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It had been gym class when his two new friends had dragged him to a far side of the football field. Or at least he thinks they're his friends—and if they didn't move too much then one of the teachers wouldn't notice that they weren't participating. He watched as Seungkwan wrote down an alternative for his name within a sketchbook, dismissing the way that Wonwoo was taken aback by the sudden bluntness. He was told that his new name would be Wonu, with absolutely no room for negotiation. Especially when Chan (who was quick enough to claim that he prefers to be called Dino. Another name that Seungkwan apparently made up after continuously getting him and another fellow student who was named Chan mixed up during a last year's history class), was turning his once childish grin into a look of disgust upon watching many other students finally make their way onto the field in the gym class uniform. It wasn't anything too special; just a t-shirt with the school's logo on it, and a pair of shorts.
"In all things holy, would you look at Xu Minghao's gym clothes?'' Dino exclaimed while his eyes tracked over a lanky male who had apparently modified his rendition of the uniform. The sleeves have been cut to match something of a tank-top, while his shorts were purposely rolled up to a scarily small length. Immediately Seungkwan and Wonwoo were looking in the same direction, trying to seek out who the other was talking about in a sea full of students.
Seungkwan gagged with an eye roll once seeing Minghao; but also when noticing that his two friends weren't that far behind.
"Of course all of The Plastics are in the same gym class."
Wonwoo furrowed his eyebrows as he drifted his sight from the field and back towards the duo that sat beside him. He was utterly confused by why they seemed so revolted at the mere mention of people. Especially people he's never even heard of until now. He had not a single clue about who Dino and Seungkwan may have been talking about (because there looks to be at least a hundred people on the football field right now), but with how there seems to be a huge space being made way for a particular set of boys that walked, he could take a extremely educated guess.
"Who are The Plastics?"
"They're teen royalty," Dino begins to explain. "If Plebis Academy was MediaToday, they would always be on the cover."
Seungkwan pointed towards the field. Wonwoo followed the limb with his eyes until his sight was eventually directed to a guy with light brown hair that was only one bleach job away from it being blonde. He was wearing rather explicit clothes. That had to be the person Dino was repelled by a few minutes earlier.
"That one there, that's Xu Minghao," Seungkwan said. "He is one of the dumbest boys you will ever meet" Wonwoo cringed upon seeing Minghao try to play football with a few other students. Unfortunately while trying to catch the flying object with his hands (that were clapping together like a seal), it struck his chest instead before bouncing away. "Dino sat next to him in English class last year."
"He asked me how to spell orange."
The youngest was serious. He was looking Wonwoo directly in the eye with pure disappointment. The other could do nothing but chuckle awkwardly. He was looking back out at the field though when Seungkwan was yet again pointing. This time Wonwoo was staring at what looked to be a girl—yet their physique was rather masculine. It wasn't until he was reassured that the person was indeed a dude, that he was nodding his head.
"And that little one? That's Yoon Jeonghan" The poor boy had been hit with a flying ball. Wonwoo felt bad for giving a snicker, but with all honesty, Jeonghan had it coming. He was talking on the phone, not paying a sliver of attention to what was going on around him. So now he lay on the ground, complaining about how his head hurts. Minghao was quick to rush to his aid and help him back to his feet.
"He's totally rich because his dad invented tapioca" Dino intervened with an eye roll.
"Yoon Jeonghan knows everybody's business. He knows everything about everyone."
"That's why his hair is so long" Dino brought his voice down into a whisper, faux fear seeping through his words for dramatic effect. "It's full of secrets," Wonwoo giggled at his expression.
Seungkwan didn't have to point out the next person. Wonwoo could already tell who was about to be mentioned. A male student was being carried by at least six other men (to which all were practically swooning from being so close). The stranger looked to be as small as the Jeonghan guy—maybe a little bit taller—with facial features that could have been given by Aphrodite herself. He was smiling with perfect teeth, giving fake gratitude for the people who carried him all the way out onto the field. Wonwoo couldn't help but be in complete awe.
