What a feeling she's still having after all that transpired in school yesterday.
"Maybe I should just let Mum know about whatever is happening now." She thought grabbing her bag when she came to an abrupt halt.
"Nope. I can obviously handle everything." She concluded, taking a last glance at her reflection in the mirror, before hurrying out.
* * *
Alex thought, as she quickens her steps toward the classroom.
"No escape route this time Alex."
She opened the door slightly taking a peep before entry, she met a teacher already there in class.
"Fuck." She cursed beneath her breath as the class attention move to her. Scanning the room with her eyes, she saw Baek Hyeon whose usual negative behavior was late coming already sitter gaze fixed on her.
"Reasos for your late coming." Mrs. Yun-Ari asked
"You're not expecting something true, are you?" Da-Eun said scornfully, earning her a chuckle from the class while Alex clenched on the handle of her bag.
"You should keep your comments Da-Eun." Mrs. Yun-Ari said, facing Alex.
"Uh, sorry Mrs. Yun-Ari. I was, uh, stuck in traffic," Alex replied, trying to sound convincing.
Mrs. Yun-Ari raised an eyebrow. "Traffic? At this time of day?"
Alex nodded, trying to maintain her composure. "Yes, ma'am. It was a real mess out there."
Da-Eun snorted, his eyes still fixed on her. "Traffic, huh? That's a new one."
Alex felt her face heat up, but she tried to ignore her.
"Can I take my seat now, Mrs. Yun-Ari?" she asked.
Mrs. Yun-Ari nodded, her expression stern. "Yes, take your seat. And try to be on time next time, Alex."
Alex nodded and quickly made her way to her seat, trying to avoid eye contact with the students.
As the class began, Alex tried to focus on the lesson, but she couldn't shake off the feeling that someone was watching her. She glanced at Baek Hyeon, partially expecting him to be the one, but he was looking away, his expression unreadable.
But when Mrs. Yun-Ari asked them to work on a group project, Alex's heart sank.
"What would it be this time." A student ask in excitement.
"Good question dear." Mrs Yun-Ari commended. "This a project on makeup. We have team A-F." She said eyeing the students.
"We'll make a good team Alex." Lee-Kwang whispered behind her making her chuckle.
"So, the class president should make me a list of the students and report back to my office as early as possible." She added, walking out of the class with her heels making sounds.
"I really want to be part of your team Ja-Young." Alex said, holding her hand pleadingly.
"I'm not the one to set things up Alex, don't make me feel mighty." She said heaving a sigh.
"Mrs. Yun-Ari will surely be working with the class president concerning the group, and you know what that means." She said making Alex smile flutter away.
"What does that change?" Lee said from behind.
"We can't be a team." Alex said. "Da-Eun won't be in support of that." She completed in a whisper.
Just immediately after the break, Yun-Ari came in alongside the class president who stood beside her beaming with smile.
"As you can see, I'm here to group you guys." She stated.
"What are we expected to do in this project." Alex asked,pulse rhyming with the best of her heart.
"You should be a little bit at ease Alex. I'll tell you all what you need to know about this project after the grouping." She replied with a smile.
"Guess I'm curious." Alex muttered in anxiousness.
With ease, she called the name gradually. Lee-Kwang and Ja-Young was in the same group as Min-Jun and one other, unexpectedly.
"Kim Kyung Soo, Byeom Seok Baek Hyeon, and Alex Smith... Team F." She completed as Alex gasped taking a quick glance at Baek who met with her gaze. She looks yo at Da-Eun whose smile has already faded.
"Something must be wrong with the list." Da-Eun complained.
"Nothing seems wrong. I discovered how you made the team was totally out of point, so I decided to make an adjustment." Mrs. Yun-Ari said smiling to Da-Eun distaste.
"I don't like my team." Alex shot off her seat to the surprise of everyone. Who wouldn't like to be in the same team as Baek Hyeon or Lee-Kwang. Some are just so unlucky.
"What do you mean?" Mrs. Yun-Ari asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I think Da-Eun might not be right after all... But, the adjustment you made is totally out of place." She completed gulping hard.
