"Ugh, why did I even agree to do this dare?"

"You look great, Somi! I don't see what you're so shy about!"

Somi sighed as she let herself get pulled by the arm by her best friend, Vernon. She ducked her head in embarrassment as she felt everyone’s eyes on her as the duo made their way down the school’s corridors.

‘Ugh, why am I friends with this dork?’

‘Hey, looking good!’

‘Unnie, nice hair!’

 ‘You look hot!’

Somi felt the tips of her ears heat up and she’s pretty sure her face is red right now. She’d never been good with receiving attention; she preferred keeping things safe. She never once acknowledged that she is indeed pretty and she always dressed casually. In fact, it was her first time doing something like this. All because of that Vernon. Psh.

She’s had her healthy, natural black hair all throughout the 17 years of her life, but now they’re dyed a vibrant orange down at the tips. Vernon said it looks good but Somi just wanted to cry for her bleach-damaged hair.

‘Somi, will you be mine?’ a random voice from the crowd called out.

Somi felt her eyes widen as Vernon’s grip on her elbow suddenly tightened by a fraction. She turned to look at her best friend only to see his lips pulled into a straight line.

“Let’s get away from here, yeah?” Vernon said, but Somi noticed how tight his voice was.

“Okay,” Somi said but not without a little hesitance. Why was she friends with such a weirdo?

Once they were in the classroom with only a few of their classmates inside, they found their seats and sat down immediately. Somi gave a side glance at Vernon and it seemed like he really wanted to say something.

“Yah, Vernon-ah… What’s wrong?”

“Psh,” he replied with an empty giggle. “I’m starting to think that getting you a makeover wasn’t a good idea at all.”

Uhm, what the heck?

“Hey, don’t tell me you don’t like how I look! You were the one who made me dye my hair like this!” Somi replied with a huff. How dare he? She unconsciously pouted as she waited for her best friend’s reply.

 Vernon poked her on the cheek. The nerve of this guy!

 “Cute,” he said with a chuckle. But his mood suddenly shifted as he looked toward the classroom door. He sighs, “I just didn’t like how they were looking at you. Those erts.”

 “H-huh?” Somi can only blurt out in confusion.

“You’ve got lot of heads turning towards you, Somi-ah.” Vernon looked back at her with kind of a sad smile. What does he mean by that look?

 “O-oh… I’m pretty sure they were just looking at you. You’re the popular kid, why would they even pay attention to me?” Somi really wondered why she was best friends with the most famous guy in school when she was just this shy little wallflower who refused to speak to anyone unless she was spoken to first. Vernon wasn’t this handsome when they were kids. He was the dorky kid who never gave up on trying to get Somi to open up to him.

‘W-wait, did I just think he’s handsome?’

“Somi, you really need to give yourself more credit.” Vernon said a few more words after that, but Somi didn’t catch it because she was shocked by her own thoughts and Vernon had quietly mumbled out that last bit.

 “What did you say?”

 “I said I think you’re really pretty.” Vernon said with a hint of red on his cheeks.

It turned into awkward silence after that because Somi never knew how to react to compliments like that. Not that she’d gotten a lot, but she really never learned how to deal with conversations like these. She felt so flustered and shy and she couldn’t utter a word.

“Somi… Want to hang out with me later at the coffee shop?” Vernon tried to end the tension in the air between them and Somi was thankful for that

. “Y-yes, sure.” She replied with a relieved smile forming on her lips. “Need homework help again?”

 “Y-yeah, but not just that.”

“What is it, then?” Somi asked while unconsciously playing with the orange tips of her hair.

Vernon took a bit of time to reply but when he did, it wasn’t before a long sigh escaped him.

“Will… will you let me hold your hand while we walk there?”

 Somi was out of words, and she could only nod as a response. Maybe she didn’t regret doing the dare at all.