Burgeon - to begin to grow or increase rapidly. 

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The next day...

"Okay, I think I've had enough," Yoona muttered under her breath as she watched Jennie from a distance, lost in her own thoughts.

Upon arriving in the morning, Jennie had seemed cheerful, but as the day progressed, her mood seemed to shift. Yoona sensed that something was bothering her, and she was determined to find out what it was.

Observing Jennie closely, Yoona realized that the brunette was a master at concealing her true feelings. She hadn't seen any of Jennie's friends comforting her yet, either because they were unaware of her emotions or were simply oblivious.

Yoona had learned to recognize when Jennie was pouting – there were usually two reasons for it. One, she was being playful and seeking attention, and two, she was struggling to hold back tears.

As Jennie walked into the restroom, Yoona made a quick decision to follow her. She slipped into an empty stall as she heard Jennie enter another. Yoona let out a sigh of relief, thankful that she hadn't been spotted.

Inside the restroom, Yoona listened to the familiar voice of the student who began speaking to Jennie. "I think she's Jongin's girlfriend," Yoona mumbled to herself, recalling the connection. The situation was becoming clearer.

"What do you want?" Jennie's voice wavered, revealing her fear.

"She's scared," Yoona thought.

"We want to ruin your life, obviously. What else?" The voice continued. "It's a good thing Jongin broke up with you. I don't even know what he saw in you."

"Me and your boyfriend are over. His business isn't mine anymore. Why do you keep bothering me?" Jennie's response was filled with frustration.

Laughter echoed in the restroom as the girls around Jongin's girlfriend joined in. Yoona rolled her eyes, unimpressed by their antics. The insults continued, and Yoona could feel Jennie's growing agitation.

Jennie had enough. She knew that her relationship with Jongin had ended, and it was unfair for these girls to continue tormenting her. As they mentioned the principal, Jennie's patience snapped.

"Stop talking about him!" Jennie's voice cut through the air, firm and commanding.

"And now you're cutting me off, what a disrespectful ," Mina continued her tirade.

"I am not a , Mina! Stop saying mean things about me because you don't even know me!" Jennie's frustration was reaching its peak. She couldn't hold back anymore. "Leave me the alone!"

"You're being confident because Jongin took your ity. I didn't know you'd give away your v card to someone you're not going to spend the rest of your life with. What a !"

Jennie clenched her teeth, staring at Mina in disbelief. "What the did you just say?"

"What? Isn't it true? You gave your v card to him."

"I ing did not! Why the hell are you spreading rumors about me that aren't true?"

"Oh, really? Then why did Jongin tell me that you gave your v card to him? He's been boasting about it to his friends, and soon it will be all over campus. That's when the so-called queen bee Jennie Kim won't be a queen bee anymore." The room fell silent. "You will be forgotten, Jennie Kim. So enjoy this day while you can."

Yoona heard the door open and then close, signaling their departure. She closed her eyes and sighed, berating herself for staying in the stall for so long. She was about to step out when she heard soft cries. The cries were familiar—Jennie Kim was crying.

Yoona decided to give her some space and time. After a few minutes, the sobs ceased. The door opened, and Yoona knew it was time for her to exit the stall. She stepped out, taking a deep breath.

"What am I supposed to do with these kids?" Yoona muttered as she left the restroom.

On the field, the cheerleaders were practicing, so Yoona took a seat in the bleachers. She had promised Jennie she'd take her home after practice.

Yoona hadn't spoken to Jennie about the incident yet. She figured she'd wait until after practice to talk to her. She glanced around and noticed the volleyball players, including Mina and her friends, watching the cheerleaders. Jennie was there too, doing her best to hide her emotions from her friends and the other students.

Yoona sighed. High school drama could be a real pain, especially when it targeted someone as genuine as Jennie.
 

"Ms. Im." Yoona glanced at him and nodded. "The dead rat is safely in his bag while they were in the locker room."

A sly smile formed on Yoona's lips as she took out her wallet, handing him the agreed-upon payment. He bowed gratefully and quickly rejoined his friends, no doubt eager to share his earnings.

