···

Seulgi was startled, so she jumped, whimpered, and turned around…

“Hey, you dropped this,” the figure that she was looking at responded in the calmest way possible, despite Seulgi’s reaction. It was the same mysterious, pale-faced girl with the irresistible, mesmerizing gaze.

Seulgi’s heart dropped for a moment, and she stood still, staring into space because she was freaked out for nothing. The pale girl only held out her hand with Seulgi’s wallet in it, handing it back to its original owner.

“Th-th-tha-nk.. Y-you,” Seulgi stuttered. Her heart was racing very quickly, and she didn’t know why.

« Is this what fear does to you? » Seulgi thought.

“See you around,” and the girl walked away, swiftly, like a light feather. Her footsteps weren’t even audible.

Seulgi just stood in the same spot, frozen, with her crutches. She inhaled deeply, and panicked within her head, « What was that? Are you serious? Seulgi! That was such a horrible first impression! I bet she thinks I’m a total weirdo now…! »

She travelled back to the dance room in her crutches and her water bottle.

···

“Seulgi! What took so long? It doesn’t usually take this long just to get water!” Wendy exclaimed, once she saw Seulgi in her sights.

“Calm down, lady, she’s right there, alive and in front of you,” Amber complained.

“I’m okay, haha,” Seulgi said, “I just got held back a little since other students came by to see how I was doing because they saw me in crutches.”

“Why are you sweating so much..?” Krystal asked.

“What? I am?”

“Look at yourself, you’re drenched like you just ran a few miles.”

Seulgi looked at herself in the mirror. She did look like she just ran a few miles.

“Is something wrong? Are you okay?” Wendy asked.

“I’m fine! Never felt better, now you guys should continue practicing instead of fawning all over me and my health. I’m alright, I swear,” Seulgi smiled.

“Yes! See, Wendy? Even Seulgi understands my sense of urgency! When I said we had to nail the performance coming up soon, I meant it! Now come on, let’s get to my rap already,” Amber exaggerated.

Seulgi closed her eyes and smiled while scratching the back of her head. She was seated in front of her friends, watching them finish rehearsal. However, the pale-faced girl was still in her mind.

« Still. If I knew she was still around, I wish I could redo that moment of life where she picked up my wallet… » Seulgi thought.

···

“You’ve been silent ever since you saw that girl. Is everything alright?” Wendy asked. She was driving Seulgi home like she usually does. And her injured ankle adds another reason to it.

“Why are you putting it as ‘since you saw that girl’? Isn’t it more like since I got this injured ankle?” Seulgi asked.

“Mm.. Well, that too, I guess..”

Silence filled the car.

“So… Is there anything wrong?” Wendy continued pressing in.

“Mm, nah, I don’t think anything is wrong, aside from the sprained ankle. Might take a week, right?”

“If it’s a really bad sprain.”

Seulgi sighed, “That’s a week of no dancing. I guess Amber’s right, I won’t be able to make it for this performance.

“I wonder if you could just sit in a chair or something and sing, or at least be on stage with your crutches.”

Seulgi just laughed, “That would make me look very pathetic though..”

“I’m serious, something like that is possible. I don’t want you to miss out.”

“Maybe you’re right.”

“I probably am, like I always am.”

“Hey!” Seulgi laughed, “I’m right sometimes too.”

···

The next day in Chemistry, your teacher makes a sudden announcement, “Class, we have a new student today who will be joining us from now on,” He cleared his throat, “Come on in, and introduce yourself.”

A slender girl walks in swiftly, with inaudible footsteps. Seulgi’s eyes widen, and Wendy looked more intently. It was the same pale-faced girl that Seulgi had encountered close-up.

“Hello, everyone. I am Bae Joohyun, but please, call me Irene,” the girl introduced herself. Her voice was soothing and calm, not too loud, and not too soft. Her pitch was perfect. She smiled.

For some reason, Seulgi couldn’t help but to feel that Irene was looking at her the whole entire time during her little introduction.

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