Before the start of the new school year, somewhere in Seoul, a world-renowned restaurant was booked out for the day so S middle school's class of 20XX can hold a reunion.
The first group to arrive consisted of Minju, Jumin and other members of the then student council who was tasked with all the responsibility of setting the gathering up. The classmate who greeted them however was the one who ensured the place, as in the whole mall, was theirs to use for the day.
Looking over the menu one last time before everyone else was scheduled to arrive, Jumin was discussing the drinks options with a bartender when he felt someone's hands covering his eyes.
"You're late, Jeon Hajoon."
"Oh what, how did you know it was me?"
Hajoon sat down as Jumin just shook his head and sighed. Though he wasn't part of the student council, he had agreed to help out, yet as always, he had shown up just when all the work was finished and was just there to distract him.
"So, how've you been?"
"...Dude we literally saw each other last week."
"Oh come on! It's a reunion, just play along!"
Jumin laughed, "fine, fine."
Whilst they were reminiscing their younger years, the president was in the kitchen helping to coordinate the meals. What started of as a peaceful task turned into yelling matches between her and the head chef until one of them finally stormed out, mumbling a dissatisfied 'do whatever you want'.
A line of cars emerged as the clock struck five, accompanied by the setting sun and stepping out from one was Ari and her school friends. As close as she was with Younghee, the two had a very obvious difference in their choice of friend-groups as in her friends never got along with Younghee, and she never got along with them either - though she would at least remain civil for Ari's sake.
Everyone arriving was being guided to the main venue on the third floor and time was ticking down to the official start of the gathering. The car that had departed from the airport pulled up to the entrance as the door began to close, but luckily, Hajoon was the one on door duty.
"Huh? Youngseo! You're really back?"
Younghee nodded, "is she—"
"She's inside, third floor," Hajoon interrupted, already knowing what she wanted to ask.
It wasn't just in her nature today that she wanted to find Ari, the main reason was the messages the latter had left that she hadn't responded to. Although none of them were of any significant importance, Younghee was still feeling anxious she never replied.
Stepping off the elevator, Younghee realised a familiar face stood a few feet away with an impatient look on his face as he scanned the room, and pointed instinctively. "Ah."
Noticing and pointing back almost immediately, the guy considered the most annoying of their graduating year (by her) replied in the same manner. "Ah."
"Why are you here? Shouldn't you be following a certain someone around?"
"..I don't know where he is." Cho Jaeyoung clicked his tongue. "What about you? Where's Bae Ari?"
"I don't know, probably with her friends."
They shared a glance before realising the sort of situation they were in, a wave of deja vu washing over them as they sighed. As annoying as it is, only they understood each other's position. From middle school until now, that has not changed.
Younghee and Ari didn't have many mutual friends. They were different in nature to begin with so it should not have come as a surprise when they started to attract different kinds of people. Although she understood that, there was one person in particular that Ari could not wrap her head around as to how Younghee could ever be friends with.
They were alike sure, but that was exactly why it made no sense at all. Cho Jaeyoung was in the same class as them and considered the second smartest in the entire year. When it came to people, he was probably the most popular person in their school and of course that meant the number of girls interested in him was almost too high to count. Despite all that however, he never seemed interested in anyone except one person.
Jaeyoung's obsession with the smartest student was known to everyone and even became an inside joke within their little circle. Apart from his inner circle however, Younghee was the only person he was considered to be close with.
Sometimes Ari would wonder if Younghee and her would have stayed together more often if they had more things in common. Friends, hobbies, interests, just anything really other than their classes. That would've meant more excuses to be with each other outside of lessons and in that case, they wouldn't need to find other people.
That's what Ari thought Jaeyoung had in common with her, but in reality, she couldn't have been more wrong. The two never actually agreed much on anything, especially not academics. If there were two solutions to an answer, you would never see them using the same one. Their mindsets that were way too similar often clashed with one another but that meant somewhere within that chaos, they found a common ground.
-
"Do you think there's something wrong with us?"
Younghee turned towards the door to the rooftop. It was the first day of the new semester and she was already being hit with a weird question by Jaeyoung. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, is falling in love with your best friend a normal thing?"
She chuckled, "it has to be right…? They are the person you're the closest with."
With his brows furrowing out of stress, Jaeyoung joined her in people watching, his eyes only focusing on the guy sat in the shade. "That would make sense if we weren't both…"
"..."
"You get what I'm saying, right?"
-
Just as Hajoon was about to close the doors, the sight of smooth, flowing hair taking on a light shade of rose in his peripheral vision caught his attention.
A relieved look appeared on Harin's face before she flashed a smile, thanking the Taxi driver before shutting the car door. "Oh thank god, I made it.."
"Just in time, it hasn't started just yet," Hajoon grinned.
Ah... it hasn't?
Noticing the slight hesitation on Harin's face, he offered for them to go in together to which Harin accepted, almost relieved.
She had been dreading this day for the past few weeks and was still debating whether to come or not just this morning. From the moment she transferred to the moment graduation rolled around, Harin always felt like she didn't belong to the school. Everyone had a reason they were accepted, whether that's because they were considered as a young genius, had some sort of connections to the school or was of a prominent family, not a single person who attended S middle school was considered to be average. Until In Harin's transfer.
It didn't take her long to notice her peers were not children of ordinary people. The Seo family practically dominated the financial world and was expanding internationally, with only a few groups more influential than them in the western world, the Cho organisation being one of the rare groups who could rival their wealth. There were also people like Ari who got into the school based on their entrance exam scores alone, and every year, the top 10 scorers are considered as the school's newest talents; often being promoted as role models to their classmates. In a school focused on connections and academics, she fitted right in.
But Harin didn't have wealth nor was she exactly smart. So to be honest, not even she knew how her Dad had managed to enrol her.
"You okay?" Hajoon asked, noticing a shaky sigh escaping from Harin's mouth.
She nodded, "yeah, just thinking about some things." She suddenly pressed her hands over her face, "ugh.. I really don't want to do this."
He chuckled, "you don't have to, you know?"
"Mm.. I know but..." She shook her head, "it's okay. It's just for tonight."
As some guests began to check their watches, confused as to how no one was told to be seated yet since the president was known for being strict with her schedules, a few were still chatting away, unaware their peers were starting to get hangry.
Younghee finally found Ari after the latter went to grab a drink from the bar. Making her way over, she deliberately slowed her footsteps, buying time to think of what to say. Should I be honest? Well, I suppose it doesn't really matter, I didn't actually do anything there so...
...
Would she believe that?
Swallowing the lump in her throat, Younghee realised Ari had already been looking in her direction because someone from behind her was calling out to her.
"Myeong you bastard.." She mumbled under her breath, putting on an apologetic face immediately for Ari. "Sorry I'm late."
Ari's eyes that were staring sharply gradually began to let its defence down, completely faltering as Younghee rested her head on her shoulder, her hand grabbing the glass before Ari could take another sip of her drink. "I'm sorry."
Knowing the second apology wasn't for being late, Ari sighed defeatedly before giving her a pat on the head.
Well whatever... as long as you're back now.