~ Together by a String ~ (Jiyoo)

~1~

7:25 AM / KYH (Yoohyeon)

*yawn* "Ugh... Well that was uncomfortable."

I said to myself while looking at my homework on the desk from last night. I had so much to do that I fell asleep on my chair after completing all of my assignments. And now I have back and neck pain, awesome!

I checked the time and hurriedly got ready for school so I wouldn't be late. I wore my uniform and quickly ran downstairs to put my shoes on. But right before I left, I heard my brother Yoojung calling out my name from the kitchen. I quickly rushed to him in an instant while hopping around out of impatience.

"Gwood Mowning Hyeonwie! Whant swome?"

He waved at me with a mouth-full of toast and a welcoming grin. I shook my head and told him to eat alone this time with an apologetic smile, but he flashed me his puppy eyes. He's a grown ass adult now, I don't know why I still fall for his childish tricks.

♪♪♪♪

"Umm, was it good?"

I turned to look at Yoojung and noticed how anticipated he looked. I was confused for a moment because it's not his first time cooking. He made pancakes with maple syrup but they did taste different than usual - the good kind of different.

"It was delicious, why are you so worried?"

"Oh, it's nothing. I tried out a new cooking recipe I found on your school's website and I'm glad it turned out good."

"Huh? Did you say my school's website? Why are you following my-"

I suddenly got interrupted by a loud music coming from outside my house. Yoojung put his fork down and stood up to look at the commotion. He let out a soft chuckle and turned to face me while pointing behind him above his shoulder.

"It's your one and only favorite parasite walking to school with her metalhead friends again."

He didn't even have to say a name for me to understand who he meant - Kim Minji, the most obnoxious human being anyone could come across. I sighed in annoyance and put my leftovers in the fridge. He noticed me trying to fix my tie so he helped me with it with his big-brotherly smile.

"Don't try to butt into her business today and just do what you always do in school, okay?"

Yoojung gently pat my shoulders and opened the front door for me. I turned back to wave him bye and he jumped while waving like a toddler. I really love this guy, I'm so glad I have him. I took my bicycle from the garage and rode to school while listening to a morning podcast as always.

♪♪♪♪

I reached the school gates after a while but right when I thought I had it easy, Kim Minji appeared out of nowhere. She wasn't with her group from earlier, now she had a different horde of punks and delinquents that were expelled or suspended from their schools.

What impressed me the most was how annoyed I was by her appearance, yet I was scared... for her. She's in school but she isn't a slight worried that she might get caught by security for bringing outsiders in here nor terrified of their unusual punk-like clothing and how dangerous they could secretly be. She's not doing anything useful to the school nor for herself by bringing those weirdos here.