Chapter Text
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YN has never been in love. Or at least, she thinks she hasn't been. She tried many times, experimented with many people. Guys, girls, theys, literally anyone. Sure, that technically makes her kind of a hoe but who the fuck cares in this day and age? It's not her fault that she just effortlessly gets bitches.
However, YN loves the prospect of being in love, the idea is as alluring as a warm drink on a snowy day: peace that warms you when everything else is cold, a seemingly intimate moment bringing comfort and a sense that for at least that moment, everything is okay. Extremely cheesy.
And to get that love she oh so desires, YN must continue to try to find it even if all the failed attempts continuously drag her down until she wants to give up. With all the people she has tried with, it may seem like she doesn't care about relationships. But she does. And she feels bad for those she's been with, for letting them all down.
There is also the constant thought in the back of her mind, the one YN desperately tries to push away: relationships being a distraction, her seemingly obsession with love and wanting to find it. What if its only to hide everything else in her life? What if she is only using people and the excuse of wanting love to run away from which she shouldn't run away from? When running away would deem herself unworthy of such a connection, to the point where she doesn't deserve that love because of how—
"Oh my god! I am so sorry!"
YN looks up to see the person who ran into her bowing profusely. Said person shifts his gaze from the floor to YN's drenched figure currently on the ground before gasping once again. "Shit, shit, YN? I am so, so, sorry, I should have been looking! Oh my god, I am such an idiot—"
"Hey, Daniel, calm down. It's okay," YN quickly assures the stuttering male above her. "It's just water and I'm not hurt or anything."
"Agh, but still..." Daniel offers the girl a hand to which she gratefully accepts, allowing him to pull her off the classroom floor. YN sees the taller momentarily hesitate before pulling off his blazer and draping it across her smaller shoulders. "I feel so bad...can I get you something to eat as an apology?"
YN stares the taller down for a moment, making Daniel slightly nervous, before cracking a small smile and giving in. "Very smooth Daniel." The comment made said boy blush. "Why not, I'm not doing anything after school today. Where to?"
Daniel smiles at her answer. "I know a good tteokbokki stand not too far from here. Trust me, it's super good."
YN gives a light laugh. "Sounds like a plan then."
While holding the blazer covering her torso with one of her hands, she collects the rest of her things with the other hand before following Daniel out of the door.
"What a way to welcome a new student," Daniel mutters with a sigh, but not quiet enough for YN to not hear.
"It's okay, seriously," YN laughs. "It makes the first day even more interesting. Plus, now I have a guaranteed seatmate who just so happens to be super popular even on his second day of school."
Her remark makes Daniel blush, who then quickly tries to deny it. "I'm not popular!"
YN raises an eyebrow at him. She would have teased him more about it, but they had already reached the lunch room. As soon as the pair walked in, all eyes were on them. YN knew she wasn't bad looking herself, so seeing two hot new transfers together must've been a shock. Especially since YN was currently wearing Daniel's blazer over her.
She noticed a girl with poofy black hair scowl at her. Said girl tries pushing YN to the side but fails when YN side stepped out of the way. Internally sighing, YN backs away to get food and sits at a table with the seatmate she has during classes. She didn't feel like dealing with the attention that the other transfer was getting, including the countless number of dirty looks from random girls.
Instead, YN introduces herself to the surprised blonde sitting across from her. In response to her greeting, the blonde quickly pulls out his phone and types something. He shows the girl his phone with text on his notes app reading: Jay.
YN gives him a smile. It took her until this moment to realize he was Jay Hong, the second son of H group. What a lovely coincidence, and a great opportunity.
With hesitant hands, YN carefully signs out, I can sign but not well.
With a happily surprised expression, YN could tell he was glad for a new friend. Any response was cut off however, when she finally noticed the quiet lunch room focused on a certain area of the lunch room.
