Cherry Cigarettes
Chapter 1 - Cherry Poppi Soda
Have you ever heard of a bully that never laid a finger on anyone?
From the back of Class 3-E’s classroom, laughter and the banging of a small locker cabinet can be heard.
Mob Girl
Ugh... Are they bullying someone again?
Mob Girl
Shh... they might hear you!
*BANG!* A body can be seen slamming against the inside of the cleaning cabinet.
Chion
HAHAHA c'mon stand up!
Chion
Hey! Yeuno, wanna land a punch on him?
The taller boy, sitting on the other side of the locker cabinets, took a glance.
Yueno
I'm heading out. Don’t follow me
He rose from where he’d been sitting on top of the small locker cabinets at the back of the classroom.
Chion blinked, then gave a weak laugh as he watched Yeuno walk away...again.
Yeuno walked through the hallway, his footsteps slow, deliberate. Students parted to make way for him, eyes dropping or shifting in the opposite direction.
No one dared speak to him. Everyone assumed he was the leader of Chion’s group, the worst of them all. And in their eyes, the only redeeming thing about him was his face.
He headed toward a vending machine nearby, fishing out some coins from his pocket.
Just as he was about to press his drink, someone bumped into him from the side.
The boy who had bumped into him froze the second he looked up and realized who he had just touched. A cold sweat slid down the side of his face.
？？？
S-Sorry! Please don't hit me!
The boy cried out, then bolted in the opposite direction, his panicked voice echoing through the hallway. Heads turned.
Yueno
*Sigh* That’s the only money I have today...
He reached down and picked up the drink he didn't want.
The can was pink and red, with a large cherry graphic splashed across the side.
It didn’t take much thought to guess the flavor.
Yeuno walked away from the vending machine with the unopened can he had accidentally selected.
As he moved down the hall, someone else came running in the opposite direction toward the vending machine.
The boy was wearing loose P.E. pants with the standard school uniform top, a strange combination, but Yeuno didn’t think much of it. His eyes barely lingered. It wasn’t his business.
He kept walking, uninterested, the cold can of Cherry Poppi sweating in his palm.
Yeuno had reached the front of his classroom.
He slid open the door, the sound of it scraping faintly through the air, but as usual, no one bothered to look his way.
He stepped inside, taking a few lazy strides, when a voice called out behind him.
He wasn’t the only one in the hallway, he figured it was meant for someone else.
This time, a pair of hands grabbed him from behind.
Yeuno glances to see who just grabbed his clothes.
It was the boy from earlier.
The one in loose P.E. pants and the school uniform top.
His chest was heaving, a smug grin stretched across his face like he’d just won something.
The boy panted, catching his breath between words.
With a soft exhale, he finally let go of Yeuno’s uniform and placed his hands on his chest, leaning forward to inhale deeply.
By now, heads began to turn.
Students in the classroom glanced toward the door, murmurs breaking out. It wasn’t every day that someone, especially a normal student, approached Yeuno like this.
He glanced down at the can in his hand.
He lifted the Cherry Poppi slightly
???
Don’t worry, I’ll pay you
His voice was bright, his tone eager, like that cherry drink was the most important thing in the world right now.
Yeuno raised a brow but held out the can.
Yueno
Fine. Give me 2,500 won.
The boy reached for the drink with both hands, practically glowing.
？？？
Hey… is Yeuno bullying someone again?
？？？
Maybe? Look, he’s even asking the poor guy for money.
？？？
Poor guy’s getting shaken down…
The boy dug into his pockets, rummaging around before finally pulling out his wallet.
???
Anyway, you can have this
He reached into the pocket of his P.E. pants and pulled out a second can.
???
I thought you might want something else.
???
But you traded it for money instead,
???
I don’t really like chocolate, so… have it.
Without warning, he grabbed Yeuno’s hand and gently placed the chocolate drink into his palm.
Suddenly, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the hallway.
A student called, rushing over and grabbing the boy—Cherie by the arm.
Mello
What the heck are you doing?!
He scolded in a low voice, quiet, but still loud enough for Yeuno to catch.
Yueno
Don’t worry, I didn’t do anything to him.
Yeuno lifted the cold can of chocolate drink and pressed it lightly against Cherie’s cheeks.
Yueno
I don’t like chocolate.
And with that, he turned and walked back into the classroom, leaving behind the quiet buzz of curious stares and the lingering chill of the can in Cherie’s hand.
Author.
This is kinda my first time in a while making a story here in this app so please share your thoughts about my writing style🥹
Chapter 2 - Cherry Honey Marshmallows
It was Hannie, a girl Cherie's age, short with soft pink hair and a naturally cute face.
She hurried toward him, eyes wide with worry.
Mello
Is Cherie actually stupid?
A classrom known as the star class of the entire school, Class 3-A was filled with the top-performing students.
But despite its reputation, not every student in 3-A was a genius, and not everyone followed the rules like they were carved in stone.
Hannie
Are you going to tell me what happened now?
She stands in front of the boys with her arms crossed. Her stance resembled that of a mother about to scold her child.
Cherie
I was just buying this soda from a guy
Cherie
Did I do something wrong?
Mello
Do you even know who that guy was?
Mello threw his arms around both Cherie and Hannie’s shoulders and pulled them in closer.
Mello
He was talking to Yeuno, that guy from Class 3-E.
Mello
The one who’s rumored to be in a gang,
Hannie
Cherie, are you actually stupid?
Cherie
C'mon, it’s not like he actually did anything to me.
Mello
Just don’t go back there again.
The second bell rang, its echo reverberating across the campus.
Students rushed back to their classrooms, the teachers entering their assigned rooms to begin the day’s lectures.
Meanwhile, across the hallway in Class 3-E, Yeuno sat at the back of the classroom, his attention nowhere near the lesson.
Chion
Why are you suddenly asking about that cherie kid?
Chion
Is he our new target?
Chion
Hahaha, whatever you say man.
Asahina Cherie, his name was well-known among the third-year students, and not just because of his grades or looks.
He was the boy with a cherry obsession.
Cherry keychains, cherry phone cases, cherry drinks, ice cream, and even food, if it had cherry in the name, Cherie loved it.
Summer
*grabs cherie on both of his shoulders*
Summer
I heard abou what happened.
Summer
So? Did you fight back?
Cherie
Nothing happened *groans*
Summer
Are you sure SURE nothing happened?
Hannie
Don't worry, Summer.
Hannie
Mello fetched Cherie on time.
Cherie
I just brought a soda to the guy... calm down already.
Cherie
Also, where have you been?
Summer
Didn't Hannie tell you?
Hannie
Ohhh... I forgot to inform them...
Summer
*Sigh* I should've told Mello, you little rat!
Summer
Anyways, I’m gonna give my excuse letter to our homeroom, so I’ll be going first.
Summer waved at the youngers and then took her leave.
Hannie
Probably playing basketball or buying snacks.
Hannie
Should we go look for him?
Cherie
I want a pudding too.
The two of them walked out of the classroom and down the hallway.
Cherie and Hannie were walking around as usual, laughing, joking around, and greeting people they knew from past years.
Before the two of them stepped down the stairs, a cold voice came from the side.
Hannie
Eeeekk *grabs Cherie's sleeves*
Download NovelToon APP on App Store and Google Play
