‘He’s like a child, so easy to read.’ Na-Ri thought as she plucked the golden-colored skull and cross-bones on a crimson card that was hanging from her locker. Her eyes twitched, hearing the announcement the nearby students shouted throughout the school. Sighing in annoyance, she decided to see what the rich kids could dish out before she retaliated, after all she needed to see the strengths and weaknesses of her enemies so she could develop an effective counterattack.

Walking into her first class it was obvious but she faked ignorance. Making a scene, she continued to look for her missing desk when Ginger walked up to her, faithfully followed by her two minions.

“Poor Young Na-Ri. Where’s your desk?” Several chuckles rung throughout the classroom but she ignored them, already planning ideas on how to get back at the Mean Trio.

“Hello? Where’s your desk?” Na-Ri could hear the irritation laced in her voice since she didn’t get the reaction she wanted, “well, I guess even your desk wants nothing to do with a weed like you either.”

“That’s funny because I clearly remember the mirror breaking when it saw your face.” Na-Ri bluntly stated. Ginger’s face took the color of her namesake as gasps erupted from the room.

“How dare you?! How could a commoner like you study with us?” Miranda chimed in disgust. Na-Ri stared at her blankly.

“Why did you come to our school?” Sunny complained,

“You have no future outside of your parents money and influence. Oh, does the truth hurt? I, on the other hand, received a two-year scholarship simply because of my intellect that’s not even including my accomplishments in sports or music.” Na-Ri took a step closer to them, instantly causing them to tense up.

“You’re still a weed!”

“You don’t belong here!”

“Go back to the trash bin you crawled out of!”

“Seeing you makes us sick!”

Ginger’s ego increased from this as she step forward, trying to shove her but missed when Na-Ri took a step forward almost causing her to fall. Biting her lip to hold in a laugh, her eyes locked on her book that was covered in insults, these kids aren’t too imaginative, she thought. She took a step forward to pick it up when it moved a few inches towards the door. Ah, the invisible wire trick, not bad, she thought to herself. The students in the room were having a field-day with this as Na-Ri pretended to put some effort into catching the book.

The chase led her to the middle of a hallway where her destroyed desk sat and she instantly knew that she didn’t have a plan for this. What’s it going to be? Glue and feathers? Paint? Maybe a few gallons of ice-cream? Wrong, flours and eggs. Not bad, she thought, it seemed they had more of an imagination then she thought. But it was a waste, there had to be at least three dozens eggs and four packs of flour covering her body which didn’t even include the wasted products that didn’t touch her. She didn’t want to calculate how many pancakes or waffles she could’ve made. She was surprised when she caught the tear-filled eyes of Mi-Ji before the girl jetted up the stairs with an aura of despair and shame surrounding her.

She was thankful that she grew up in the tougher parts of the city, thankful that she develop such a thick skin over the years, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t livid. Her father worked hard to press the uniform perfectly and now it was probably ruined.

After the students grew bored with her lack of tears and emotion, all of them eventually left, tossing a few meaningless insults over their shoulders. Na-Ri instantly went to her staircase to release some frustration though she was mindful not to be too loud just in case the terror squad came looking for her.

“Surrender? Surrender, my ,” Na-Ri said out loud, “Since I’m Lee Na-Ri, the commoner, you think it’s okay to step all over me like this? Did you know that Korea’s common people cannot survive without rivalry and patience? You just made the wrong enemy, Gu Jun-Pyo.” She declared, already planning a dozen ways to get back at the idiot and his followers.

“Damnit, they waste all this flour just to play a prank!” She complained, eyeing the drying eggs and caked on flour with annoyance.

Her rant was cut off by a familiar yawn and she instantly tensed at seeing Yoon Ji-Hoo walking up the stairs once again.

“You’re really noisy every time I see you.” Na-Ri couldn’t help but to pout at his words, “You, do you know how to make hot cakes?” She blinked at the random question before listing off the ingredients and steps.

“You make the batter out of flour, eggs, milk, maybe a little vanilla extract, and sugar then you fry it.”

“That’s pretty simple.” There was a brief silence after those words before he stepped closer to her. He gave her a quick but intense glance over before reaching out of his pocket to pull out an embroiled handkerchief and tried to wipe some of the concoction off her face and shoulders. Na-Ri couldn’t help but to flinch, sensing her uneasiness he took her hand and placed the cloth in her palm before turning to leave.

“Wait, your handkerchief.”

“I don’t need it,” was his reply as he looked back at her, she couldn’t quite place the look on his face.

“Then I’ll return it to you after I clean it.” She stated.

“There’s no need for that. I’m not coming here anymore. It’s too noisy thanks to a certain someone.” He stated before walking off with a wave. Na-Ri puffed up her cheeks in annoyance until a certain article in the magazine he left behind caught her eye, the picture of the woman was obvious. So, that’s why he asked that random question and here I thought it was a weird way to comfort me, who was I kidding?

Na-Ri managed to get most of it out of her hair before she realized school had been released hours ago. She had a nagging feeling to return to the classroom when she noticed something sitting on her recovered desk. Inching closer, it was an adorable lamb plushie with pigtails and a school uniform on. Her hand squeezed its arm only to hear Mi-Ji’s voice saying, “I’m sorry, Na-Ri. Please forgive a cowardly me.” Na-Ri couldn’t help but to smile at her friend’s thoughtfulness especially when her fingers brushed across the fabric of a spare gym uniform.

- - -

“I think I’ll have to take 30,000 won for this.” Kang San stated, looking at the ruined uniform in his hands with a look of disgust. “How did this even happen?”

Na-Ri groaned ignoring his question out of spite, “I know exactly how much this should be, Ahjussi.” She couldn’t understand why the old man always like messing with her during desperate times. She didn’t have the heart to even allow the possibility of her father seeing her ‘maybe ruined’ uniform.

“Then you know that uniforms are expensive from the start. And look at the state of these clothes. I cut the cost down a lot because it’s a uniform.”

“Really? I’m a junior of the cleaners business but you already know that.” Na-Ri retorted, switching to her business voice.

“If you don’t like it, then too bad.” He shooed her away with his free hand, “Go to the Lee Dry Cleaners next door.” He mocked.

“Don’t be like that! You know my dad will kill me if he sees it like, like this!” She complained, “please, please, please.”

Kang San stared at her pleading form for a few minutes but relented, “Alright, 15,000 won but only if you babysit the twins this weekend, no complaints.”

“Ah! Thank you, Ahjussi. You’re the best.” Na-Ri cheered though internally she was worried about watching the devious twins…

- - -

“What’s going on here?” Gong Joo exclaimed, slapping Na-Ri on the back after she stuffed rice into . The action caused her to choke but her mother was too busy ranting, “everyone else is going crazy with diets but you’re in here stuffing your face full of food.”

“Thanks for caring that I almost joked to death.” The seventeen-year-old complained but her mother ignored her.

“You have to diet and get yourself a good body to catch the eyes of the young gentleman. Do we have a lot of money? Do we have a good household name? How can you take dieting so lightly?” Na-Ri simply ignored her mother’s foolishness and continued eating until the bowl was snatched from her.

“I rather survive than diet.” She retorted, glaring up at her mother.

“Swimmers, figure skaters, need to have a good body if they want to become stars. Didn’t you see Kim Yuna? How can a young person not know the trend?” But Na-Ri was tired of listening to her, snatching the rice bowl she raced into her bedroom and locked the door. Na-Ri ignored her mother’s shouts as she told Ga-Eul and Uee want has happened this past week.

- - -

She was ready t