“Yah, Suhyeok! Wait for me!”

Lee Suhyeon ran towards her older (by ten minutes) brother, Lee Suhyeok. Although they left their house together, she still couldn’t keep up with her brother’s walking speed. She then noticed where her brother’s interest was settled as he ignored her calling. It was the school’s group of notorious bullies with their school’s outcasts: Min Eunji and Kim Cheolsoo.

Something tells her that shit is about to go down. Obviously not to her, but to those poor students.

“What do you think are they gonna do to them?”

Suhyeok turns his head towards his sister then stares back at the tyrants of the school and their victims before he answers back, “I don’t know. But I am going to find out.” He said then walking away before Suhyeon could oppose.

“Always the hero, huh?” She whispered to herself. Not wanting to be involved, Suhyeon just stood there in silence watching her brother walk away, and then she concluded to leave her brother alone to walk to her classroom.

Suhyeon was a little bit worried about her brother, but even if she stopped her brother from intervening, there is no way that Suhyeok would listen to her. She would love to help, but she can’t and she’s certain Suhyeok understands. And she couldn’t care less about the bullies getting hurt by her brother.

Suhyeok’s a great fighter. She hasn’t met that person who can beat her brother in fighting, at least no one in Hyosan High School can defeat him yet.

As she arrived at the front of her classroom, Class 2-5, almost everybody in the room was minding each other’s business. Some were asleep. Some were gossiping. Some were studying. Some were copying their classmates’ answer to their homework yesterday. And then there’s Suhyeon’s seatmate.

Kim Hyunjae.

One of the handsome faces of Hyosan High School. Hyunjae has been blessed with a beautiful face. Everybody loves that face, especially the girls, may it be a senior, a junior, or in the same level as them. Almost every inch of him is flawless. His moon brown eyes, his pointed nose, his gorgeous lips, and his raven-colored hair are perfect. Standing perfectly in his five-foot-eleven figure, Suhyeon could rest her head on one of his shoulders if she wanted to.

Hyunjae smells good too. Quite frankly, Suhyeon is unaware of the name and brand of the perfume he uses. Hyunjae has a manly scent, almost similar to her brother’s perfume since it’s the same brand.

Aside from Hyunjae’s physical appearance, the man also has a pure heart. At least, that is how Suhyeon knew him. She tells him stories she couldn’t say to her brother. Her frustrations and all crap. He was constantly there along with her brother whenever bullies attacked some of their friends or anybody in particular. He is considerate and very nice to her and to anyone who treats him kindly too. A gentleman really, not just to Suhyeon but to every lady he has interacted with, particularly to the elderlies.

Suhyeon thinks that Kim Hyunjae has a soft spot for the elderlies. He always smiles so bright whenever he sees one, and it’s like, his childishness shows when a elderly person is present.

Hyunjae once mentioned to Suhyeon before that every time he sees an old woman, they always remind him of his late grandmother. The late grandmother of his had a dementia, and the only person she can remember was Hyunjae. But when he’s in front of her, taking care of her, his grandmother doesn’t know who he is.

Hyunjae was a striker at his prior school’s football team somewhere in Seoul before transferring to Hyosan in his last year of middle school. He has been playing football ever since he could recollect, and of course, he loves and enjoyed playing it. But after a serious occurrence he caused to him and a few members of his team, his parents threw him to Hyosan all alone. Obviously, even if how many headaches Hyunjae gave to his parents: they cannot bear to see their only son suffering.

Therefore, they hired a person who can clean their house every weekends. Hyunjae has to do the house chores and cook his own food in five days. At first, that was a lot for him, considering he was spoiled by his mother and grandparents, he would get everything he needs and wants without even telling them first then in just a blink of an eye, everything changed.

But no matter how many positive traits Hyunjae has, of course, he has his shortcomings too. Hyunjae have a short-temper and compared to what he was before, he is getting better now. And lastly, the reason he was exiled to Hyosan. His secret.

