Chapter Text
“I don’t understand, why would we have a test when she didn’t even teach us anything?”
Chaeyoung smiles at Dahyun, her best friend and coincidentally, her seatmate as well.
They had been neighbors for as long as she could remember and their parents are friends too, thus their friendship was inevitable from the start. Kim Dahyun was the epitome of a sunshine dorky girl with pretty features. Chaeyoung thinks that Dahyun’s nose bridge was unique and her eyes might as well be the crescent moon from the way it turns to a curved line when Dahyun smiles. Because of her dorky personality, she’s quite popular with other students and even some of their seniors, and despite the constant complaining, she’s considered as the teacher’s favorite too.
Chaeyoung on the other hand was every bit of an introvert there is. She doesn’t have that many friends like Dahyun, but she doesn’t belong to the loser side of the student population, for a very good reason. She still had some friends, the other one would be-
“The last time you complained, you had one mistake. Please stop complaining, I don’t want to throw this book in your face.” Tzuyu takes away their attention the moment she speaks, as usual.
Chou Tzuyu. One of Dongjak Private Academy’s campus crushes and somehow, their friend. She was sitting behind Dahyun and Chaeyoung all by herself at the farthest row. Everytime Chaeyoung looks at Tzuyu she couldn’t help but be in awe of the girl’s beauty, one look at her and you’ll know that God really took his time in making her. No wonder the boys would literally drool whenever Tzuyu walks down the hallways. If Chaeyoung would describe her in one word: perfection. She’s tall, slender figure, round eyes, small nose and plump lips. It’s almost as if Aphrodite ascended from Earth. If that mouth isn’t so damn sharp that Chaeyoung sometimes wants to pull it off, she’d really be perfect.
Still, very pretty.
Chaeyoung chuckled. “Didn’t you see how she spoke to me?!” Dahyun complained to her best friend while pointing at Tzuyu.
Dahyun, the ever so friendly girl of Dongjak Academy hates being disrespected. Even if it was a joke, especially if it was from someone younger than her.
“Ya!” Tzuyu smiles, finding the overreaction of Kim Dahyun ridiculous but not uncommon. This happens everyday when Tzuyu takes the time to insult Dahyun as a joke, of course. “If you’re so bitter about my score, study more!” Dahyun taps Tzuyu’s math book with her favorite blue pen, scolding her like she’s manifested a boomer’s spirit.
Dahyun makes it seem like Tzuyu’s an idiot but the reality is very different. In fact, the three girls are one of the best students in their year. Out of 200 students, Tzuyu ranks 10th and Dahyun ranks 7th. And Chaeyoung? Rank 5th. But even Dahyun knows that rank is a joke, if Chaeyoung wanted to, she could easily take the first position (but she’s too lazy for that). Yet another reason why she doesn’t fall to the loser side of the student population.
Unknown to her though, there’s another reason.
“Chaeng. When’s your next dance practice?” Dahyun asks, turning the topic of the conversation 90 degrees.
Chaeyoung shrugs. “Momo-unnie didn’t say anything yet.”
“Oh.”
The dance club is one of the popular clubs in school, mostly because they perform at school events and contrary to the traditional practice using mirrors, Hirai Momo (the dance club captain and president) sometimes wants to practice outside. She says it's all about maintaining the dancers’ vitamin D. It's a poor excuse, because everybody in the club knows all she wants is to catch sight of a certain someone . She never said who, but the best assumption was another senior and the co-captain of the cheerleading team, Minatozaki Sana.
Chaeyoung is one of the members of the dance club, she joined them last year as a form of exercise and she didn’t have anything better to do. Also because the art club is full so she didn’t have anywhere to go. It was all good, Momo accepted her to the club just from the first 20 seconds of her performances. She just had been in the club for a year but everyone knows that Chaeyoung barely wears anything when she’s dancing (even when it’s just practice) and so, her abs are laid bare in its full glory. The “exercise” Chaeyoung gets from the dance club must be so much to have such toned abs that are to die for and Dahyun exploits this by taking pictures of her best friend, extra income.
Yes, Son Chaeyoung isn’t on the loser side of the student population because she’s on the higher up.
The girl is just too humble to admit it herself.
Tzuyu shakes her head slightly with a small smile on her face, knowing where this is going. “Why?” Chaeyoung asks with a calm face. Dahyun flashes her sunshine smile, it’s always easy to deceive Chaeyoung, she doesn’t even know when people are lying to her. For the most absurd - almost comical - reasons, Dahyun takes advantage of this. “Of course I’d come to support you! I’d even buy you refreshments!”
Tzuyu chimes in. “That’s a lie.”
“Can you not ?!”
Chaeyoung laughs. “You can come and support me next time.”
Tzuyu, Dahyun and Chaeyoung are known as a trio in school, the three can’t be separated and they’re so close to each other that no outsider can penetrate their walls. At some point for there to be Son Chaeyoung, there has to be a Kim Dahyun, and to another extent Cho Tzuyu and vice versa. Some find this friendship cute and some wanted to befriend them as well but would rather choose not to, knowing fully well they’ll be just a fourth wheel at best.
Tzuyu, in particular, isn’t the best at making new friends (even if she wanted to), Dahyun would always tease her about this. She makes up for it though, she has unquestionable loyalty to the two people in front of her. “Do you need help moving things later?”
