At least Hoseok didn’t have to spend his time in detention alone. The black haired boy, in the corner and next to Hyunsoo, had suddenly stood up and aimed his pen at the teacher. It landed right in front of him, but still the teacher was shocked and Hoseok was delighted. Hyunsoo, on the other hand, decided to take note of this and avoid people like that boy next to her. She couldn’t let herself involve with people constantly causing trouble. Well, it was just the first day, but already people were causing trouble. She was sure they weren’t planning to stop anytime soon.

“Hyunsoo!” Jimin walked down to Hyunsoo’s desk after homeroom class ended. It wasn’t really a class. It was more like an hourly session with the teacher and the classmates every day. “Hyunsoo, where do you live?”

“I live a bit far… I get the bus just down the road and it takes me straight to my road. I wish I lived closer.”

“Why? It’s school!” Jimin made a horrified face, but Hyunsoo just smiled.

“I don’t want to wake up earlier than most people just to get to school on time.”

“Oh, well… I can’t fix that, but you’re lucky! Now you will have a buddy to go to school with and back! I get the same bus!”

Hyunsoo looked at Jimin amazed. She had spent the whole time with Jimin since they met, and now they even went the same way home. It seemed odd how suddenly she found a friend she could be with, but Hyunsoo was just so happy. Jimin was her first real friend.

“Let’s go together.” Hyunsoo laughed out loud for the first time that day surprising Jimin, but he laughed along.

They were on the bus sitting beside each other, when Hyunsoo’s stop came first. She got up and bid goodbye, walking down to the front to get off. It wasn’t until the bus had completely gone, when she realised she wasn’t alone. She turned slowly.

“Jimin?” Hyunsoo was stunned seeing him behind her smiling radiantly.

“I decided to see you off at your doorstep. I’ll get the next bus home, even though my house isn’t far from here so I could just walk.”

“Are you sure? You could’ve gone straight home…”

“What do you mean am I sure? Of course I am!”

“No, Jimin, go back… please,” Hyunsoo started stammering.

“What’s wrong? It’s not like I’m inviting myself in. I thought I’d be nice if I just said goodbye here…”

“Jimin, it won’t be good.”

Just then, there was a slam and someone walking right up to Hyunsoo angrily. He stunk strongly of… alcohol… he was drunk… in the middle of the day.

“HYUNSOO!” he yelled grabbing her arm.

“Hyunsoo!” Jimin shouted grabbing her other arm. “Who is this?”

“My dad…” Hyunsoo faltered, but tried to smile a goodbye to Jimin before being dragged off to her house, leaving Jimin dumbfounded.

When they reached the kitchen inside, her dad turned Hyunsoo to face him and slapped her hard.

Hyunsoo couldn’t say a word. She couldn’t cry. She couldn’t shout for help. It’s always been like this. On her dad’s good days, he would ignore her as if she didn’t exist. Other than that, she could only pray for her mum to come save her. Hyunsoo’s mum worked daily to get the money that her dad would then waste on alcohol and gambling. Unfortunately, her mum usually finishes work late in the evenings.

He slapped her again.

There was no particular reason why she would get abused. It just happened for as long as she could remember. Hyunsoo and her mum couldn’t do anything about it. No one would listen. Her dad was a devil wearing an angel’s costume whenever someone came to ‘help’.

Another slap.

She was tired of this daily routine. Why did she have to live like this? School was her only escape. One day… she will be surrounded by happy, kind and caring people. It was her wish. People like Jimin; her only friend who had managed to make her feel like she belonged somewhere. One day… she will live a blissful life. It’s all she ever wanted. It’s what she wishes for every night. It’s what she was wishing for when she fell asleep cold in her bed after her dad left to go drinking with his friends.