It couldn't have been more than a couple of minutes since he'd left the cafeteria when Young Do hears footsteps behind him in the corridor. He's willing to bet that it's Tan, following him out. They have something of a bad habit of following the other one, even when they'd been lunging for each other's throats and Young Do'd been looming Tan's mother over his head like bait. Young Do turns around and is prepared to reprimand Tan for still wearing the shoes with those ridiculous heels on them that make the clacking noises but standing there instead is Kang Tae Yeon.
"We got off to the wrong start," she says, and Young Do wants to say that that much is obvious, that having the right start with him involves kneeling and pledging your allegiance to him – because even if him and Tan are friends now he's still insecure on their shared throne. Tae Yeon continues without offering him the chance to say anything instead. "I already offended Kim Tan on our first meeting, it wasn't my intention to offend you as well. Although in my defense you did trip me," she pauses then and for a fraction of a second Young Do thinks she has the ridiculous notion that he'll apologize, but she continues. "If we continue to hang out with the same people it will be uncomfortable."
Young Do goes to speak, to tell her that she can keep them because he's learnt to shed friends like snakes shed their skin, and although him and Tan have a long history he's always been good at letting go. But then Tae Yeon is holding her hand up to halt him and her nerve is unbelievable. "I'm not going to back down from you, and I think that's what you want. I'm not scared of you Choi Young Do, no matter who you are."
Young Do remembers he'd failed to introduce himself properly, to tell her who he was, who his father was – surely she'd seen the news but she's reaching into her bag and tossing something at him. His reflexes are good and he manages to catch the box. It's weighty in his hands, and before he can take a guess what it is she's telling him.
You seem determined to ruin my fun, spoiling my guesses and coming here all noble and apologetic. Don't you know that those who say sorry are boring?
"Put it on the bruise, and it will heal faster with less pain."
"What?"
She stares at his face, and her eyes are focused on his cheekbone, where the still healing bruise is flowering. His father had given it to him on the first day of his suspension; exactly a week ago. Young Do hadn't thought that anybody had noticed, and yet her comment at the table made so much more sense now.
"They might not have noticed, but I did. My best friend's a boy, and an idiot too. Sort of like you," Tae Yeon purses her lips. "I know what a face looks like after it's been punched, so don't try and fool me. I have no doubt you're a good liar, but I'm equally as stubborn as you are proud."
Then she's gesturing to the box he's now holding in his hands and Young Do doesn't think even Rachel's spoken to him like that before. "Use it, throw it away, up to you. Just know that I'm not afraid, and that if you want to hide the fact you're getting into fights from everyone else you should probably keep it."
Young Do can't find the words to call after her, even as she leaves. He has an above average vocabulary, filled with words of spite and malice, of easing and pleasing and persuading, yet none of them fit this situation. He doesn't know what to say, how to express how he feels about her noticing the bruise. How to say that he's wanted attention from someone for so long without having to give it in return that now that he finally has it for a fraction of a moment as she glares at him, he doesn't know what to do with it.
Young Do shouldn't have her attention, not like this. He was rude to her, and harsh. Embarrassed her in front of everyone. He'd picked a fight with her, and she'd framed him. And yet this proved who she was, soft – thinking that she understood him.
Walk carefully Kang Tae Yeon, you're treading a dangerous line. I haven't decided what to do with you yet, so let's see where you fall.
Tae Yeon considers asking Eun Sang to switch lockers with her. She'd somehow managed to draw the short straw and was given the locker next to ray of sunshine Kim Tan. And although she could usually handle the stares of other students with an incredible endurance, Tan's unimpressed glances at her were starting to grate mercilessly on her nerves. Surely Eun Sang would have more use for a locker next to her boyfriend, and maybe as thanks for the action he'll even honor her with a look other than blatant distaste.
So far only Eun Sang and Young Do seem to be able to elicit any sort of emotion from him whatsoever – with the occasional chuckle from Myung Soo – and if Tae Yeon wasn't so used to extreme indifference from the people that surrounded her; she'd find it a little odd.