"I don't think so." Mrs. Yun-Ari replied.
"I would like to swap with someone." Alex snapped.
"Yes. I'm willing to take her place, since we don't like it." Da-Eun supported.
Mrs. Yun-Ari looked from both girls to the other as they laid down their complaints before her.
"Okay, fine. On one condition." Mrs. Yun-Ari blurt out.
"Seriously Alex." Muttered Ja-Young.
"That's if your team mates are okay with the plan." Mrs. Yun-Ari said.
"I disapprove... And I guess my teammates don't approve that either." Baek Hyeon said, voice dominating the quiet class to the surprise of Alex.
"Unfortunately Alex and Da-Eun. I think you both have to remain maintain your team." Mrs. Yun-Ari said.
"Fuck." Alex muttered, forehead sweaty as she sat down.
This is just to worse the situation here, Baek Hyeon was in her group, an he won't want her to get swapped.
"Great," she muttered under her breath. "Just what I don't wish for today."
Ja-Young raised an eyebrow, her eyes glinting with amusement. "What's wrong, Alex? Don't want to work with Baek?"
Alex shook her head, trying to appear nonchalant. "No, it's fine. I just...uh...don't want to mess up the project."
Ja-Young chuckled, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "Don't worry, Alex. He'll make sure you guys get an A."
Alex felt a shiver run down her spine at her words, but she tried to brush it off. She was determined to keep her distance from him, no matter what. Not just after he acted defensive around her and today again.
"He surely wants to get back at her, and she won't let that happen."
"As I said earlier... " Mrs. Yun-Ari started. "The project is all about looking good. So we'll use someone from the group for the practice which is.why we have two opposite sex in each group." She stated.
Catching her breath, she continued. "Alex will be the model of her group."
"Why won't I be the model instead." Kyung Soo suggested.
"If you say so." Mrs. Yun-Ari said. " And remember, you're not to leave your team during the project. There's always a surprise for the winners." She added excitedly while the class cheered.
"When will we start." A girl asked.
"As early as possible, tomorrow." She replied just as the bell blared, signaling the end of today class.
"I think that ends the day. See you in the theater tomorrow." Mrs. Yun-Ari said walking away.
The jarring contrast to the whirlwind of emotions swirling inside Alex. Trapped in a group with Baek Hyeon, the playful banter from Ja-Young echoed ominously in her ear.
On their way out of the class, Alex excused herself promising to join Da-Eun in the car. She approached Baek Hyeon, his usual stoic demeanor etched even deeper.
Taking a deep breath, she blurted out, "Look, I know things have been... tense between us, especially with what happened in the store and the cafeteria. But this project..."
"Isn't about rehashing old drama," Baek Hyeon interrupted, his voice surprisingly calm. "Let's focus on getting a good grade, alright?"
Alex blinked, surprised by his easy concession. A flicker of doubt ignited within her.
"I don't know why you act that weird, but I think we'll really make a bad team with me in your team."
The corner of Baek Hyeon's mouth quirked up slightly.
"I don't think so Alex, Kyung Soo seems more interested in being the model than applying makeup." A hint of amusement glinted in his eyes.
A shaky laugh escaped Alex's lips. Maybe, just maybe, they could navigate this project without any disasters.
"If you say so... But don't try to get back at me during the project." Alex warned, and without taking a glance back at him make her way to the car.
Tomorrow approached soon and the group settled into a routine. Alex poured her creative energy into the project, brainstorming makeup looks with Baek Hyeon, who surprisingly offered insightful suggestions.
Kim Kyung Soo, while more comfortable being the model, proved surprisingly adept at fetching supplies and keeping the mood light.
Despite the initial apprehension, Alex found herself strangely enjoying their collaboration.
Baek Hyeon, outside his usual cold exterior, possessed a dry wit that made her laugh.
They discovered a shared passion for creating unique makeup styles, and their initial awkwardness melted.
As they debated between a smoky eye look or a bold red lip, Alex felt a familiar prickle of unease.
