Chapter Text
Park Minju had been class president for six months.
In those six months, she'd learned several things.
One:
Nobody listened.
Two:
Being elected class president apparently meant doing everything nobody else wanted to do.
And three:
Noh Yunah was the single most irritating person she had ever met.
…
“Yunah.”
Nothing.
Minju closed her eyes.
“Yunah.”
Still nothing.
She looked towards the back of the classroom.
Yunah was sitting exactly how she always sat.
Slouched low in her chair.
Legs spread beneath the desk.
Tie loose.
Chewing gum.
Talking.
Completely ignoring her.
Moka was beside her.
Wonhee was turned around in the seat in front.
Iroha was trying and failing not to laugh.
Minju inhaled.
“Noh Yunah.”
Yunah finally looked up.
Slowly.
“President.”
Minju's jaw tightened.
“Can you listen for thirty seconds?”
Yunah glanced at Moka.
Then back at Minju.
“I've been listening.”
“You've been talking.”
“I can do both.”
“Clearly.”
Yunah smiled.
That stupid smile.
The one that said she knew exactly how annoying she was being.
Worse…
she was enjoying it.
Minju looked back down at the paper in her hands.
“As I was saying, the permission forms for the class trip need to be handed in by Friday.”
“Mine's already in.”
Minju stopped.
…
She looked up.
Yunah popped her gum.
“What?”
Minju frowned.
“You handed it in?”
“Yesterday.”
“You?”
Yunah sat up slightly.
“Why did you say it like that?”
Moka snorted.
Minju ignored her.
“You haven't handed anything in on time since September.”
“That's not true.”
“Your math assignment.”
“Technical issue.”
“You forgot it.”
“Technically an issue.”
Wonhee laughed.
Minju stared at Yunah.
Yunah grinned back.
…
“Anyway,” Minju said.
“Don't sound so disappointed.”
“I'm not disappointed.”
“You look disappointed.”
“I'm trying to speak.”
“So speak.”
Minju's fingers tightened around the paper.
Moka leaned towards Yunah.
“You're going to kill her one day.”
Yunah didn't take her eyes off Minju.
“She'd miss me.”
Minju heard that.
Unfortunately.
“I really wouldn't.”
Yunah's grin widened.
“See?”
Minju frowned.
“See what?”
“Always listening to me.”
Minju hated her.
She genuinely did.
…
Yunah didn't hate Minju.
Hate required effort.
Park Minju was just…
annoying.
Really fucking annoying.
She had rules for everything.
Don't eat in class.
Don't leave trash under the desks.
Stop drawing on the board.
Stop taking Wonhee's chair.
Give Wonhee her chair back.
Stop calling me President.
That last one wasn't technically a class rule.
Yunah treated it like one anyway.
“President.”
Minju didn't turn around.
Yunah smiled.
“President.”
Nothing.
Moka looked over.
“What do you even want?”
Yunah shrugged.
“Nothing.”
“Then leave her alone.”
Yunah ignored her.
“President.”
Minju's shoulders visibly tensed.
Yunah bit back a laugh.
“President.”
Minju spun around.
“What?”
Yunah smiled sweetly.
“Hi.”
Minju stared at her.
Yunah stared back.
Wonhee made a choking noise.
Iroha put her face down on her desk.
Minju turned around again.
“You're unbearable.”
Yunah leaned back in her chair.
“Thank you.”
Moka looked at her.
“Why are you like this?”
Yunah popped her gum.
“She makes it too easy.”
…
The thing about Yunah was that everybody knew her.
Teachers knew her.
Students from other classes knew her.
The woman who worked in the cafeteria knew her.
The security guard at the front gate definitely knew her.
Mostly because he'd caught her climbing over it twice.
Yunah maintained that the second time didn't count.
The gate had already been open.
Moka maintained that this made climbing over it considerably stupider.
Minju had overheard that conversation.
She agreed with Moka.
Not that anybody had asked.
…
Minju was different.
Everybody knew who she was.
That wasn't the same thing.
She was Park Minju.
Class president.
Good grades.
Always had the homework.
Always knew when something was due.
Teachers trusted her with keys.
People asked her for notes when they'd missed class.
They thanked her.
They smiled at her.
Then they went back to their friends.
Minju didn't particularly mind.
At least…
that was what she told herself.
…
Lunch was loud.
It was always loud.
Minju sat near the window with her food and a book open beside it.
Across the room, somebody shrieked.
Minju didn't need to look.
“NOH YUNAH!”
She looked anyway.
Yunah was laughing so hard she'd folded over the desk.
Moka was hitting her with a notebook.
Wonhee was yelling something Minju couldn't hear.
Iroha had both hands over her mouth.
Yunah caught Moka's wrist.
“Stop—”
“Give it back!”
“It wasn't me!”
“It's literally in your hand!”
Yunah looked at the object in her other hand.
“Oh.”
Wonhee nearly fell out of her chair.
Minju looked back at her book.
Idiots.
…
A few seconds later, she heard Yunah laugh again.
Minju's eyes stopped moving across the page.
She turned it.
She hadn't finished reading it.
…
Their last class of the day was history.
