➪The Man|| WINRINA

𝚂𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗

Winter felt faint. She really did. She could even tell that Taehyun and Soobin were growing suspicious of her. She meant, who wouldn't?

It was only the second week but she felt like she wanted to run out of this school and never come back. Not that it would be a terrible plan, it was terrific.

She sighed in contempt, closing her eyes as she tightly clenched her hands on her utensils, a dinner knife and fork. They were serving western dishes. She had steak with mashed potatoes and green peas on the side. For her drinks was red wine. Yes, wone for lunch.

Soobin and Taehyun were taking their time picking out their own lunches, giving her time think in solitude.

"Okay," she nodded her head, taking in the first information. "I am so fucked up."

Jaemin, was part of that reason or maybe is the actual reason. It's not her fault the male was smart and charming (take this a platonic way). It was also not her fault that he had everyone (somewhat) wrapped around his finger. It was most definitely not her fault that he saw her school pin earlier that day.

"What am I going to go?" She wailed, unclenching her hands and let the utensils fall of the table. Her gaze moved to where Jaemin was with his friends. They looked distant. "He's going to find out."

Not to mention possibly using it as blackmail. What? She was thinking of the worse case scenario. She was that prepared.

"I'm going to die."

"Why are you going to die again?" Taehyun took his place in front of Minjeong while Soobin took his right. He gestured to his untouched food. "You look sick."

"He does?" Soobin looked over at Minjeong, notcing the way the guy was looking pale  "What us to take you to the infirmary?"

"Naevis no." Winter was quick to decline, picking up her utensils again. She dug her fork into the steak. "I'm just problematic."

"Problimized." Taehyun corrected boredly, starting to slice his buttered lobster. "And what caused that predicament?"

"Predica—what now?" Winter blinked cluelessly (Taehyun would say dumbly) at him.

Taehyun paused slicing his lobster, mouth opening slightly before he looked at Winter with a deadly piercing eyes. "How did you pass the entrance exam?"

That too was something she'd like to ask. How the hell did she pass the exam. "Dunno. Pure luck I guess. Anyway, what do you—"

"Problem," Soobin quickly supplied, cheeks puffed out because of his food. "What's the cause of your problem."

The cause sat a few meters away from them with his friends who were all occupied with their phones and didn't give a fuck about the one speaking.

"Nothing." Winter muttered. "I'm just, stressed?"

"About what exactly?" Taehyun asked, dabbing a napkin on the side of his lips to get rid of the butter sauce. "Mock exams won't start a month from now."

"Mock exams?" Soobin asked, pausing mid-chew.

"That prepare students for the quarterly exams. Jaemin was the one who started it after he dethroned Kun." Taehyun answered camly. He pointed at the male that entered the cafeteria, making Minjeong and Soobin turn around. "That's Qian Kun, mister number two since Jaemin overthrown his reign two years ago. They don't have bad blood or hard feelings but people suspect Jaemin's sudden rise in the ranks. He's typically in the top 20, not 10, and most definitely not number 1."

"And does that give him a problem?" Winter asked, looking away from Kun and back at Taehyun.

"I'd say no but somehow yes." Taehyun gestured to where gucci gang was. They were now talking to each other other than Jaemin who had his nose shoved into a book. "People try to dig up dirt about that and honestly, it's tiring seeing Jeno having to scare them away."

"Jeno?" Soobin muttered, confused.

"Jeno and Jaemin," Taehyun started, teeth meeting into a straight line before he sucked in a deep breath. "Are two friends who aren't exactly friends but somehow they work—"

"Just get on with it." Winter urged, growing tired with the long introductions. Honestly, just get to the point.

"They're basically fubu without the fu."

"The what now?" Soobin had his mouth slightly open, tilting his head in a confused manner as his brows met in the center of his forehead.

"Fuck budies but without the fuck." Yaehyun clarified. "Just, try not to touch a single thread of Jaemin's uniform and Jeno won't come kill you." His eyes were dead on Minjeong. "Especially when you don't touch a thread but his attention."

🧑

Oh bother....

Winter wanted nothing more that turn back time and read where she was enrolling because boy is she regretting her past decisions. Or maybe even better not transfer to another school. That would have prevented everything.

"That would have been the case if you were an opportunist." She slammed her forehead against her locker, rapidly swipping away her wig hair. Yes, she was wearing the wig, again. She raised her head, feeling the stinging pain on the area. "What the fuck have you gotten yourself into?"

Really, she just wanted to graduate senior year but no, Naevis had to send bugs, in the form of problems, into her life. What's next, black mamba who she needed to shut down? Final boss!?

"I just want to live." She closed her locker, locking it before leaving the small staff room Na dough and cat cafe had. Yes, she was relocated to the same place that cuase her problems. She was about to push opwn the kitchen door when she realized she was not wearing her glasses. Yes, she wore the glasses. She quickly jogged back to the staff room and to her locker. Thankfully the thing was keypad and she just needed to punch it down. She took Yeji's glasses and slipped it on. Hopefully Jaemin was a blind bat.

"Yo!"

Winter turned around, facing her newest workmate who she learned was Chenle. He was younger, therefore more energetic than she was, although they didn't have that much of a gap.

"Yo." She responded, raising her hand slightly. "Afternoon rush or do you just want to annoy me?"

"Both?" Chenle shrugged his shoulders. "Actually, someone was looking for you. Karina or something."

"How does she look?" Winter led them out of the staff room, she'd be dead by Mrs. Na if they were caught slacking off, and into the kitchen where the hired bakers were busy baking.

"Dunno." Chenle shrugged his shoulders again. "Told her to sit down and order."

"Chenle!" Winter abruptly came to a stop, turning slightly to face Chenle. "You can't just say that to a customer."

"I'm a host, not customer service." Chenle deadpanned then continued walking, leaving Winter to blink at his actions. That kid.

"But still," she caught up to him. "You can't just—Katerina?" She stopped, eyes blinking at the girl from before standing in front of the line, waiting for someone (that someone was Winter) to take her order. "What are you doing here?"

"Obviously to order." Chenle exasperated, giving Winter a judging look. "It's that obvious?"

Winter scowled, nudging him in the ribs to be quiet. "Don't be rude." She took her shop behind the register then plastered a business professional smile. "Hello, welcome to Na dough and cat cafe, what can we get for you?"

"You."

"Huh?" Maybe Winter heard it wrong. Katerina couldn't possibly—

"You, I want you and your time."

"Dang," Chenle drawled, slapping his palm on the counter. "I thought you were a ruler for a moment, turns out you're a protractor."

"Chenle!"

-𝐭𝐛𝐜-

Wanted to make their time together part of this chapter but then thought why not make it as its own. Hehe got any ideas how? Hi :)