A text notification flashed on her phone. Her heart lurched as she recognized the sender: Da-Eun. The message contained a single picture - a photo of Alex and Baek Hyeon laughing together during their group meeting. Below it, a single word: "Interesting."
Dread coiled in Alex's stomach. Da-Eun clearly wasn't done causing trouble. She turned to look around, her excitement turning to that of curiosity.
Their eyes locked, both expecting the other to look away. She can see a mischievous smile crawling on her lips making Alex look away.
Another text popped up, this time it was from Lee-Kwang.
"I hope he's not giving you a tough time huh?"
She typed back quickly. "Nope, he's actually cool right now."
Mrs. Yun-Ari came in excited to see the students working hard to earn good scores.
"I think we should round up with this now." She said stopping the stopwatch. Some students moan pleadingly in protest.
"I understand some of you weren't able to complete the task, but I bet you'll make it up next time." Mrs. Yun-Ari commended igniting hope in them.
"The models will have to move close. With the rest of her teammates beside her." She said.
Examining the makeover, she nods in satisfaction.
"Beautifully made up. And you know there's always a winner." She concluded.
"Team... C emerged winner." She announced as the rest students cheered.
"Ja-Young and Lee-Kwang team. I wasn't expecting less than that." Alex thought as she sent a wink when their gaze met.
"Team... F emerged the second runner." She said while the students clapped.
The 3rd runner goes to... Team B." She said earning a loud cheer. Da-Eun rolled her eyes in disappointment.
"Sorry we didn't came first place." Alex muttered to her group.
"I enjoyed our teamwork after all." Kyung Soo whispered back.
"You all are genius, all you have to do is keep up with the good work. Okay?" She said.
The students muttered while some grumbled in disappointment. All going their separate ways.
"That was beautiful Alex." Lee-Kwang commended hurrying towards her in their way out.
"Now, I think Lee-Kwang is very useful, because he poured most of his ideas into this project." Ja-Young commented letting out a wink.
"Same with Baek." Alex replied.
"Did he bothered you at all?" Lee-Kwang asked grabbing her hand to the duo surprise.
"Not at all Lee." Alex replied looking around as if in search for something.
"Don't act all protective now." Ja-Young retorted, snatching Alex hand from his. Suddenly she sighted Baek Hyeon not so far from her.
"Excuse me." Alex said and without waiting for a reply, hurried towards him.
With a nudge from his friend, he unplucked the earpiece in his ear turning his gaze to the approaching Alex.
"Hi Hyeon." She greeted.
"Baek Hyeon." He corrected coldly.
"Uh... Ba..." She stuttered finding it difficult to get the pronunciation.
"I'm sorry. I can't get myself to pronounce that." Alex replied gaze shifting to the floor.
Why on earth is he acting all cold again. She thought they were good now.
"That means we don't have to say anything to each other." He replied walking away.
"Wait!" Alex called out. Baek Hyeon halted not looking back. Alex moved a little bit closer behind him.
"I'm sorry, about what happened at the store." Alex started but was cutted short.
"Nothing happened at the store." He snapped, frightening Alex, keeping his cold voice low. "I thought you were that tough."
"I thought so too. But after you defended me and worked as a team, I thought..."
"Don't think Alex. Know we were never a team. Everything was just for today, and I asked you to stay because, I want you to think I've forgotten whatever you think might have happened..."
"Nothing ever happened Baek." She said smirking to the surprise of Baek and Min-Jun.
"You think..." Baek replied.
"I know your reputation is held high here in Hanlim highschool." She started with a threatening voice.
"How would you feel, if tomorrow you see the post on the announcement board with me laying hand on your cheeks in a public place." She said.
Baek Hyeon scoffed running his hand over his head. He looked around and noticed attention already drawn to the duo.
"Are you threatening me?" He asked.
"You can say so." She replied.
"Where's your phone." He asked in a whisper as Alex reluctantly hands it over. Baek took it from her partially embarrassed as he moved his finger swiftly on the keys.
"Message me on WeChat." He said walking away with Min-Jun beside him while a smile of victory escaped Alex lips.