A boy from her department, Zack, was holding a fist to another boy in a different apartment with sunglasses on, who was holding out a hand to the others shoulder. A man who didn't look like a high schooler was standing to the side with two others in matching grey jumpsuits. Daniel shouts to the main guy in the jumpsuit, who glares at the other in return.
With a menacing gaze, the tattooed man walks to the now nervous Daniel. YN couldn't hear the words spoken between the two, but she did notice the strong grip that the jumpsuit guy placed on Daniel. The grip tightened, causing a pained expression to spread on the other's face. Slightly sweating, Daniel grabs the other's wrist with a grip of his own. He pulls the other's hand off of him with ease, causing the entire lunch room to look at them with shock, including the blonde next to her.
YN subtly smirks. The rumors about this school was true.
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After lunch, Daniel was distracted. YN had disappeared during lunch and with everything that happened, he wasn't able to find her. He was counting down the minutes until they would meet up to eat together. He was on autopilot the rest of the school day, barely registering the conversations he had with others.
At long last, school ended and the two met at the door of the mostly empty classroom. Daniel was a bundle of nerves as they left the classroom and walked together.
Halfway down the hallway and in a semi-comfortable silence, YN speaks up. "Do you want to invite any of your other friends to come with?" She asks because she noticed that Daniel seemed to be more of the introverted type. YN figured that the boy might be more comfortable with someone he already knows coming along.
"No, no, most of them are probably busy. Plus, I want to get to know you more," Daniel says with a soft smile.
"Again, very smooth Daniel."
Said boy's eyes widen a bit as he quickly stutters out, "I didn't mean it in that way!" He turns away with a red face.
The walk returned to the semi-comfortable silence. At least that's what it was to YN. One look at Daniel would tell you that he was stressing about what to do next.
Honestly, Daniel was extremely adorable. He has a good heart as well as good looks, added with a decent fighting skill. He was a pretty good guy. Actually, he was pretty amazing. There's not really any reasons to not be in love with him.
So why exactly did YN not feel that way for him? Maybe because they just met? Regardless, she would naturally have some sort of crush. Except she didn't think she did.
It was because it just didn't feel right. That's how most of her relationships were like in the past. It could be the best person to exist, but something about it wouldn't feel right. Though, YN doesn't know what love really feels like, since she thinks she's never been in love before. Maybe all her past relationships was what love felt like, how would she know otherwise? Maybe the feeling was the right feeling, maybe there was just something wrong with her. How can she know if something feels 'right' when she didn't know what right was supposed to feel like?
Again, getting caught up with her own thoughts. The two had been walking enough to be in a completely different location. YN was lost in her own mind and left the poor boy to her left alone to his panic. As YN was about to say something to hopefully calm the boy down, Daniel announces their arrival. There she sees a small tteokbokki stand ran by an old woman.
"Hello! Are you doing well?" Daniel greets with his iconic blinding smile.
The old lady returns his smile with one of her own. "Hi Daniel, you're as sweet as always. I'm doing well, is this a friend of yours?" Daniel enthusiastically nods and she continues, "You two must be starving! Come, come!"
The older motions for them to take a seat at the bench in front of her stand. She hurries to grab two bowls and fills the bowl with scoops of steaming tteokbokki. YN could smell the spice radiating off the rice cake, blowing on the glistening red sauce. She forks a piece of it and blows on it once more before eating it, letting it slightly burn her tongue by both heat and spice.
"Your tteokbokki is as good as always!" Daniel smiles, taking the words straight out of YN's thoughts.
YN quickly agrees, "I'll have to come here more often."
Never loosing her warm smile, the old lady thanks them. "I'll leave you two be." She gives the pair a wink before leaving the two alone in the same semi-awkward silence from earlier.
YN decides to break the silence this time, to make up for earlier. As she goes to say something, Daniel seems to have had the same thought. Quickly realizing, Daniel closes his mouth and slightly blushes.
"You go first," YN says with a light smile.
"Ah yes," Daniel clears his throat to hopefully clear his flustered state, "How was your first day at Jaewon?"
