Chapter Text
If you had told Hyunjin yesterday that he’d be sitting in the principal’s office for half an hour being lectured on school safety, well he would’ve believed you, but the fact he was still in here was ridiculous. He’d tuned out the principal’s voice long ago, purely nodding and smiling, waiting for it all to be over.
By the time it was over, Hyunjin’s brain felt mushed, realising now he’d barely processed anything that had been said to him. Well, except for one word, suspension.
“Yes, sir. I understand.” Hyunjin bowed before stepping out of the office. He let out a breath as he turned around, heart jumping as he bumped into Jisung and Yongbok, and their wide, anxious eyes.
“Jesus.” Hyunjin clutched his chest.
“How did it go?” Jisung asked. “You won’t be kicked out, right?”
“Of course not.” Hyunjin chuckled. “I’m Hwang Hyunjin, aren’t I?”
Jisung whacked his shoulder as he frowned.
“So, you’re just gonna be in detention with us?” Yongbok assumed.
“Uh, not quite.” Hyunjin avoided their eyes.
Yongbok’s eyebrows furrowed. “Everything’s okay, right?”
“Yeah, of course.” Hyunjin brushed them off. “I gotta get to class though. I’ll see you guys later.”
Hyunjin rushed off before they could pry further, scuffling down the hallways. His sweet smile as he greeted classmates betrayed his speedy feet. Before he knew it, he reached the empty classroom, everyone well into lunch break by now. At least that’s what he thought.
He was just trying to pack his bag, just trying to sneak out of school before the rumour mill started running. Until she walked in.
“Chaeryeong.” Hyunjin sighed.
Her pace didn’t falter as she walked straight passed. Without a glance.
“So you heard about my suspension then…” Hyunjin smirked.
Not a word, just ruffling through her desk.
“I’ll only be gone for three weeks.” Hyunjin took a step towards her, hands in pockets.
Her head didn’t even budge.
“It’s not long, but I know you’ll be lost without me.”
Suddenly, she sprang up from her desk, meeting his eyes with a fiery gaze. That’s got her moving, Hyunjin thought.
“You know, I might’ve actually felt bad for you if I thought this would change anything, but you really don’t care at all, do you?” she said.
Hyunjin’s throat dried up as he felt her eyes eat away at him. “Of course I do-”
“I don’t think you do.” Chaeryeong scoffed. “If you did, you would’ve thought for a second before trashing a teacher’s car.”
And before he could even process her words, she stormed out of the room.
Hyunjin was left in the moment of the room, the tension too heavy in the air for him to move his feet. His smug smile didn’t slip from his face as his fists clenched in his pockets. The sound of the class bell was the only thing that could turn his brain back on, hurriedly packing his things into his backpack before he slipped out of the classroom. He snuck the rest of the way out of school mostly unnoticed – the odd straggler taking their time getting back to class giving him a curious look – until finally he reached the gates, his aunt sitting in her car, heaving sighs.
It was a suffocatingly quiet ride home, and an even quieter afternoon. Hyunjin was left with his thoughts in his room, every now and then hearing his aunt’s mumbled voice raise before settling again. She’d been nonstop on the phone since they’d got home.
The silence drifted his mind back to the image of Chaeryeong. Her burning eyes and pointed words. It was the most emotion he’d incited in her for a long time. He wished he could forget it.
Once Yeji got home, it was like he could breathe again. All other thoughts of the day were pushed to the back of his mind, distracting himself with all her gossip of the day. Because he knew she wouldn’t bring up his.
By the time they sat down for dinner, their aunt finally off the phone, Hyunjin was starting to think things were going to turn out okay. Sure, he was suspended, and Chaeryeong was mad at him, but his parents weren’t here to get upset and by the time he was back at school, everyone will just be glad to see him again. Yeah, everything will be okay. Of course it would be.
Hyunjin poked at his rice, yet to eat any. And before he could, their aunt stood up from the table, a frown on her face as she answered a call.
Yeji sighed, eyes following their aunt. “You’ve really done it this time.”
Hyunjin put on his trademark smile. “It’s not that big of a deal. By the time mum and dad get home, my three weeks will be done and then some. I doubt they’ll even bring it up.”
“If it helps you sleep tonight, you can tell yourself whatever you need to hear.”
I’ll sleep very well, thank you very much, Hyunjin thought.
He frowned. “Don’t you think three weeks is a bit harsh though?”
“You broke a teacher’s car, Hyunjin.”
“It was an accident!”
“I don’t think that mattered to Mr Park when he saw the massive hole in his windscreen.” Yeji shrugged.
Hyunjin huffed, putting down his chopsticks.
Yeji sighed. “I’m just saying, this might not be as easily forgotten as you think.”
