"JIWOO SEO! GET UP RIGHT NOW! "
Jiwoo was abruptly woken up from his dream about a certain chonky cat by his professor.
Jiwoo hastily sits up, letting out a confused "Huh? " as his teacher complains about how he's been sleeping through class nonstop for the past few days.
Jiwoo looked around confused, just a few seconds ago he was day dreaming about his time spent with Mr. Chonky. When the heck did he fall asleep?
"What do you mean 'huh'? You've been sleeping since morning. Class already ended. "
"Really?!!!? " Jiwoo spoke in a breathless tone. His other classmates snickering in the background.
"I'm letting you off the hook because you used to be a good student. " the professor sighed going back to the front of the class.
Looking over the entire class an empty seat caught the professor's attention.
"Does anyone know why Wooin is absent? He isn't picking up his phone.......is anyone friends with him? Or have a way to contact him? "
"*cricket* *cricket*" the professor took the silence as a no.
Jiwoo glanced at the empty seat. "Wooin is absent today?... "
Who is Wooin? Well he is another recently transferred student in Jiwoo's class.
When the bell rang the professor ordered Hwa-Young to stay for he wanted to have a word with her as everyone exited the classroom, some of them giving the two weird stares, some even looked disgusted.
Both Hwa-Young and the professor were feeling uncomfortable, Hwa-Young a bit annoyed, wanted to say something but decided to hold her tongue.
Who knows what they were thinking.
After the others were out of earshot, did they began talking.
"So, tell me how's the group project with Jiwoo has been." The professor fixed his attention on her with a hopeful gaze.
Hwa-Young was a bit taken aback. She mostly expected him to be asking about the 5000 word essay that she totally hadn't done, having been gaming all night and sharing memes with 🤡Stupid Eyebrows🤡.
𝘉𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩.....𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳.
She mentally smirked. Punching the air, also mentally.
"Well sir, I don't really know what to say... . .. . .. . .. Um.. . It went like how a group project should? I guess. Can you specify it a bit more? "
She stuttered out.
"Well... . . Did you guys have a great time? " The professor looked as hopeful as ever.
"I don't know about him but for me, I guess it was okay." She retorted dryly, putting her hands in her pockets.
Yes, she is wearing pants.
Why? Well, Since she is pretty popular among the boys for seemingly no reason. It's a given that perverted dudes will attempt to get a flash of her panties. Plus, pants have pockets to put stuff in which most skirts don't.
"Did you guys become friends? "
"I don't know but why do you ask? " she quirked an eyebrow at him, examining his expression.
"Oh... Nothing really, just wanted to know. You can go now. "
The professor said, smiling. Shooing her off with his hand.
The ex assassin eyed him suspiciously at that.
𝘏𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰𝘰 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨.
The door slid open with a thub and in came Jiwoo. Breathless, leaning on the door.
Seems like he was running.
"Are you not gonna come? " he wheezed, hands on his knees.
"Yeah, was just about to leave. " Hwa-Young responded blankly as she slung her bag over her shoulder.
As Hwa-Young approached Jiwoo the professor called out to her, causing her to stop in her tracks.
"And don't even think for a second that I forgot about the 5000 word essay you were supposed to submit today."
Her lips sealed into a thin line, she looked down at her feet ,feeling a bit ashamed as her snowy hair cast a shadow over her eyes.
𝘞𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘵....
"Submit it to me in 2 days and make it 5960 words."
𝘚𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘢 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘪𝘵... ಥ_ಥ
~~~~~~~~~~
Sunshine boi and walking depression were trudging down the streets when a "Hey! I told you to bring it! WHY DIDN'T YOU?? " came from a narrow allyway at their right.
Hwa-Young scrunched up her face at the loud voice. It hurt her ears.
In the alley there were four boys who looked about the same age as them.
Back up against the rails was a tall guy with black hair, blue eyes and glasses who they recognized as Wooin. Their missing classmate.
There wasn't even a speck of emotion visible on Wooin's visage. His eyes empty, staring at the hard concrete.
There were two others, who seemed to be bothering him, tipping over his bag in search of money but what came out was different types of pet food.
There was another guy with white hair and an undercut beside them, just enjoying the show. Hwa-Young seemed to recognize him.
𝘐𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘑𝘪𝘴𝘶𝘬? 𝘏𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘱𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘢 𝘨𝘶𝘺 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵. 𝘔𝘢𝘺𝘣𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘮. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯'𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦.
Her blood red and gray eyes watched him with great interest which luckily went unnoticed by him.
"Wooin, what are you doing there? " Jiwoo called out causing the bully's to turn his way.
Instead of stepping in Hwa-Young watched everyones reaction intently.
The bullies turned their way, barking at Jiwoo to scram. To which Jiwoo responded with "I can't..... That kids in my class. " in a nervous tone, which shocked the bullies into silence.
