one week later...

Apartment 3-B:

Hayoung: Have you heard from Naeun today?

              I’ve texted her a thousand times and she isn’t answering any of my calls.

Eunji: Maybe her phone ran out of battery.

Hayoung: But she never comes home this late!

Eunji: She’s a college student. Let her have her fun.

Hayoung: Something is fishy… 

Eunji: You’re too nosy for your own good.

Hayoung (whispers): Do you think she’s out with Bomi?

Naeun: Do you really want to know?

Naeun kicks off her shoes and lets the front door click close. There’s a strange air lingering around her; her hair is tousled halfway and her typically pressed shirts are wrinkled.

Hayoung: W-What? Why are you home so late?

Naeun: Do you really want to know?

Hayoung (shouts): Yes! Stop asking me that!

Eunji: It has something to do with Bomi?

Naeun glances sideways.

Naeun: Is there anything to eat?

Hayoung (frustrated): Don’t change the subject!

Naeun: I’ll be ready to talk once I have food in my stomach.

Eunji (pauses): I’ll cook you ramen.

Hayoung: I have my lunch leftovers on the table too.

Hayoung slides next to Naeun who is aimlessly opening Hayoung's lunch container. Eunji rummages through the pots while simultaneously picking out five or six eggs from the fridge.

Hayoung: So why were you out so late?

Naeun (chewing): I was making some new friends.

Hayoung: Is that your way of saying looking for trouble?

Naeun: What are you trying to say?

Eunji: You’re more mischievous than what meets the eye.

Hayoung: I’d say she’s most mischievous.

Eunji: I don’t know… I’m pretty sly.

Hayoung (laughs): You’re just a meungchungi [stupid].

Eunji (scowls): I told you not to call me that!

Hayoung: I can call you whatever I want––

Eunji gives her a look.

Hayoung (quietly): I’m kidding, unnie.

Naeun: Okay, I suppose I knew I wasn’t up to good but I definitely didn’t intend for any of this.

Eunji: What happened?

Naeun sighs.

*FLASHBACK*

CAMPUS

Ilhoon: Pst. Pssstttt. Bomi's girl!

Naeun: …

Ilhoon: I know you can hear me.

Naeun: What do you want?

Ilhoon (chuckles): I think I should be asking that. 

              You’re the one who wants to know about Bomi, right?

Naeun turns away to continue walking when she stops, sighs, and looks over her shoulder.

Ilhoon smirks and flicks his hand out of his pocket.

Ilhoon: I know you’re curious.

Naeun: What can you tell me?

Ilhoon: For Bomi's girl… anything you want.

              But you’re going to have to make an effort.

Naeun: Look, you either tell me what I want to know or I leave.

Ilhoon: Come over after all your classes.

              Sejun and I are going to hang out.

Naeun: Sejun?

Ilhoon: Don’t act like you didn’t hear about him when Byungchan tried to lash out at Bomi during baseball practice.

              Isn’t that what you’re curious about?

Naeun: What’s in it for you?

Ilhoon: I’m getting a little bored. And maybe if you learn more about Bomi, you’ll begin to hate her.

              I don’t really like when people like you have crushes on what’s mine.

Naeun (shrugs): You never know.

              I might like her even more.

*SNAPBACK*

Hayoung stares at Naeun with her jaw dropped. Eunji just blinks.

Eunji: So let me get this straight…

              You had a showdown with a creep who’s in love with your crush and wants to meet at his house?

Hayoung: And let me guess. You had the guts to accept the invitation?

Naeun: Yup.

Hayoung suddenly feels the need to be protective.

Hayoung: I swear if this boy even laid a finger on you, I’ll– I’ll–

Eunji (scoffs): You’ll what? Challenge him to a match of Battleground?

Hayoung: I was thinking more along the lines of erpunching him but I think that would hurt my fists…

              Oh! Maybe unnie can go and erpunch him instead with your boxing skills.

Eunji (excited): You’re right! I could totally take him.

Naeun: Uh, hello?

              Nobody is erpunching anyone. I’m perfectly fine.

Eunji: Oh.

Eunji and Hayoung try not to look disappointed.

Hayoung: So what did you learn from the creep?

*BACK TO FLASHBACK*

ILHOON'S HOUSE (or trailer, rather)

Ilhoon: In case you’re wondering, yes, I do live here alone.