Hyerim felt like she was back in high school again.

It had felt like she was seeing a lot of more of Haechan recently. Sometimes she would catch glimpses of him in the lunch hall, or see him at the library sitting at a table with his friends. Or at the cafe next to campus, in line for a coffee. 

She swore she wasn't trying to follow him anywhere. The least she wanted was to come off as a stalker. But it got outrageous when she was at the bus stop, after a lecture at 2pm, and a familiar someone sidles up to her, sitting on the bench.

"Fancy seeing you here."

She thought her ears were playing tricks on her when she recognised the voice. But, alas, they did not deceive her as her suspicions were confirmed as she met the eyes of the voice.

"Why are you here?" Cautiously, she crossed her arms and shuffled herself to her left a little, keeping a safe distance from the purple-haired male. He mimicked her actions, crossing his arms, scooting to his right.

"Is it a crime to take the bus now?"

"You don't even take the bus," she told him.

Hyerim had never seen the boy near a bus, let alone in one. He drove his stupid little cars everywhere - he wouldn't be caught dead in public transport.

"Well, I just..." Haechan unfolded his arms, placing his hands awkwardly on his lap while looking around. "Wanted to experience it."

"Oh, so along with being an athlete, you're a comedian now." Hyerim scoffed, and stood up from the ugly green bench, standing a distance away. He didn't say anything in return.

They waited in silence for the bus, Hyerim scrolling on her phone mindlessly, tapping her foot. 

Thank god the bus was on time, screeching as it pulled up. The girl quickly stepped inside, bowing at the bus driver and tapping her card. It was surprisingly full, only one two-seater being empty. She quickly slid into it, and busied herself with organising her supplies that she had stuffed into her bag, when she noticed a shadow over her.

"I can sit here, right?"

Of course, Lee Haechan was standing there, smiling down at her with his head tilted. 

"No, you can't." Hyerim glared up at him, placing the bag down next to her with a thump.

"But there are no other free seats," the boy whined, and let out a small yelp when the bus started moving, grabbing onto the back of the seat quickly. "Quick, move your stuff and let me sit. Or I'll get injured and then I won't be able to play for the season."

This fucking manipulator.

 Begrudgingly, Hyerim moved her bag, placing it onto her lap and scooted herself as close to the window as she could as Haechan smiled victoriously, sitting down and relaxing onto the seat. Hyerim tried to ignore him, determinedly looking out of the window while stuffing her airpods into her ears.

She was grateful that he didn't try to talk to her and annoy her throughout the trip. He was quiet, not saying anything except a small "bye" when she told him to move for her to get off at her stop.

While walking to her part-time job, she realised that he lived on campus. And didn't have a job.

So why was he taking the bus to this direction?

❆

"Jihee, it won't fit past my head."

"Give it a yank, bitch."

"No, Jihee, it won't-"

"Oh my god."

Stomping noises could be heard, and suddenly Hyerim regained her vision as the dress was pulled down past her head by her roommate. Huffing loudly, she placed her hands on her knees, trying to catch her breath from being strangled by the dress. Jihee fussed around her, straightening the dress over her figure.

"There we go. Looks good now." Jihee shoved the poor girl in front of the mirror, forcing her to look at the tight hot pink dress on her figure.

"No, this..." Hyerim grimaced, fingers going to pick at the dress. "I feel like I'm being vacuumed. I can't breathe," she complained, squirming, but stopping and squealing when Jihee slapped her arm hard.

"Stop complaining. You look hot. Now, come here," Jihee instructed, pulling her over to the desk where makeup products were spread out.

"You need to look fuckable tonight."

Thirty minutes later, Jihee had finished drawing on Hyerim's face, and was now fiddling with a curling iron. 

It wasn't that Hyerim had never worn makeup before. She had a little bit of concealer here and there, curled her eyelashes, some lip tint. But never to the extent that Jihee did on her. She could barely recognise herself in the mirror, thought Jihee assured her that she was being dramatic.

"All done," Jihee announced, patting her shoulder while unplugging the curling iron. "No, don't touch," she quickly told Hyerim as the girl moved to brush her fingers through the curls. "They have to set for a bit, don't brush them otherwise they'll just uncurl."

Hyerim sat on the bed stiffly, trying not to move her head or touch her face while Jihee busied herself with choosing shoes for both of them. Thankfully, the girls were the same size in clothes and shoes, so Jihee was able to stuff Hyerim in all her belongings.

"Here." A pair of glittery, pink, strappy heels were shoved in Hyerim's face, and the girl gingerly took them, turning them around to look at the 5 inch heels. She opened her mouth to protest, but closed it again, knowing it wouldn't do anything against the force of nature that Jihee was.

