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The night before the start of school.

Mom said,

“Do you remember Baekhwi?”

“Oh, Minha Ajumma’s son.”

“Yes. I talked to Minha over the phone after a long time, and she said Baekhwi was also assigned to your middle school.”

“Ah, really? And?”

He’s probably doing well.
I’m not particularly interested in how he’s doing.

“It’s good to have someone you know. Try to be friendly with them.”

“Alright.”

“Have you packed all your supplies?”

“Haam, am I a kid?”

“Lee Dohee, why are you so grumpy today?”

“Sorry, I guess I’m just too tired today. I’m going to bed first.”

Wow, it seems like the practice intensity has increased lately.
I’m so drowsy that I keep yawning.

“Sigh, okay go to sleep quickly then.”

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The first day of middle school.

Sujin, who was assigned to the same middle school, kept nagging me to go to school together with her in the morning, so I had no choice but to agree.
When I arrived at the meeting place, Sujin was already there.

“Jung Sujin, I’m here. Let’s go.”

Sujin spoke in an energetic voice in the morning.

“Yeah! Let’s go, lets go~”

Sujin was so excited about the first day of school, that she chattered with an enthusiastic expression the whole way to school.
After answering vaguely to her questions half listening, we arrived at school.

“Well, then I’m going now.”

“I wish we were in the same class…”

Since Sujin and I were in different classes, we had to go to our respective classes.

“Next year, we’ll be in the same class. So go quickly.”

“I know…”

As I was turning to go into my class, Sujin grabbed me and said,

“Dohee, you’re going to have lunch with me today, right?”

“You should eat with the kids in your class. You need to make friends.”

“Whyyy… let’s eat together.”

She seemed worried as soon as it was time to enter the classroom, even though she was excited on the way to school.

“You’ll make friends soon anyway. If you really don’t have anyone to eat with, then let me know.”

“Yes…”

“Alright, go in.”

I entered my assigned class, Class 1.
As soon as I went into the class, the kids who arrived first were sitting together, chatting loudly in groups with friends from the same elementary school.

The seat by the window in the back was empty.
Awesome.

I sat down, hung my bag, and put on my wireless earbuds.
Then I listened to my singing performance from the monthly evaluation a few days ago and reviewed it once more.
The more I listen, the more shortcomings I see that I could’ve improved.
Ah, I should have finished the last note a bit better here.

While I was listening to the song, a girl came up to me and spoke to me.

“Hi, Dohee.”

I took out my earbuds and looked at the girl.
Who’s this?

Seeing me look at her with an unfamiliar gaze, the girl said,

“We were in the same class in 5th grade. I’m Hyeju.”

Ah.
I think I might remember.
Well I guess, I should act like I know her…

“Ah, it’s you Hyeju! I didn’t recognize you because of the makeup you had on.”

“Yes, yes. If the seat next to you is empty, can I sit there?”

I wish she’d just go away to a different seat.

“Yeah, sit down, sit down.”

A moment later, two more girls approached and said,

“Oh! Hyeju!”

Hyeju jumped up and excitedly greeted them.

“Minkyung! Jia, are you in Class 1 too? Oh my gosh!”

The kids, called Minkyung and Jia, naturally sat in the seats in front of me.

Sigh…

They were all seated, the three of them could just chat among themselves, but the girl called Minkyung started talking to me.

“Dohee, you know me, right? We were in the same class in third grade.”

Ah.
Really?

“Ah, yeah, I remember. It’s been a while.”

Jia, the other girl, also spoke to me.

“I was in the same class in third grade too!”

“Of course~ I remember.”

I honestly don’t recognize a single person among them.

The girls continued to talk to me with cheerful voices.

“By the way Dohee, are you wearing a lip tint?”

“No, I just apply sunscreen and lotion.”

“Wow, really? I thought you had makeup on!”
“Oh, I thought you had full makeup too, but you don’t use anything else?”

