→ Chapter 008

Irene wrapped herself around Baekhyun, clinging to his arm and holding its ends with the tip of her fingers. She gazed at him through her glittering made-up eyes with cloying vapidity, until he told another lame joke and she threw herself at him, erupting in high-pitched giggles. It was obvious he liked her just as much: the way his eyes softened when she laughed, how he ruffled her silky long hair when she kissed his cheek, and the smile twisting his lips whenever she was around.

The students were drawn to the couple in the center table of the vast cafeteria, but not surprised; the two were seen several times hanging around the school campus and sharing anecdotes in History class. What was surprising, though, was that Irene completely changed; she changed for him.

She started wearing more daring clothes, dyed her hair into a stylish purple. Her circle of friends, which originally consisted of nobody, expanded to include various seniors and juniors. It was obvious to everybody Baekhyun was the best thing that ever happened in Irene’s life, earning him the title of the best boyfriend any girl can have.

One person dared to disagree, and it was none other than Kang Mina.

The young girl sat in the far left table of the cafeteria and appeared to be in deep thought. Chanyeol, beside her, was having a small nap before the bell could ring.

“When are you going to stop glaring at them?” He abruptly lifted his head from the wooden table surface, and asked rather annoyed.

“This is his first month and he already scored Irene.” Mina wiggled her toothpick between her front teeth, sneering at the laughing couple, “Irene!” She added for emphasis.

“Look,” Chanyeol huffed, “Why are you so upset? It’s his love life. You can’t be possibly mad because he has a girlfriend.”

She scoffed, shaking her head, “Yeol, you don’t understand.”

“Care to explain?” The boy’s cotton candy hair color went back to the usual black, making him look a tad older.

“You see, I don’t trust him.” Chanyeol was about to talk but she cut him off, “That boy is a charmer, a manipulative sociopath. He put on an act you all believed in, and lured you in with innocent looks and sweet words. Don’t you find it weird how fast he became one of us? How he made us believe there was such thing as an empty place in our school, and then filled it? That’s what’s upsetting to me. You’re all blind, you’re- and Irene! Look what he had made of her! It took me five months to get her to talk and now? She’s the talkative, popular girl and she’s dating him!” Mina looked like she’s out of breath after her little speech, awaiting Chanyeol’s response.

The latter gave her an intense stare, “There’s something missing. You forgot something, didn’t you?”

Mina gulped hard before closing her eyes, “I’m jealous.”

When she opened them again, she found an unsurprised Chanyeol.

“Which one are you jealous of?” He sighed, running his hand through his locks.

“Both.” Mina felt the weight on her shoulders fall off immediately after pronouncing that word, “I’m jealous because he lives fearlessly, and I live within the cage of my father’s murder.”

“What about Irene?” He cocked an eyebrow, leaning to meet her eyes.

“She has a chance to break him, and I don’t.” She confessed.

Her eyes had a glint of sadness in them; pure sadness and disappointment. That answer might’ve had more dimension than what she was able to express: the hatred she feels towards him, the fear he implanted in her heart after he completely ruined her reputation and the curiosity of who he is. Everything about him is telling her to run away, far, far away but her stubborn head just wouldn’t let him go.

The past week, he passed by her like a piece of dust, not sparing her a single glance, he didn’t greet her playfully nor did he throw small pieces of paper at her head to annoy her anymore. It was clear as crystal: Baekhyun is avoiding her.

But why didn’t he do that from the very beginning, when her fear wasn’t replaced by curiosity yet? Was it his plan to give her a little frosting and have her chasing the cake instead? If it was, then he succeeded.

Mina vowed she would ruin him and vows are meant to be kept.

The bell finally rung, causing her to run to her next period.

Adrenaline coursed through Mina’s system, her heart beating faster and faster by the second. Ms. Jeon, the most feared physical education teacher in Kyungbock, blew the whistle announcing the beginning of the third years’ first game of dodgeball.

The players simultaneously rushed towards the center line to grab one of the dodgeballs and throw it to one of their teammates. Kyungsoo rolled it backwards, catching the opposite team off guard, for Namjoo to catch it and pass it to Mina who stood next to her.

“Come on, guys!” Ms. Jeon hollered with that gruff voice of hers, “It’s only the opening rush and you’re slacking off! My grandma can do better than that and she’s dead.”

Mina winced at the woman’s choice of words, suddenly finding it hard to focus on the ball between her hands. She darted her eyes to Soyou, who visibly flinched at the sensitive topic, and made a note to herself to talk to the young girl later.

“Hey, Kang!” Mina turned around to meet two eyes glaring at her, “Pass the ball!”

Kyungsoo, who stood by the center line, urged her with waving hands. Irene, somehow still sulking because of her not being in Baekhyun’s team, clung to her ball in a corner refusing to throw it. Mina didn’t really have a choice, so she tossed it to Kyungsoo.

Another whistle being blown could be heard in the gym, marking an end to the opening rush. Kyungsoo hurled the globe across, hitting a distracted Jongdae in the leg. The latter threw his arms in the air, and then dragged himself towards the side benches. Namjoo received a strong hit from Baekhyun in the arm, resulting into her being eliminated from the game.

A few minutes later, Minho exited the game after Mina had hit him. Unfortunately, Irene ruined the moment when she gave up, not trying to dodge the balls heaved at her by an energetic Jongin.

Eventually, there were only two people