“Kim Yongsun, are you paying attention?”

Yongsun snaps out of her thoughts and finds her homeroom teacher staring at her. She looks around her to see her classmates giving her a judgmental look. She gulps, “No, sir. I’m just tired.”

“If you’re tired, you should have just stayed home today, Yongsun shii.” The teacher turns back to the blackboard and resumes teaching. Yongsun sighs and tries to keep up with class.

When the last bell rings, Yongsun collects her books and heads out the door. Her best friends, Wheein and Hyejin are already waiting for her outside.

“Yo, Yong to the Sun!” Wheein greets her with a tight hug. Yongsun chuckles. They just saw each other this morning. It hasn’t been that long.

“How’s your day?” Hyejin asks Yongsun as the trio struts out of the building, hand-in-hand.

“I… don’t really want to talk about it.” Yongsun pouts.

“Did you space out in class again?” Wheein frowns, popping a fishball into her  mouth.

“Yeah, but I couldn’t help it. I had to fill in for Seokjin at the café last night.” Yongsun sighs.

“Again? You should really find a new part-time job. And besides, your boss is really mean.” Hyejin says, recalling the time she and Wheein were kicked out of the café for using soju bottles to play bowling.

“If I wasn’t so broke…” Yongsun’s voice trails off. She’s thinking about this month’s house rent. She wonders if her mum has saved enough money. Her salary as a part-time waitress alone sure isn’t going to cover everything.

“There’s a new girl in our class today. She’s shy and quiet, but boy is she tall!” Wheein exclaims, raising an arm above her head and tip-toeing a bit to reiterate her point.

“What’s her height got to do with her personality?” Yongsun teases.

“Yah, you know pretty damn well about my inferiority complex.” Wheein eyes her in annoyance.

“Her name is Moonbyul. She just moved here from Jeonju.” Hyejin quips.

“Did you two try to get to know her?” Yongsun asks, looking at Wheein and then at Hyejin.

“We tried to make small talks, but she literally just stared at us like we’re idiots.” Wheein replies, twisting her own shoulder-length hair and frowning when it gets tangled.

“Literally.” Hyejin nods in agreement.

Yongsun doesn’t say it, but she secretly agrees that her two friends are indeed idiots. Sometimes. Okay, all the time.

“Also, she was busy taking notes the whole day. She even stayed in class to read during lunch. She literally didn’t say anything. Not a word.” Wheein says.

“Literally.” Hyejin agrees in a dead-serious tone.“Interesting.” Yongsun says but mostly to herself. Maybe she’ll get to meet this mysterious Moonbyul soon.

//

“Please cover for me one last time, Yongsun shii!” Seokjin begs Yongsun who’s sweeping the floor.

“It’s not like I don’t want to help, but look at the crowd tonight. Besides, I’ve filled in for you twice this week.” Yongsun resumes her sweeping motions even though the broom isn’t doing anything more to the already spotless floor. She doesn’t want to face her co-worker in fear of caving in.

“It's an emergency! Help me out tonight and I promise to take up toilet duty for one whole month.” Seokjin tries to negotiate.

“Even the dishes?” , she’s caving in.

“YES!”

“Alri-” Seokjin is out of the café so fast, he almost left a Seokjin-shaped hole in the door. Yongsun glances at the clock and sighs. 3 more hours to go.

“You’re letting him get away just like that?” says somebody.

Yongsun turns to the source of the voice and sees a tall girl with ash-gray hair standing by the counter with some cash in her hand.

“Sorry, I didn’t know you were waiting.” Yongsun rushes behind the counter and produces the bill to the alluring stranger.

“I said, are you going to let him get away just like that?” The girl repeats with a smirk. Yongsun doesn’t know what that smirk means.

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