Yunah arrived thirty seconds before the bell.
“Made it.”
“Barely,” Moka said.
Yunah dropped into her seat.
“Still counts.”
“Where were you?”
Yunah pulled a piece of gum from her pocket.
“Busy.”
“Doing what?”
Yunah put it in her mouth.
“Things.”
“What things?”
“Private things.”
“You were buying snacks.”
Yunah paused.
“That's private.”
Iroha held out her hand.
Yunah sighed and gave her one.
At the front of the room, Minju was already writing the date in the corner of her page.
Yunah noticed.
Of course she was.
The teacher walked in.
Conversations died down.
Eventually.
…
“Before we start, I'm going to explain your next assessment.”
Minju immediately looked up.
Yunah immediately looked down.
Moka nudged her.
“Listen.”
“I am.”
“You're opening your phone.”
“Multitasking.”
…
At the front, the teacher continued.
“This one will be completed in pairs.”
That got Yunah's attention.
She looked at Moka.
Moka looked at her.
Yunah grinned.
Easy.
“And before you ask…”
The teacher looked around the room.
“I'm choosing the pairs.”
Yunah's smile disappeared.
Moka whispered,
“We're fucked.”
…
Minju, meanwhile, had already drawn a neat heading on a fresh page.
Paired Assessment.
Underneath it…
Due:
Requirements:
Partner:
Yunah saw it from two rows back.
She stared.
The teacher hadn't even finished explaining it.
Jesus Christ.
…
“I'll read the pairs now.”
Yunah leaned back.
Chewed her gum.
Whatever.
There were twenty-eight people in the class.
What were the chances?
…
“Park Minju.”
Minju's pen hovered beside Partner:
“You'll be working with…”
Yunah whispered something to Wonhee.
“…Noh Yunah.”
Yunah stopped.
Minju stopped.
Moka's head whipped around.
Wonhee's eyes widened.
Iroha slowly looked between them.
Minju turned in her chair.
Yunah looked towards the front.
Their eyes met.
“No.”
“No.”
The teacher sighed.
“Yes.”
Yunah sat up.
“Wait, Miss.”
“No.” Their Teacher said.
Yunah blinked.
“I haven't said anything yet.”
“I know.”
A few people laughed.
Yunah smiled.
Sweetly.
“Miss.”
Moka covered her mouth.
Oh no.
She knew that voice.
Yunah took the gum out of her mouth.
Sat up properly.
Even folded her hands on the desk.
“You know I have nothing but respect for your decisions.”
Minju slowly turned around.
The teacher stared at Yunah.
“Do you?”
“So much.”
“Interesting.”
“And I think you're an excellent teacher.”
“Yunah.”
“Probably my favourite.”
“You told me last week that my lesson was ruining your will to live.”
Yunah paused.
“I was having a difficult day.”
Wonhee snorted.
Yunah ignored her.
“All I'm saying is…”
She smiled again.
Charming.
“…maybe we could reconsider?”
Minju's eyebrows lifted.
Wow.
“No.”
Yunah's smile faltered.
“Just a little reconsideration.”
“No.”
“Tiny?”
“You're working with Minju.”
Yunah glanced at Minju.
Minju was already looking at her.
Yunah immediately looked back at the teacher.
“See, the thing is, I don't think our personalities are particularly compatible.”
Minju's mouth fell open.
“Your personality isn't compatible with anybody.”
Yunah turned.
“Nobody asked you, President.”
“I'm literally your partner.”
“Temporarily.”
“Permanently,” the teacher corrected.
Yunah turned back.
“Miss.”
“No.”
“Please.”
“No.”
“I'll do anything.”
The teacher smiled.
“Excellent.”
Yunah brightened.
“Really?”
“You can start by doing the assignment.”
Moka dropped her forehead onto the desk.
Yunah stared at the teacher.
Betrayed.
“That was cruel.”
“You'll survive, Miss Noh.”
“Debatable.”
Minju turned back around.
“Believe me, I'm not happy either.”
Yunah looked at the back of her head.
“Then help me convince her.”
Minju turned around again.
“I tried saying no.”
“That's not convincing.
“That's complaining.”
Minju stared at her.
“And what exactly was that?”
Yunah gestured at herself.
“Charm.”
Minju looked her up and down.
“Didn't work.”
Moka made a horrible choking sound.
Yunah's eyes narrowed.
“I don't like you.”
Minju smiled tightly.
“Good.”
She turned back around.
Yunah stared at her.
Then at Moka.
Moka was shaking with laughter.
“Don't.”
“Charm,” Moka repeated.
“Shut up.”
“So much charm.”
Yunah put her gum back in her mouth.
“Fuck off.”
…
At the front, the teacher continued reading the pairs.
Yunah slumped back down in her chair.
Legs spreading beneath the desk again.
She stared at the ceiling.
This was a nightmare.
…
Two rows ahead, Minju looked down at her page.
Beside Partner:, she slowly wrote:
Noh Yunah.
She stared at it.
This was a nightmare.
…
The bell rang.
Chairs scraped against the floor.
Conversations started immediately.
Yunah shoved her notebook into her bag.
