As Hyejin walked to the parking lot, she tried to calm herself. She did not totally fall into a bush due to being exposed by a parent. Nope. No sir. Not Ahn Hyejin. Not queen Hwasa.

As she was telling herself this, her body moved automatically out of habit. Walk, search of keys, find said keys in a place where the keys should not be, unlock the car while walking towards it, ignore the scream and thump that came immediately afterwards, open car door, get in---

“Hyejin-ah, you traitor!”

She jumped only slightly and searched for the source of the voice. She scanned the immediate area but no one was around. Either that was a ghost, her inner demons, her losing her mind, or a lame prank.

“Over here, you nincompoop.”

She looked over the hood and found her prize. Ji Yeon, on the ground looking expectantly at Hyejin with a hint of annoyance in her gaze. Oh that’s right. Whoops.

“, I’m sorry,” Hyejin went over to help her up and to brush her off. She was supposed to take Ji Yeon home today.

“What took you so long?” The look of annoyance being quickly replaced by a look of concern and a gentle touch on the arm. Ah, Ji Yeon, what did Hyejin ever do to deserve you?

“I--,” She cut herself off. Unable to explain the moment that happened earlier between her and Wheein. Or, not able to explain the moment around ears that always listen and take things out of proportion. A shake of her head and a nod towards the car, Ji Yeon got the hint. 

Hyejin took Ji Yeon’s bag and opened the car door for her, the least she can do after spooking Ji Yeon off her car accidently. But this nice moment was quickly ruined by passing students.

“What do I need to do to get that same treatment, Hyejin~~?” A purr of lust escaped one such student’s mouth. The others were eagerly awaiting her reply, all had a similar question but none were able to boldly vocalise it. 

After making sure the bags were in the back and Ji Yeon was safely inside, Hyejin closed the door and did not even look at the student and spoke to her in such a tone. Afterall, she doesn't know who this person is so why give them any attention. No, that’s a lie. She just doesn’t know their name, but she does recognize them as a vile person. A known bully who thinks they are hot stuff, notorious for talking big and being a sleaze towards anyone they find attractive. There was only one way to get them out of the way long enough for her to escape.

As she walked to the drivers side, not bothering even looking at the herds direction, she gave her direct and honest answer.

“Don’t be a , eater.”

A chorus of oohs followed her as she entered and started the car. A smug look, not escaping Hyejin’s face even after leaving the parking lot. The end of the school day ended better than she expected. Well, until she felt eyes on her. Eyes on a face with their own smug, mostly knowing, look on it. 

“See what happens when you use your words more rather than your fists?”

A chuckle escaped from her lips and she briefly gave Ji Yeon a lopsided smile. 

“Truly the battle of wits is far superior than the battle of fisticuffs. I’ve been a meer fool all  of my life before. Thank you, kind lady, for educating me in the ways of being a smart . ” Came Hyejin’s reply with an uppity voice.
 
Immediate laughter filled the car. Eventually it died down and both ended with a hefty sigh of contempt. Silence filled the car. The comfortable silence. The silence that Hyejin had with Wheein only moments ago.

The mere hint of Wheein unknowingly made Hyejin smile the softest smile. Normally such a smile would be unnoticed, but with just them alone Ji Yeon noticed everything. 

“Oh? What’s making you smile this time? Did you have a nice,” Dragging the end of the word, Ji Yeon chose her next words carefully, words that would give the exact hint she was giving without giving everything away, “memory of something?”

The tone of her voice did give her away though. Hyejin immediately caught her point and side-eyed her in a mild panic. 

“What??”

A roll of the eyes, “I swear to God, Hyejin. Did you not think your small hang out with Wheein would go unnoticed?”

A scrunched face. Despite the urge to look at Ji Yeon with such a face, driving comes first so Hyejin opted to just offer a noise of confusion instead. A noise that conveyed the initial confusion still and also a hint of alarm.

“Jesus, you really are scattered brained today.” Ji Yeon decided to cut to the chase, it seems like Hyejin became a bit frazzled after her moment with Wheein. 

“You two were in front of the school, you know Min-ah also waits up there. He told me where you were after I texted the group. So, I assume you had a nice chat with our friend Wheein about some event of the past.”

