On Monday morning, Jasper decided to make a bold statement. This time, he was riding his sport bike, and instead of the usual jacket, he opted for a casual look. He wore a black cap, the front turned backward, and a cigarette tucked behind his ear. His new taper fade haircut was clean, giving him a sharp look that stood out even more. His eyebrows were slightly shaped, adding an edge to his already intense appearance.
As he revved up his bike, the engine roared to life, and he sped off towards school, not caring about the stares or whispers from the people around him. It was a completely different vibe this time, and he was fully aware of it.
As he passed by groups of students who were chatting in the schoolyard, some of them stopped mid-conversation to watch him. His new look didn't go unnoticed.
"Woah, look at Jasper today," one student whispered to another.
"Did he get a haircut? And... he's riding a bike now?" someone else commented, clearly surprised by his new appearance.
Jasper didn't pay much attention to them, his focus set on the road ahead. He was used to being the center of attention, especially after the incident with the basketball game. But now, with his bold new look, he was embracing the attention fully.
As he approached a crowd of students gathered near the school entrance, Kyung Ho, Taehyun, Min Joo, and Jin Woo, the usual troublemakers, noticed him first. They exchanged glances before Kyung Ho scoffed.
"Look at this guy," Kyung Ho muttered. "Thinks he's some big shot now."
Taehyun, with a sneer, added, "Bet he just wants people to notice him even more. Just look at that haircut, trying way too hard."
Jasper overheard their comments but didn't even flinch. He continued to ride through the crowd, his expression stoic. The students around him parted slightly, creating a clear path for him to pass.
"Keep talking," Jasper thought to himself. "I don't care."
As he reached the school gates, Jun Ho, who had been standing nearby, approached him with a surprised but impressed look on his face.
"Jasper, man... looking good," Jun Ho said, his voice carrying a hint of genuine admiration. "Did you do something different with your hair?"
Jasper pulled up next to him, slowing down as he took the cigarette from behind his ear and lit it. "Yeah, decided to change it up a bit," he replied coolly, exhaling a cloud of smoke. "Taper fade, new vibe."
Jun Ho grinned, clearly intrigued. "I can see that. Definitely turning heads today. I gotta admit, it's a good look."
Jasper raised an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth curling into a half-smile. "Yeah, well, it's not for them. It's for me. I'm done trying to fit in."
Jun Ho laughed, leaning on his own bike. "I respect that. Just don't get too cocky, alright? The whole school's probably gonna be talking about you today."
Jasper shrugged, taking another drag from his cigarette. "Let them talk. It's not like they matter."
He revved the engine and began to head towards the school entrance, Jun Ho following him with his gaze. Jasper's presence had definitely made an impact, and it was clear that his confidence was starting to show in every step he took.
Jasper turned to Jun Ho, a smirk crossing his face. "So, where's your new pair of glasses? Your style's pretty impressive today," he said, eyeing Jun Ho's fresh look.
Jun Ho chuckled, adjusting his jacket as he looked at Jasper. "This is because of you, man. After you destroyed my glasses, I figured I might as well change up my style. Can't let those assholes mess with me, right?" He flashed a grin, clearly unbothered by the way he'd been treated before.
Jasper's smirk faded slightly, and he gave Jun Ho a quick glance before turning his back to him. "Alright, enough of this," he said, his tone suddenly colder. "Let's not get too close. I don't want to be friends with you, punk."
Jun Ho raised an eyebrow, surprised by the abrupt shift in Jasper's attitude. He was about to say something but hesitated. Jasper was already walking away, and Jun Ho quickly caught up, his footsteps matching Jasper's pace.
"You're really something else, you know that?" Jun Ho said, slightly out of breath as he walked alongside him. "You push people away, but at the same time, you're not like everyone else. What's your deal?"
Jasper didn't stop walking, but he let out a soft laugh, almost to himself. "I don't need anyone, Jun Ho. Not like you need people."
Jun Ho seemed to consider this for a moment before he sighed. "Yeah, well, you may not need anyone, but I think deep down, you're still waiting for someone to prove you wrong."
Jasper didn't reply right away. His eyes were fixed ahead, but he couldn't deny that there was some truth to what Jun Ho said. However, he wasn't about to admit it.
The rest of the walk to school was quiet, with both of them lost in their own thoughts. Despite everything, Jasper could sense that Jun Ho wasn't the typical type of person who would just give up. But that didn't mean he was about to change his stance on things.
As they reached the entrance to the school, Jasper paused for a second before turning to Jun Ho. "Look, don't take it personally. I just don't mix with people like you. Got it?"
Jun Ho nodded, though his expression was still a bit confused. "Yeah, I got it. But we'll see, Jasper. We'll see."
With that, Jasper walked into the school, leaving Jun Ho standing there, watching him go.