“Nope. Dad handled everything himself, the problem is sorting things out in the house. Dad brought other stuff from grandma’s house.”
Chaeyoung’s family had probably been the busiest household in the whole block lately, Dahyun can attest to it. They didn’t move but her best friend’s grandmother died recently and all her things were split up to her children and Chaeyoung’s family had been taking care of everything. “I could come over, you know.” Dahyun proposes, it's always better to have someone to help on things.
“It’s fine, I can handle it.”
Tzuyu maintains her deadpan expression, unsure of what’s going on in Chaeyoung’s mind sometimes. “Okay, then.”
…
“Hey mom, where do I put these boxes?” Chaeyoung looks up to Jeong Hun, her younger brother carrying two boxes on top of each other. Their mother looks up to him, raising two eyebrows. She had that confused look on her face that tells Chaeyoung she didn’t know that there were another two boxes. “I’ll sort it out first, Jeong Hun. Put it in my room.”
“Okay.”
Chaeyoung smiled at her mother and she could see her mouthing ‘thank you’. They were nowhere near done. It turns out her grandmother was a hoarder , she kept too many things. Most of the stuff are totally a blast from the past and some were just memories of her that everybody in the family knows - her hobbies, her likes and some family photos. This is why they’re taking too much time to sort out things. While going through her stuff, Chaeyoung’s mom couldn’t help but be emotional and tell the story behind every thing she pulls out from one box.
In an attempt to escape from this painfully long trip down memory lane, Chaeyoung tells her mother that she’ll be sorting out the other two boxes Jeong Hun recently brought in. Thankfully , she relents.
Aside from a whole wall full of books, creating her own private mini library, Chaeyoung’s room isn’t anything special, but it’s interestingly, the master bedroom of the house. Her parents had this odd taste of liking small things so things would be cozy and aesthetic (Chaeyoung calls it being minimalist). This is also the reason why she rarely goes to Dahyun’s house because Dahyun comes over to hers and sometimes even sleeps over.
The two boxes are laid out on the floor, Jeong Hyun took the liberty to unstack the two so Chaeyoung could easily open it up. Upon closer look the box appears to be stored even beforehand, the dust piled up like crazy and Chaeyoung could bet it could be dust from 20 years ago, if it was, the box is even older than her.
She grabs the cutter from her study table and opens the box. The cutter seeps through the 20-year old dust and soon enough, the box was opened. Clearly, whoever stored this didn’t even try on stacking the letters properly.
There’s a ton of letters, piled like a mountain inside. Chaeyoung took the initiative to see if it was just letters and nothing is on the bottom and in the end it’s just purely letters. Wondering if the second box is the same, she sifts it immediately but it contains many different things that Chaeyoung wouldn’t dream to see in this day and age.
The small black - obviously old - black radio occupied half the space of the box. The other things were old books, its pages turned to yellow already, some were literally decaying and as Chaeyoung flipped the pages of the books, the inks were fading already.
Must be grandma’s things.
There was some curiosity sparked in Chaeyoung towards the other box, the one that contained the letters. Sure letters were a thing back then but why would someone keep letters in this way? When Chaeyoung began digging through the contents, some were opened and some weren’t, as if the person who received the letters didn’t have time to read them all.
Curiosity certainly bit the cat now because Chaeyoung opened one of the letters that was already opened.
One of the prominent things that Chaeyoung remembers the most about her grandmother is that she’s a secretive lady. One instance to prove this was from her childhood, she could hazily remember how the old woman loves to stare at the sunset and she would hum the same song over and over again but when the young Son Chaeyoung asked why, her grandmother never told her no matter how much she begged.
Now her secrets died along with her.
Chaeyoung began to read the contents of the letter, it wasn’t anything special aside from the way this person constructs her sentences in an elegant, almost formal way and how she tells her day with a very deep-traditional Korean language that Chaeyoung barely understands. There’s nothing special afteral-
Hm?
Chaeyoung blinks twice in confusion.
Who the hell is Yoo Kyungwan?
The obvious signature, Love, Yoo Kyung Wan , stood out because of the name (also because of the grand way of writing, again elegant. ) She may not know much about her grandmother but her last name isn’t Yoo that’s for sure. Chaeyoung looks at the very top, to the date and the greeting and she’s more baffled than she was a moment ago.
20 April 1941
My dearest Im Nayeon,
There’s no way her grandmother is named Im Nayeon, and based on the date this letter is even older than her. Chaeyoung made a quick mental rundown on the years, it's possible that the sender or the receiver is her great-grandmother or her great-great grandmother. Of course she wouldn’t know her family’s uplines, her father barely talked about his childhood nor did anyone in this family ever had the curiosity to ask about it.
There is one now.
Chaeyoung cleaned the rest of the things up before heading out to the living room. She looks around before seeing her father’s figure only to see him outside talking with another man and signing an electronic document. “Dad?”
“Hm?”
“Do you remember your great-grandmother’s name?” Chaeyoung asked. There’s no need to beat around the bush, her patience when it comes to answers on her own questions is relatively short.
Chaeyoung silently looks at her father, she could tell that he’s trying her best to remember. To be honest, Chaeyoung isn’t expecting much but this is still better than knowing nothing. She opens her mouth, finally sensing that this is pointless when a solid 2 minutes passed and her father hasn’t said anything.