YN hums as she thinks of a thoughtful response. "I guess it wasn't too bad. You seem to attract a lot of attention, huh?"
"Ah.." he lets out a small laugh. "It's probably because I transferred yesterday."
"I don't think that getting into a fight on your second day of school is normal."
"Actually I-" Daniel abruptly stops, seeming to have remembered something. "Shit, I'm supposed to meet up with a few friends today."
"Well then you better get to it." YN then motions to the leftover food in front of them. "I'll clean up here so you can just go. Don't want to be late, do you?"
Daniel eyes the food, making no move to leave. After a moment, he asks, "Do you want to come with us? I'm sure my friends will welcome you with open arms."
"Oh really?" YN lightly smirks. "Why do you say that?"
Daniel, realizing what that sounded like, nervously swallows and stutters out, "As in you're nice...and new! I was new too! People want to be friends with new people, that's all!"
YN laughs and nods. "Alright, alright, let's get this to go. Where are you meeting them at?"
Daniel scratches the back of his head, almost in shame. "A restaurant."
YN gives him a questioning gaze. "Then I hope you still have room to eat."
Daniel then sighs, muttering an "I'll be fine."
YN packs up the left overs and hands it to Daniel after he insisted to carry it instead. The two bid their goodbye's to the owner of the stand and head to the location, nearly a 10 minute walk away.
"Who are the friends we're meeting up with?" YN asks once they secure the directions to the niche restaurant.
"You know Doo Lee and that group of three?"
YN makes a face but nods.
"Them and I think two others?"
"Really?" YN shakes her head in a disapproving manner. "I may have only been here for today, but they don't really seem to be your type of people. Don't they bully others?"
Daniel hums as he thinks about her words. "They invited me out, so I thought they were good guys. I guess I was also just excited to hang out with friends for the first time in a while."
YN gives him a doubtful look. "How are they good guys? Can't you see that they're just trying to use you to gain status? Don't be desperate for just any friend."
Daniel nods, taking in her words. "I'll be sure to keep that in mind next time, thanks YN." He gives her a bright smile, cut short by him turning away and clearing his throat. "But it would be rude to just ditch them last minute, so I have no choice but to go today. You don't have to come with me if you don't want to."
YN shakes her head and lets out a playful sigh. "I guess I'll come and save you tonight."
Daniel smiles gratefully and thanks her again. "You know, I'm glad I bumped into you. You're a very nice person."
YN slightly blushes at his words. A response gets cut off as YN suddenly remembered Daniel's blazer still wrapped over her shoulders. She must've gotten used to it being on the entire day. "Oh yeah, I'll wash this and give it back tomorrow if that's okay with you."
"Oh right, thank you! You don't have to wash it, I can just take it back right now."
"No, no, I'll wash it. It's the least I can do," YN insists, and Daniel gives in.
Daniel's phone buzzes, slightly startling the two. "Ah.. it's from Doo. I should probably tell him I'm bringing someone along."
YN nods, letting the two fall into silence while Daniel texts his 'friend' back. She takes the moment to survey their surroundings. She takes note of the lack of street lights as well as the narrow passageways, the area looking faintly familiar to her. It reminded her of the times when her previous caretakers would take her to shitty restaurants to entertain them and their friends. It didn't surprise her that a group like Doo's would hang out in this shady area, where messing around and underage drinking was normal.
"Hey, Daniel." Said boy looks to YN as he puts his phone back in his pocket. "Don't be surprised when we get there, the place won't be great."
Daniel nods, slightly confused. He follows the girl down the street and through an alleyway.
"Have you been here before?" Daniel questions curiously.
"Unfortunately."
Before Daniel could further question YN's vague answer, the pair enters a building and climbs the stairs to the second floor. Pushing the door open, the two were assaulted by hazy air and the smell of alcohol and cigarettes. They immediately catch sight of Doo's usual group as well as Zoe and Zack. Doo's group was smoking and both Zack and Zoe looked visibly confused and annoyed.