The day after Young Do's reappearance Tan actually attempts to make conversation, and Tae Yeon finds herself wishing that he hadn't.
"Upsetting Young Do isn't a wise thing to do," he advises and Tae Yeon closes her locker as he's still reaching into his, and shrugs.
"And people who've shown no other interest in me other than to threaten me attempting to tell me what to do isn't a wise thing to do either. Especially since I don't take it well," she replies because she's had it up to her limits with entitled sons of rich families, and surprisingly Tan's face actually contorts into a wry smile.
This might be the closest to friendship we ever get, Kim Tan. Me insulting you and you smiling. That's both depressing and rather comforting – I'm not sure I have the strength in me to make small talk with you everyday.
Although I've had worse relationships.
"Fair enough," Tan says, and then his locker is closed too and Tae Yeon can spot Eun Sang waiting for the two of them in the distance. She hangs back, because even though Tan is as boring to read as watching paint dry, she can tell that he wants to say something else to her so she waits.
It gives her time to calm the anger that had arose at the remembrance of Young Do. No one had managed to make her that pissed in a long time.
No one had managed to make her that forgiving in a long time either.
No one had managed to make her feel like purposefully manipulating someone to get them in trouble practically ever.
"I don't know what kind of game you think you're playing," and somehow Tan must actually be quite clever because he's managed to read her like a book. Tae Yeon has no idea what this is either. She knew that Jeguk High was going to be a mind-twist but she didn't know it would descend into conflicting feelings this quickly. "But Young Do takes things seriously – as someone who's been playing with him since middle school I would know," Tan adds, and goes to turn but stops abruptly. "Remember that I know who you are Kang Tae Yeon, and I am advising you to be careful."
"If you know who I am Kim Tan," Tae Yeon says in the same way he'd said her name, "You should remember that I have no reason to worry. I've played games all my life, with competitors with less eyebrows than Young Do, but just as temperamental – at least from what I've seen. I think I can handle a spoilt high school bully," Tae Yeon replies, and begins to walk. Tan follows her, and as they walk side by side he absolutely dwarves her and she hates it; hates the smugness radiating off of him as he notices the fact.
"Don't be so quick to judge him. He may have underestimated your stubbornness yesterday - " Such a kiss-up Tan. " – but you shouldn't make the same mistake and underestimate him. Nevertheless, play well with him, Tae Yeon-ah. He needs someone interesting to keep him occupied," he says.
"And it appears there's been a misunderstanding, because I definitely believe that if anyone can handle him other than me, it's you."
Tae Yeon deems this the strangest compliment she's received, and it matches the fact that Tan is one of the strangest chaebol sons she's had the displeasure of meeting. Eun Sang is there and they start acting friendly for her benefit; but Tae Yeon doesn't miss the way Tan shoots her a glance and actually grins at her.
Tae Yeon shudders. Perhaps the reason Tan always looks so impassive is because his smile is so cringe worthy.
Bo Na and Chan Young join the three of them soon after; and Tae Yeon wonders (not for the first time) if everyone in Jeguk High is in a relationship.
Or whether she's somehow managed to befriend he only couples. Bo Na is bouncier than usual, and clinging on to Chan Young in typical Bo Na fashion; hearts in her eyes and looking at him adoringly.
Tae Yeon finds it amusing that she's witnessed such an adoring expression change to deadly glares at anyone who offends her.
"Why are you so happy?" Tae Yeon questions and now Bo Na is beaming at her.
"The rankings come out today now that Young Do's taken his test, and I'm ready to celebrate my Chan Young coming first again," Bo Na exclaims and Chan Young laughs.
Tae Yeon finds herself wanting the kind of supportive, loving relationship that the two have. It's rather boring, in this world of bloodshed and stock shares, but it's nice. Stable.