“Da-”
“I think it was Park Jisoo.” There was no hesitation on the way he said it, giving the impression that he was sure of it. Chaeyoung wanted to ask if he was sure but there’s no point in trying, her father wasn’t born yet during that time. It’s interesting to know that her last name was Park though, not that the name is any interesting or unique (there must be about a million people bearing the same name in Korea) but the fact that it was a Park and Chaeyoung’s last name is Son. The development is quite funny and compelling.
“Why did you ask?”
Chaeyoung gave a small smile. “Nothing really. I was just curious.”
Even though her father gave her a solid answer, Chaeyoung still had some doubts. At first, she figures that it might really be possible that Park Jisoo is her great-great grandmother. But if that’s true, then who the hell is Im Nayeon and Yoo Kyungwan? With just one question answered, Chaeyoung is left with more questions and god knows that her mind wouldn’t stop thinking until the answers are laid out in the open for her. It’s annoying, Chaeyoung hates it but here she was, walking back to her room - back to that box.
There’s that thought of invading one’s privacy by opening one of the letters but is it really considered when the person is dead? Chaeyoung ignores the disturbing feeling in her chest and opens it. It’s quite amazing that the paper is still in mint condition despite 80 (or more) years stored away like this. The ink is still distinguishable too, compared to the ones that were opened. “September 2, 1942…”
September 2, 1942
My dearest Im Nayeon,
Today the weather is exceptional, don’t you think? The brightness of the sun reminds me of your smile and how warm it feels. Jisoo might as well be the sky for how tranquil it feels today just like her calm demeanor. Recently, I learned a lot of phrases in Japanese, not that it was required for us but I wanted to learn some so I could understand some of the people here. Contrary to what I thought, there were some that were friendly and believe it or not, I’ve made friends! Their names are Yuki, Aoi and Mira. If we ever had the chance to visit Keijo again, I’d love for you to meet them. I’m certain that you all will get along well. As time passes, I can’t express how much I miss you and Jisoo. While I have made friends here, it’s nothing compared to the bonds I have with the two of you. How are you, Nayeon? I spend most of my time thinking about what you’re doing and if you’re doing well. With all my heart, I hope you are.
I hope you don’t take to heart my delayed responses. There are many things to do here, more than I ever expected. Nonetheless, you of all people would know that I give my absolute best on all my tasks. Im Nayeon, I give you my word that I’ll visit Keijo as soon as I can. I vow that before the first snow falls to the ground, I would be by your side. Until then, I’ll patiently wait for your and Jisoo’s response to my letters. Be healthy and happy, Nayeon. I’ll see you soon.
Love,
Yoo Kyung Wan.
Chaeyoung was no romantic but from just a few lines, she could tell that this Yoo Kyungwan had serious feelings for Im Nayeon. For her, it must be clear. Im Nayeon was someone special. She didn’t miss the way Jisoo’s name was mentioned a few times in the letter, it further proved that her father’s memory was right. This Jisoo and Park Jisoo may just be one person and it’s her great-great grandmother. If that’s the case, judging from this one letter Park Jisoo must be friends with Im Nayeon and Yoo Kyungwan. But why would her great-great grandmother have these letters that weren’t even addressed to her? That’s a whole different level of hoarding right there. Chaeyoung thinks.
When one question is answered, another one pops up. It’s infuriating and it just intrigues Chaeyoung even more. Much of the questions need to be answered now.
Chaeyoung was not a fan of history. It’s quite evident in the way she deliberately answers wrong in the exams or quizzes about the subject, there’s not much to care about because it’s all in the past anyway. She recognizes the importance, but it’s just not appealing to her. She does remember that Keijo is the former name of Seoul at the time Korea was still at the mercy of the Japanese. The letter was written in 1942, the country was not liberated until 1945 when Japan surrendered in the second world war.
There was this feeling of wanting to know more about Im Nayeon, Yoo Kyungwan and Park Jisoo, she’s definitely going to ask more things to her father. But before that, this is the best she could get to know their story, yes history is not that appealing to her but that’s because of the way teachers present them in class.
History is in a way, a whole long ass story of the world. It shouldn’t be looked at one-dimensional, there are facts and those are the dates, the significant people and things that happened but there were also alluring poems and allegories that shaped its beauty, they were the ones that shaped a country’s people, traditions and culture. It affects a lot in the present spectrum and explains why things are the way they are and most don’t realize it because history taught in schools are just a bunch of dates, people, and facts that need to be memorized just to say that they’re teaching history .
History in the eyes of people of the past might as well be the story of their lives and Chaeyoung wanted to know Im Nayeon, Yoo Kyungwan and Park Jisoo’s story. Partly because it’s her great-great grandmother but another is just pure curiosity on Im Nayeon and Yoo Kyungwan’s relationship. Was it just Yoo Kyungwan who had obvious feelings for Im Nayeon? or was it reciprocated? If so, then what’s Park Jisoo’s role in all of this?
The best answer Chaeyoung could get is right in front of her. In that shady, deformed beige - or what’s left on the color of it - box. That box full of letters. It contains their story.
Chaeyoung sighed. “It’s going to be one long night.” She whispered to herself, the plan to read all of the letters and look into the other box full of memorabilia solidifying in her mind.
