EMBERS • HAECHAN (Not Finished Yet)

Chapter 3

"I can see your tattoo", a familiar voice suddenly sounded, causing me to gaze at her from the corner of my eyes.

"Who cares", it merely left my lips, my own focus lying on the punching bag in front of me.
I never wore a top that was too skin revealing outside, due to my blood red dragon tattoo on my chest.

"I'm at home, it doesn't matter if any of you see it."

"I know, I just wanted to remind you.  Especially when you're wearing something white, don't he too careless."

I didn't respond to that and only nodded with my head, not really listening to what she had to say.

"Sunghee, stop exercising. You've barely left the gym the last three days."

Yeeun leaned against the wall a few meters away, watching me swing and hit the bag over and over.

"Go to school already, you can't pretend to be sick forever."

I didn't answer, nor did I look in her direction. Even though the event happened three days ago, my anger didn't subside for even one milisecond. Day in, day out, I spent all my time at the headquarters, training as if I was possessed by some sort of spirit. Every now and then I skipped a meal and found myself lost in my own thoughts and emotions.

"I won't say it again, you'll go to school tomorrow."

I looked at her for the first time and finally stopped hitting the bag in front of me.

"What's the point of going to school? It doesn't help me against the other gangs."

It was strange to hear my own voice. The last few days I had hardly spoken at all, only answering with small body movements if it was neccessary.

"You can't solely focus on idiotic men and let your life become dependent on them. I know you must be feeling an incredible hatred right now, we all do, but you're going to lose yourself if you keep this up."

Yeeun was right and deep down I knew that too...

It was only the memories of two years ago that came back because of that event, making me relive them all over again.
Tears filled my eyes while my gaze fell onto my boxing gloves. Yeeun now stood in front of me and watched me with compassionate eyes as I took them off one by one and looked down at the burn marks on my hands.

"I miss them", my voice croaked weakly and I couldn't hold my overwhelming feelings back any longer. Not a second later I broke out into a bitter sob while Yeeun lovingly wrapped her warm arms around me. Sighing, she stroked my head.

"I know..."

It was the next morning and I was the last to enter the big dining room.
As soon as I stood with one foot in it, 14 smiling and sympathetic faces were already looking at me. I tried to return their smiles and shortly afterwards sat down between Soyeon and Yuqi with a bowl of cereal.

"How are you?" Yuqi asked me and looked up from her phone.

I sighed slightly. "To be honest... I could be better, but if I'm lucky, I might run into a SVT or NCT member today. The punching bag in the gym is already boring me."

Yuqi and I looked at each other for a few seconds. I missed this, just enjoying the presence of my friends. I didn't have to pretend or hide anything and could say whatever came into my head at any time given.
They never complained about my mood swings but supported me unconditionally. In return, I loved them with all my heart.

"Sunghee?", Soyeon interrupted the cheerful mood and gave me an apologetic look.

Confused by her sudden change of expression, I raised my eyebrow questioningly and tried to interpret her features.

"Did something happen?"

"Not quite... but somehow..."

"Just tell me."

She hesitated for a moment, but soon decided to continue.

"Since Inchang High School was completely destroyed and now has to be rebuilt, our principal decided to take in their students and allow them to join our girls' academy."

I immediately stopped breathing and let my spoon fall into the cereal bowl.

Did I hear this right?
Did she really just say that?

I looked at her with wide eyes, but Soyeon ignored my reaction and continued.

"In other words, as of today, we are no longer an all-girls school, but must deal with the new male students."

Totally overwhelmed by the new information, I stared at my best friend in disbelief.

"But-", I choked on my own spit, realising what the whole thing meant for us. "Does this mean NCT is going to our school?"

Yayy another Chapter!
Thank you all for reading the first 2 chapters haha💕✊🏼

I will try to update every 2-3 days but it's probably going to be every 3 days since I have to translate them 🙈

I hope you will stick around with me tho and maybe leave some comments😊

Have a great day😁💚