The girls buckled up their shoes, grabbing their purses, and left the dorm in the uber that Jihee had called.

❆

warning: sa

Hyerim stood in the corner, nursing a can of Sprite that she had almost finished. Jihee had left her a while ago after telling her "let's stick together". Hyerim didn't blame her - the guy she had run off with was very attractive.

It had been around half an hour since Jihee left. It wasn't like Hyerim knew anyone at the party, so she could easily call an uber and leave, but she didn't want to go. It definitely wasn't because she was hoping to see a certain someone tonight.

Deciding to leave her corner of the living room, Hyerim wandered towards the kitchen, wanting to find another drink and maybe a snack. She noticed a 6 pack of sprite sitting on the kitchen island, and she walked over to grab one from the already-opened box.

Fiddling with the can ring to open it, she tried to open it with her press-on acrylic nails, but failed. Trying to remember how Jihee did it for her earlier, she attempted to copy the memory, but failed. Huffing, she set the can down on the counter, but a hand reached out to pick it up.

"I can help you with that." Turning around, she saw a guy with the can in his hand, opening it expertly, messing around with the ring, tearing it off before handing it to her.

"There you go."

Wordlessly, Hyerim bowed her head in an act to thank him, holding the can in front of her chest self-consciously. She leaned against the island, waiting for him to leave, but he made no move to. Instead, he leaned against the counter too.

"I haven't really seen you around." He turned to face her, smirking at her before his eyes trailed down to her chest. Hyerim held the can of sprite closer, suppressing the urge to gag.

"Uh-huh," she replied dryly, giving him a stiff smile before looking away from him.

"You're pretty, you look like a first-year. Maybe a second-year? What's your name?" He leaned closer to her, hand coming to rest on her elbow. Hyerim could smell the strong alcohol stench in his breath. Trying not to wrinkle her nose, she uncomfortably shifted her arm to try and wriggle out of his grasp, but it only strengthened.

"Aw, come on, talk to me. There's not many girls around here that are as pretty as you," he whined, leaning even closer so that Hyerim could feel his breath fanning on her face.

"Please don't..." She put her palm on his chest, shoving him away from her lightly so that he let go of her elbow, and she turned to leave, but his hand shot out to grab her forearm, this time with a lot more strength than he used previously.

"Come on. Don't be boring." He pulled her towards him, and she stumbled slightly in her heels, some of her drink spilling onto her hand.

"Please don't touch me," she tried to defend herself, moving her arm to try and get it out of his hold, but he tightened it even more so that Hyerim could feel his fingernails digging into her flesh. She yelped loudly when she felt his other hand snake around her waist, and hold on to her ass. 

"Let go!" 

Tears prickled in her eyes as she thrashed around in his hold. He loudly complained when her heel came up to kick him in his shin, and for a moment, Hyerim thought he would let go of her, but it only angered him more.

"Bitches like you need to be taught a lesson-"

The random guy didn't get to finish his sentence. A fist was launched into his face, making him let go of Hyerim as he stumbled backwards, hand holding onto his nose.

"Who the-"

He was again cut off short when another punch pummelled into his face, a tanned hand clutching onto his shirt as the other hand repeatedly punched his face.

Gasping, Hyerim managed to back away from the scene, before she registered who was punching him.

Haechan.

She watched as Haechan had him pinned against the fridge, slamming his head into the fridge door. The guy shouted profanities, arms coming up to shield his face, but the purple-haired boy threw him onto the floor instead, straddling him to beat him up.

It seemed like ages until Jaemin and Jeno rushed into the kitchen to wrench Haechan off the guy, who was now a bloodied mess on the floor. His nose was obviously broken, as it stood at an odd angle, and he might've lost a few teeth in the process.

"Alright, that's enough, bud," Jeno told Haechan, who obviously wasn't done, eyes searching around the kitchen until he spotted the sprite that Hyerim had set on the counter. He grabbed it, and poured it on the guy laying on the floor.

It was only then that Hyerim realised that there was a crowd at the doorways of the kitchen. They cheered loudly as if this was some sort of ancient roman fight at the colosseum.

It was only then when she realised there was a pill on the guy's short. One that wasn't dissolved yet. And it seemed like Haechan spotted it too.

"YOU TRIED TO FUCKING ROOFIE HER?" he screamed, picking up the pill and then standing over the guy again before Jeno pulled him off again. He shrugged Jeno off, kneeling down next to the guy and pulling him up by the collar so that their eyes were level.

"I'm going to fucking kill you."

❆

Hyerim was right now wrapped in Jaemin's jacket, sitting on the stairs outside the house. Jaemin sat next to her.

"You sure you're okay?"

She nodded, turning around to meet Jaemin's concerned eyes.