"Ay Daniel! You made it!" Doo exclaims. "And you brought the hot new girl, nice!"
YN stares Doo down, making him slightly shift in his spot from her intense stare.
"Why the fuck is he here?" Zack questions with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth at the same time as Zoe who mutters, "Why is she here?"
"Come and sit, you must be hungry!"
"I came myself and just happened to meet them. It must be fate!" Zoe purposefully pushes her breasts up and motions for Daniel to sit in the empty spot next to her, completely ignoring the existence of the girl standing beside him.
YN notices the way Doo and his friends eye the girl. First with looks of disdain but quickly switching up as they glance to what she was showing off. YN rolls her eyes at the sight. Even though Zoe was being a bitch to her, YN decided to be nice. She takes Daniel's blazer and drapes it around Zoe instead. YN shoots a glare at the guys eyeing the Zoe, making them frightfully look away. Zoe stares up at her with confusion.
"Have higher standards for yourself."
The other blinks a few times before a small blush spreads across her face. She quickly looks away and clears her throat, "Thank you."
The boys guide Daniel to the seat next to Zack. The only other open spot was the one next to Zoe, who looked annoyed at the seating arrangement but didn't blow up like YN thought she would. Without a word, YN takes the seat next to Zoe and eyes Daniel to observe the boy's current state. He looked extremely uncomfortable.
To add to his uneasy state, one of the guys gives him, and you, a shot glass. YN is no stranger to alcohol but it didn't mean she enjoyed it. Especially when this environment reminded her of back then. She takes the shot glass to avoid being pestered about it and sets it down on the table.
On the other side, Daniel hesitantly takes it. "I don't drink..."
The table erupts in disbelief. While the group was interrogating him, the poor boy kept glancing your way for help. With a sigh, YN redirects the conversation.
"So Daniel," the group immediately shuts up and turns to YN. "Where do you live?"
Daniel gives her a look to say "thank you" and replies with "I live alone."
"Awesome! We can hang out at Daniel's place!"
The group talks amongst themselves with plans of hanging out at his place without his permission while Daniel looks on in panic. "I live with a friend!" They all stop their plans to question him further. "He's a dropout." The mood in the room immediately changes, their expressions turning to grave shock while YN simply rolls her eyes. "He works at night and sleeps during the day. If I brought friends home, it might not be good."
Either he's being for real or he's making up shit to keep these baboons out of his house. However, Daniel doesn't strike the girl as someone who lies. Daniel's continued explanation only adds to the group's dramatic thoughts. Daniel? Living with a gangster? Are these people stupid?
"Anyone else coming?" The new feminine voice stops the group. "Stay out of trouble, okay?"
YN sees Daniel giving the owner a pleading look, most likely to give him an excuse to leave the group. However, the lady completely misses the message. Her face falls into shock with the mere look at his face, which is completely valid, and immediately makes a move. She slides next to Daniel and links their arms together. "Something else you want to eat?" She gives him a sickly-sweet smile paired with innocent looking doe eyes.
At that moment, a thud made the table shake. It was Zack, his face on the table, an empty shot glass and soju bottle next to him. The table goes silent for a moment. As everyone resumed to what they were doing, Zack shoots up from his chair.
"Daniel park." His serious tone and fierce eyes directed to Daniel made the boy gulp and the girls hesitate to step up. "I'm jealous of how hot you are."
"Let's make out."
"I meant up, let's make up."
All while maintaining a straight face. The table collectively gasped as YN struggled to keep in her laughter. Zack suddenly leans in and gives Daniel a wet kiss on the cheek, effectively making everyone freeze and YN's laughter to spill out. The first to snap out of the shock was Zoe, who secretly pours a soju shot at the side of the table.
"You must be tired, have a drink!" Zoe offers the shot she poured to the oblivious Daniel.
He accepts it with a thank you and lifts the glass to his lips.
YN stands up while slamming her hands on the table, making the chaotic group look at her and Daniel pause. YN takes the glass out of his hands and downs it in one go. Slightly cringing at the taste, she looks directly into Zoe's eyes.