“Well.”
Moka glanced at her.
“Well?”
Yunah stood.
“I'm dropping out.”
Wonhee laughed.
“Because you have to work with Minju?”
“Exactly.”
“Seems reasonable.”
Iroha zipped her bag.
“I think you'll work well together.”
Yunah stopped.
“Why?”
Iroha shrugged.
“You're both smart.”
“That's not enough.”
Moka stood.
“You might become friends.”
Yunah stared at her.
“Don't say things like that.”
Moka laughed.
“Why not?”
“It's upsetting.”
“Yunah.”
Yunah closed her eyes.
Moka's smile widened.
Yunah turned.
Minju was standing a few feet away, notebook held against her chest.
“President.”
“We need to talk.”
Yunah's eyebrows lifted.
“Already?”
Minju frowned.
“About the assignment.”
“Right.”
“Obviously.”
Yunah looked over her shoulder.
Moka, Wonhee and Iroha hadn't moved.
“Why are you three still here?”
“We're leaving,” Moka said.
She didn't move.
Yunah narrowed her eyes.
“Go.”
Wonhee smiled.
“Have fun with your girlfriend.”
“She's not my fucking girlfriend.”
Wonhee blinked.
“I know.”
“You literally just said she was.”
“Did I?”
Yunah stared at her.
Iroha tugged Wonhee towards the door.
“Come on.”
Moka followed them, grinning.
“Bye, Yunah.”
“Fuck off.”
“Bye, Minju.”
Minju gave her a small wave.
“Bye.”
Yunah watched them leave.
Traitors.
…
“So.”
Yunah turned back.
Minju had already opened her notebook.
“We should decide how we're going to do this.”
Yunah slung her bag over one shoulder.
“We do the assignment.”
Minju looked up.
“Thank you.”
“You're welcome.”
“That's not what I meant.”
“Then be more specific.”
Minju inhaled slowly.
Yunah smiled.
This was going to be fun.
“We need to divide the work, decide when we're going to meet, where we're going to work—”
“Why do we need to meet?”
Minju stopped.
“Because it's a paired assignment.”
“We have phones.”
“We're not doing an entire project over text.”
“Why not?”
“Because we're not.”
Yunah stared at her.
“Excellent reasoning, President.”
Minju ignored that.
“We could use the library.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Don't like it.”
“You don't like the library?”
“Too quiet.”
Minju blinked.
“That's the point.”
“Exactly.”
“Fine. We can stay here after school.”
“Absolutely not.”
“Why?”
“I've already spent seven hours here.”
“So?”
“So I'm not volunteering for overtime.”
Minju's fingers tightened around her pen.
“Do you have a better suggestion?”
Yunah considered it.
“No.”
“Great.”
“Glad we sorted that out.”
Yunah started towards the door.
“Yunah.”
She stopped.
Looked back.
Minju looked like she was reconsidering every decision she'd ever made.
…
“Fine.”
Yunah waited.
Minju sighed.
“My house.”
Yunah's eyebrows lifted.
“What?”
“We can work at my house.”
Yunah stared at her.
Minju stared back.
Slowly, Yunah smiled.
Minju immediately knew she'd made a mistake.
“President.”
“What?”
“You're taking me home?”
Minju's cheeks warmed.
“To do the assignment.”
Yunah stepped closer.
“At least buy me dinner first.”
Minju's face went hotter.
“What?”
Yunah bit the inside of her cheek.
There it was.
God, she was easy.
“We're doing history,” Minju said.
Yunah nodded solemnly.
“Oh.”
“Yes.”
“History.”
“Yes.”
Yunah's mouth twitched.
“Is that what they're calling it these days?”
…
Minju went bright red.
Yunah broke.
“Oh my god.”
“Shut up.”
Yunah grinned at her.
Completely fucking delighted with herself.
Minju hated her.
“Can we please just arrange a time?”
“Sure.”
“Without you being weird?”
Yunah thought about it.
“Probably not.”
Minju closed her eyes.
“Thursday?”
“What time?”
“Four?”
Yunah considered it.
“Four-thirty.”
“Fine.”
Minju wrote it down.
Yunah stared at her.
“Did you seriously need to write that down?”
“Yes.”
“It's Thursday at four-thirty.”
“And now I won't forget.”
Yunah shook her head.
“Unbelievable.”
Minju closed her notebook.
“I'll text you my address.”
Yunah nodded.
“Perfect.”
“And please bring the assignment sheet.”
“Bossy.”
“Yunah.”
“I'll bring it.”
“Good.”
Yunah smiled.
“Great.”
She stepped closer.
Minju instinctively leaned back.
“What?”
Yunah reached out.
Patted her cheek twice.
Softly.
“See you at yours.”
Minju froze.
Yunah leaned in slightly.
Pursed her lips.
Made an obnoxious little kissing noise at her.
“Mwah.”
Minju's entire face burned.
Yunah laughed.
“Bye, President.”
Then she turned and walked out of the classroom.
Just like that.
Minju stayed exactly where she was.
Notebook clutched against her chest.
Cheeks on fire.
Furious.
…
She hated Noh Yunah.
Hated her.