She was about to open another letter when Jeong Hun knocked on her door. “Mom said to get ready, we’re going to the cemetery.” Well, there goes the plan.
“Okay.”
It’s just a visit, when she gets back she’ll have all the time to read the letters. Technically , this is a clear invasion of privacy but Chaeyoung’s curiosity is getting the best of her. In this big, empty room she’s with those medium sized boxes. It feels weird to even say that she doesn’t feel alone. Because with just two letters, Chaeyoung had felt the emotions they, or Yoo Kyungwan shared towards Im Nayeon and Park Jisoo. It felt like she was also in the story and this is her first time meeting them.
Before going out, she looks back on the two boxes. Chaeyoung smiles.
…
When Chaeyoung was a child, this was the day she feared the most. Standing in front of her grandmother’s grave, her name written in black script typeface. Just reading the date she was born and the date she died made Chaeyoung’s insides turn, an obvious frown displayed in her face. All the memories she spent with her grandmother illuminate in Chaeyoung’s eyes, the person she valued the most in her childhood is now gone.
She needed air to breathe so with a quick permission from her mom, Chaeyoung wandered around the cemetery. Everyone has their own story to tell and to those who had already passed, Chaeyoung briefly wonders if they finished their story well or did it end in shambles and to an extent, will her story finish in a way she wanted it to end or will it finish like it hasn’t even started?
As she passed, her eyes caught a familiar name on the farthest side of her eyes. It was the fastest Chaeyoung ever ran in her life. She excelled in school but she couldn’t care less about P.E., it’s only for those who are blessed enough to be built athletically and she was not going to spend her time knowing that she could never compete with the “big boys” with her small ass stature.
Still, she was not lacking in exercise because when she got there, she was barely panting and not a freckle of sweat formed in her body. All thanks to the dance club , Chaeyoung assumes. Tension formed in the air and with no one around her, Chaeyoung knows this is all just her. Her sad eyes were replaced with cluelessness and confusion.
In that long, gray block of cement, two names were written side by side. The first time Chaeyoung had read their names was today, in those old barely recognized inks and she’s reading them again.
IM NA YEON YOO KYUNG WAN
SEPTERMBER 22, 1915 - FEBRUARY 13, 1953 NOVEMBER 1, 1915 - AUGUST 14, 1954
They were buried together.
Chaeyoung quickly looked around, an inkling of hope forming in her chest that somewhere in this national cemetery, Park Ji Soo - her great-great grandmother is also buried.
In all honesty, Chaeyoung doesn’t know why she’s so invested in this. It’s not like Park Jisoo is coming back from the dead the moment she finds her grave. So what if she finds out what happened to the three of them? It wouldn’t change a thing, her life would continue.
But then, she finds herself ecstatic when her eyes land on the name behind Im Nayeon and Yoo Kyungwan’s grave - Park Ji Soo .
PARK JI SOO
FEBRUARY 1, 1916 - NOVEMBER 15, 1968
So, she died a while later. They died quite early. Chaeyoung observes, maybe something happened? But Park Jisoo died a decade later. She may not know them but she could feel the imaginary pain of being left alone by your two best friends. What if Dahyun and Tzuyu leave me alone like this? There’s that possibility and a different sensation looms inside Chaeyoung and it's dark, full of venom that renders her speechless.
…
[Fifteen Years Ago]
“Ya!”
In the front porch of a white modern house in the middle of the neighborhood sits the young Son Chaeyoung with her small sketchbook and a number of color pencils in her hand. When she looks up, the small stature of her friend clad in a t-shirt with a Powerpuff Girls print and pink-neon shorts greets her. In her hand was a baseball bat and the other holds the huge baseball cap that Chaeyoung assumes to be her father’s.
“What are you doing?” Chaeyoung asks in a low tone.
Kim Dahyun had always been an active child and it was mostly because of her father that she’s always up and about in the whole neighborhood. Last week it was soccer and the week before that was volleyball, Chaeyoung guesses today is baseball. “Let’s go play baseball!” The innocent smile on Dahyun’s face shined brightly, rivaling even the sun. The young cheeky child knows that her best friend was born without an active spirit but if there’s one rule between her and her other friends when it comes to playing (or basically anything) is that Kim Dahyun isn’t going to play if Son Chaeyoung isn’t going to play.
Whenever there is a Kim Dahyun, there should be a Son Chaeyoung.
“I don’t want to.” Chaeyoung flatly answers, turning her attention back to the sketchbook. The only reason why Chaeyoung was outside was so she could get a better look at the subject, in this case the sky and the sun.
Dahyun stares at Chaeyoung, sketching her hand away. Unexpectedly, the bat and the baseball cap were thrown away to the side and she finds Dahyun sitting like a frog, beside her. She was staring at the sky too but soon turns to Chaeyoung, noticing the latter staring cutely with her two pigtails hanging on each side at her. “What?”
“Why are you here?”
Dahyun smiles. “Because you’re here.”
“Aren’t you going to play?” Chaeyoung asks again, with confusion in her face.
It couldn’t be that Dahyun won’t play because she didn’t want to play with her? Chaeyoung isn’t that special for Dahyun to treat her that way.
“Because you’re not playing. It’s not fun without you.”
Dahyun’s small child-like voice was the only thing Chaeyoung could hear aside from the warm breeze outside. “Anywhere is fun with you.” Children don’t lie. What Dahyun said that day was the truth, everything that she does with Chaeyoung is fun, even if it was just sitting down.