He will forever carry the guilt and shame he had to his grave. He swore he will tell no soul about his secret, especially not, Suhyeon.

Suhyeon will never look at him the same way again if she knew about it.

Lee Suhyeon.

Fraternal twin to Lee Suhyeok and younger than him by ten minutes. Just like any other siblings, they banter and annoy each other almost every day. Their parents got used to it as time passes and thought that maybe that is how they show that they care for each other.

Lee Suhyeok used to hang out with the bullies in their school like Yoon Gwi-nam, the oppressor’s gopher. Suhyeok used to leave his room often at midnight. Call it a twin’s intuition but Suhyeon was sure she could feel her stomach twirl when Suhyeok is in trouble . And she clearly takes no delight with the thought of her twin brother beaten up by an unknown person crossing her mind.

One night, Suhyeon followed her brother out of their house, just a few blocks away. One thing leads to another, Suhyeon was rushed to the hospital after a half-drunk Gwi-nam pushed Suhyeon in the stairs after being rejected as he was forcing himself to her.

The night didn’t end with that, Suhyeok made sure that Gwi-nam would not be able to walk and his face was almost made of scrapes while his upper lip and left were whacked before he could left their hangout place as Suhyeon was hurried to the hospital and was confined there for five days after suffering a broken rib, broken wrist, and a huge swelling on the back of her head.

Lee Suhyeok blamed himself for what happened to his sister, and he will always will. If it weren't for him befriending the bully's in their school his younger sister wouldn't be staying at a hospital for a couple of days.

Suhyeok promised to keep her safe, instead, he was the reason Suhyeon was put into danger.

After watching over Suhyeon for five days at the hospital, Suhyeok was honoured to put Gwi-nam to another beating after the group of bullies’ gopher forced himself to a schoolmate Suhyeok failed to recognise while he was on his way back to the hospital.

And as predicted by everyone, after what Yoon Gwi-nam did to Suhyeon, Suhyeok stopped hanging out with the group of bullies and starts to focus on his studies and of course, the one thing he is really good at, protecting his younger twin sister.

Suhyeok didn’t left their group without a threat, he made it pretty clear to Gwi-nam. Hell, it was shown in his face.

Lee Suhyeon is a quiet and timid person to a person she just met but as she feels comfortable with that person, she will slowly open up. She finds herself struggling to interact and be friends with new people. Suhyeon is very much aware that her reason is invalid, that she wants to do better but she is scared of the judgements of other individuals. She did tried once, but was kept on being rejected.

Honestly, Suhyeon very much prefer her current small circle of friends—Hyunjae, On-jo, Wujin, and Cheongsan rather than be friends with new people then be a victim of fake friends at some time later. She has a lot on her plate, she cannot deal with any of artificial personality that a lot of people can offer.

The truth is, Suhyeon only came to be friends with Wujin, Daesu, and Cheongsan was due to her brother. Suhyeon has known On-jo after being in the same class ever since they were in their pigtail hairstyles in third grade that is why she considers On-jo as one of her friends. And if it weren't for Ms. Park asking the Seoul transferee–Kim Hyunjae to sit on the vacant chair right next to Suhyeon, the two will be more likely to be strangers to one another.

And Suhyeon will always be proud of herself, that was the second time she didn't let her social anxiety take over. Suhyeon became an open book to Hyunjae, she wanted to send a message to him that he can trust her. That he can find a friend in Suhyeon. And thank God it worked.

It would have been a waste if it didn’t.

Suhyeon and Hyunjae became friends. Even more than that. It started from knowing each other’s favourite colour to sharing each other’s pain, happiness, sadness, achievement, and of course secrets.

Suhyeok and Hyunjae was introduced to each other through Suhyeon. They have become pals too eventually and decided to introduce him to the entire gang including, Joonyeong and Gyeongsu.

Lee Suhyeon excels academically. On-jo sometimes envies Suhyeon’s brain, wishing she could be just like her.

Beauty and brain.