Throughout the cheerleading practice, Yoona found herself growing increasingly bored. Once it was finally over, she sighed in relief. She directed someone to fetch Jennie, Mina, and Mina's friends. As they approached, Yoona's expression remained composed, her intentions veiled in mystery.

"Come closer, ladies."

The group shared curious glances, wondering what had prompted Yoona to summon them. Jennie furrowed her brow, trying to anticipate Yoona's motives.

"Mina-ssi?" 

Mina offered a respectful bow, her eyes curious. "Is there something you need, Ms. Im?"

"Apologize to Ms. Kim right now." The room fell into an expectant hush, surprise flickering through the group. Mina and her friends exchanged skeptical looks, shaking their heads in refusal. "I'm serious."

"Why should we apologize to her, Ms. Im? We didn't do anything wrong," Mina countered, gesturing toward Jennie, who was growing increasingly uneasy under their scrutiny.

Yoona's chuckle held a hint of amusement, her demeanor unwavering. "Oh, but you have. I'm aware of something that's been brewing." She rose from her seat and approached the group, pausing by Jennie's side. A glacial stare met Mina's, sending a chill down her spine. "This confrontation doesn't need to be drawn out. Apologize to Ms. Kim, right now, in my presence."

Caught off guard, Jennie's eyes darted back and forth between them, uncertain of what Yoona was alluding to. Did she somehow know about their encounter earlier? The thought alone made her cheeks flush with embarrassment; she hadn't intended to expose her vulnerability.

"B-but Ms. Im... I haven't done anything to her," Mina stammered, trying to hold her ground.

A knowing smile tugged at the corner of Yoona's lips as she shook her head. "Intentions often speak louder than actions. If you insist on clandestine behavior, make sure you're not caught." Mina blinked, grappling to understand the implications of Yoona's words. "Every individual deserves the privacy to live their lives as they see fit. Why, then, do you feel the need to delve into others' affairs, Mina-ssi? I'd love to hear your explanation."

Mina's heartbeat quickened, her unease mounting. "Ms. Im... I... I don't really know."

"I overheard your conversation in the restroom earlier," Yoona said calmly, sending shockwaves through the group. "I'm not making this up. In fact, I even have a recording of it." Her lie had the intended effect, leaving them rattled and off balance.

"Ms. Im, I... I didn't intend to—"

"Fruitless," Yoona interjected, waving her hand dismissively. "Your words now are as futile as your actions were then. What you did didn't impact me. The ball is in Ms. Kim's court; it's her decision whether to forgive or not." Her gaze shifted to Jennie, who fought to hold back tears, unwilling to let her emotions show in front of everyone. "You won't be leaving until an apology is offered."

"But, Ms. Im, I never caused her any physical harm."

"Useless." she shook her hands off of her, "What you're going to say to me will be useless because you didn't do anything wrong to me. Now it's up to Ms. Kim if she will let this slide or not." she glance at Jennie who was about to cry if she haven't force herself to stop it before she humiliated herself. "I'm not gonna let you go home if you're not going to apologize for what you did." 

"But Ms. Im I didn't physically hurted her." 

"Of course you didn't, because if you had, I don't believe you'd be pleased with the consequences," Yoona retorted, her tone frigid, sending shivers down their spines. Jennie watched Yoona with a mixture of gratitude and apprehension, her lip quivering as she struggled to hold back tears. "But emotional harm can be just as damaging. Your hurtful words, laced with untruths, have wounded her deeply. Perhaps you ought to seek guidance from your psychology teacher, as it seems you lack an understanding of the impact of your actions. The principal may even see fit to offer you a lesson on the subject, considering your apparent deficiency in it."

An uncomfortable silence hung in the air as Yoona's words lingered, their implications sinking in.

Clearing , Yoona motioned to Mina to offer her apology before things escalated further. Mina let out a deep sigh and stepped forward hesitantly, facing Jennie, who met her gaze evenly.