“After washing my face, I use an ampoule and essence for skincare…”

“Really?”

Well, then do you think I would lie about that?

“Dohee, do you have an Instagram?”
“Yeah, me too! Me too, tell me yours.”

“Ah, no. I don’t have Instagram.”

“Huuh? Why not? If you had it, you’d be an influencer right away.”

“Because I don’t really like SNS…”

Even my Mom is on social media way too much these days.

“Then, Dohee, I don’t have your number. So can you please give it to me.”
“Me too!” “Me too!”

Ah.
I’m so drained.

A short while later, a young female Teacher-nim, who seemed to be the homeroom teacher, came in and said,

“Alright everyone, we’re going to have the entrance ceremony, so go out to the playground and line up.”

“””Yes.”””

“And is there a student named Lee Dohee here?”

I raised my hand and said,

“Yes, I’m Lee Dohee.”

“Ah, student, please follow me.”

As I followed the Teacher-nim to the playground, she handed me a certificate case and told me,

“Dohee, you’re the representative of the freshmen students today, right?”

“Ah, the freshman representative. Yes.”

Usually, the top student of the entrance exam becomes the freshmen student representative, so I guess I must have ranked first on the placement test.

“As the representative, you just need to make a simple pledge, so when it’s your turn…”

The Teacher-nim explained how to take the pledge.

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.
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“Next is the entrance pledge by the representative of the freshmen students.”

I climbed up onto the podium.
And I saw a camera capturing the moment next to me.

“I pledge.”

I raised my hand with my fingers speak out and spoke,

“We, the two-hundred-forty-three new students of Seoul Suan Middle School, solemnly pledge to abide by the school rules, study diligently, and become honest and wise individuals.”

The camera flash went off.
I should ask Teacher-nim for this photo and save it later.
That way, I can brag about being the new student representative in the future.

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.
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After the simple entrance ceremony was over, all the students returned to their classes.
When I sat back in the same seat I was sitting in before, the girls surrounded me again and started chatting.

“Dohee, why did you become the freshmen student representative?”
“Isn’t the representative usually the top scorer of the entrance exam?”
“Ah, really?”
“Dohee was really good at studying. She had perfect marks on everything during elementary school.”
“Wasn’t that just a rumor?”
“It must be true, right, Dohee?”

“Haha, I was lucky…”

‘For heaven’s sake I really wish these three would just shut up. I’m so exhausted.’

Fortunately, the homeroom Teacher-nim came in shortly after, and the kids became quiet.
Teacher-nim wrote her name on the blackboard and said,

“Hi, everyone. I’m your Teacher-nim, the name is Cha Minjeong.”

“Today, we’re going to have an orientation about what your middle school life will be like. But before that, you all sat wherever you wanted, right? Please sit in the order of your numbers.”

Half of the students sighed and got up from their seats, moving to their designated seats respective to their numbers.

Phew, that’s a relief.
It’s a shame to be away from the window, but it’s a hundred times better than being surrounded by boisterous kids and having earaches.

When I went to the seat with my number on it, my partner was a girl I have never seen before.
I sat down and talked to my new seatmate,

“Hello, I’ll be in your care.”

The girl looked at me and replied with a nervous face,

“Uh… Hi!”

This kid is cute.

After exchanging greetings, I rested my chin on my hand and listened to the Teacher-nim’s explanation, and the second period ended.
During the break, all the students in my class were busy getting to know their partners.
Meanwhile, I took out my phone and checked the sports news.

Oh, the Dog House won yesterday.
Come to think of it, it’s been a while since I watched a soccer game because I’ve been so worn out.

While I was looking at my phone, in the corner of my eye I could see the girl who I was paired with next to me hesitating and moving her lips as she thought about whether to speak to me or not.

Sigh, I’ll let it slide because you are so cute.

I turned my head to look at the child and said,

“I didn’t tell you my name, did I? I’m Lee Dohee. What’s your name?”

