I have this brilliant plan. Well, maybe not.

“Finally!”

The entire homeroom cheered. “Freedom at last!”

Woollim Boarding School has granted a free Friday for the students. Students were howling in the hallway, in joy over the momentary freedom. Many have been making plans to liberate. Liberate, just because we have been stuck in this hellhole, where there’s no route for escape. It’s like the chain has been broken.

Sungyeol did a fist pump action. “It’s Friday!”

“Dongdaemun. We can find better food, better places to chill, and to top it all, what’s the best thing that Dongdaemun can offer?” Sunggyu exclaimed excitedly, exchanging sneaky glances with the rest of the soccer team.

“Shopping!” Sungjong grinned.

“Better view.” Woohyun snickered.

“Boys,” I thought. “Bunch of hormonal boys.”

Hoya slapped Woohyun’s back while wearing a mischievous look. “Girls!”

“Beautiful girls!”

They broke into boisterous laughter, walking back towards the direction of their respective dormitories in preparation for the all-hell-break-loose, Friday outing.

Wear something nice,” Sungyeol added. “Will meet the team by the school’s stairway in fifteen minutes.”

Woohyun joked, “Trying to pick up some chicks along the way, Sungyeol?”




“Shut up. Let me dare you to wear a black rubbish bag over your head to Dongdaemun, Woohyun.”

“Girls, they will still pick me up!” Woohyun retorted with a conceited smile over his face.

“Most likely, mistaking you as a bag filled with rubbish.” Myungsoo commented blankly, earning chuckles from the rest of the team. He smiled, chasing the feeling of dread that has overwhelmed him. Jae Rin’s in our dormitory, waiting for him. That broke her promise. She failed all together in trying to sneak out from the boarding school in the morning.

“Niel-Hyung, are you coming with the team?” Sungjong stated. Enthusiasm dancing in his eyes. “I mean, I don’t know if the others have asked you yet, but it’ll be great if you can come along.”

“Woohyun asked me earlier,” I smiled gratefully. “Sorry Sungjong but I have made other plans on my own.”

“What? You’re bailing on your own roommates, lost lamb?” Woohyun joined in the conversation, jabbing me in the arm. He whined childishly, earning looks of disgust from the team. I looked back, giving a slight smack on his arm in retort. “You’re not going back in there to study, aren’t you?”

"Very creative," I stated.

"Team-kill," Sungyeol frowned. "As much as Niel loves studying, he wouldn't do that."

Dongwoo snickered, “Watch your mouth, Woohyun. Niel has good backing. L.Joe is going to break your limbs into a perfect half for spouting things like that!”

“Come on. Bring it on,” Woohyun stated cockily, where I rolled my eyes. “So, what’s your Friday plan, Niel? We’re great hanging out buddies. What could be more awesome than being with Woollim’s soccer team?”

“We’re fun people,” Sunggyu gave a toothy grin. “You should come with us, Niel.”

“Totally,” Dongwoo smiled, tugging me on the sleeves.

“It’ll be fun if Jae Rin’s not tagging along,” Sungyeol snidely remarked, glaring at Myungsoo who remained expressionless.

Anxiety sunk into my skin and my mind wandered to doom.

I dragged my feet (literally dragging) to dormitory room 143. My head filled with thoughts – very clustered, jumbled thoughts.

Two options. Two, disparate thoughts. First, have a meet-up with Jiyong (G-Dragon, as what he insisted to be called as that for it lives up to his badass look as a whole). Second note, hang out with the soccer team as my depressing, studious alter-ego image.

I walked into the room with no aim in mind. Unfortunately, gravity has a love-hate relationship with me. The looming figure appeared right in front of my face.
My entire world jolted. Our bodies knocked into one another in the doorway.

“Watch where you’re going, nerd!" Jae Rin hissed, struggling to get up from the floor. Woohyun and Myungsoo have locked her in the dormitory while we attended our morning classes. She pulled herself together, eyes prying for something. “Have you seen Myungsoo?”

I stared at the face. The face that I truly dislike, that face that I used to pull many mindless, successful pranks on. That face soaked with many things that I wanted to do, just to destroy her. I pulled myself together, gathering the bounded books that have fallen out from my grasp. When they say ignorance is bliss, they were right. I will apply that theory to this infuriating situation.

I’ll pretend that she’s invisible.

“Yah, are you deaf or something, nerd?”

An annoyed look sketched across her porcelain skin, having me, ignoring her questions.

“There you are!" Jae Rin draped herself over to Myungsoo who has just entered the room, fixing the impassive look on her face.

Woohyun poured a glass of orange juice from the carton, walking away from the duo with a look of reticence. On the other hand, Sungyeol was already set in pulling out his clothes and shoes selection.

"We're going to do some shopping together, right?" she whispered to Myungsoo, twirling the ends of her raven black hair.

The clarity in my choice was there all along. I would pick a day to liberate without this looming shadow clinging on to me. Letting out an exasperated sigh, I replied to Jiyong's text message. "Usual place. I'll disappoint you with my fashion sense, Ji."

"What are you wearing?" Jae Rin questioned, eyes bearing deep grudges as she walked passed me. "We should wear something identical to prove our love, Myungsoo."