Chapter Text
Dear Renjun,
We should’ve been starting our senior year together. My first and last. My everything. The only spark of light in my allegedly frozen heart. They took you from me, and I’ll never get you back, but I’ll do what I can.
“No more Adidas tracksuits,” Sungchan says as he approaches Jaemin. Sungchan is someone that Jaemin has appreciated for a while. They’ve never been close, Jaemin tends to keep most people at a distance, but he’s always been nice.
“I wanted to feed into the attention seeking tendencies this year,” Jaemin says as he twirls in a circle, showing off his new self. “Do you think low-rise looks good on me? Saw everyone online wearing it and decided to try for myself. I also wanted a belly button piercing, but my parents can only handle one heart attack at a time.
Sungchan just laughs and holds his hand out. Jaemin takes it, and Sungchan twirls him around. He probably is someone Jaemin should get closer to this year.
“You look great, Chenle and Donghyuck have competition this year,” Sungchan responds, telling him exactly what he wants to hear.
“That was the plan,” Jaemin cheers. “I’m surprised you even compared me to your little crush,” he teases.
Sungchan’s face starts to flush red, “What crush?” Jaemin laughs.
“You know what crush,” Sungchan can’t trick him. He can’t even trick himself, seeing as his own face just gave him away.
“I plead the fifth,” Sungchan runs away. Jaemin laughs him off, he can’t run forever.
It’s only a matter of seconds before their school’s group of resident, shitty, popular kids start strutting down the hallway. It’s been their stupid routine since freshman year. On the first day of school they like to flaunt their superiority by watching everyone clear out the way as they parade down the hallway. Jaemin thinks it’s incredibly stupid, but soon enough, he’ll be strutting with them.
The hallway starts to clear, and that’s how Jaemin knows that they’re coming. Everyone acts as if they’re in the presence of royalty, and if Jaemin was in the mood to make enemies, he’d scoff.
In the middle, leading the group, is none other than Mark Lee. The proclaimed “king” of the school. Captain of the football team, son of a successful CEO. He’s somebody who nobody wants to mess with. He intimidates students and teachers alike. In Jaemin’s eyes, his character can be boiled down to: A spoiled brat who walks around with his head so far up his own ass he could be a contortionist. He can’t wait until somebody humbles him. Hopefully Jaemin himself can do it.
Clinging on to the brat is Chenle Zhong, his loyal lapdog, or some would say boyfriend. In Jaemin’s eyes he’s a lapdog. He does everything for Mark, and Mark does nothing for him. He’s the son of a CEO as well as one of the school’s fashion icons, always leaving the house looking his best, something that Jaemin actually admires him for. Another important detail about Chenle is that in his three years of high school so far, he has never seen Chenle smile. And it doesn’t seem like he’s one of those people who doesn’t smile, even when they’re happy. He just looks miserable all the time. One of the perks of dating Mark Lee maybe. Jaemin can admit though, he is a lesser evil of the group. Maybe even a victim, but it’s too early to make a judgment.
Then there’s Donghyuck Lee. The other fashion icon and spoiled brat of the group. He and Mark have been best of friends since early childhood though, so it’s not too surprising. For him, it’s the old money entitlement. He walks around as if there’s a perpetual stick up his ass. Even so much as looking at him for a millisecond is enough to get torn a new one. It seems like even decades of wealth still can’t buy class.
There’s also Jeno Lee, the third pea in a pod when it comes to the Lees of the group. Weirdly enough though, he isn't an entitled spoiled brat like the other two. He’s actually known for being kind and a teacher’s pet. Most of the student body genuinely likes him for his personality, and not because they’re followers. His family is also well respected in the medical field, which also contributes to his reputation. He seems innocent enough, but at the end of the day, look at who he hangs out with. Could it be a case of just holding on to childhood friends? Or maybe the nice boy act is a facade. Both are possible, but Jaemin doesn’t know him nearly well enough to come to a conclusion. This makes him seem like a lesser evil than Mark and Donghyuck, but he doesn’t seem quite as harmless as Chenle.