"And evil takes a human form in Hong Jisoo. Or also known as Joshua. Don't be fooled, because he may seem like your typical, selfish, back-stabbing, slut-face, hoe-bag. But in reality he is so much more than that" Seungkwan says it all with so much venom.
"He's the queen bee. The star" Jisoo was seen blowing kisses to his admirers. Those same admirers were then being perverts and shamelessly stared down at his ass once he turned around. "Those other two are just his little workers" Wonwoo had a bustling mind about all of the information he was given. He didn't know what to truly process when the three men gathered into a small circle and began to chat with one another.
"Hong Jisoo. How do I even begin to explain Hong Jisoo?" Seungkwan sighed.
"Hong Jisoo is flawless."
"He has two Fendi purses and a silver Lexus."
"I hear his hair's insured for 13,106,400.00 won."
"I hear he does car commercials...in Los Angeles."
"His favorite movie is Varsity Blues."
"One time, he met Lee Minho on a plane" One student said before another joined in. "And he told him, he was pretty."
"One time, he punched me in the face. It was awesome."
They were walking in the packed hallway now. Gym class had ended a while ago and yet Dino couldn't help but continue to gush—no, wait rant—about The Plastics.
"He always looks fierce" It was being said about Jisoo. "He always wins the Spring Fling King."
"Who cares?" Seungkwan blurts after maneuvering around a group of teenagers that refused to move from their circle that was in front of a yellow locker. Dino was quick to look at him with hurt.
"I care" After noticing that his friend was heedless about his feelings, he turned to face Wonwoo who watched in amusement. "Every year, the seniors throw this dance for the underclassmen called The Spring Fling. And whoever is elected Spring Fling King and Queen automatically becomes head of the Student Activities Committee" Dino was yet again turning to face Seungkwan, even going the length to grip his shoulder in hopes of gaining his attention (which was honestly put on a drawing he was doing last second touches to). "And since I am an active member of the Student Activities Committee, I would say, yeah, I care" He ended it with a tight grin.
Seungkwan shrugged his shoulders, pushing Dino's hand away before giving one of the most sarcastic smiles he could muster.
"Wow Dino, you've truly out-gayed yourself" Wonwoo giggled at that. He pushed his glasses back up the bridge of his nose just in case he was caught in the act. He didn't want the younger one to get offended and suddenly think he was a terrible person. Luckily he took Seungkwan's comment with a grain of salt, chuckling at it as well before playfully pushing the other's shoulder. Seungkwan did his best to stabilize himself after that, too, giving Wonwoo the picture he'd drawn. "Here. This map is gonna be your guide to Plebis Academy" The eldest took the paper with bafflement yet curiosity. It was indeed a map; but a map of what looked to be the cafeteria. Right, because they were heading to lunch now. "Now, where you sit in the cafeteria is crucial because you got everybody there. You got your freshmen, ROTC guys, preps, JV jocks, American nerds..."
They entered through the double-doors of the cafeteria then. Seungkwan took it upon himself to begin pointing at the groups as they entered the spacious room further.
"Cool Australians, varsity jocks, unfriendly Japanese hotties, girls who eat their feelings, girls who don't eat anything. Desperate wannabes, burnouts, sexually active band geeks, the greatest people you will ever meet" He mentioned towards himself and Dino. "And the worst. Beware of The Plastics" Wonwoo turned to ask a few more questions about what table of cliques—oh great, now he's alone. He stood in the middle of the cafeteria hoping to find where his two possible friends had run away to. They were in the lunch line; sucking up to one of the ladies, to maybe get a better alternative to the slop that was being plopped onto each blue tray. Now Wonwoo was lost and had no idea what to do next. Maybe he can just join the line and catch up with Seungkwan and Dino once they sit at their own table?