She'd have hard luck finding that. That's not the norm. What's to be expected is a relationship like Tan and Eun Sang's. If she's ever to find a boyfriend in this world their relationship will be all uphill battles and knowing her – probably numerous fights. That's what lies in store for her, no matter how much she yearns for the simple relationship that Bo Na and Chan Young share.
At least with any luck she'll never find her relationship boring.
I'd lose interest in a boy so quickly I'd probably ask myself why I wanted one in the first place.
Just as Tae Yeon thinks she might absolutely drown in thoughts of couples, Myung Soo appears like a shining beacon – prepared to whisk her away from all of this love. Then she fully registers what she's seeing and can't help the scowl that appears on her features as her savior turns into a bearer of destruction.
For next to him, elbows linked with Myung Soo and being dragged along the hallway, in all his full height and arrogant demeanor is Choi Young Do.
Tae Yeon's quite surprised that Myung Soo is managing to make any headway with Young Do, because Young Do must be at least ten percent heavier than him, yet Young Do doesn't seem to mind and allows himself to be pulled to the group. His eyes lock with hers, and he shoots her a winning smile.
Despite her wanting to put yesterday's incidents in the past for the sake of having a relatively boring school year – she can tell that he won't be so quick to let go. Especially if she was correct in her assumptions of having hurt her pride.
It will be even more difficult considering how now he is smiling at her all she can see is how he'd bared her teeth at her yesterday and her scowl deepens briefly before she shoots him a smile back that is practically blinding.
If you want to play friends, we can play friends. Just don't make me angry again or our games might turn deadly.
Young Do seems appeased by this, and as they approach Tae Yeon finds herself anticipating what he'll say. She'd left him in the hallway after lunch, and to his credit he'd bypassed Tae Yeon's expectations and hadn't attempted to give the medicine back to her.
Maybe he didn't want to do it publicly.
She could still just about make out the bruise on his cheek that the rest of them had failed to detect, and she refused to focus on it as he drew nearer. When they'd returned to class, he was delighted to find out that she now sat next to him – something she'd put together after realizing who the empty seat was reserved for.
He'd spent the majority of the next two hours glancing over at her, then at her notes, then doodling idly on his paper. It had been a vicious cycle he'd repeated. Endlessly.
Tae Yeon had tried her best to ignore him, and found she couldn't. Instead she found herself glancing back, and looking at his doodles. He hadn't caught her, and when the bell rung to signal the end of the first lesson – Tae Yeon vowed not to spare him another look.
She'd persevered, and in the present blushed at the memory of how concentrated he'd looked as he carved angry lines into the page. Young Do's grin widened, and Tae Yeon wondered how she'd let her mask drop so easily, especially in front of a predator so large.
She carefully reconstructed it.
Looking at Young Do, his face was still contorted into that sadistic grin and her stomach twisted.
I am not scared of you, you're just a tall boy who holds no importance to me.
For some reason, Tae Yeon doubted her own words. She recalled what Tan had said about him wanting to play games with her, and found that she hadn't minded the idea all that much.
You're not the only one used to having a playmate. Only I'm not on friendly terms with mine now.
"Why are you so happy?" Bo Na demands suddenly, and at first Tae Yeon wonders if she'd forgotten to drop her fake smile. Then she realizes the question is directed towards Young Do. "You'd expect someone about to rank badly to look more morose," Bo Na adds, and the edge to her words makes it obvious she's still stung from Young Do's comments yesterday.
Young Do doesn't look fazed, and Tae Yeon thinks that she sees a glint of apology in his eyes.
The light is tricking me. I know your type Young Do, and they do not apologise.
"I just feel really lucky today," Young Do says, and he sniffs the air. "Something just feels different, don't you think Tae Yeon-ah?" Young Do says, and he brushes a piece of hair behind her ears and Tae Yeon recoils. She regrets not typing her hair up, especially when Young Do notices the way she flinches.
He undoubtedly tacks it onto her file in his head.
She prefers to write hers on post it notes.