But being third in the class and their batch would never make her parents appeased with what she accomplished. She sometimes thought, why do they even care? It’s not like they live in Hyosan or anything. They always leave for Itaewon, to operate their restaurant while they completely forgot about their children who are just in high school living alone with all the burdens of being a parent passed down to the older twin while the burden of doing good at school and everything were on the younger twin.

Some will say, Suhyeon is kind, pretty, and smart. That she is the golden girl—she abhors that nickname. She refuses to let anyone put that nickname and her name in one sentence because she strongly acknowledges that it is their class president, Choi Namra’s title.

“Suhyeonie, aren’t you going to enter to our room?”

It was as if her spirit was awakened when Suhyeon heard a voice speaking to her, not realizing she was blocking On-jo from entering their classroom.

Suhyeon opens up the door widely for On-jo to come inside the room, “Oh, sorry. I didn’t know you were standing behind me.”

“It’s totally fine. But,  Suhyeon, are you alright? You seems to be in a deep thought.”

“Oh, I’m perfectly fine! Why wouldn’t I be? I just have a lot of thoughts in my mind, nothing unusual.” Suhyeon gave her friend an assuring smile before she enters the room, sprinting to her seat, and left On-jo alone outside confused but at the same time finds her adorable.

Kim Hyunjae has his head bent on the table, “Good morning, my dear Suhyeon. How did you sleep last night?” Suhyeon heard his inaudible voice as he faces the wooden table, while using his arms as his pillows.

“Good morning to you too. It was good. It was better than the other night, I would say. How was yours?” Suhyeon sighed, glimpsing across the room and not seeing her brother. Hyunjae rose from his nap and stared at Suhyeon, noticing a familiar facial expression he haven't seen for years.

“It was pretty good actually, I think I slept like a baby. Hey, did Suhyeok get into a fight again? You’re usually down when he is.”

“No? Maybe? But there’s a huge possibility that he will. I don’t know yet, unless I see him walking into the room with a blood stain or any bruises all over his body then he could be. We saw the bullies with Min Eunji and Kim Cheolsoo on our way here and you know Suhyeok, always having his hero complex, he followed them in the unfinished building.” Suhyeon chuckled sarcastically. Her brother really loves helping others, a trait that Suhyeon loves to hate and hates to love.

“I’m sure your brother could handle those shitheads.” Hyunjae commented, trying to lessen Suhyeon’s worries about her brother.

Just then, Suhyeok arrived in their room, standing next to Cheongsan with a beam in his face, who is talking to his friends Wujin, Gyeongsu, Daesu, and Joonyeong.

Suddenly, Nayeon enters the room and screams her lungs out at Gyeongsu just for sitting at her table.

Now, Suhyeon does not have a clue why Nayeon has always been having bad blood with Gyeongsu, she has been offending the guy whenever she has the chance to.

“What do you think is Nayeon’s problem with Gyeongsu?”

Hyunjae murmured, while the two of them only watches, not wanting to intervene. They are both optimistic that the five boys can handle the tension between Nayeon and Gyeong-su.

“I don’t know. I just think she is a silver-spoon fed selfish bitch that has an inferiority complex.” Suhyeon responded, shrugging her shoulders while Hyunjae was amused after hearing her curse. It wasn’t everyday that she cusses, so he sometimes treats it as a some kind of a miracle even if it's not.

The entire class’s attention swerved to their English teacher coming inside their room and started confiscating their smartphones as she is about to begin their discussion.

Hyunjae took Suhyeon’s phone at the back of her bag before giving up their phones to their teacher.

“Who’s in touch with Hyeonju?” Ms. Park consulted the whole class and no one responded. “Nobody? So none of you have tried calling her today?” She amplified, starting to worry a little more about her missing student.

Suhyeon turns her head to her right after Joon-yeong clears his throat, “Uh, we cleaned the science lab together yesterday, but I haven’t seen her since.” He declared openly to the class.

Ms. Park sighed, disheartened. Then, she asked her class to let her know if they sees or have any news about Hyeonju right away.