You really don’t care at all, do you?
Chaeryeong’s words echoed in his head for the millionth time that day. But now they were starting to make sense…
“You think I can still attend practice? That should be fine, right?” he asked.
Yeji gave him a sad smile. “You’re not allowed on school premises for three weeks. That includes extracurriculars.”
Thinking back to the day before, Hyunjin remembered the last few minutes of dance practice when their president, Minho, took them aside to talk about their duet for the upcoming competition. He groaned, shaking it away.
“If only there was a way for me to still go to school…” Hyunjin muttered.
“Like sneaking in?” Yeji raised an eyebrow.
“No, I mean like as a normal person.”
“So, disguising yourself?”
“Yeah, I guess like that…”
Hyunjin’s mind wandered as Yeji replied.
“That’s a great idea and all, but even if you put on a wig and disfigured your face, people would recognise you. And how would we even get the paperwork to transfer the fake you?”
But something clicked in Hyunjin’s brain, a cheeky smile creeping on his face. “Actually, that’s a really good idea.”
“Did you listen to what I just said?”
He smirked. “What if I was a girl?”
All words escaped Yeji as she stared at him, dumbfounded.
“If I was a girl, there’d be no chance anyone would recognise me.”
With each word he spoke, Hyunjin was convincing himself more and more that it was a foolproof idea. If he could get Yeji on board as well, there’d be no stopping him. And he couldn’t let anything stop him. He had to be at practice one way or another, if he ever wanted Chaeryeong to forgive him.
“Are you actually considering this right now?” Yeji asked, eyes wide.
“Of course I am! Yeji, you know how hard we’ve all worked for the competition. I don’t want to mess it up for everyone, and this might be the only way I can make it right,” Hyunjin explained.
Yeji scoffed. “You’re crazy.”
“If we work together, there’s no way anyone will know.”
Yeji eyed him.
“You’ve been so excited to compete together. I just want to make sure that happens,” Hyunjin added.
Yeji sighed for the third time that night. “I don’t know…”
Holding back a smile, Hyunjin put his hand on her shoulder. It was a matter of minutes before she came around. He chose his next words very carefully.
“It’s only for three weeks, and then we can forget it ever happened.”
“Just three weeks?”
“I promise.”
Words stuck in Yeji’s throat as she looked for a way to say no. Hyunjin laid the puppy dog eyes on thick – knowing she was moments away from cracking – the ones she could never resist. As she gulped, her eyes softening, Hyunjin knew he’d won.
“You’re the best!” He squeezed her in a hug.
Once he let go of her, she gave him a queasy smile. Hyunjin chuckled.
His heart race as his brain sped through all the ideas for their plan. “Quick, we only have the weekend to organise everything, so we have to get started now!” he exclaimed, hopping up from the table and dragging Yeji to his room.
They spent most of the night brainstorming, examining each hole and accounting for it as they created the perfect hypothetical ‘female Hyunjin”. By the time they went to bed, their brains were fried.
Despite that, they were up early and out of the house with a long list of things to get done:
- clothes (uniform!)
- makeup
- hair
- nails
- jewellery
- …
Yeji was barely over the fence and with each store they entered she grew more and more apprehensive. It took all of Hyunjin’s persuasive mastery to get her to the beauty salon. The sceptical looks on the faces of the attendants when Hyunjin showed them the wig they’d chosen for him almost got her running. But once they got working, and once they got to the final product, all her unease vanished.
Long black hair, swooping down to reach the mid of Hyunjin’s back, cut expertly straight with soft bangs – Yeji’s personal request, anything to hide his identity further. They kept the makeup mature but elegant, focusing on eyeliner, blush, and lip tint to really bring out his feminine side. To top it off, they clipped on some small hoop earrings.
“If I didn’t know it was you under all that, I would’ve had no idea,” she reluctantly admitted.
Hyunjin smirked, flicking his (fake) hair over his shoulder for good measure.
After their shopping day was over, there was no time for rest and they got straight onto manner lessons. Yeji drilled him for the rest of the weekend, working on his posture, mannerisms and voice. She wasn’t going to let an ounce of Hyunjin slip through.
Which explained why she clutched him so tightly, arms linked as they walked the final street to school, doomsday finally here.
“Let me check your makeup again,” she asked for the fourth time that morning.
Hyunjin rolled his eyes, turning his face to her. She frowned when she found nothing to fix, again.
“Remember your posture, specifically when you sit. I don’t want to see any manspreading.” She wagged her finger as she spoke.
“Yes, yes.” Hyunjin nodded.
“And try not to get too close to anyone today. We can’t risk-”
“You worry too much, Yeji. It’s all going to be fine. You said yourself that I was unrecognisable.” Hyunjin waved her off.