Kim Dahyun is the opposite of Son Chaeyoung. And when Robert Winch said opposites attract, he wasn’t wrong. For Dahyun, Chaeyoung was the calm waters she needed to extinguish the never-ending fire in her innocent heart. And Dahyun’s brightness was what Chaeyoung needed inside her unintentionally gloomy-tranquil soul. In a way they were like Hansel and Gretel, except there were both girls and there weren’t siblings but their relationship might as well be as one. It’s at least what Chaeyoung feels when she looks at Dahyun’s charcoal eyes. “Oh.”
Even as a child, Chaeyoung doesn’t know how to express her emotions well. But if she could ever put them into words, “Okay. You’re fun to be with too.” With just a few words, she already knows that she’ll do anything for Dahyun to stay in her life. It must be odd for a 4 year old to think that way but Chaeyoung had always been a bit peculiar. And the best thing was Dahyun didn’t mind it at all.
That was Chaeyoung’s first promise to herself - and it’s all about Dahyun.
…
[One Year Ago]
Dahyun entered the classroom with a lollipop in her mouth, sitting next to Chaeyoung on the other side of the room. “Great. Now, I have about 5 minutes left until the next class starts.” Chaeyoung was busy reading a book she just picked up from the library, enough to consume her entire break period but she’s kind enough to listen to Dahyun as soon as her best friend sits beside her. “Where have you been?” The smaller girl asks without looking at Dahyun’s sullen face.
“Miss Kang asked me to help her distribute the notebooks of Class 2.”
“Uhuh.” Chaeyoung replies, just for the sake of replying.
Dahyun frowns.
“Oh, here’s something interesting. While I was in the faculty room, there’s this tall new student. Her parents were talking to Sir Lee. So, I think she’s going to be in our class.”
This time, Chaeyoung turns to Dahyun. “Really?” Dahyun gives herself a mental pat on the shoulder for successfully attracting her best friend’s attention. Because of this rare opportunity, she felt the need to maintain this conversation for as long as she could. “I took one quick glance at her and she seems to be very rich! Everything she wore from head to toe were branded and…”
“And?”
Dahyun smiles cheekily. “She didn’t look Korean.”
“What another foreigner?!” Lisa suddenly joins in the conversation and just like Dahyun she had a lollipop in her mouth. She sits on the window side, in front of Chaeyoung which was odd because Lisa is a head taller than Chaeyoung but the smaller girl sits at the farthest row. “Chan’s a foreigner.” Dahyun reasons out.
Lisa frowns. “Bang Chan is technically Korean, he just grew up in Australia.”
Chaeyoung looked at her classmates in the room. At times like this, she thinks that it’s a no-brainer that the teachers hate their class so much and if they could, they would choose to not teach in their class altogether. Chaeyoung could understand - Yugyeom, Jungkook, Mingyu and Jaehyun shouldn’t be in one room because it spells chaos.
“Do you think she’s Japanese?” Lisa asks, leaning against the wall.
Lalisa Manoban has got to be one of the coolest kids in school. Aside from the fact that she’s the co-captain of the dance club, Lisa is very friendly like Dahyun. She even has friends from the lower batches and almost everyone looks up to her and Momo when it comes to dance and personality. Plus, she’s tall and very pretty. She’s also popular because she’s one of the two Thai nationality students in school, the other one is a senior named Bambam who’s friends with Yugyeom.
Dahyun shrugs, recalling the one-second look she’s got from the new student. “Hmm... I don’t think so.”
Japanese students are quite common in Korea, despite the ill history between the two. Most of the time they are K-pop trainees in their respective agencies and some are the daughters and sons of business CEOs whose businesses are in Korea.
Chaeyoung turns her head back to the book she was reading, hoping to read more into it before Sir Lee comes in.
Unfortunately for her, time’s up.
The moment Sir Lee entered the classroom, everyone returned to their seats. He stood exactly in front in all of his serious-formal glory. By general standards, he is quite handsome but he’s so white as if he was the grim reaper personified. “Today, I have an important announcement to make.”
Dahyun elbows Chaeyoung. “See? I wasn’t wrong.”
“Today, you’re going to have another classmate. Come in.” Murmurs filled the room, mostly placing bets if it was a boy or a girl. The moment she walked in though, the boys knew they won.
The girl was fairly tall and she’s taller than some of the boys in class. Her dark wavy brown hair rests softly on her shoulder and just from the way she walks to the way she stands, it's already perfect. Chaeyoung gave her a good look and from a distance, her best feature may be her small nose. More than being born with it, it felt like it was carved very beautifully like the ones in Ancient Greece and Rome. If someone would say that she looks like the Asian version of Aphrodite, Chaeyoung wouldn’t disagree.
“Introduce yourself.” Sir Lee says in his calmest voice possible, one minute of the girl spending in this classroom and everyone could sense there’s favoritism coming into play.
The girl bowed a full on 90 degrees, something that isn’t really done much in Korea. Dahyun and Chaeyoung looked at each other, one thought was forming into Dahyun’s and Chaeyoung already knows what it’s all about. She’s not even speaking yet but Dahyun had already settled the decision in her mind: this girl is a friend.
“Hello. My name is Chou Tzuyu, nice to meet you all.”