It's been a long time since someone's done that, since a boys' called me Tae Yeon-ah. It's also been too long since I've felt comfortable, made friends. I let my guard down; I won't make the same mistake again.
The deed had been done however. He'd seen her weak, and Tae Yeon decided she had to gain advantage over him soon.
"That difference isn't that we've suddenly become close enough for you to do this," Tae Yeon says, and she pushes away the hand that is still cradling her cheek and catches a whiff of his cologne. Her hand nudges his wrist away, and she can see the bruised knuckles on her hand.
He notices her attention, and then his hand is retracted and shoved tensely into his blazer pocket.
"Are the results posted?" Myung Soo asks curiously, oblivious to her and Young Do. "Maybe I should pull a Tan and runaway with them before anyone can see where I placed," Myung Soo ponders and Tan thwacks him on the arm.
Tae Yeon laughs at this, and so does Eun Sang. Tan catches her eye but Tae Yeon doesn't care. The atmosphere between them seems to have changed, perhaps because Tae Yeon has deemed Young Do a bigger threat than her. Perhaps because what Tan meant when he said that he'd played games with Young Do for so long was that he was handing the baton over to her now. That she was to take his place, and that he respected that.
"They'll post them soon," Chan Young Says, with an air of indifference to rival Tan's. he is entirely at ease, the perfect picture of someone who only expects to do well.
Yoon Chan Young, I never thought that you would be the arrogant type.
Myung Soo's head whips around and they all wince at the whiplash as he rushes over to the notice board suddenly. Tae Yeon sees a member of staff walking away, and concludes that Chan Young's prediction was right.
Tae Yeon makes her way over there, and is uncomfortably aware of Young Do's eyes on her; and can tell that he's trying to analyze her for weaknesses to regain the upper hand that he lost yesterday. Only unlike the rest of the students who had gradually backed of as she'd stared at them, Young Do is unashamed in his efforts and doesn't back down.
"They're up!" Myung Soo shouts, and Young Do looks away.
What are you, to make me feel uncomfortable? I don't do this.
Young Do strides over to the notice board, and manages to cover the first five rows of results with his forearm as he leans against it.
"What are you doing?" Eun Sang asks as they reconvene around the notice board along with the rest of the year. They're all looking confused at Young Do, only the rest of them don't' seem too rushed to argue with him and simply stand back – as if worried he will suddenly lash out.
Tae Yeon wonders how likely this is.
"it's always so boring to see Chan Young on top all the time. I'm adding suspense," Young Do adds, and his grin turns feral. His lips stretch over his teeth and he's looking at Tae Yeon again. She matches his, baring her teeth and Young Do looks pleasantly surprised.
"Choi Young Do, move aside," Bo Na demands, and Young Do sighs. "Why do you need to look that high up anyway? Is your name going to be there?"
Young Do moves then, and dodges a storming Bo Na. her eyes trail the list and her hand flies to her mouth. "Chan Young! You're third!"
"What?" Chan Young asks, and although he no longer looks at ease, he doesn't look particularly worried either.
Young Do's leaning against the wall next to the notice board, and watching Bo Na as her eyes travel further up the list.
"Choi Young Do, did you cheat? How did you place second?"
"What?" Young Do demands, repeating Chan Young's question and Tae Yeon watches pleased as his eyes widen. "What do you mean second?"
"Second. Tae Yeon beat you," Bo Na says, and then Eun Sang is clapping and hugging Tae Yeon tightly.
"Congratulations!" Eun Sang sings into her ear, and Tae Yeon hesitantly wraps her arms around her torso.
I'm not used to having friends that are girls. I'm not used to meeting people in this world who are so affectionate.
"It's about time someone knocked Chan Young off his throne, he was resting too easy," Eun Sang continues, hitting him in the chest.
"Who do you think you're hitting Cha Eun Sang?" Bo Na asks, and Tae Yeon laughs along with Eun Sang..
Chan Young extends his hand to her. "Congratulations, I look forward to competing with you in the future."