Suhyeon peeks over her shoulder, suppressing her laughter as did Hyunjae after hearing a phone chime coming from Dae-su and Wujin’s seats.

The entire class laughs at the duo’s epic fail as Ms. Park asks for the phone to be confiscated. Daesu stands from his seat, holding the phone in his hand.

“Did he really forget to put his phone in silent?” Suhyeon grumbled as Wujin bend over his table for Suhyeon to be able to reach his ear.

“Yeah. You know Daesu, he’s kind of an idiot.”

Hyunjae joins their conversation, “I will not argue with that, my friend.” The three began cracking up for a while before it dies down when they caught sight of Dae-su walking back to his seat.

Wujin and Hyunjae remain to tease Dae-su while Suhyeon was half-listening, trying to concentrate on their English class. She cannot fully focus because of she’s hearing buzzes from her two friends sitting behind their column and Hyunjae. It kind of surprises her that Ms. Park didn’t even notice or heard Wujin, Daesu, and Hyunjae’s voices, especially they are seated in front of the class.

Ms. Park was inquiring the class to interpret what was jotted down on the blackboard and as the teacher waited for somebody to raise their hand, Park Haesu soars from her seat. Looking so ill. Wearing a sweater hoodie even if sweat pours down her face like an open faucet.

“I need to go to the bathroom.”

Suhyeon heard Hae-su politely asks for permission which Ms. Park gave immediately.

“What is wrong with her?”

Suhyeon shrugged her shoulders, “Maybe a fever?”

The English teacher then called the class president, Choi Namra for a recitation. And just as expected, Namra nailed it.

Of course, she would. Namra’s the top student in Class 2-5.

“Next, Bare-su. Stand up.”

The majority of the class lets out another snicker after hearing the nickname. While Suhyeon turns her head to the other side of the room, where her brother currently stood.

“Yes, Ma’am?” Suhyeok replied, an innocent grin not leaving his lips.

“What’s with Bare-su?” Ms. Park curiously asked her student, utterly confused with the sudden outbursts of giggles and laughter after she called the tallest student in her class.

It was Joonyeong who briefly explained to their teacher what Suhyeok’s silly nickname means. “It’s short for Barefoot Suhyeok. Bare-su.” He informed their teacher.

“He hates wearing socks. He is so weird about it.” Dae-su added another information about their friend, almost laughing in every word.

“I can smell it a mile away.” Hyunjae stated, pinching his own nose to make fun of his friend as the whole class laughs in unison as did their English teacher.

Ms. Park asks Suhyeok about what did Namra said earlier, as the atmosphere in their room changed, because she noticed he wasn’t listening and were just talking with his seatmate.

As Suhyeok was about to answer, everyone’s head turned to the door entrance after hearing it screeching.

It reveals Hyeonju, wearing her uniform from yesterday. Her hair looks oiled and dried blood comes from her nose and a few amount were on her forehead.

“What the fuck?”

Suhyeon heard Hyunjae muttered underneath his breath. She only shrugged her shoulders as her eyes were settled on Hyeonju. A loud thump was heard in the room as Hyeonju collapsed on the floor. Suhyeon automatically stands up to see what happened to her schoolmate.

Luckily for her, Ms. Park caught her.

Something Hyeonju said made the entire class was filled with gasps, Suhyeon flinched back and her heart thudded.

Apparently, their science teacher, Lee Byeong-chan, grabbed Hyeonju, locked her up and tied her inside the lab.

Whatever his reasons were, it is not acceptable. Just because he lost his son doesn’t mean he gets to abduct another child.

And to think, Hyeonju was one of his son’s bullies. Suhyeon wonders if her science teacher knows about that information hence he did whatever he did to Hyeonju.

•─────⋅☾ 𝔭𝔥𝔬𝔢𝔫𝔶𝔵𝔳𝔦 ☽⋅─────•

so yeah, a little background about our original characters. :)

the amazing gif banner is made by nebuIaskies. her works are literally so good.

i would like to say thank you for the support! i really appreciate it!