“Ah..! I’m… Yoo Sohee.”

This child is such a cutie, she must have been showered with affection, but why is she so timid?

“Really? That’s a pretty name. Which school did you go to?”

“Ah, I just moved from Incheon this time…”

“Ah, I see.”

Then she probably doesn’t know anyone here.
If I get close to her, I can use her as an excuse to quietly hang out with just the two of us alone.

But she seems so timid and cute, like a newborn puppy, that I want to tease her.

“Then, do you know Daesik from Bupyeong, Incheon?”

“Uh…?”

“Wow, you lived in Incheon and you don’t know Daesik? He’s the top dog in Bupyeong.”

“Ah… Sorry…”

This child seems so scared and she can’t even look me in the eye properly.
Ah, why is she so cute?

2″Heh, I’m just kidding. There’s no such person. I was just teasing you to help you relax. Sorry if I startled you.”

“Ah… No! Hehe…”

She’s so damn cute.
I just want to bite her.

Sohee mustered up some courage and, with wide eyes, said something,

“That… Dohee, when I first saw you, I was surprised because of how pretty you are!”

“Ah, really? It’s the first time I’ve heard someone say that I’m pretty.”

Sohee, already having big round eyes, opened them even wider looking surprised.

“Huh…? Really?”

“Yeah, it’s really the first time.”

“You’re so beautiful…”

“What part of me is beautiful?”

Sohee, looking flustered, inspected my face from different angles and answered,

“Ah… Your eyes are really big… Your eyelashes are long, your nose is pretty, and your lips are pretty too…”

“And?”

“Your face is small as well… um…”

Ah, I want to keep teasing you.
But I can’t do it anymore because I’m afraid she might actually get scared.

“It’s a joke, haha. Sohee, you’re so cute too.”

“Ah… Thank you.”

“Really, you’re so cute.”

“Hehe…”

“Will you be friends with me from now on?”

“Yeah…”

Sorry, Do-ah.
It looks like I got a new younger sister today.
Of course, my Doa is still number one in my heart…

As we were chatting and exchanging numbers, the school bell rang.

3rd Period – Math Class
The math Teacher-nim came in.
The math Teacher-nim introduced themselves and, as it was the first day, started the orientation.
They explained that math classes would be divided into upper and lower levels after combining Class 1 and Class 2 and would proceed with a rotational class schedule.

Now come to think of it, it seems that math and English also had rotational classes in the past life.
After the third period ended, the teacher posted the class division list on the bulletin board before leaving.

Let’s see which class Sohee is in.

I went to the front to look at the list.
First of all, I should be in the upper class.

Sohee is… in the opposite class.

Looking at the list of upper-class students, I saw some familiar names.
Class 2 Baekhwi, Class 2 Jung Sujin.

Baekhwi is also in Class 2 it seems.
It was kind of fun to tease him when he was little.

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It’s lunchtime

Even though I had gotten a little closer to Sohee, she was hesitating and couldn’t bring herself to ask me to eat with her.
She’s so cute, what should I do?

“Sohee, shall we go eat?”

“Dohee, shouldn’t you be eating with your friends…?”

I’m so proud of Sohee, considering my situation first, is so thoughtful.

“I don’t have any friends.”

“Really…? You were talking a lot with the kids in our class this morning…”

“They’re just acquaintances I know. The only friend I have is you, Sohee.”

Sohee’s face brightened immediately.
The moment Sohee was about to say something else, Sujin came into our class with a forlorn expression and said to me,

“I couldn’t make any friends… Dohee, let’s have lunch together.”

Ah.
Turning to look at Sohee, she, who once was bright-eyed just a moment ago, now looks like she was on the verge of crying.

Did I just become the protagonist of a Yuri love triangle?

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.
.

So I just made them friends.

During the monthly evaluation season, I’ll probably leave school early before lunchtime like it’s nothing, but what to do if both of them don’t have any friends and skip lunch?