Festival (1)
Afternoon at Daeseong High School, one day before the festival. Classes had long since taken a backseat, and the entire school buzzed with an electric, festive energy all day long.
"Aish, my wrist is killing me from slicing all these lemons. Hey, Nam Siu. How you holding up?"
In the home economics room, Seo Juwon groaned as he turned from the mountain of lemons piled high on the counter.
"Uh... hold on a sec. I think I need to get the ratios just right here."
Siu stood at the table, staring intently at the recipe sheet as he carefully measured out the syrup. Just the way he gripped the cup and the focused line of his profile showed how absorbed he was.
"Dude, just wing it. Nobody's gonna drink this stuff that seriously at the festival anyway."
"Still, we're charging money for it. Can't half-ass it."
Siu stirred the drink with his pinky finger, responding with careful deliberation. As he concentrated, the sound of the practice room door opening reached his ears.
"What're you guys up to? Whoa, you two are really going all out, huh."
It was Baek Isul and Ji Yoon, fresh from wrapping up the haunted house props in Class 2. The moment Ji Yoon's voice hit, Siu's shoulders stiffened—he'd had his nose buried in the recipe.
"Us? We're doing it perfectly, obviously. You guys done already?"
Juwon, who had been crouched slicing lemons, spotted them and straightened up, clutching his aching back.
"Eh, we just slapped on some paint and called it good. What're you making?"
"Oh, me? Just cutting lemons for now. If I touch the cups, they all shatter weirdly."
Leaving Juwon sighing and Ji Yoon chuckling behind her, Isul approached Siu.
"Whatcha making? Some kinda ade?"
She sidled up beside him, glancing over the recipe.
"Uh, yeah, Isul. Props done? It's strawberry ade..."
Siu fidgeted with the glass he was preparing, hesitating. Worry about whether it'd taste bad was written all over his face.
"Oh! Perfect timing—gimme a taste! Gotta toss it if it sucks."
Juwon set down his knife and bounded over, still bantering with Ji Yoon.
"I'm not big on sweet stuff."
At her words, Siu paused just as he was carefully inserting the straw and sliding the glass toward her.
"Oh, yeah? It's Siu's menu idea, though. Guess Ji Yoon, you can—"
Before Juwon could finish, Isul's hand shot out, pulling the glass toward herself.
"When did I say I wouldn't drink it? I just said I don't love super sweet things."
She made some excuse about someone else snagging it, then promptly slurped through the straw.
Siu swallowed dryly, watching her expression with bated breath.
"...Huh?"
Isul's blank face shifted—her eyes widened just a fraction.
"W-what? Bad? Too sweet? Ah, shoulda used less syrup..."
Siu fidgeted anxiously as she pulled away from the straw and fixed him with a steady gaze.
"Nah. It's really good."
"...For real?"
"Yeah. Tastes like the stuff they sell outside. You're gonna kill it tomorrow."
Her faint smile and praise finally loosened Siu's rigid shoulders. He scratched the back of his head and broke into a goofy grin.
Juwon grumbled as he shuffled back to his station, eyeing Siu's relieved sigh.
"Sigh... I'm back here busting my back on lemons, and that guy's whipping up sweet drinks to feed his girlfriend. Time for a strike."
"Let him be. Look how happy she is."
Ji Yoon cackled around her lollipop.
The rest of the day, Classes 1 and 2 hustled nonstop with festival prep. Class 1's room transformed into a cozy cafe with soft lighting and tablecloths. Class 2's, meanwhile, got its windows blacked out with curtains, slathered in red paint and fake cobwebs to become a proper haunted house.
"Hey, Baek Isul! Tomorrow morning, first thing—costume on, makeup done! No tardies, or you're dead! Got it!?"
"Haa... Fine."
Isul nodded wearily at the class president's stern reminder.
And so, the noisy eve of the festival faded into dusk.
An hour before opening to the public, the whole school thrummed with hype and noise.
"Hey! We're low on ice in the cooler! Run to the shop and grab more!"
