Chapter 1

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The sound of pencils scraping against the roughness of paper blended in with the mixture of laughter and chatter in the classroom. Students were leaning against their desks and happily yapping away, making the most of the ten minute break. Hana flipped the page of her Calculus textbook, continuing the final problem on her worksheet without taking her eyes away from the fine print of the enormous book. Even though she had her earphones in, she could hear the distant murmurs around her, and she could most definitely feel the curious yet admirable stares that were being casted her way.

“Hana is so pretty, don’t you think?” A male student whispered, pointing at the delicate figure seated by the window.

“And she’s smart. How is that fair?” A girl pouted, but her eyes twinkled with adoration towards her favorite female senior.

But I’m really not… I’m pretty normal, Hana thought, releasing a slight sigh.

Finished with the last problem, Hana took out her earbuds and stretched her arms above her head, revealing the slightest bit of her skin. She looked around the room curiously, catching the attention of everyone present, and awkwardly waved, “Uh, hey guys.”

Everyone chuckled before going back to their own conversations, and Hana silently stood up, leaving the room to get some air; suddenly, the atmosphere felt claustrophobic.

//

Taking a deep breath on the rooftop, Hana finally felt free to do whatever she pleased without any restraints. She leaned against the slight fence surrounding the roof and peered over the building, just as her phone chimed with a call.

“Hello?” Hana answered, tucking one hand into her pocket.

“Hi, honey! How’s class?” Hana’s mother happily greeted, and the girl heard a clang of pots and pans in the background.

“It’s good, mom. How are you?” She gently smiled, resting her arm against the railing.

“Busy as always! Speaking of which, your father is hosting a business party tonight at the hotel! Come straight home after school so you can get ready, okay?”

“But, wait, Mom-” Before Hana could refute, her mother had already hung up, and she heaved a rather large sigh, “I was hoping I could get a break today.”

Feeling dejected, Hana spun on her feet and straightened her posture, putting on another bright face as she headed down to the classroom to get more work done.

//

Baekhyun was walking back to his classroom with a pineapple bun in his hand and his eyes on his smartphone, mindlessly scrolling as he listened to his friends’ conversation around him.

“Dude, that Calculus test was ridiculous