Hwa-Young watched as one of the bullies came forward and threw a punch at Jiwoo. Not stepping in to protect him, after all he kind of brought it upon himself.
Jiwoo dodged the punch which enraged the bullies, making them throw more punches at him. But he dodged all of them as Wooin, Hwa-Young and the mysterious figure Hwa-Young suspected to be Jisuk watched the chaos unfurl.
Jiwoo commented on how they shouldn't fight and that people are watching as the bullies huffed and puffed, trying to take in as much as air in their lungs as they can.
Jisuk then told his bully friends to stop and that they are embarrassing him.
He grumbled about how he won't let Jiwoo off the hook so easily next time as he left with the bullies.
Jiwoo nervously scratched his cheek as Wooin put back all the things in his bag.
Wooin was unresponsive when Jiwoo asked if he was okay, not even looking at him.
"Hey, Jiwoo I gotta go for a bit. " Hwa-Young announced and before Jiwoo could asked anything, sprinted in the direction the bullies went.
𝘐 𝘨𝘰𝘵𝘵𝘢 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘪𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘨𝘶𝘺 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘭𝘺 𝘪𝘴 𝘑𝘪𝘴𝘶𝘬.
After she left Jiwoo followed Wooin around for a bit. Attempting to have start a conversation but Wooin stayed silent, ignoring his existence. Eventually they had to part ways.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Hwa-Young ran after the bullies but still made sure that they didn't notice her. She watched as they parted ways. Following the guy she suspected to be Jisuk, she noticed that he walking straight to Shinwa Headquarters.
She watched as he entered through the doors and talked with the Chairwoman.
𝘐 𝘨𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘴... 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘶𝘥𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘑𝘪𝘴𝘶𝘬.
Just as she was about you leave someone called out to her.
"Do you need something? "
She whirled around and saw a man who she recognized as Inhyuk Goo.
𝘚𝘩𝘪𝘵.... 𝘏𝘰𝘱𝘦 𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘨𝘯𝘪𝘻𝘦 𝘮𝘦.
"No... I was just staring for no reason....I'll take my leave now. " She mumbled nervously but loud enough for him to hear.
With that she bowed and vanished into the crowd.
Inhyuk could only quirk a brow. For some reason that kid seemed familiar.
"Inhyuk! Who was that? "
He glanced over his shoulder at his colleague Miss Lee.
"Just some random kid Miss Lee." He retorted calmly.
"Didn't I tell you just Aera is fine. Whatever let's go inside, breaks gonna be over in 5 minutes."
With that they both went inside the building. Unknownst to them a pair of heterochomic eyes was observing them from a distance.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hwa-Young arrived home taking off her shoes as Yeona came rushing to take her bag which she was pretty hesitant to give.
" You do know that your not some sort of house wife. You don't have to take my bag. " Hwa-Young blurted out, holding onto one of the straps.
"What nonsense. Your the one who saved my life and you pay rent so this is least I can so to repay you for your kindness. " She gave her a warm close eyed smile before yanking the bag out of the ex assassin's hands.
"You know... For someone who probably hadn't lifted anything heavier than 22 pounds you do have some herculean strength. Maybe I should start training you. " at Hwa-Young's words Yeona's eyes sparkled.
~~~~~~~~~~~
"My school starts from tomorrow right? " Yeona questioned as she took the newly washed plate from Hwa-Young and put it on the stack.
Hwa-Young observed her face for a moment before speaking.
"It's okay if you want to start later. "
"No.... No.... I'm just a bit nervous. "
"Don't be, everything is gonna be fine." Hwa-Young reassured her. Drying her hands on a towel, she approached Yeona, opening her arms to embrace her with a gentle smile but then stopped.
A frown sat on Yeona's lips as she watched her turn her head and walk away.
Entering the bathroom, Hwa-Young closed the door and leaned on it. Rubbing her upper arms and brushing her hands through her snowy locks.
𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘰𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘢𝘴 𝘱𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘴 𝘠𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘢. 𝘐'𝘷𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘺 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘻𝘦. 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘧 𝘐 𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯?
___________________________________
As Jiwoo took off his shoes the three strays came rushing, cuddling up to him and giving him a nice warm welcome.
Greeting them back Jiwoo called out for Kayden.
No response.
At that he stood up, bright and determined as ever and checked room after room, slowly losing his determination in the process when he didn't find him there.
This could only mean one thing. Kayden had already left.
Jiwoo clenched his fists and full on wailed at the top of his lungs. Causing Scar to wake up and the clowder's fur to bristle in distress.
Kayden was actually in the bathroom, taking a dump. Can't he just let the Great Kayden take his Great Dump in peace?

___________________________________
[Ladies and gentlemen and non binaries, I named the cat monster Scar for convenience.
Clowder means more than two cat or a group of cats. ]