WRONG CINDERELLA
ch 1
11:48 PM.
Seorak Forest. 14 km outside the city. He had been running for forty minutes. He was running at night.
He slowed when he heard some sounds around him from a distance.
something heavy was getting dragged from there
curiosity got the best off me. As his feet dragged him towards the noise into the deep dark woods
He stepped off the trail.
Pushed through the treeline.
And stopped.
A man.
Big. Broad shoulders.
Rolled up sleeves despite the cold. He was on his knees, shoveling dirt with his bare hands.
In front of him — a shape.
Long. Wrapped in black plastic.
Not moving.
Han didn't run.
He didn't scream.
He just… watched.
The man in the dirt paused. His shoulders stiffened. Slowly, he turned his head.
The man tilted his head.
Like Han was a puzzle he was already bored of.
But not before he saw it.
Sitting at the edge of the burial mound. Half-buried in loose dirt. Small. White. Muddy at the toe.
Kim-Han
**breath hitched**
Now Han knew for sure that his time had neared. He had to run away from there or else. This place will be witnessing another burial
Han didn't stop running until the city lights swallowed the dark behind him. He leaned against a streetlamp, breathing hard.
He stopped at the end of the highway before looking at the small sneaker he accidentally grabbed from the scene
Written on the inner sole in black marker —
？？？
Caught you Cinderella...!
as I slowly turned around I saw the silhoutte of the man.
Slowly everything went blank
ch 2
Ceiling. My ceiling. The water stains shaped like a duck. My water stain. My duck.
I sat up so fast I nearly headbutted my own wall. Heart slamming. Hands gripping the sheets. Breathing lIke i'd actually been running.
I sat there for a full minute.
Just breathing.
Kim-Han
yeah... you are home
Kim-Han
he doesn't know your face
I threw the blanket off and got up for the day
Shower. Cold. Hair still damp. I stood in front of my drawer and staring into it.
My hands landed on them immediately. Bright yellow. Smiley faces on the waistband. My absolute favorite.
While some people had comfort foods
I apparently had comfort boxers
Kim-Han
(I actually love yellow color)
Kim-Han
(I pray my yellow boxer saves my ass)
I pulled my uniform on. And then took my bag and left to school
Westbrook University. 9:03 AM
I found them exactly where I always found them. Third bench from the entrance. Same chaos. Different Tuesday.
Kim-Han
(ORIEL was checking his reflection in his phone camera, tilting his chin like he was auditioning for something.)
Kim-Han
(IvIS had his feet up on the bench and was eating chips at 9 AM with zero remorse.)
Kim-Han
(ATHAN had a highlighter in each hand and was cross-referencing two textbooks like finals were tomorrow and not in four months.)
Athan-lee
(without looking up) You're four minutes late. Did you run?
Athan-lee
That's not the same thing. Your cardiovascular routine—
Ivis-jang
Nobody cares about his cardiovascular routine, Athan—
oriel-choi
(Still staring at phone) Han, does my jawline look asymmetrical to you? Be honest.
Kim-Han
… It looks like a jawline... I guess
oriel-choi
That's not an answer.
Kim-Han
It's the only one you're getting.
oriel-choi
(gasps) Rude. I look amazing by the way, in case anyone was wondering—
Ivis-jang
and nobody would
Athan-lee
Can everyone be quiet, I'm on the Meiji Restoration—
Ivis-jang
(loudly crunching chips) The Meiji what—
Kim-Han
(smiles and sit down at the banter when the class start)
I sat down. Let the noise wash over me. Felt my heartbeat finally — finally — slow down.
Kim-Han
everything is okay
Kim-Han
every thing is fine
in the middle of the class
Ivis-jang
(turning to Han, grinning)
So. Han.
Ivis-jang
How are you feeling today.
Kim-Han
Fine. Why do you look like that.
Kim-Han
Like you know something.
Ivis-jang
(gasping dramatically) Me?? I'm just asking about your wellbeing—
oriel-choi
(not looking up) He definitely knows something.
oriel-choi
( painting his nails)
Athan-lee
(highlighter pauses) I also want to know what he knows.
Kim-Han
Nobody needs to know anything. Drop it.
Ivis-jang
(leaning in slowly)
Yellow, Han.
Ivis-jang
(absolutely losing it) THE WIND, HAN. THE WIND CAUGHT YOUR SHIRT WHEN YOU WERE WALKING ACROSS THE COURTYARD—
oriel-choi
(drops phone) WAIT I MISSED IT—
Athan-lee
(slowly closes textbook) ...Smiley faces?
Ivis-jang
BRIGHT. YELLOW. SMILEY. FACES—
Kim-Han
They're comfortable—
oriel-choi
Kim Han, I have never respected you less—
Kim-Han
They're LIMITED EDITION—
Ivis-jang
(wheezing) LIMITED EDITION SMILEY FACE BOXERS—
Athan-lee
(visibly trying not to smile) I'm not going to comment on this.
Athan-lee
I will say — statistically — yellow is associated with anxiety and emotional stress—
oriel-choi
This is the most I've ever learned about Kim Han and I wish I could unlearn it—
Han buried his face in his hands.
for making plans for the week
ch3
After Last Period. 4:17 PM
The four of them spilled out of the building like
they'd been personally wronged by education.
oriel-choi
(rolling his neck dramatically) I cannot believe they expect us to retain information under fluorescent lighting. Do you know what fluorescent lighting does to your skin?
oriel-choi
Makes it look DEAD, Ivis—
Athan-lee
(consulting planner) Okay. Academic standing review. Han — you have nothing due until the 18th. I have nothing until the 21st. Ivis—
Ivis-jang
I don't want to hear my name in that sentence.
Athan-lee
You have nothing due because you haven't started anything—
Athan-lee
That is NOT the same—
oriel-choi
What are we doing tonight though, genuinely.
Everyone stopped.
Looked at each other.
The sad, slow realization setting in.
oriel-choi
We have absolutely nothing to do.
Athan-lee
(pained) I finished all my assignments three weeks early.
Athan-lee
I need STIMULATION, which is different—
Ivis-jang
(already pulling out his phone) Okay. Okay okay okay. I have an idea.
oriel-choi
The last time you said that I ended up with a semi-permanent marker mustache.
Ivis-jang
That was ONE time and it gave you CHARACTER—
oriel-choi
It gave me TRAUMA—
Ivis-jang
Han's apartment. Tonight. Netflix and chill—
Kim-Han
Don't call it that.
Ivis-jang
Movies and blankets and snacks and we don't think about school or responsibilities or anything depressing—
Athan-lee
(slowly) ...That's actually reasonable.
Ivis-jang
I have my moments.
oriel-choi
Are we ordering food or—
Ivis-jang
Obviously ordering food, Oriel, what kind of operation do you think we're running—
Kim-Han
It's my apartment.
Ivis-jang
Our apartment spiritually—
Kim-Han
It is literally my apartment. My name. On the lease.
(he corrected)
Ivis-jang
Han. Buddy. Light of my life—
Kim-Han
(already sighing) Fine.
Ivis-jang
: (to the sky) He said fine—
oriel-choi
What are we watching though. I'm not watching anything with subtitles, I did enough reading today—
Athan-lee
Subtitles are proven to improve reading speed—
Ivis-jang
says the reading junkie... ( laughed at athan)
oriel-choi
I will leave. I will turn around and go home—
Kim-Han
We're watching whatever's on. Nobody gets a vote.
Ivis-jang
Spoken like a true host.
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