"And I look forward to beating you."
They're all laughing, and then Tan and Eun Sang are looking for their names on the list. Tae Yeon spots Myung Soo's name in 100th place; although he doesn't look at all dejected. Instead, he's congratulating Young Do whose once again looking at her, as if she is a puzzle he is eager to solve.
"Oppa, you didn't actually cheat, right?" Myung Soo asks.
"Your oppa's smart Myung Soo, are you doubting me?" Young Do says, and Tae Yeon bares her teeth at him again.
You're not as stupid as I thought, perhaps playing with you won't be that boring. If you think you're going to win, let these rankings be a warning. I've beaten you now, and I'm willing to beat you again.
Young Do continues to watch Tae Yeon when they go to homeroom. He rests his head on his hands and looks at her as she continues to write neatly into her notebook about something or other. Young Do attempts to make out what it says, yet her book is purposely slanted away from him so that he can't decipher it no matter how much he squints.
He'd expected her to tell him to stop, because he knows that she's caught him (mainly due to the fact he's made no efforts to hide it) and he'd caught her staring back at him once – but she refuses and so Young Do stares more intently.
What will it take for me to break your stubbornness?
When the bell rings signaling the end of form, the bubbling chatter in the room dims down and Tae Yeon places her notebook in her backpack. Young Do finally glimpses it, and even though it's brief it's enough to tell him that it isn't in hangul. She places it gingerly into the bag, and Young Do contemplates taking it without her noticing. What kind of things she writes in it that are important enough for her to hide them in a different language.
Do you write your fantasies in them Tae Yeon-ah? Are any of them about me?
Their Tuesdays start with English and Young Do finds that despite his sudden rise in the rankings, it hasn't filled him with the urge to do increasingly well and he grows tired of the class so rests his head on the desk as the teacher enters. The teacher places her belongings on the table and her eyes scan the classroom before landing on Young Do.
Young Do raises his eyebrows and thinks if he hadn't gelled his hair to an extreme height that morning that they might have disappeared beneath it. The teacher says nothing, and clears her throat.
"Today we will be looking at the book we'll spend the rest of the term reading," the woman announces in accented English. The words make sense in Young Do's mind, and the translation comes easily to him. She rests her hands on the stack of books on her desk and holds one up.
"Much Ado About Nothing," she reads and the words are choppy and uneven, hidden by her thick Korean accent.
Supposedly the most prestigious school in Korea and they can't even afford to employ a native English speaker.
"We will be reading this throughout the term and -," the teacher continues and Young Do finds himself losing interest rapidly until he has completely zoned out. He does what he does usually as the teacher drones on about various upcoming assignments; and scans the room like a tiger stalking his prey in the forest. Tan is one seat behind him and he has to swivel slightly in his chair in order to look at him.
Unsurprisingly, Tan is looking lovingly at Eun Sang whose trying her hardest to decipher their teacher's words and is taking notes like an obedient little student.
When did you become so soft, Tan? When did I become tolerant enough to stand to look at you?
When will I grow tired of wondering how you ended up like this?
A couple of seats to his right sit Bo Na and Chan Young, hands linked in between their seats and this too is unsurprising.
When did I become tolerant enough to consider calling any of you my friends?
Myung Soo continues with the trend, and is playing a game on his phone under the table. He isn't being at all that subtle about it from the way he is tapping aggressively on his screen. Young Do chuckles and pauses before turning to look at the final person worthy enough of his interest.
You think you know me, so should we see how well I know you? What are you doing, transfer student?
Probably taking notes like yesterday, Young Do deduces. And when he turns, he has to blink for a moment. Rather than listening intently to the teacher as she'd exhibited yesterday, Tae Yeon is writing something in a different notebook and the speed at which she's writing doesn't coincide with the teacher's rambling. Her hand moves to the margins and she doodles, suddenly looking straight at him.
She lifts an eyebrow and Young Do mirrors her. Then the teacher says something that catches her attention and she turns around.