Hyejin could only sigh. So that’s why her phone was going off like mad. 

“Well, sort of? We didn’t talk about our first meeting, but I finally learned what happened with her and her, uh, friends??” The hitch at the end of her sentence caught Ji Yeon’s attention.

Ji Yeon remained silent, a signal for Hyejin to continue. But she only shook her head, “I can’t talk about it. Wheein has to do it.”

Ji Yeon only hummed. Hyejin isn’t wrong and she made a mental note to ask Wheein herself about it if the opportunity were to ever arise. 

“So, was that all?”

“Uh, yea. Well, till the end there.”

“Oh, were you fell into a bush?”

The car swerved only slightly. 

“How do you know?!”

Ji Yeon could only laugh. Hyejin may be the bad of the school, but in reality, she is so much softer than anyone realises. It’s one of the main reasons why she likes spending time with Hyejin. 

“Like I said, Min-ah.”

Hyejin tightened her group on the steering wheel, “That traitorous bastard.”

“Oh relax you. He was going to interrupt but everyone told him not to.”

A relaxed grip on the steering wheel, “Oh that’s so kind of you all.”

A million thoughts were going through Hyejin’s mind. Not only does her friends know of her moment with Wheein, but they also know of her falling into the bush. And if they know, then how many others know?

Yes, this is all superficial worries, but they are worries that keep her afloat. Superficial worries that stop her from delving deeper and examining the core, the roots, of the worries. The only worry that slightly delves away from being superficial, is the worry of consequence. Being viewed as children despite not being children leads teenagers to fulfill the need to have some sort of control of their experience. In highschool, that control is knowing and causing in a warped power play.

As the road vanished under the car, the sun giving hint to evening, Hyejin pondered. Pondered the consequence being witnessed in such a delicate moment would have on Wheein and herself. Good thing Ji Yeon likes taking the scenic route home. 

Ji Yeon let Hyejin ponder. Best not interrupt the lion in the middle of its mental journey. So, as Ji Yeon enjoyed the scenic view, Hyejin carefully thought about her next plan of attack. She will probably be the talk of the school for the next couple of days, especially since she fell into a bush. But that would only be for a couple of days, that is if it does not get overshadowed. Overshadowed by their moment. Overshadowed by their tender moment. Overshadowed by their moment of weakness and exposure. Overshadowed by the mere interaction between her and Wheein. 

She knows how rumours go every time she interacts with anybody that isn’t part of the crew. They either range from the outlandish to downright cruel lies. Worst yet is that the known bullies take whatever they can and run with it. It won’t be the first time and it sadly won’t be the last. Knowing such pain will come barreling towards Wheein, Hyejin could only glower. Maybe she should start training again, she may have to fight some vile creatures again. 

Upon seeing the lion’s gaze and ever tightening grip on the steering wheel, Ji Yeon intervened.

“Hey, I already told everyone to snuff out the rumours before they get out of hand. “

The lion’s hackles lowered. Hyejin looked towards Ji Yeon with such relief and thankfulness that Ji Yeon’s breath hitched for a bit.

“You are an angel. What did I ever do to deserve such attention from an angel such as yourself?” Hyejin said as she pulled into the driveway of Ji Yeon’s house.

As Ji Yeon gathered her things, she gave her nonchalant response, “You gave me the greatest gift of all, something I would never return, the gift of--”

Before Ji Yeon could finish the line she had been dying to say for months now, she was cut off. Cut off by Hyejin’s yelling. 

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAH.”

There is only one way to respond.

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH??”

The car quickly became filled by both of them yelling. One out of realisation, and the other out of confusion. 

“AAAAAA, I’M SUCH A ING IDIOT!”

“WE BEEN KNOWN SO WHY TH--”

“I’M SUCHA  .”

“WHY ARE YOU STATING THE OBVIOUS?”

“I FORGOT TO GIVE IT TO HER.”

It took every ounce of willpower for her to not make  a dirty joke, so she opted to be civilised.

“Hyejin-ah, what the actual are you talking about?”

Hyejin only faced her with the saddest lion cub’s face, “I didn’t give her the handkerchief back!”