"Hey" Wonwoo was being stopped. A guy had magically appeared. He was shorter in height and holding a notepad and pen. He gave a mischievous grin upon them locking gazes. "We're doing a lunchtime survey of new students. Can you answer a few questions?" The prankish smirk he wore before had morphed into what might have been wonder. The stranger wasn't too good at acting, but he momentarily had Wonwoo confused.
"Okay."
"Is your muffin buttered?" Students at a nearby table began to laugh at the question. Even the interviewer broke character and began to smile. He nodded in the direction of The Plastics (who unfortunately sat not that far away). The three popular men scoffed at the stupidity that was being done in front of them. Wonwoo on the other hand couldn't help but become muddled. "Would you like us to assign someone to butter your muffin?"
"My what?"
"Is he bothering you?" Jisoo interrupted. "Seungcheol, why are you such a skeez."
"I'm just being friendly" The person now known as Seungcheol scoffed.
"You were supposed to call me last night" Jeonghan (tried to) whisper.
"Seungcheol" Jisoo caught his attention once more. He stole all of Wonwoo's too. "You do not come to a party at my house with Jeonghan, and then scam on some poor, innocent guy right in front of us three days later" His face went blank. "He's not interested" He looked at Wonwoo. "Do you wanna have sex with him?"
"No, thank you" It was a reply to Jisoo's question, and yet his words and sight was given to Seungcheol. A way to politely but firmly state that he much rather lick the floor than do anything explicit with him.
"Good, so it's settled" Jisoo gave an evil grin. "So you can go shave your back now. Bye Seungcheol" The aforementioned mumbled a cruel name as he turned to leave. Wonwoo took this as his chance to find where Seungkwan and Dino said that their table was stationed. They had to be sitting down by now; munching on whatever was given to them. Only as the dark brunette took a step, he was being frozen by Jisoo's words. He was smiling up at him. It was scarily sweet. "Wait. Sit down. Seriously, sit down."
There was a quick debate about whether he should do it or not. The answer was immediately given to him when feeling the three men staring (quite intensely may he add) into the side of his head. He shall sit with The Plastics. So pulling out one of the free blue chairs, he took a seat directly in front of Hong Jisoo. He continued to smile through it all too. It had to be some kind of act. Especially considering the other two beside him just kept looking with a sense of oddity.
"Why don't I know you?"
"I'm new. I just moved here from Africa" Wonwoo replied. He kept cautious of the smaller male due to Seungkwan and Dino's warnings before, but also let down a few of his walls just in case Jisoo was being genuine. "I used to be home-schooled."
"Wait. What?"
"My mom taught me at home-"
"No, no. I know what home-school is. I'm not stupid" Jisoo breathlessly chuckled. "So you've never been to a real school before?" Wonwoo shook his head. "Shut up" Again, Wonwoo shook his head. "Shut up."
"I didn't say anything."
"Home-schooled. That's really interesting" The taller was only able to get a quick: thanks, in before he was being talked over. "But you're like, really handsome" More voiced gratitude before Jisoo was speaking yet again. "So you agree? You think you're really handsome?"
"Oh, I don't know" Wonwoo was hesitant with his words. It doesn't matter, the other was changing the subject anyway.
"Oh my God, I love your bracelet. Where did you get it?"
"Oh, my mom made it for me" The dark brunette smiled at the sight of the hand-crafted gift. He can still remember the day his mother had given it to him; said that it was just something she's been practicing to do for a while now and wanted her son to be the first person to recieve her hard-work.
"It's adorable."
"Oh, it's so fetch" Jeonghan blurts with what seems like a successful grin.
"What is fetch?" Jisoo was quick to question in return. He looked less than pleased by what was said from one of his minion's mouths. Or maybe he was just upset that one of them talked out of turn?
"Oh, it's like slang from Japan" Jeonghan tried to save himself, but the slightly younger male was already glaring at him. So he just bowed his head and glumly stared at his lunch tray.