What kind of welfare student is blessed with enough knowledge to understand English this well, number one or not? How exactly did you get enough knowledge to beat me? Young Do thinks wryly.
"You will all make presentations on this book for next week," the teacher announces, and the class is filled with groans. None louder than Myung Soo's – although it's unclear if his upset is due to the homework or due to having lost a life on whatever game is his current addiction. Young Do is all to aware of Myung Soo's gaming problem: whenever he gets inevitably stuck he begs Young Do to help him surpass a level and he's annoying enough to persist until Young Do eventually relents.
The teacher holds up a hand, and they all quiet. "You will do it in partners, and because I am being nice you can choose your own."
Young Do doesn't have to turn around to know that Eun Sang has finally returned Tan's look and that they are smiling softly at each other, and that Bo Na and Chan Young are probably doing something similar. That must be the only advantage to being in a relationship; you always have a partner for something. Then he realizes that all of Tae Yeon's friends are paired up, and that she has no one left.
What an excellent opportunity.
Then once again Myung Soo manifests before his eyes and is sitting on Tae Yeon's table. The teacher looks aghast.
"Tae Yeonie, be my partner?" Myung Soo begs and Tae Yeon looks at him, shocked by his sudden presence.
Myung Soo your talent at annoying me is reaching ridiculous heights.
"Do you know the book?"
Myung Soo shakes his head vigorously. "Of course not, but I ranked 100th again today, and you ranked 1st. take pity on me and help," he says and he's pouting again and Young Do can not believe that Tae Yeon is going to agree. He can pinpoint the exact moment she'd agreed, and it had been the moment Myung Soo first appeared. He'd watched the desperation and uneasiness in her eyes, and just before he could offer a questionable helping hand; Myung Soo had stolen the opportunity for him.
Young Do reclines further back in his seat, and just for fun glares at a couple of students who are loitering around, clearly also without partners. They all scram.
Looks like I won't be doing this project after all.
Young Do finds her at the end of the day, depositing books into her locker. She'd managed to elude him entirely at lunch – Myung Soo said he'd spotted her talking on the phone outside; and for once she didn't have one of the Teletubby bunch loitering around.
Good, I've grown tired of couples. Love made my father ferocious; yet it makes everyone else mind-numbingly boring.
The hallway was mainly deserted, the few students that were there parting immediately upon seeing him.
At least everyone knows I'm still ferocious.
He watched as her phone rang, and continued to walk towards her, hands drumming against his thighs as she looked at the caller ID distastefully and then dropped it into her bag.
He rested one hand atop her locker door and the other besides her; effectively caging her in. he leant down to breathe on her ear, "Boo."
She jolted up right, and Young Do was incredibly satisfied at the way goose bumps rose quickly along her neck.
"What?" She asked, whirling around. Once her eyes landed on him she rolled her eyes and returned to her original position – her back now resting against his front. He had to lean down in order to tuck her head under his chin.
"You ignoring me really hurts my feelings."
Tae Yeon scoffed and he pressed closer against her.
"I mean it. You don't look at me even though I've been so nice. I've spoken to you more on your first day than some of the students here who have known me their whole lives," he exhaled slowly as he paused, and he could feel her stiffen. "I even wanted you to be my English partner."
"Then perhaps I should get Myung Soo a gift for getting there first and being my partner instead," Tae Yeon replied, zipping up her bag and shuffling around the books inside of her locker so that they were arranged by height.
I like to do mine by colour.
"I could always switch with him. If you want a failing grade that badly, I've been told that I play dumb very convincingly."
"I don't doubt that in the slightest. But why would I want to partner with someone whose so convinced that their best friend will fail?"
Her words hit him like one of his father's slaps. Hard and cutting, stinging his cheek. Unexpected no matter how many times he's done it before.
The whispers of newly made rumours reach his ears, and he knows that the students are already gossiping, spreading the news of how Young Do doesn't believe in Myung Soo. About what a terrible friend he is.