Chou? So she’s-
“Chinese?” Lisa speaks abruptly so the whole class looks her way, including sir Lee and the girl. Sir Lee shakes his head a bit before speaking again, “Lisa’s right. Tzuyu’s Chinese and she’s only familiar with basic Korean so I expect you all to teach her well.”
The whole class grows silent as Sir Lee hovers his eyes on everyone else before finally landing in Dahyun's direction. Chaeyoung hears an ‘oh no’ from her best friend. Like the typical best friend, Chaeyoung does nothing to help Dahyun’s impending distress, sir Lee doesn’t say it but from just one look Dahyun knows she’s left with the task of making Tzuyu feel welcome. “You can take the seat behind Dahyun and Chaeyoung.”
When she does, Dahyun immediately tries to talk to her but stops when class starts.
When the afternoon self-study starts, everyone does the exact opposite. Dahyun in particular, pulls Chaeyoung outside alongside Tzuyu before the girl gets swarmed by their other classmates, especially the boys. Dahyun didn’t stop until they were out on the school’s field, which by the way a lot of students go to when it's their break time or study time - a common high school student thing to do. “Sorry about that Tzuyu. I had to save you.” Dahyun smiles.
Chaeyoung frowns. “Why did you bring me along?”
“Because I want to.”
“Uh…” Chaeyoung looked at Tzuyu, sitting beside her on the bleachers or stairs, whatever. Just from one glance, she could tell the girl is just like her - an introvert. A convincing reason forms in Chaeyoung’s insides telling her to just talk to the girl, no harm done.
“I’m Chaeyoung.” Dahyun raises two eyebrows on the bold move by her best friend. Chaeyoung doesn’t make the first moves on people, she finds it bothersome. So she wonders what makes Chou Tzuyu different?
Dahyun smiles.
“Do you have a crush on Tzuyu?”
Chaeyoung snaps her head back on her standing best friend, surprised at her question. Tzuyu was confused but had the same expression as Chaeyoung. “Shut up.”
“Relax.” Dahyun throws her hands in the air as if she was caught by the police. “It was a joke.”
Dahyun smiles and lets out a hand to Tzuyu. “I’m Dahyun. Nice to meet you, Tzuyu.”
In the days that followed, Tzuyu no longer had that quiet facade; who knew that underneath that beauty was a beast just waiting for its chance to come out. Dahyun and Tzuyu bicker non-stop and Chaeyoung would be their temporary mediator at times, and would also make fun of them. They would walk the halls in laughter and smiles and by that time everyone knew, someone was able to breach Dahyun and Chaeyoung’s walls of friendship and fitted herself right in.
It’s just a short period of time but Chou Tzuyu became someone special to Chaeyoung too.
…
“Chaeyoung!”
Chaeyoung looks at Dahyun, sipping her 4th chocolate milk like a child. “W-What?” She asks and Dahyun raises an eyebrow. Tzuyu standing on the other side, her figure towering the other two looks at Chaeyoung as well with concern on her face. “Is something bothering you? You’ve been really quiet today.”
Tzuyu isn’t going to lie, she noticed it too. The dull atmosphere in Chaeyoung’s space was quite evident from the moment she entered the classroom this morning. She must have woken up on the wrong side of the morning today but it feels more than that. It was something she had never felt from Chaeyoung before, and if she had to describe it, there’s a sense of melancholy from the girl, as she watches the girl daze her time in class. If she had noticed it, then Dahyun would most likely notice it even more, after all, they’ve been friends the moment they were born.
“It’s nothing.” Chaeyoung answers, feeling that the story of her great-great grandmother and her two friends would be too much of a fiction for Tzuyu and Dahyun to take seriously. She did want to tell them but ultimately deciding it’s better to tell if she has the whole story down.
That being said, the letters written by Yoo Kyungwan was depressing as hell. It only made Chaeyoung want to know more about what happened. For some reason, after 1950, Im Nayeon didn’t respond to her letters but she still sent hers, which explains the mountain pile of letters on the box.
Chaeyoung took the liberty to separate them by date and reading them one by one, she had confirmed that Im Nayeon and Yoo Kyungwan really did love each other and their love was the old generation’s way of long-distance relationship. Chaeyoung wanted to conclude that just like the modern LDR, theirs just didn’t work. There was just one problem.
If it ended that way, why were they buried together?
Overthinking the reasons, reading the letters in one night and the 3-hr sleep was the reason for Chaeyoung’s lack of enthusiasm today. And to make matters worse, her eyes land on the very last person she wants to see every day.
Myoui Mina.
Just a few feet away from them, Mina and Bambam were laughing at the stands. It had been a long time rumor in school that they’re dating and oddly enough, there’s never been a confirmation. Mina is one of the campus belles - literally - the girl is probably the most beautiful girl that Chaeyoung had ever seen and her elegant demeanor just proves the point.
“Honestly, she was better with you.” Tzuyu comments lightly, hoping that Chaeyoung wouldn’t take it much to heart.
Dahyun side eyes Chaeyoung, only to see the disappointed face of her best friend. It was not her who had a past with the elder girl from afar but she could wholeheartedly feel Chaeyoung's sadness just from looking at the two of them, not to mention Tzuyu’s comment.
