Past: Unexpected Allies
Go Dasom stumbled into the gymnasium looking like a drowned rat, still unable to stop her sniffling. Her face was a mess of tears and rainwater, and droplets fell from the hem of her soaked uniform.
"Hic... sorry. I, I really..."
Ji Yoon tossed her a crumpled handkerchief from her pocket.
"If you're gonna cry, at least wipe your face first. Snot's running."
I leaned against the wall with my legs crossed, shaking out Baek Isul's wet gym clothes as I looked down at Go Dasom. Normally, I'd have dismissed her as pathetic and moved on, but right now, she was my only lead to Yoo Eunho's tail.
"...Go Dasom, right?"
"Hic... huh?"
"So, you threw away the gym clothes?"
"N-no..."
Dasom hung her head low.
"Then you deliver them yourself. We'll create the opportunity—just muster your courage once."
"Wh-when...?"
"Stick by our side, and you'll see it too. The moment to step in. That's when you do it."
The second Dasom lifted her head with wide rabbit eyes, a rustling sound pierced the patter of rain outside. Footsteps echoed from the stairs leading upstairs.
Both Ji Yoon's and my heads snapped toward the noise.
"Who's there."
My sharp voice made someone upstairs shuffle out hesitantly. A girl with messy hair and enough padding that her uniform didn't cling awkwardly.
"Um... Dasom looked so down heading this way, so I followed secretly... don't be too harsh... I heard Kang Minji's orders..."
I furrowed my brow, scanning the girl's face.
"And who the hell are you? Part of Kang Minji's crew too?"
She shook her head at my snap.
"No... I'm Yoo Chaerin. We're... in the same class as Dasom."
I felt a bit awkward for snapping at what seemed like an innocent girl, but I quickly jutted my chin toward her, demanding the point.
"So why are you hiding and defending Dasom? You in on spreading rumors about Baek Isul too?"
"No."
Chaerin took a deep breath. The eyes of the girl staring at the floor flickered.
"The class treats me like I'm invisible. And the one person who actually paid attention to me..."
Chaerin looked down at Dasom, who was sitting there.
"...was Dasom."
"So what're you saying? Don't bully her too much?"
"No."
Chaerin met our eyes squarely at Ji Yoon's words.
"They talk about all their secrets right in front of me, even if I'm groveling."
Chaerin bit her lip hard and spilled the truth she'd overheard.
"So I heard everything."
"Last Tuesday during cleaning time. Who bought drinks for Class 3 kids to start the rumors first, and how all the dirty gossip began."
"Ho ho."
An intrigued hum escaped Ji Yoon beside me. My own lips were curling up before I knew it.
Chaerin gripped Dasom's hand tight, then looked me straight in the eye.
"The Isul I saw wasn't the kind of girl those rumors paint her as."
"...And?"
"If you're catching the ringleader, I want in."
Thud.
Before gym class, during break, a large gym top dropped onto Baek Isul's desk as she frantically rummaged through her locker and bag for her missing clothes.
"...?"
Isul eyed the baggy gym top curiously, then scowled at the name tag on the chest.
"What the hell."
"Put it on."
With my hands in my pockets, I nodded at it curtly.
Isul's brow furrowed deeper.
"Why? I'll wear mine."
"You don't have yours."
"...!"
Her shoulders stiffened at my words. Probably shocked—not that I'd found out her gym clothes were gone, but how I knew.
"...Did you steal it?"
"Would a thief toss it right in your face?"
She stared at me blankly from her seat before retorting.
"Then why give it? Trying to get my attention or something..."
"Me? Nah, that's your ego talking, dummy."
I snorted in disbelief, and she clamped her mouth shut like she'd run out of words. She knew my reputation—strutting around class, ignoring everyone—so even she realized her accusation sounded forced.
"Just wear it. Don't be stubborn for no reason."
I nodded at it again.
"Too small for me anyway."
A blatant lie, of course. I'd bought it recently, perfect fit for my size.
Before I could turn away without giving her a chance to argue, my eyes locked with Yoo Eunho's—he'd snuck up behind me.
"...Juwon lent you his gym clothes? But lending them to Isul..."
He approached with a grin, voice low.
"What about you? No gym clothes, and gym teacher's gonna chew you out."
Pfft.
"What's this? Actually worried about me?"
He'd meant it as a threat, but it just made me laugh. I smirked mockingly and patted his shoulder as I brushed past.
"Don't worry. I got myself covered, so mind your own business."
I felt his gaze boring into my back, but I ignored it and smacked the massive back slumped at the desk next to mine.