The last member of their little group is Jisung Park. His father is an athlete, which seemed to rub off on him. He’s well known as being part of their school’s dance team, along with the soccer team. He also seems like a lesser evil. He’s not rude and entitled like some of the others. Weirdly enough, nothing about his personality really sticks out amongst the group. He’s pretty down to Earth, at least that’s what Sungchan has said. Based on the information he’s gathered on him, he seems alright. It’s just that unfortunately, his family’s intel was the easiest to gather. Jisung’s mother, Seulha Park, is their town’s current mayor, and Jaemin happens to have family in politics. Lord knows that Jaemin would’ve loved to go straight to Mark Lee and air his dirty laundry out, but these things take time. Jisung Park had to be the sacrifice.
Jaemin wants to make himself stick out a bit before attending his first high school party ever. Jisung should know him, they’ve had class together since freshman year, but you can never know when it comes to popular kids. Plus, after his Princess Diaries-esque transformation, Jisung may not have the pleasure of recognizing him.
As the group makes their stride, Jaemin makes sure to keep his eyes on Jisung, hoping to make eye contact. His wish comes true when Jisung’s eyes meet his. Jaemin shoots him a shy smile, and surprisingly, Jisung shoots him one back. Hopefully his smile was memorable enough. And as if it were perfectly timed, once they turn the corner, the bell rings. To first period Jaemin goes.
Jaemin spends the entire day being interrogated. “Are you new?” “Jaemin! I didn’t recognize you!” “Why did you change up your look! You look great though!” He thought that it would never end. The attention was getting to him a bit, but it got repetitive by fourth period. That’s when he started to watch the clock. He had started planning this months ago, and finally it’s time to put it into play. The best revenge is always well thought out.
Jaemin spends his evening getting ready for his first high school party, something that he ideally would’ve been doing with his best friend. The world is a cruel place though, and he was never allowed that. He also would want to go to his first party for sole enjoyment, not to carry out a revenge plot. He can’t have that either, so he settles for just taking plenty of selfies to post to his new and un-private Instagram. In the world of the people he’s infiltrating, appearances are everything. A car horn honks outside of his house, and he takes that as his cue to leave. He knew parking would be hell, so when Sungchan offered him a ride, he accepted gracefully. And if all goes right, he’ll be mooching a ride home off of Jisung Park.
“You dressed up twice in one day?” Sungchan comments as Jaemin enters the vehicle.
“Of course. Would Donghyuck Lee be caught dead wearing what he wore to school at a party?” Jaemin asks. He understands the question when he looks at Sungchan though. The boy is just wearing a black shirt and black sweatpants.
“You’re right,” Sungchan responds as he pulls off. “You are really set on upstaging them this year.”
Jaemin just hums in response.
Once they enter the house, the smell of sweat and alcohol slaps Jaemin in the face. The reaction causes Sungchan to laugh, so Jaemin rolls his eyes.
“You’ll get used to it,” Sungchan says.
And unfortunately, he will have to.
They split up once Sungchan spots his group of friends, leaving Jaemin to track down his target. In a natural way of course. He dances with a few people, sits on the couch and has a conversation with some others, even drinks some of the battery acid that they call alcohol. Still no Jisung. Their group probably hangs out in their own little back room or something, but do they not get bored? They have to join the party sooner or later. Jaemin just continues trying to preoccupy himself. He almost falls asleep on the couch waiting for them, but eventually they do make their grand appearance.
Donghyuck and Chenle come out holding drinks and start dancing. Even then Chenle isn’t smiling. There really is something up with him. Jeno is talking to a group of people. Mark is... dancing with a girl? Strange thing to do when you’re in a relationship, especially one of three years at this point. No one else seems to clock this behavior, and if they do, they don’t care. These people are more fucked up than Jaemin would’ve thought. Along with the fact that this is happening in the same room as Chenle, and he isn’t even batting an eye. This must be a normal occurrence then. Breaking news everybody, Mark Lee is not just a shit person, but also a shit boyfriend!
