the beginning.
Kim Soomin was a pupil to Korea’s number 1 boarding school, Daesan International Academy. How she got there is a question that lingers. And most likely a question that will never be answered.
She wasn’t the best person in class. In fact, she was one of the worst behaved, simply because she couldn’t keep her mouth shut. Any sort of academics weren’t her strong suits either.
What she was known for though, was her incredible ability at art. Multiple forms of art too. Soomin could draw, dance, design and even act. She was good at it all when it came to her creative side. She was even in multiple clubs catering to her creative passions. Perhaps that’s one of the reasons she was still here. Because she was an upcoming star.
However, not everybody cares for a star. Or to put it simply, ‘not everybody’ was just Jeong Hyerin.
Hyerin was an immaculate student. She passed with flying colours in every subject, there wasn’t one where she lacked in. She was the top student and even got multiple awards for her smarts. Hyerin didn’t lack in a single thing.
Except talking to people.
Hyerin was somebody who didn’t believe in the concept of “friends”. She believed no matter what, it would always end up to her being alone. So she might as well stay alone.. right? It would hurt her less. Right?
These were the questions Hyerin couldn’t answer. While she could understand logic, she couldn’t understand feelings like empathy. She couldn’t understand feelings at all. Why was it so hard for Hyerin to be alone? Yet so easy? Her mind was playing tricks on her, one day she felt free and happy when away from people. But the other day, she would long to have a friend group. To have a friend. She would take anyone who could just understand her.
And she doesn’t know why Kim Soomin thinks she could.
They’re both in their second year of boarding school now and they both know of each other’s existence due to them having some of the same classes. But once Soomin got moved to sit next to Hyerin in Maths, the last period of the day, Soomin got to talking.
Soomin is the complete opposite of social anxiety. She could talk to a wall and still be entertained and she could talk to that wall in public yet not care. She puts her happiness first above all else and her happiness relies on talking.
And this Hyerin girl piqued her interest. And like the kind, considerate soul she is, the minute she sat down she mentioned she would talk a lot.
After hearing the audible sigh from Hyerin, she took that as a chance to ask a bunch of questions she knew the girl wouldn’t answer.
“When’s your birthday? I dunno about you but mines on October 3rd. Lemme guess.. you look like a December baby. Oh wait no that would mean you’re younger than me. Maybe you are younger than me and I wouldn’t know? I would never guess.. you seem so mature. Talking about that, why aren’t you-“ Soomin got caught by the teacher and got told to shush once more.
Hyerin was already getting a migraine. How could she have so much energy at the end of the day? On a Friday too? And, she doesn’t understand why the teacher decided to put Soomin next to her. She fully gets that she can’t keep sitting next to Hayeon because of how much they talk but there are so many other options. Anyone but her would have worked.
And it was Hyerin’s unlucky day.
She knew that at the beginning of every year, dorm mates get switched around. Last year, Hyerin got lucky because her roommate was practically never home as she usually slept at her girlfriend’s house. But now, Hyerin might have to actually share her home space with somebody and the thought disgusted her. She prayed she would get someone clean and quiet.
Hyerin looked at the school board to see if she had moved. She hadn’t moved dorms entirely so that was relieving, but she decided to take a closer look at the name next to her.
JEONG HYERIN — KIM SOOMIN
You have got to be kidding me.
Hyerin couldn’t believe her eyes. She took off her glasses and cleaned them before putting them back on and seriously looking.
Yep, that said Kim Soomin. And what’s worse is that she can see the aforementioned girl walking towards the board with her surprisingly small friend group.
Hyerin immediately looked away and started speed walking to the dorm. She tried her best to get some alone time before she came over. Because she knows that once she's there, she's not getting out. And that’s the worst part by far.
Soomin walked over to the board as quick as she could. They get released at the end of the week and Soomin would be lying if she didn’t say she was excited. Her last roommate is actually her best friend now, Yeonji. So it was quite sad to know that they wouldn’t be rooming together again even though they knew all they did was cause chaos.
But Soomin loved talking to new people. She loved knowing each and every little thing about them, it gave her comfort. She had guesses on who it could be though.
Her main guess was Chaewon. She doesn’t know why, but she gets the vibes that they would be together in more classes. Or maybe that new girl Soomin started talking to. Hyerin, was it? She couldn’t really remember. She wouldn’t mind if it was her. She’d love to know more about her.
As she thought that, she spotted her quickly walking away from the board. Huh. Weird.
Yeonji pushed Soomin closer to the board, with Hayeon and Joobin close behind. She looked and noticed she was in a completely different dorm now. With none other than Jeong Hyerin.
Soomin couldn’t hide the grin that plastered on her face. Not only was it someone new, it was someone completely her type too.
This was going to be fun.