"So, if you're from Africa, why are you Korean?" Minghao asks with this almost wonderfilled, blank yet pondering stare.
"Oh my God Minghao, you can't just ask people why they're Korean" Jeonghan says back.
"Could you give us some privacy for, like, one second?" Jisoo questions next as he leans forward on his arms. He waits for Wonwoo to agree before falling back in his chair and begin to whisper with the other two boys. It gave the taller an opportunity to look around the cafeteria—eventually spotting Seungkwan and Dino. They were already looking back, shocked and confused expressions lacing their faces. They tried to get some answers out of Wonwoo through mouthed words and varied hand movements. Nothing could be given in return except for a shrug. That's when Jisoo was once again capturing his attention. "Okay, you should just know that we don't do this a lot, so this is, like, a really huge deal."
"We wanna invite you to have lunch with us" Jeonghan announces. "Every day for the rest of the week."
"Oh," Wonwoo began to shake his head. "It's okay-"
"Coolness" Who would Jisoo be if he didn't constantly interrupt the other party? "So we'll see you tomorrow."
It was a demand.
"On Wednesdays, we wear pink" Minghao finishes with a goofy smile. The three most popular boys in the school went quiet after that; strangely tight grins stayed plastered on their faces as they stared at him as if he were a prey and they were predators. But instead of killing, Wonwoo will be forced to do a make over for practically his entire life. It was getting scary. So with the quick mention that he had to use the bathroom, he abruptly stood to his feet and made a mad dash for the exit. But not before signaling for Seungkwan and Dino to follow along.
Now the three of them stood in the school's boys restroom, becoming awestruck at the suddenness that was new kid Jeon Wonwoo, being invited to hang out with the cruelest people in Plebis Academy.
"Oh my God!" Seungkwan bursts out into laughter. "Okay, you have to do it. And then you have to tell me all of the horrible things Joshua says."
Wonwoo seemed hesitant.
"Joshua seems..." He shrugged his shoulders as his eyes wandered around the bathroom. He racked his brain trying to find the right word. "Sweet" Oops, wrong choice. Seungkwan and Dino were now staring at him as if he had grown two heads. The youngest of the trio looked ready to comment on his poor description; but was stopped short by the sassy blonde standing in front of him.
"Hong Jisoo is not sweet. He's a scum-sucking road horse. He ruined my life!"
"He's fabulous, but he's evil" Dino joins in before finding himself in front of a rectangular mirror built above the porcelain white sink. Wonwoo furrowed his eyebrows, shaking his head from confusion. And it never left his face as he refocused on the way Seungkwan looked ready to pop a vein within his forehead.
"Why do you hate him?"
"What do you mean?"
"Joshua, you seem to really hate him" Wonwoo's curiosity was piqued by the way Seungkwan looked to be growing irritated all over again. The blonde boy didn't have a chance to reply because Dino was making his way back over, speaking with an amused smile.
"It's because Joshua started this rumor that Seungkwan-"
"Dino! Shall we not?" The aforementioned rolled his eyes. "No, look this isn't about hating him okay? I just think that it would be like a fun little experiment if you were to hang out with them and then tell us everything that they say."
"What do we even talk about?" Wonwoo wonders while glancing between his newest friends. He really wasn't used to any of the chaos that he was putting himself in; and the thought of this plan going south was kind of overwhelming.
"Hair products," Seungkwan says.
"Song Kang" Dino also says.
"Is that a band?" Wonwoo asks.
"Okay, just do it!" Seungkwan blurts. "Please?" The peer pressure was still a lot for the bespectacled male, but with it being pushed on him so heavily, he gave in with a sigh.
"Fine. Do you have anything pink?"
-
It's math class now. Wonwoo sat near the back; the required textbook was on one side of his wooden desk, while a notebook was on the other. He'd been writing down all of the equations the teacher was explaining, not once failing to keep up with all of the blubbering nonsense she may have sounded like to everyone else. Because Wonwoo likes math, he's good at math...he understands math. He was genuinely ready to finish the year with high grades, believing that nothing would be able to ruin his focus. Or that was until the guy in front of him turned around, asking to borrow a pencil.