It's probably true, but still who are you to suggest it Kang Tae Yeon?
Tae Yeon punctuates his thoughts with the clanging shut of her locker. Young Do refused to budge, and when she turned to leave her eyes dilated in shock at their proximity.
"He ranked 100th," Young Do states, and knew it didn't need any more explanation. Hates that he had to justify his statement at all.
I don't care what you think. I only care about Myung Soo, and I don't appreciate you having people believe I don't value him.
"Is that supposed to mean that he'll fail? That he's stupid?" She says, inhaling sharply. Her eyes flare when she speaks, and Young Do could tell that it was clearly a sensitive topic. Perhaps she'd been ranked 100th before, maybe she was number one now because she didn't want to be there.
Unfortunately for her, Young Do wasn't willing to ease up. Not when she'd touched his own sore point.
Young Do was fully aware that his friendships were questionable. Him and Tan's games were more than enough evidence of that. Even when they had been younger and as thick as thieves; they'd gotten into so many fights and squabbles that it was ridiculous. They'd patched up all of their spats by tormenting others weaker than them.
And then Tan had ditched him for the promise of America (Young Do usually ignores the fact that Tan wasn't presented with much of a choice) and the fact that Young Do had been the one to tell him to essentially piss off didn't matter either.
Myung Soo was the only one who had stuck with him through everything – even when Young Do clearly favoured Tan over him. Perhaps the reason Myung Soo was still around was because Myung Soo didn't know about everything like Tan did. He wasn't scared off, didn't pity him.
Yet here Tae Yeon was, holding the audacity to question him and Myung Soo's friendships, to start rumours (whether it was intentional or not, Young Do managed to carry around an atmosphere of hush like a coat, one that made even the quietest of comments ring loud like bells) that would spread like wildfire.
Choi Young Do thinks Myung Soo is stupid.
Of course he is, why else would he have stuck with Young Do all this time?
Young Do refused to reveal it was a weak spot, not when she'd already gained the upper hand by spotting his bruise; so he reiterated his point. "Does that mean he won't? That he's not?" He found himself stepping forwards without thinking until her back hit the locker and her chest was pressed against his.
"It means that whatever his ranking may be, the person whom he looks up to should not be doubting him. That his oppa is not deserving of that title, not if said oppa is confidently telling everyone that he'll fail."
"Wow," Young Do says. "You're really determined to be everyone's knight in shining armor. First Cha Eun Sang, then Jo Myung Soo. Even me. When will you realize that maybe you're overreacting? That not everyone needs saving? That people like you shouldn't overstep their boundaries or they'll end up falling straight into the abyss."
Tae Yeon blinked at him. "I'm determined to tell people to not put others down, or to think that they're superior to them."
Why are poor people always so arrogant, it's tiring. Besides, aren't you being hypocritical? Aren't you acting superior to me right now?
"Do you honestly think you're going to pass with him? Couldn't you have at least tried to make a better choice?" he asks, and he can feel the beast inside of him rearing its ugly head. Perhaps Chan Young will finally see what a double expulsion is like.
He slides his palms down the cold metal of the lockers until they're resting on either side of her head; and presses even closer to her. She refuses to flinch. Miraculously, none of the Teletubbies have shown up, although the amount of onlookers has at least doubled. Tae Yeon made no move to resist him, the only barrier she put up was her hardening her eyes and reaching up to grab onto his wrists.
"Do you pity him? Is that why you're like this?" He asked, tilting his head to the side. "Is it because you're a charity case yourself? I thought you were smart. Too smart to feel sorry for people. Maybe I'm wrong and overestimated you. Maybe you're just some fool who cares too much about stupid boys," he suggests and then her nails are digging into her exposed wrists and Young Do realized that although she'd gotten under his skin by insulting his faith; he'd gotten revenge at causing her mask to shatter with that insult. He'd been whispering, and he could tell he'd gone unheard by the way he could see his audience leaning inwards in his peripheral vision, craning their necks to catch what had been said to trigger this reaction.