"Hey, Park Geon. Gym time."
"Mmm...? Yawwn... why gym all sudden."
"Raining outside—think we're doing it on the field?"
I dragged Park Geon out the front door without giving him a say.
Glancing back as we left, Isul clutched my baggy gym top, staring blankly.
'...Now it begins.'
The boisterous cafeteria. Sure enough, Yoo Eunho approached Isul's lone table in the corner, tray in hand, where she poked at her food alone.
"Isul, why eat alone..."
Thud!
Before he could sit, a tray slammed down right next to her.
"Damn, no seats. Mind if I squeeze in?"
Park Geon's bulky frame shoved Eunho's shoulder aside as he plopped down beside Isul.
I casually set my tray opposite her and sat.
Irritation flashed across Eunho's face, but he forced a smile and backed off.
"Sure, Geon. Enjoy."
As he slunk to another table, Isul stared at us in bewilderment.
We ignored her gaze; I scooped rice from my tray and nodded at hers.
"Hey, Baek Isul. Not eating your rolled omelet?"
"...What're you doing?"
"Not eating it? Gimme."
I snatched the omelet from her tray without waiting.
She let out a disbelieving scoff but didn't budge.
"Oh, nice spot."
Ji Yoon appeared out of nowhere and claimed the seat beside me.
"Hi. Han Ji Yoon. Wanna be friends?"
She offered her hand, but Isul glanced at it, then turned away to eat.
"...Not feeling it yet, huh. Fair enough."
Ji Yoon withdrew her hand like she'd expected it and dug in.
The cafeteria was just the start.
With our grip on Yoo Eunho's tail, we orbited Baek Isul blatantly—no, more like leeches clinging shamelessly.
"Hey, gym."
Whenever she slumped over her desk, I'd approach and tap it.
"...Go yourselves."
"Gotta go anyway. Come with."
Park Geon snatched her outer jacket without hearing her refusal and led the way.
During breaks, Ji Yoon would pull out the front desk chair and take it.
"Whoa, those earbuds? Share some tunes."
Isul scowled and turned away to keep her earbud, but Ji Yoon ignored it, sprawling over the desk to read comics.
We made sure she was never alone, blocking Eunho's access.
Eunho went from laughing it off to glaring more often once he realized we were cutting him out.
But Isul hit her limit first.
A few days later, after school. On my way back from emptying the trash, she blocked my path at the hallway corner. For the first time, emotion flickered in her usually blank eyes.
"...What the hell are you guys doing to me."
She bit her lip, forcing the words out.
"What?"
"Why keep following me around, being annoying! Pitying the loner and doing charity?! Leave me alone!"
Her sharp voice trembled at the end.
The malicious rumors and stares pouring from all sides. Plus our sudden, inexplicable intrusions. Too chaotic for a fourteen-year-old girl.
I scoffed at her defensiveness and leaned crookedly against the wall.
"Charity? Why would I pity you? If anyone's pitiful, it's me. Can't even hit the canteen in peace lately. Sigh..."
"...What?"
"Don't flatter yourself. No heroic savior crap here."
I glanced dryly toward the classroom where Eunho might be.
"And, y'know... friends don't need reasons. Ignore us like always. We'll do our thing."
Isul blinked, speechless.
I left her there, grabbed the trash bin, and headed back, but paused and glanced over my shoulder.
"Not me, but... some folks really wanna befriend you pure-like."
She stood frozen there long after, lost in thought.
Until the end of freshman year, things stayed peaceful—minus Isul.
Post-exams, pre-vacation kids chattered noisily, thrilled.
But I wasn't all smiles. No progress with Isul despite low expectations, and Dasom still hesitated, avoiding them on purpose.
Positive note: blocking Eunho and Isul kept them from getting closer.
'Ugh... sophomore year, just drop it.'
Lost in that thought, chin propped, a commotion reached my ears.
I nudged Park Geon and hurried out; voices grew clearer.
"Baek Isul, you're something else. Hooking up with old dudes behind the scenes, then tailing Juwon and Geon at school. Busy bee?"
Kang Minji and her gang, as Dasom described. Frustrated their plan to bury Isul was stalling, they cornered her alone.
"Oh, too high-class to even reply?"
They mocked her silent glare.
"Kang Minji. That's going too far."
The classroom door opened—Yoo Eunho, striding in to "protect" her as usual.
'That bastard...!'
As I realized his game and moved to block, a trembling but furious voice rang out.
"Hey, Kang Minji! You done talking?!"