besides, I wasn't sure if it was true."

"Typical." FELIX muttered under his breath, his frustration boiling over.

JISUNG tried to dismiss the remark but couldn't, "What do you mean by that?"

"Typical JISUNG. Always reflecting the blame on to anyone but himself." FELIX snapped as he turned towards him, "Acting like you know what's best for everyone when you don't know shit!"

JENO stepped in, attempting to diffuse the escalating tension. "Let's head home and sleep on it, alright?" He pleaded with his friends, hoping to steer the conversation away from the edge it teetered on.

"We're all upset; about the game, about JAY leaving us." JISUNG responded, "But you don't see us throwing a tantrum?"

And just like that, a switch flicked from FELIX's eyes. He grabbed JISUNG by his shirt and slammed him against the locker. "You have some nerve, JISUNG!"

SAN, much bigger than FELIX, quickly intervened. With a firm grip, he pushed him away. "Let's just leave before someone sees us," SAN urged, his voice steady but with concern.

Felix struggled for a moment, his breathing heavy, but SAN's grip held firm. There was still anger and tension vibrating in the room with them. JISUNG adjusted his shirt, his heart racing as he watched Felix's eyes, still burning with unresolved anger.

The four boys slowly gathered their things and left the locker room but right outside they saw five familiar faces. The girls wanted to grab dinner with them after the game but ended up listening to a conversation they shouldn't have.

"Let's go, JI-EUN," JISUNG called for his twin sister. JI-EUN, her eyes filled with concern, waved a small goodbye to her friends. She fell into step beside her brother, matching his pace as they walked to their car.

The remaining group stood in awkward silence for a moment. The tension from the locker room had spilled out into the hallway, and everyone could feel it. The girls exchanged uneasy glances but chose not to pry.

"Well," SOOJIN said, trying to break the tension with a forced smile, "I guess we'll see you guys tomorrow?"

Felix gave a curt nod, his jaw still clenched. "Yeah."

JENO added, "It's been a long day."

The group dispersed, each person heading their own way, but the weight of the evening hung heavily over them. The girls walked together, their conversation subdued as they processed what they had overheard.

『 OCT 9 - 12:09 PM
IVY WEEK
244 DAYS TILL GRADUATION
PRESENT DAY 』

Soft and hushed voices filled the performing arts hall as the senior class sat in organized rows, waiting for the assembly to start. Every Ivy Week began and ended with an assembly from the headmaster, filled with words of inspiration and feedback. However, his speeches failed to resonate with the bright minds of Shinhwa, who were consumed by the constant pressure and high expectations.

"JENO," SOOJIN whispered, nudging VANGIE'S leg to help her grab the boy's attention. Seated alongside the two girls were JENO and JISUNG, representing the student council. The headmaster had ask them to deliever a few words of motivation to their peers, hoping to kindle the spark of inspiration.

JENO leaned back in his seat, nodding slightly in response.

"I heard FELIX spent the night at your place?" She asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

The question caught him off guard, but he tried to hide his surprise. "Yeah, he was wasted at Hyunjin's party, so I let him crash at my place." JENO hesitated, then added, "He's fine now."

"Is he?" SOOJIN replied, glancing over at FELIX.

A small sigh escaped JENO's mouth and he looked over to where he was sitting. It was easy to spot him from the crowd as FELIX was slumped in his seat with his arms crossed in front of his chest as if he rather be anywhere else. Not to mention the sunglasses and baseball cap that seemed to shield him from the world.

JENO exchanged a glance with JISUNG, who had been listening intently to their conversation. A silent agreement passed between them to keep quiet about SAN's state.

SOOJIN noticed their exchange and whispered to JISUNG, "Come on, what's going on?"

"You would rather hear it from FELIX first." He apologized, "Sorry, SOOJIN."

Since the Annual Sunday Dinner, SOOJIN had grown increasingly worried about her friends, especially FELIX. There was already so much on their plate, and the ongoing hunt for Gossip Girl added to the stress.

She knew JISUNG wouldn't budge, so she turned back to JENO. "JENO-"

"I would hate to be the one to stop this conversation because it clearly looks important?" VANGIE flashed a sarcastic smile at JENO, "But can this wait until after the assembly, please?"

Ivy Week was notorious for pushing students to their limits. It was a time when every detail mattered, and the pressure to succeed hung heavy in the air. Where one misstep could mean the difference between an acceptance letter and a rejection.

As the headmaster took stage, his voice echoed through the hall. Most students pretended to listen, but their minds were elsewhere. The senior class knew that Ivy Week wasn't just about applications and interviews; it was a test to prove their worth.