I can hear you asking what I whispered into her ear. Surely if you're all so scared of me you should be more hushed.
"What makes you so sure you're above him? Is it because you're ranked as such?" she asked, walking forwards so that Young Do had no choice to back up. Her nails were blunt but still digging into his flesh, and she dropped her hands to her sides abruptly, and the look in her eyes mirrored his. She was miniscule in comparison to his impressive height, yet he felt slightly intimidated by her. It appeared that rather than touching a merely sore nerve, he'd tripped a wire that triggered this.
I wanted you to drop your mask, and for some strange reason now I'm wishing I wasn't successful.
Before he knew it they were back in the middle of the hallway, the onlookers forming a wall on either side. He could hear someone walking towards them. Not hurried like the rest of the audience, rushing to catch up on what they'd missed – this person's footsteps were slow as they clacked against the floor.
It's either the Chairwoman, a Teacher, or Kim Tan and his still ridiculous shoes. I'm not sure which one I would prefer.
"I'm ranked above you, perhaps I should treat you as my inferior as well?" Tae Yeon asked, and as she arched her eyebrow at him her expression rivaled Yoo Rachel's.
You have the fire of a chaebol, where did you learn that?
"I told you that I didn't wish for things to be awkward between us due to my behavior, and I apologized if I offended you yesterday. That was my fault. Now you're the one out of line, and perhaps I'll pardon you because you're clearly hurt over something and I have no time to play with petty boys. I'll walk away this time, because you pardoned me for whatever I did yesterday, and out of respect for our mutual friends. Although how you still have any is beyond me," she said. Her words were sharp and clipped, still at normal volume.
He recalled her smiling and laughing with Eun Sang.
How many personalities are you hiding, where do you find the space? How many questions have I asked since I met you?
"Young Do," came Tan's voice suddenly, and Young Do turned to him as Tae Yeon maneuvered her way through the sea of gathered sheep. He could hear them whispering vicious things.
Who is she?
Welfare students really are crazy.
Remember Kang Ye Sol?
No one's stood up to him like that since Kim Tan.
More like Yoo Rachel.
She's a crazy bitch. Doesn't she know who Young Do is? What he can do?
I like her. Maybe she'll put him in his place.
Young Do snapped at that, and ignoring tan, made to follow her; only spurred on by Myung Soo's appearance.
"Oppa!" he shouted, and the murmurs hushed. He ignored him as he clung to his arm, and continued to follow her outside.
You have embarrassed me twice already, and that was my bad. My father's always telling me I'm a disappointment, perhaps I'll do something to earn his approval.
I warned you to watch where you're going, lest you fall. And you've already fallen, only to rise up stronger than before. I'll take your lead for now. I want to know where you'll take me.
This is probably littered with mistakes, and will need editing along with the previous chapter because I realised I did not check it all the way through. I just wanted it posted; and I'll go back later to check any grammar issues especially in the last section, and to make it flow better with the other two.
I'm having one of those weeks where you're not entirely sure what you're doing, and although I've planned this fic more than I've planned anything in my entire life, I feel like I've lost the flow. The 'How many questions have I asked since I've met you' line was actually an ironic question to myself because I really need to stop having Young Do's narrative being all questions.
Anyway now I'm rambling and no one wants to hear that and I just love talking about Young Do so I'm getting a bit desperate now. Sorry.
Thanks to all the people that followed/favourited and thanks to the reviews as well!
Albinajenner: Thank you so much! I'm glad you love her, although there's still a few kinks that need to be ironed out when I right her because I know her all the way and right now it seems as if she's got a real split-personality. And as for whether she's really poor, you find out soon enough!
Orator: Thank you as well! As much as I wanted him and Eun Sang to end up together - despite the fact they were about as suited as her and Kim Tan - I didn't think I could write from her POV convincingly enough. I hope you're still reading!