He was on the taller side, tan skin, dark brown hair that framed his face in waves. He could be a professional model if he wanted. He was most definitely an attractive guy. So attractive that Wonwoo couldn't help but stare for a second longer than needed. And it's embarrassing because now the student in front of him was looking back quizzically. Probably wondering why he wasn't getting a response. So bringing himself back to reality, he just held out the pencil he was using—with a smile that most definitely came out crooked. Now Wonwoo didn't want to say he was growing a crush on the other, but he may be growing a crush.
The guy thanked him with a toothy smile.
Yeah, no he has a crush. It's solidified. But unfortunately he won't be able to voice it, because what he's told at lunch the next day is new and absurd information.
"You can't wear a tank-top two days in a row, and you can only wear your hair flat down once a week" Jeonghan looks Wonwoo over. "So I guess you picked today" His disgust was quickly changed into revelation as he thought about another rule the tall male will be forced to do now that he's hanging out with The Plastics. "Oh and we only wear jeans or track pants on Fridays. Now if you break any of these rules, you can't sit with us at lunch" He looked at Jisoo (who was too busy reading a food label) and Minghao. "Well, I mean not just you, like any of us. Okay, like if I was wearing jeans today, I would be sitting over there with the art freaks" They all glanced to the right of them. The first thing they saw was Seungkwan and Dino playing with their food. Wonwoo felt bad for letting them be called such names. "Oh, and we always vote before we ask someone to eat lunch with us because you have to be considerate of the rest of the group. Like you wouldn't buy a top without asking your friends first if it looks good on you."
"I wouldn't?"
Jeonghan took it as a statement.
"Right," He smiled. "Oh and it's the same as guys. Like, you may think you like someone but," He turned serious. "You could be wrong."
"120 calories and 48 calories from fat. What percent is that?" Jisoo joins in with a question. Not that it had any relevance to the conversation though. Jeonghan furrows his eyebrows as he tries to mentally do the math.
"Uh, 48 into 120?"
"I'm only eating foods with less than 30 calories from fat."
"It's 40 percent," Wonwoo answers. "Well, 48 over 120 equals x over 100, and then you cross multiply and get the value of x."
Jisoo was obviously confused by the math, so he shook his head while standing on his feet.
"Whatever, I'm getting cheese fries" He walked away.
"So," Jeonghan inhaled sharply while leaning forward on the lunch table. "Have you seen anyone that you think is cute yet?" Right then, Wonwoo was thinking of that guy. He smiled bashfully which had the other two interested.
"Well, there's this guy in my calculus class..."
"Who is it?" Minghao asks with the wiggling of his eyebrows.
"Is it a senior?" Jeonghan questions right after.
"His name is Kim Mingyu."
The two out of three Plastics gasped dramatically, frowns replacing their shiny smiles.
"No, no, no, no. You can't like Kim Mingyu. That's Joshua's ex-boyfriend!" Jeonghan protests.
"They went out for a year," Minghao said after.
"Yeah, and then he was devastated when Mingyu broke up with him last summer" The shortest of the three explains.
"I thought Joshua dumped him for Kwon Sooyoung?" The Chinese male wonders.
"Okay, regardless, ex-boyfriends are just off-limits to friends" Jeonghan starts to pant from the way that he was talking so fast. "That's just like the rules to bro-code" There he goes again with switching his mood faster than Wonwoo can blink. He was comforting now, less aggressive. "Don't worry, I'll never tell Joshua what you said. It'll be our little secret" He finished with a smile. It didn't sit right with Wonwoo. Either he was thinking way too much about it, or Jeonghan was lying. Because in the back of his mind, he still heeds the warning that was given to him about these three men.
For now he'll just nod along.