"Who left the cup holder on the floor? Nearly tripped."
Class 1's room was no exception—shouts flew amid the chaos. Fruit syrups for the ades and soda bottles piled on the pushed-back desks at the rear, while a flashy banner hung crookedly over the blackboard lights.
"Ugh, my back's gonna give out before morning. Yo, Nam Siu! You dressed yet?"
Juwon grunted as he hauled the ice cooler, yelling at Siu, who was fussing in front of a mirror in the corner.
"Uh... yeah, but the apron strings are kinda short?"
Siu turned, fiddling awkwardly with the black apron tied around his waist. Crisp white shirt with sleeves rolled to his elbows, apron hanging to mid-thigh—he looked just like a cafe barista.
"Ooh, good call working out. Fits nice now, huh?"
Juwon clapped exaggeratedly, and Siu averted his eyes, embarrassed.
"Dude, didn't you grab a baggy shirt? It's kinda uncomfortable."
"That's the style these days! Suck it up. And when you're mixing ades, make eye contact, smile nice and friendly. Got it?!"
The class president dashed over with a marker, smacking Siu's back emphatically.
Siu nodded awkwardly, but his mind wandered to Isul in Class 2 next door.
Isul's probably dressed by now...
He pictured her grumbling about the forced costume. She was stunning just standing there blankly—out in the hall promoting in full getup? His stomach twisted at the thought.
And today was the day Yoo Eunho was coming to their school.
What if weird guys from outside hassle her...
Stuck mixing drinks in Class 1, Siu fretted over Isul hawking outside, his fingers twitching at the apron strings.
"Whoa, guys! Class 2's got a hawker out in the hall! Quality's insane!"
A Class 1 guy peering out the window yelled excitedly.
"No way, that's her, right? Baek Isul? Damn, makeup changes the vibe completely."
That name hit like a bolt. Siu's hands froze mid-tying. He set down the cup holder and bolted out the front door like he was compelled.
Siu's dash halted dead center in the hallway.
"..."
A tattered white dress trailing to her ankles. Her usually bare face was made up pale and ghostly, red lips peeking from under a ragged veil. The costume wasn't high-end cosplay, but her face elevated it.
"Ugh... this dress is such a pain. Keeps getting stepped on—driving me nuts."
Isul kicked irritably at the trailing hem.
Siu snapped to and hurried over.
"Uh... Isul."
"Oh, Nam Siu. All dressed up, huh?"
She turned at his voice, scanning his aproned figure up and down.
"Hm... sleeves too high? Roll 'em down a bit."
"Huh? Oh, right. But you... you're really pretty..."
Siu stammered, ears burning as he stared. He could already feel the stares from guys down the hall, mesmerized—her words barely registered.
"You're seriously standing out here like this all day? What if guys from other schools ask for your number..."
Isul let out a deflating chuckle at his anxious fidgeting. She tapped his arm lightly and whispered,
"Relax. Anyone who bugs me, I'll shove straight into our class. We'll make bank."
"Still, be careful...? Run to Class 1 if anything happens!"
"I got it—go mix your ades. People are coming soon."
Siu lingered with a worried glance, then reluctantly headed back.
10 a.m. sharp. With the announcement broadcast, Daeseong High's gates swung wide.
Students from other schools and outsiders poured in, swelling the crowds. Hawker shouts and thumping music mingled everywhere—a perfect festival chaos.
And amid the bustling throng, one boy strolled through the gates with unusually leisurely steps.
Neat, tidy casual clothes. A friendly smile behind glasses.
Yoo Eunho.
"..."
Amid flushed, excited faces, only Eunho wore a calm smile as he walked. Hands casually in pockets, he gazed lazily at the buildings beyond the crowd.
Isul goes to a place like this?
Eyeing the school—which seemed even lower-tier than he'd imagined—with curiosity, he reached the entrance.
Might as well take a look around.
A fake smile tugged at his lips as Eunho melted into the crowd and slipped inside.