"Don't worry, I didn't drink any of it." She smiled softly, trying to convince him that she was okay.

"Dude, I don't know what's wrong with people these days. I'm so sorry that happened to you." He shook his head. "If Haechan hadn't fucked him up, I would've."

"I don't know what I would've done if Haechan wasn't there," Hyerim told him, staring off into the distance. Jaemin gently patted her back to soothe her, and was about to say something, when the door opened behind them. The two both looked behind at who was exiting.

It was Haechan. He had discarded his leather jacket that he was wearing previously, instead only wearing his jeans and a black short-sleeved shirt underneath, his jacket slung on his shoulder. There was a smear of blood on his cheek and Hyerim could see that his fists were bloodied, knuckles raw.

"I'll talk to you later, Hyerim-ah," she could hear Jaemin tell her, but it seemed like she couldn't hear nor see anyone else except for the purple-haired boy that was standing in front of her.

Jaemin left her side, and she turned around to face the front again. Feeling someone sit next to her, she turned her head slightly, to see Haechan, as expected.

They didn't say anything for a while, before Hyerim inhaled to speak.

"Thank you."

Haechan's eyes met hers as she uttered those words.

"I don't know what could've happened if you weren't there. I was too scared," the girl admitted, eyes still holding the contact with his.

"I'm sorry no one got to you guys earlier. His friends were at the doorway, not letting anyone enter the kitchen. I'm sorry I couldn't help you earlier," he apologised profusely, fully swivelling so that he was looking at her directly.

She shook her head, instead looking at his hands.

"Your hands."

"My hands," he repeated after her, seemingly finally realising the state that his knuckles were in. 

She knew she would regret this later. But her heart spoke louder than her mind as her hands reached out to gently take his palms in hers as she inspected his injuries.

"You should disinfect these. And get some bandages on them," Hyerim instructed him, turning his hands over gingerly.

"They don't hurt." His voice was soft, contrasting to the tone he had earlier. She hummed, still staring at his hands. They were veiny, and much more defined than the hands he had in high school. Her gaze travelled up to his exposed arms, the thought occurring to her that he was no longer an 18-year old high schooler, but now a young adult.

"You've grown up," she commented, still staring at his biceps. Hyerim heard him chuckle softly beside her.

"Just because I've started hitting the gym?" He flexed his arms jokingly, but Hyerim's eyes still widened. He had gotten much more muscular, veins and tendons defined. She averted her eyes, feeling like she was watching something that she shouldn't be.

"I should go backl," she said, finally looking up into his eyes.

"I'll drive you," Haechan quickly said, standing up, gently pulling the girl up with him. He reached over, taking Jaemin's jacket off her shoulders and slinging it onto the railing.

Hyerim opened her mouth to protest, but Haechan took the leather jacket that he had over his shoulder off, and softly draped it over her shoulders instead.

"Goes with your dress." He winked at her, helping her down the stairs as they walked down the driveway and out of the gate towards his car.

"You got a new car," she noted, seeing the matte black Mercedes-Benz AMG parked. He nodded, opening the door for her, and she thanked him, ducking inside.

He stepped into the driver's seat, and pulled off, driving away.

She watched his hands on the steering wheel. "You should get your knuckles treated," she reminded him, but he hummed.

"Later."

"Well, then stop at a convenience store and I'll do it for you. It's obvious you won't do it yourself."

Begrudgingly, he agreed, finding a convenience store and parking outside it. She went inside, finding alcohol spray, cotton pads and bandages, before returning to the cashier counter. Haechan was waiting there with a box of chocobi snacks and a slice of strawberry cake. He paid for the stuff, and took it all outside to the table, Hyerim trailing behind him. 

She quietly treated his cuts, wincing every time she wiped his knuckles even though he didn't react. The cuts weren't too bad, thankfully, and she placed bandaids on them before standing up to throw the rubbish away.

Upon returning, she sat down at the table which now had the slice of cake that he purchased in the middle of it.

"What's this? It's not my birthday?" she asked him, confused.

He handed her a fork. "It was our tradition, remember? Cake."

She blinked. He gave her a grin, and started eating the cake with his battered hands.

He still remembers.

It made her smile as she ate the cake with him. He still remembers their silly tradition.

He still remembers.

very long overdue update as i have writers block but i overcame writers block after writing this chapter thank yew

btw this is his car do yall like the collage i made😍😍😍😍bro is rich

and thank you for almost 2k reads!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! this has been gaining reads like crazy and im so thankful for all the support, we are also #1 in the #haechan tag which is also insane. i love yall fr and new chapters will def be coming out as ur girl has GRADUATED high school WOOHOOO so i will have a lot more time to write before my finals yay