Yeji groaned. “Why are we doing this, god.”
“Too late to turn back now.” Hyunjin smirked as they stepped through the school gates.
All Hyunjins’ bravado gradually faded away as he noticed eyes gravitating towards them. They stared, peering into his insides like they saw through everything. It started to make Hyunjin think Yeji was right all along. That was until he heard a voice.
“Who’s the new girl?”
A smug smile crept on Hyunjin’s lips. Wouldn’t you like to know? he thought.
Who’s the new girl, you ask? Kang Jinhee. Hyunjin and Yeji’s ‘cousin’ who was ‘living’ with them until her family ‘relocates’. She’s often told how much she looks like her cousins. As if they could be siblings.
Hyunjin listened closer, hoping to hear just what everyone thought about the new girl, when he felt his phone vibrate in his pocket.
한이:
Gonna miss you today man
릭스야:
We’ll visit you soon!
왕현진:
Make sure to bring snacks
Hyunjin smiled bitterly, putting his phone away.
-
It was lunch time. After a full morning of tours of the school he already knows like the back of his hand, and paperwork with his future form teacher for three weeks, Hyunjin was more than ready for food. But as much as he wanted food, he feigned ignorance when the teacher asked if he remembered where the dining hall was. And he had to wait, and get escorted by the poor student who had the fate of showing up int the teacher’s office. Yeji was waiting for him at the entrance, and he could see relief wash over her to see he hadn’t been caught yet. She clutched onto his arm, thanking the student before dragging him over to her table, filled with her friends.
“Guys, this is my cousin I told you about. Kang Jinhee.” Yeji planted on her best smile.
Hyunjin waved, clearing his throat. “Nice to meet you all.”
He watched their faces, waiting for their acceptance. After all, if any girls were going to recognise him, it’d be his sister’s best friends.
One leapt forward, leaning on the table. “Hi! I’m Yuna, the cute one.”
Shin Yuna, probably one of the only girls in this group who would go along with Hyunjin’s pranks. Super easy going and bright, she would be easy to win over as Jinhee.
Hyunjin pretended to giggle.
“My name’s Jisoo. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask.” Jisoo winked.
Choi Jisoo, a sweet girl. She was nice, and generally left Hyunjin alone. Hopefully, she left Jinhee alone too.
“I’m Ryujin.” Ryujin nodded to him.
Shin Ryujin, he would say the smartest of the group, and most likely to see through him in an instant. Hyunjin decided to keep his fingers crossed whenever he was around her for the next three weeks.
Hyunjin turned to the final girl left to introduce herself. Lee Chaeryeong. The shyest and most reserved of the girls, she was quite a mystery. The girl he’d had a crush on for the past four months who he’d made extremely mad a few days ago. She was going to be a tough nut to crack as per usual.
“I’m Chaeryeong. I hope you have a good time at our school.” She smiled softly before going back to her food.
Blood rushed to his cheeks, the memory of her smile on replay in his head. She never smiles at me, Hyunjin thought.
“I’m sure I will,” he mumbled, trying to suppress his smile. Suddenly, the waxing session he struggled through on Sunday seemed really worth it…
Chaeryeong nodded, tuning into the conversation of the girls who were now animatedly discussing what to do after practice that day.
Hyunjin tried to slip his way in as well, until he heard a familiar cackle shoot into his ears. He turned around, lips falling as he saw Jisung throwing his head back, laughing at Yongbok’s face. They were sitting at their usual table, along with their senior friends, Changbin and Minho. Without him.
He shook it off, turning back to the girls. It would all be worth it at the end of the three weeks. What they didn’t know, wouldn’t hurt them.
The day went by excruciatingly slow, and by the time the final bell rang, Hyunjin was raring to get going. But Yeji was called out by their teacher to talk, and Hyunjin couldn’t make his way to practice without people asking questions. So, he sat at his new desk in his new classroom as his new classmates filed out to go home. He gave them shy smiles when they offered help, brushing them off to wait for Yeji.
This new kid schtick was getting old very quickly; he itched to get to the practice room. He clutched to the bouquet of flowers in his hands – a generous gift from the girls in his old class for ‘Hyunjin’ – waiting impatiently. The clock ticked by, and once ten minutes passed by, he couldn’t stand it anymore.
Deciding he could just pretend Yeji already showed him where the practice room was, he sped out of the classroom. Not looking as he turned the hallway, Hyunjin bashed into someone. The bouquet smashed, petals flying everywhere. He sighed, kneeling down to salvage what he could. The person he ran into tried to help, mumbling apologies, but Hyunjin brushed them off, hurrying to get to practice. He muttered a thank you before running off.
Plan ‘forgive Hyunjin’ was about to start.