VANGIE shifted in her seat, her mind racing with a checklist of tasks she still had to complete. Her eyes scanned the room, noting the anxiety on her classmates' faces. Although she appeared stoic, Ivy Week puts everyone on edge -- some more that others, of course. And VANGIE was one of those students who was less than a nanometer away from falling.

The headmaster wrapped up his speech and the students began to file out of the auditorium. VANGIE felt her phone buzz with a message from HYUNJOO in the group chat.

"Meet in the library right after this. We need to talk," the message read.

"Did you forget where the library was?" SAENG teased, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Granted, you're considered a new student, right?"

JAY, only a few minutes late because he indeed forgot where the library was located, chuckled. "I'm surprised you even know what a library is."

SAENG gasped in disbelief, playfully slapping his back as he took a seat in front of her. The group of friends had managed to book a study room at the library, a difficult feat considering it was Ivy Week.

HYUNJOO stood in front of the room with the lights dimmed and the blinds closed. She connected her computer to the projector, which displayed a presentation titled: UNMASKING GOSSIP GIRL.

"Thank you for coming," HYUNJOO began. "I know everyone is busy because of Ivy Week, so I'd like to just give a brief introduction before we actually dive into more details next week."

"Sorry to interrupt but..." JENO hesitated, glancing at SOOJIN. "SOOJIN wants to address the elephant in the room." He gave a side-eye towards FELIX, who was still dressed as if he were on the run.

"Finally!" SOOJIN blurted before calming herself down.

A small chuckle escaped SAN's mouth, drawing attention to him. "Sorry, but why is this so serious? I mean, we were all there, right?"

"No, not everyone!" SOOJIN replied as she waved her hand, "Plus, JISUNG and JENO didn't want to say anything."

JISUNG shrugged his shoulders, "It wasn't my place to say anything."

FELIX, scoffed at his comment before finally speaking up. "Look, I had a rough night, okay? HYUNJIN and I had an exchange of words and got into an altercation."

"A fight." JAY corrected as if he knew all to well about the position FELIX was in.

SOOJIN's face was filled with concern. "Are you okay? How badly are you hurt?"

"Well, you should have seen HYUNJIN. That's why he isn't at school," SAN joked, but VANGIE shot him a look that told him to stop.

FELIX took off his sunglasses, revealing a nasty black eye. "I'm alright. It's healing well, thanks to JI-EUN."

"Don't worry SOOJIN, he was in good hands!" JI-EUN reassured, smiling as she patted his back.

SOOJIN sighed in relief, but a small part of her was still concerned about Felix's behavior. "Okay, I guess we should go back to the real agenda."

A gleam of light rested on HYUNJOO as she began her presentation. Her voice was steady, commanding attention as she delivered her plan to unmask Gossip Girl. The group listened intently, their curiosity rekindled with every word she spoke.

"Anyways, I couldn't have done this alone without VANGIE. So she will reveal the first step of our plan," HYUNJOO said, giving her the stage.

"Part one of step one" VANGIE said, "The only way to outsmart Gossip Girl is to be one step ahead of her. Just like what happened the summer before school started, we need to make the first move."

"This is why we are going to throw a party!"

Their faces was left in confusion, even SAENG always thought a party will solve everything. "Sorry, Lu. But how will a party catch gossip girl?"

"Yes! Good question!" VANGIE replied, "Any answers?"

The room fell silent before SAN spoke up, "A party hosted by an Avenger means that everyone will be at that party."

A small smirk turned his mouth as he stared her. "Yes, you are correct." VANGIE admitted begrudgingly, "But which Avenger?"

"None, other than our wild angel." SAENG smiled at herself, "And it will be the best halloween party of the century."

YOU'RE INVITED!
by 𝒈𝒐𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒑 𝒈𝒊𝒓𝒍 - OCT 24 7:00 AM

Hey everyone, 𝒈𝒐𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒑 𝒈𝒊𝒓𝒍 here! Your one and only source into the scandalous lives of Seoul's elite. Our Wild Angel is extending a rare invitation to the common students of Shinhwa Academy for a Halloween party of a lifetime. As we all know, the Avengers and the Golden Boys usually prefer to spend October 31st at some secluded location, but this year, they've decided to grace us with their presence at SAENG's party. With all my favorite people in one place, there's no way in hell I won't be there.

Despite the mandatory dress code, I will know who you are even when everyone is playing dress up. So keep your masks on tight because that's when our secrets might slip out! The countdown to the most scandalous Halloween bash of the year starts now. You know you love me.

xoxo gossip girl 💋

NEW MESSAGE ―
↳ i had the biggest writer's block of the year and plus school made is really hard to update. but i did it! don't know if people are still reading this hope you enjoy. can't make any promises for the next chapter but just letting you know i started writing it already. byee :))
- april 🌷