In an attempt to look okay, Chaeyoung tugs the corner of her lips. The memory of one summer sparks desolation hidden within Chaeyoung’s heart. (In that one summer, two girls, one looking for an art inspiration for a project and the other looking for herself amidst the chaotic world of Seoul; a few conversations exchanged, and innocent kisses were shared but everything ended in that summer).
Honestly, Chaeyoung doesn’t want to remember it all anymore so she chooses peace and turns away - only to meet the 2nd scariest person on campus.
“Why is it always when I’m on patrol, I’d see you three?” The girl asks in a questioning voice.
Dahyun sports a nervous smile, Chaeyoung gulps and Tzuyu was the only one brave enough to answer. “Believe me unnie, I want to know that too.”
The girl dressed in her perfect student image bearing authority everywhere she goes is none other than Dongjak Private Academy’s student council president, Park Jihyo. “Aren’t you supposed to be in class?”
“It's a self-study period and besides it’s lunch time soon so we decided to stay here until the canteen is open.” Dahyun explains, nervousness was obvious in her voice. As it should be the last time Jihyo caught someone roaming the halls in the middle of class, the guy was hospitalized for a month and came back in crutches. Everyone knew not to mess with one of Dongjak’s top dogs, especially Park Jihyo. The student council president can give you a literal hell even if she was not the one nicknamed Satan in this school.
“U-Unnie, what are you doing outside?” Chaeyoung finds it in her to speak.
On a normal occasion, it would have been fine to talk to Jihyo. Because of Dahyun, they became friends with Jihyo and casually talked about the most random things with her. But this Jihyo is furious and the kind anyone wouldn’t want to mess with. So even if they are friends, the three are fearing for their lives as of the moment. “I’m looking for Jeong. She’s not in class again.”
Hearing a familiar name, Dahyun’s face lits up. Among the seniors of this school, Dahyun’s closest would be Yoo Jeongyeon. They hang out a lot and it's unclear to Chaeyoung how the two of them got to know each other because Dahyun is no member of the soccer team and god knows how much time Jeongyeon spends playing soccer even in her own down time but the important thing is they’re close friends. “I saw her go to the clinic a while ago.” Dahyun answers, Chaeyoung doubts this information but Jihyo seems to buy it.
“Thanks.” Jihyo was about to go but looks at the trio again, normally she would find them cute but because of Yoo Jeongyeon’s tardiness, her anger is through the roof now. “I better see you three later in class.”
Comically, the trio gave a salute to Jihyo. She rolls her eyes and heads for the clinic. When Jihyo was far enough, Tzuyu smirked. “She’s not really there, isn’t she?” Chaeyoung asks and Dahyun wears the shitty grin that she’s been suppressing since a while ago.
Dahyun may be the closest to Yoo Jeongyeon but it didn’t mean Chaeyoung and Tzuyu weren’t. Because Dahyun hangs out with Jeongyeon, she drags the other two along and in Jeongyeon’s company, they were all having fun like how every high school student should be. Despite Jeongyeon’s easy-going attitude towards academics, no one can deny her academic prowess, the girl easily earns her 3rd rank in the seniors’ rankings and the competition between her batch is the tightest in the whole school.
Bottomline is Jeongyeon always knew how to balance sports, fun and acads. And honestly? That’s Chaeyoung’s ideal student, not someone who’s perfect all the time.
“She told me she’d go noraebang today. She’d come back in later for soccer practice though.” Dahyun shrugs and walks away, the two following her.
Dongjak’s cafeteria isn’t much but the number of students fighting for their lives every Wednesday is like none other. The school’s famous beef-rib lunch is to die for; at least this school gives some effort on their student’s nutrition. Chaeyoung knows this is something to look forward to and Tzuyu had added this menu to her top 10 dishes, as for Dahyun to fight for this lunch is war. So, instead of returning to their classroom, the three camped outside of the canteen hall, ready to be the first three to get their hands on the famous lunch.
As soon as the bell rings, Chaeyoung, Tzuyu and Dahyun were ready for war. As expected, everyone ran her like a pack of zombies were chasing their tail or they might as well be the zombies themselves. The doors were still locked though and from a distance, Dahyun could see the staff preparing it on the front.
One minute the whole student population was on their tails, pushing the three of them on the doors but everything eased for some reason. “It’s Nayeon-sunbae!”
Nayeon?
Chaeyoung had never turned her head so fast in her entire life. “Wow, she’s really back.” Dahyun comments on the side and Tzuyu chimes in equally confused as well. “Who’s that?”
In her presence, the students who filled the halls parted ways in the middle as if they’re making way for the queen. “I’d understand Tzuyu but you seriously need to keep tabs on people, Chae.”
“Just tell me who she is.”
In the newly made path for the queen to walk into, two other people stood behind her. Chaeyoung recognizes one, all because that’s the alleged crush of her dance club captain, she had seen this girl more times than it should be all because of her Momo-unnie. Sana Minatozaki was standing on the right behind the one in the middle and another girl bearing that bitch-like aura was standing on the left.
But it takes one good look to see who the actual Queen bitch here is. The way her confidence oozes out in her system, someone who's well-aware they’re drop dead gorgeous and uses it well and is the stereotype of every American queen bee, Chaeyoung only sees in movies and series. Just from her deadpan expression, the air of superiority could be felt a mile away. Even if she was walking with the other two behind her, she was in a different class herself.