"Nice try, princess."
Zoe's face turns red at the name while Doo's group burst into laughter. Daniel gives YN a confused yet concerned look and Zack continues to push himself against the confused boy.
"That wasn't nice," the drunk Zack whines out. To who? No one knows.
"Daniel, didn't you have to go help your roommate today?" YN asks as an escape route for the poor Daniel. The group tenses at the mention of said roommate and Daniel's eyes light up after a moment when he realizes what YN was trying to do.
"Ah.. yes I almost forgot, thanks YN!" He then turns to the tense group. "I'm sorry to leave early but I gotta help my roommate move some things."
YN internally sighs at his poor skills of lying but thankfully, the group is dumb.
"I have to go too, my parents are gonna kill me for being out this late."
If it was a year ago, they sure as hell would.
"Both of you are leaving so soon?" Zoe whines, "It won't be fun without you...Daniel! It won't be fun without Daniel here, yeah."
YN simply raises an eyebrow at the flustered girl, who was now murmuring incomprehensible words.
"Sorry, maybe we can hang out another day," YN says with a fake smile, knowing damn well that neither she nor Daniel would want to do this again.
The group says their goodbyes and the pair was out the door.
"Quite the experience, right?" YN asks with a laugh as soon as they're out of the foul smelling restaurant.
Daniel lets out an awkward laugh, "It was definitely something."
"Do you live far?" YN asks.
"Uh not too far from here... you?"
She shakes her head. "After about two right turns, my house is in that area."
Daniel's eyes light up at the news, "Mine is too! Do you wanna stop by somewhere nearby?"
YN takes a moment to think before shaking her head again, "We should get home, it's getting pretty late. We can another day, especially since we can walk together after school."
Daniel enthusiastically nods. "Then I'll see you tomorrow and we can go somewhere after school!"
YN gives the taller a smile while nodding. Soon enough, she reaches her house and has no choice but to separate from her companion.
"See you tomorrow, YN!" Daniel smiles and waves as she returns the smile and enters the small house.
YN doesn't bother with a greeting since she didn't want to wake the only adult figure that's only ever truly cared for her since she was 10. However, she was surprised to see the old lady sitting at the kitchen table with a book cracked open.
"How was your first day at school?"
The lady's gentle greeting further surprised the younger, who was fully expecting her to yell at YN for coming back so late without informing her first.
YN gives the lady a smile and sits down in the chair across from her. "It was actually pretty good. I just came back from hanging out with a new friend."
The elder smiles at YN's words. "I'm glad to see you already making friends."
"How is your health?" YN asked and the lady sighs as if she's heard the same question everyday for the past three months. To be fair, that's exactly what had happened.
"YN, dear, how many times must I tell you? The only way I'll die is if someone murders me!"
YN lightly laughs at this. It was true, the women was quite strong despite her age. She was strong not only physically—healthwise, not so much musclewise—but also mentally. YN wouldn't doubt for a second that the only way the elder would die would be from murder, even if they'd only known each other for only half a year. Despite it only being half a year, YN considers the elder to be the closest thing she will ever get to a motherly figure. After all, YN doesn't make parenting easy. Especially after her past experiences. She will forever be grateful to the kind hearted old lady that took in a 16 year old living on the streets to give them back whatever was left of a childhood.
"If such a thing ever happens, you can rest easy knowing that I'll avenge you," YN attempts to joke but the serious glint in her eyes kills it easily.
With one look at the younger, the elder lightly smacks her arm. "Don't worry about that, just be happy and do you."
Before YN could argue back, her opponent stands up and motions for the other to follow. "Go to sleep, you have another day of school tomorrow!" She gently pushes YN to the bedroom doors facing each other before lastly adding, "You gotta tell me all about it, okay?"
The door shuts between the two, YN staying in the position as she hears the other door open and close, indicating the other went inside.
I don't think I'll ever get used to this.
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