Chapter 2

Max Changmin sauntered in the classroom 20 minutes late.

As usual…

The teacher greeted him with a sarcastic smile. "I see you're late again, Mr. Changmin"

"I could have skipped this class if I felt like it." Changmin answered arrogantly

"I could give you a failing grade in this subject if you don't appear in my class early." The teacher answered back.

"I can get you fired before the day ends, sir. Surely, you wouldn't want that… Would you sir?" Changmin said with a devilish smile.

"Take a seat, Mr. Changmin. You are wasting precious minutes of my class."

Changmin found a seat next to red-brownish haired girl.

'She must be new here. I don't remember seeing her last year.'  he thought.

Changmin passed a note to the girl.

Hey! I'm Max Changmin. You new here?

He quickly tossed the slip of paper. The girl caught it and scanned it. She paused for a moment then started scribbling.

Obviously, I'm new here. What did you expect?

He read the reply then grinned…

Just making sure. Your name?

Why should I give you my name? she responded.

She's feisty

Because I asked… he responded back.

Just because you asked doesn't mean that I should answer back.. she replied again.

I'm only asking for your name.

I'm not saying it.

Why not!

I don't feel like giving it to you.

Why not!

Because I don't want to give it to you.

Come on…

No!

Your surname at least?

No!

Please?

NO! Can't you take no for an answer!

Nope…

Too bad…

Come on! This is fun

No.

Please? I can help you settle in you know.

You? Yeah right. You got yourself into trouble when you got here and you expect me to think that you can help me settle in? I don't think so.

So what? The professor and I aren't the best of friends you know…

But still… It wasn't right to come late to class and just barge in like that…

I'm always late.

Not to mention threatening teachers.

I do it for fun.

Oh gee…Threatening teachers for fun…That's a good thing…

Come on…I'm only asking for your name.

For all I know, you could get me into trouble.

Why would I do that!

Based on what I just saw you do. I have a right to think that way.

I won't…Now…your name?

No!

Pretty please?

N-O!!!

PLEASE!!!!

NO!!!!

I'm not going to get you into trouble.

Right

Seriously

That's so believable

Really?

No

Do I not look trustworthy?

No

Really?

Yes

Wow

This is a waste of time.

No, it's not.

Yes, it is.

Maybe if you just gave me your name

No

PLEASE?

If I give you my name, will you stop bugging me?

Yes. crosses fingers behind him

Fine. It's Shim Hee-Young. There. Now knock it off, I'm trying to listen here…

Thank You

The girl rolled her eyes and crumpled the slip of paper.

Brilliant…Hee-Young Shim, you're my next victim…I hope you enjoy your school year.

The rest of the day went well for Hee-young. She met quite a number of people who were like her. Scholars and working students struggling to fit in the crowd. Some rich kids were nice. Some were not…

That afternoon…

Hee-Young was on her way home when Sun-Hee caught up with her…

"So, what happened to you?" she asked.

"Nothing much. Some bastard was bothering me during first period."

"What's his name?"

"Hold on…It starts with a C…Hmm…Wait…I remember now…It's Max Changmin…"

Sun-Hee stopped dead in her tracks.

"C..C Changmin Max!!"

"Yeah. Why?"

"He's…he's…he's…"

"Say it Sun-Hee!"

"He's the leader of the F4!"

"And just who is this so-called F4?"

"That's us of course! A male voice said from behind her

A group of four people strode in and stopped in front of Hee-Young and Sun-Hee.

we meet again Ms. Hee-Young. I see you've heard of me and my friends. Allow me to introduce ourselves. " Changmin said.

"Oh joy" Hee-Young answered

"From left to right. Junsu Xiah, his family runs the largest construction company and has connections to an underground organization ."

Xiah gave Hee-Young a warm smile and a kiss on her hand.

Changmin grinned…

"Try not to get too caught up in his antics"

Hee-Young rolled her eyes at Changmin and at the corner of her she saw Xiah blush.

"Next, Yoochun Micky, a skilled potter and his family owns the country's largest art museum."

Micky grinned wickedly at Hee-Young.

"Third, "Kim Jaejoong, he is the grandson of a former president of Korea. Also a very proffesional musician."

Jaejoong just nodded his head and returned to the book he was reading.

At least he studies.

"Forgive him for that. It's his passion."

Hee-Young just yawned…

"Getting bored? Lastly, I, Max Changmin. Heir of the Shinhwa group of companies."

Changmin bowed to Hee-Young then to Sun-Hee.

"There you go, the F4"

"I have a question…"

"What would that be, my fair lady?" Xiah asked

"What on earth does F4 mean?"

"Flower four…" Changmin said sweetly.

"Okay…Sorry to end this conversation gentlemen but we have to go…I don't want to have any association with any of the four of you. You're just a waste of time."

"What!" Micky said

"Excuse me?" Xiah said annoyingly

Jaejoong looked up from his book and looked at Hee-Young with a puzzled expression

"Ms. Hee-Young , surely, you don't mean that" Changmin said

"I meant what I said." Hee-Young said determined.

"I'm giving you the chance to take it back"

"No."

"NO?"

"NO. Honestly, you guys are a bunch of airheads who can't live without money. Your damn lives revolve around money. I bet you guys won't last half a day without your parent's credit cards. You guys should be called 'Fake Four'"

And the crowd just stared at her… Xiah and Micky had looks of annoyance. Changmin, however, was trying to keep his cool but you could see the anger in his eyes.

"I'm giving you the chance to take it back" Changmin said again

"No. Why would I take back what I said?" Hee-Young replied

"Because what you said was insulting"

"But it's true."

"Last chance to take it back"

"NO. And that's final. Come on, Sun-Hee. We're going to be late for work."

"You'll be sorry…"

"I don't care"

"All right then…"

Now you've done it…Hee-Young Shim…Prepare yourself for a living hell

Changmin watched as Hee-Young dragged Sun-Hee away…

"I can't believe you did that,Youngie!" Sun-Hee shrieked as they waited for the train.

"Did what?"

"Be mean to the F4!"

"What's so wrong with that?"

"Don't you know what they do to people like you?"

"No. What do they do?"

"It's scary"

"Really now…" Hee-Young said sarcastically

"Seriously Youngie"

"Well, what do they do? Torment the student to death?"

"No."

"For the last time, Sun-Hee, what do they do?"

"They give you a red tag."

"Like the one in football?"

"No… They post it in your locker for people to see."

"That's it?"

"It's a warning and a signal."

"What do you mean?"

"A warning to other people that if you stay loyal to the recipient of the red card, you'll suffer as well. Also it's a signal to others to make fun of you and ridicule you."

"So?"

"What do you mean so!"

"I don't care. As long as I survive until graduation, I don't care"

"But Hee-Young…"

As Sun-Hee was about to say something, the train arrived.

I hope nothing horrible happens to her.. she thought

To be continued.....