“Her name is Im Nayeon. Dongjak’s Queen.”
Chaeyoung froze as if Dahyun poured a bucket full of ice on her. “I-Im what?” She could have heard wrong. Though the surname Im isn’t as common as Park and Kim, there’s still at least 2 people in Korea with that surname but her name... the coincidence is terrifying.
“Im Nayeon, Chae. Don’t make me repeat it again.” Dahyun hisses in a low voice because Nayeon and the two girls behind her were approaching them. And when Nayeon stops in front of Chaeyoung, the tension in the hallway rise to an all-time high, everyone felt like they’re being boiled alive, it’s hard to even breathe with just Nayeon’s presence alone so they could never imagine what Chaeyoung must be feeling now with Nayeon’s eyes dead set on her.
Chaeyoung is indeed frozen but for a different reason. Calm down, Chae. People having the same name is completely normal. So why does it feel so lonely when she looks into Nayeon’s eyes? As if she was deprived of something for so long?
It must be Chaeyoung’s assuming ass acting up but she couldn’t help but feel something. Or maybe she’s intrigued after all; whichever it is, there’s not much of a difference because Nayeon raises an eyebrow at her. With just one move, something dark in Chaeyoung’s stomach started to form, she hates condescending people the most and clearly, this Im Nayeon is the textbook definition of that. In Nayeon’s mind, she’s probably thinking who the hell is this kid and why is she in my way, Chaeyoung thinks. Nayeon was about to speak but Sana got to her first.
“You must be Chaeyoungie!”
Nayeon turns her eyes on Sana, her deadpan expression unfazed. More than being in the space of Im Nayeon, Chaeyoung was more shocked on the unique nickname that Sana Minatozaki - one of the school’s most popular students and ( allegedly ) her president’s crush - used. She could understand if it was true though, Sana Minatozaki is exceptionally beautiful and from what others say is approachable too.
“Ye-Yes?”
“You know her?” Despite the energy Sana brings just to lift the atmosphere a little, it’s hopeless. The moment Im Nayeon speaks, the tension and pressure is there again. The girl is really a queen, everybody is holding their breath in fear.
Still, Sana wasn’t affected. She smiles brightly at Nayeon, if anything, Sana reminds Chaeyoung of Dahyun. And Nayeon?
She reminds me… of me.
Not in a queen bitch way, there’s no way Chaeyoung could carry herself in that kind of image nor love to have everybody’s attention on her, commanding respect. It’s just in the way Nayeon interacts with Sana is like how she does with Dahyun.
“She’s Momoring’s junior in the dance club. I’ve seen her dance a few times too, she’s good.” Sana answers but she was looking at Chaeyoung with a smile. Given the nickname, Sana and her Momo-unnie must be close, so everyone was right? The alleged crush is true? “I also know Dahyunnie and you!” Sana points to Tzuyu with a smile.
“Jihyo also says you’re the iconic trio of the juniors. Looking at you now, she was right.”
Nayeon looks at Chaeyoung again before shifting her eyes back to Sana. See? The fucking condescending attitude. “Jihyo knows them?”
“Well, I heard Dahyun helps the student council sometimes.” This time the girl on the right spoke. “You too Jennie?” Nayeon asks and the girl nods.
The staff of the cafeteria begin to unlock the door and when it’s finally opened, no one moved much to the staff’s confusion. Who would dare to? The Queen is right in front of them, no one would dare to go in first before the Queen herself. But Chaeyoung, Dahyun and Tzuyu were technically first in line (if there even is one) and were the only ones blocking Nayeon, Sana and Jennie’s way inside.
This is Chaeyoung’s first time meeting Nayeon so naturally she wouldn’t know why she’s the queen and her other nickname that everyone else in this school knows. Im Nayeon is nicknamed the “Queen” for being the number 1 student in Dokja, aside from that she’s the cheerleading captain alongside Sana and Jennie, the vice-president of her class and the vice-president of the student council. Aside from the seemingly good qualities, everyone knows that Im Nayeon is the queen because her personality is akin to Satan himself. The last time someone crossed Nayeon, the guy had never stepped foot inside the school ever again.
Nayeon hates being bossed around, because she is the boss.
“If you’re not going inside, then move.” Nayeon’s words are laced with authority and a tone that Chaeyoung absolutely hates.
Before Chaeyoung could talk back, Dahyun pulls her back. “I know you’re brave but be smart. Oppose anyone but not her.”
Nayeon enters the cafeteria alongside Sana and Jennie. “Whatever.” Chaeyoung, Dahyun and Tzuyu followed inside as well, it was only then the rest followed in a line; afraid to make a mistake and tick off the Queen.
For the whole time, Chaeyoung was staring at Nayeon. Sure, she doesn’t like the girl but she couldn’t erase the feeling in her chest. The question forming is why?
In fear of being nitpicked again by the Queen and the mean girls, Tzuyu coins it, the three of them grab their rib lunch and immediately head out of there. Sure, they came here prepared for war but no one said that their enemies had guns and cannons while all they had was spears and arrows.
And yes, Son Chaeyoung had been staring at Im Nayeon so intently, imprinting her every move in her mind but because Tzuyu and Dahyun pulled her out of there quickly, she doesn’t see it.
The way Im Nayeon turns back to look at her retreating figure, fully recognizing her existence.