"I'm sorry, Jennie. I promise I won't bother you anymore," Mina mumbled, her head bowed repeatedly. Watching from the sidelines, Yoona couldn't help but smirk at the sight. She signaled to Mina's friends to follow suit, and with some reluctance, they also bowed their heads in apology.

"Now it's up to Ms. Kim whether she chooses to escalate this to the principal," Yoona stated, turning her attention back to Jennie. She gave Jennie a reassuring smile, silently conveying her support and presence. Jennie nodded, acknowledging Yoona's unspoken message. "So, Ms. Kim, what's your decision?"

Jennie sighed, her gaze fixed on Mina, who continued to bow and express her remorse. She didn't want more trouble; she just wished for a peaceful high school life. "I'll forgive you," Jennie finally said, ending Mina's cycle of bowing and receiving her profuse thanks, along with promises not to repeat her actions.

"Shall we head home now, Ms. Im?" Jennie asked, looking at Yoona with a mixture of gratitude and relief.

Yoona nodded, appreciating the trust Jennie had shown her. "Yes, let's go." As Mina and her friends darted away, Yoona and Jennie began to walk, leaving the incident behind. But before they took more than a few steps, Jennie surprised Yoona by pulling her into a tight hug, her emotions overcoming her.

"Thank you. I don't know how you found out, but it doesn't matter. I'm grateful for what you did," Jennie whispered, her voice laced with sincerity and warmth. Yoona returned the hug, patting Jennie's back gently, glad to have been there for her.

"It's alright, Jennie. I'll always be here for you," Yoona whispered back, her words a gentle promise of her unwavering support.

The two pulled away, and Yoona was momentarily surprised when Jennie suddenly tiptoed and gave her a quick peck on the lips. Jennie's cheeks flushed with a rosy hue as she announced her intention to change her clothes before they left.

"I'm just going to change my clothes, and we're good to go!" Jennie exclaimed, her words echoing as she hurried toward the cheerleaders' room. Her steps were brisk, and her cheeks wore a noticeable blush.

Yoona chuckled softly, shaking her head in amusement. "Ah, that's Jennie Kim for you."

A few moments later, the peace was disrupted by an uproar. Jongin, the baseball player who had been the topic of discussion earlier, emerged on the scene. He was brandishing his black bag, a dead rat inside, and his anger was palpable.

"WHO THE PUT THIS DEAD RAT IN MY ING BAG?!" Jongin's voice boomed, echoing across the area as he confronted anyone who crossed his path. His frustration was evident as he threatened dire consequences if the culprit didn't step forward to apologize.

Yoona couldn't help but grin, observing the spectacle. "What a contradiction. He's furious yet calling himself stupid," she muttered, shaking her head at the irony of the situation.

"You were pretty impressive earlier, I have to admit," Jennie commented, turning to Yoona with a grin.

Yoona chuckled, smoothly starting the car's engine as they prepared to leave. "I think you were even more impressive."

Jennie raised an eyebrow inquisitively. "Why do you say that?"

"Because your ability to control your emotions and put on a brave face while hurting on the inside shows just how strong you are," Yoona answered, glancing briefly at Jennie with a warm smile. "I can't fathom what you've gone through, but I'm genuinely proud of you."

Jennie felt tighten, Yoona's words touching her deeply. It was a rarity for someone outside of her family to express pride in her. "You're going to make me cry again," she admitted, feeling moved by Yoona's sincerity.

Yoona laughed wholeheartedly, her mirth filling the air. "No more tears, I promise." She gave Jennie a reassuring smile, determined to keep the mood light as she drove them toward Jennie's home.

"So? Do you want to come in?" Jennie asked shyly as they arrived at her home. Yoona tilted her head in confusion, causing Jennie's cheeks to turn crimson. She seemed uncertain why Jennie was inviting her inside. 

"I-I mean... my parents haven't arrived yet, so I thought you could stay with me until they get back. And, you know, I won't take no for an answer. After all, I'm your girlfriend," Jennie added, her voice growing slightly bolder.

Yoona couldn't help but s