As the lesson began, the classroom was quiet, but the peace didn't last long. Kyung Ho, always eager to stir trouble, started pestering Jun Ho again from his seat.
Jasper, visibly irritated by the disturbance, slammed his hand on the desk and shouted across the room, "Did you forget the bet from yesterday? Don't bother that punk again, Seykiya! If you break the rules, I'll snap your neck."
Taehyun, always ready to challenge Jasper, chimed in with a mocking tone, "Didn't you say that the bet was about not bothering you? Why is it suddenly about Jun Ho?"
Without missing a beat, Jasper reached up, casually pulling a cigarette from behind his ear. He held it up for all to see, his eyes locking onto Taehyun's. "Decisions can change," he said with a mischievous smile, before snapping the cigarette in half and tossing it to the floor, an obvious warning.
Min Joo and Jin Woo, sitting nearby, exchanged looks of annoyance before sneering. "Tch, what a freak," Min Joo muttered under his breath.
"Yeah, this guy's seriously irritating," Jin Woo added, rolling his eyes.
Taehyun leaned over to Kyung Ho, his voice dripping with disdain. "Are you really going to follow the orders of that jerk?"
Kyung Ho, his face flushed with a mix of frustration and resignation, scowled and stood up. "Fine," he muttered, storming out of the classroom. The others, not wanting to look weak, followed closely behind.
Jun Ho, who had been watching the scene unfold, turned to Jasper with a sly smile. "Nice move, Jasper. You sure know how to handle them," he said, his grin wide.
Jasper, however, wasn't in the mood for praise. He shot Jun Ho a tired, annoyed look, his expression one of clear irritation. "Don't make it sound like I did this for you," he said with a sigh, clearly fed up. "I just don't like people messing around in my space."
Jun Ho's smile faltered for a moment before he shrugged, clearly undeterred by Jasper's coldness. "Yeah, sure. But thanks anyway."
Jasper didn't respond, his attention already elsewhere as he turned away, trying to distance himself from the conversation. He wasn't about to let his guard down, not even for Jun Ho.
As the class resumed, the air felt heavy with tension. Jasper couldn't help but notice how everyone was watching him, their eyes flickering from him to the door where Kyung Ho and the others had left. He knew things were far from over, but for now, he had proven a point.
Jasper walked casually toward his motorcycle in the school parking lot, helmet in hand. Whispering voices surrounded him as curious students watched.
"Is that a new model? It must cost a fortune!"
"Wow, he's seriously rich."
Jasper ignored the murmurs, calmly putting on his helmet. He started the engine and drove off, leaving the school building behind. The evening air was cool as he cruised through the streets, enjoying the gentle breeze against his face.
Passing by a row of street food vendors, the enticing aroma caught his attention. Jasper slowed down, parked his bike, and approached one of the stalls selling tteokbokki. As he walked up, he noticed a familiar face—it was the same girl who had served him the other day. She was busy taking orders but couldn't help stealing glances at him.
"One order of tteokbokki, extra cheese," Jasper said, his voice casual yet confident.
The girl, slightly flustered, nodded quickly. "Alright, coming right up."
While waiting, Jasper sat down on a small bench near the stall. When his order arrived, he began eating with gusto. The girl peeked at him from behind the counter, her curiosity growing as she watched his calm demeanor.
After finishing his food, Jasper reached into his pocket to pay, but his expression suddenly changed. "Damn…" he muttered under his breath.
The girl noticed and stepped closer. "Is something wrong?" she asked, her tone a mix of concern and confusion.
Jasper let out a small sigh, looking slightly annoyed. "I forgot my wallet."
Her eyes widened in disbelief. "What? Then… what are you going to do?"
"Relax." Jasper raised a hand to reassure her. "I'm not going to run off without paying." He pulled his phone out of his pocket and held it out to her. "Here. Take this as collateral. I'll come back tomorrow after school with the money."
The girl stared at the expensive phone in her hands, completely shocked. "This… this phone is worth a lot. Are you sure?"
"Yeah, I'm sure. I don't have another option. I'll be back tomorrow, so don't worry," Jasper said, his tone steady as he put his helmet back on.
Before he left, the girl hesitated, then said softly, "My name's Ji Hye. If you forget, I'll make sure you still pay."
Jasper glanced back, a faint smirk on his lips. "I'm Jasper. Don't worry, Ji Hye. I always keep my promises."
As Jasper rode away, Ji Hye looked at the phone in her hand with a mix of awe and disbelief. "This… I'm holding the phone of my dreams," she whispered to herself. But she quickly snapped out of it, giving herself a light slap on the cheeks. "No, I have to make sure he pays and return this phone!"
She tucked the phone away safely, her thoughts still lingering on the mysterious boy. "He's so strange… but kind of cool," Ji Hye murmured, a small smile forming on her lips.