The arrival of the rest of the group means that Jisung must be nearby. So Jaemin gets up, and decides to dance around. Eventually he spots his target leaning on the wall with a cup of jungle juice in his hand. They lock eyes, and Jaemin takes that as his invitation to come over.
Now that they’re actually dancing together, Jaemin almost feels bad for what he’s about to do. Part of him just wants to go home, but he hasn’t been planning for months just to give up. He takes a deep breath in, and garners up the courage to pull Jisung down the hallway. They make it to an empty room, and Jaemin pulls him in, making sure to lock the door behind them. Jisung sets the cup down, and Jaemin pushes him onto the bed. The smile resting on Jisung’s face won’t be there for much longer. (Which does upset Jaemin because it is pretty nice to look at.) Jaemin rolls down on the bed next to him and stares at the ceiling for a moment. Once again, he begins to feel a pit in his stomach. He just has to remind himself that he has the upperhand in this situation. Don’t let Jisung Park intimidate him.
“So, Jisung Park,” Jaemin begins. Jisung just turns and looks at him in confusion, a feeling that causes the pit in his stomach to disappear instantly. “I’m not sure if we’ve formally met before, but I’m Jaemin Na.”
“Adidas tracksuit Jaemin Na?” Jisung asks.
“Yes, Adidas tracksuit Jaemin Na,” Jaemin sighs. That really is his reputation. “Anyways, your mother is Seulha Park, correct? Has been our mayor for the past four years?”
“Yes,” Jisung starts to raise his eyebrow. Internally, Jaemin begs him to stop doing that. It’s making him nervous.
“And your father is Hanwoo Park? His father, your grandfather, was the mayor of this town before your parents got married?” Jaemin says.
“Uh...” Jisung lets out an awkward laugh. “I didn’t think you brought me here to recite my family tree to me.”
“Oh that’s not all though,” Jaemin says. “Jisung Park, how do you feel about affairs?”
Jaemin can feel Jisung stiffen up next to him.
“What?”
“Your mother, Seulha Park, had a long term affair with her assistant. If I’m not mistaken, it’s still going on,” Jaemin continues. Jisung shoots up off the bed.
“How the fuck do you know about that?” He says. Not too loud to draw attention to the room, but loud enough that it comes off as somewhat intimidating.
“It doesn’t matter how I know about it,” Jaemin says, getting up too. “It matters what I get in return for not publicizing this. Wouldn’t it be sad if our lovely mayor who’s currently running for her second term suddenly has all her dirty laundry spilled?”
“What do you want then? Money?”
Jaemin laughs, “This skirt is Prada! Does it look like I need your money?” He feigns disgust. “Starting tomorrow I’ll be hanging out with you and your friends. We’re childhood friends who rekindled this summer, got it?” Jaemin’s really proud of himself, he feels like he’s going on a powertrip.
Jisung laughs, “So that’s what it is? So desperate for popularity that you go out of your way to get blackmail on me?”
“It’s not about popularity, it’s something way more than that,” Jaemin responds.
“And what exactly is that?” Jisung asks. It’s clear that in his eyes, Jaemin is just an attention seeking loser. Funny part is, they’d actually be better off if that was the case.
“Do you really think I’d tell you?” Jaemin answers. “You’ll see eventually,”
Jisung sighs, letting Jaemin know that he won. “I don’t know how they’ll react to me bringing a new person to the group.”
“I don’t care how they’ll react, they’re gonna have to get used to me. Now do you agree, or will Seulha Park not be seeing another term?”
Jisung balls up his fists and clenches his teeth, but in the end still answers, “I agree.”
“Great! Now Park Jisung, or should I say Jisungie! Would you mind giving me a ride home? I’ve fulfilled my purpose of coming here tonight,” Jaemin says.
“Sure,” Jisung says begrudgingly, leading him out of the room.
And that concludes phase one of the plan.
Jisung Park- Chenle Zhong
- Jeno Lee
- Donghyuck Lee
- Mark Lee