| Real Chap— Lookism ep. 22 |
Ep. 19 You can do it
I skipped episode 21 because it was about a great character named Duke. If you don't remember Duke he's the bigger dude who wants to be a rapper. If you want, reread the chapter to understand better but the basic summary I can give you of that episode was it was about Duke's life being looked down upon, auditioning and failing, bullying, people calling him an otaku, etc. Just Lookism extras acting like brainless extras.
"Ooh!"
"There's Y/N!"
"Daniel~"
Daniel, mushroom kid (Jiho), and you walked inside the cafeteria, people already starting to whisper and gossip about your presence.
So basically, my name's Whyanne, I transferred here because my parents thought I was beating up too much bitches in such little time.
"Hahaha!" An annoying ass voice laughed loudly as you watched some kid get kicked by somebody in the stomach, "High kick! Hahaha!"
Your eyes just followed the kid's body, as you could hear him whimpering. Your eyes were as wide as saucers.
The chubby kid kneels down as he presents the dumbasses with trays of food, silently looking up at them as if he was a servant— 'Ok where tf are all the damn teachers here?'
"Hey bring me some water too!"
"Hahaha!"
"Heheh" The asshats laughed mockingly
"That's Duke from the Vocal Dept. I was just like him before I hang out with you" The little mushroom kid (Jiho) who Daniel had picked up one day said as he scowled out, "They're bastards..."
Damn, Bullies were everywhere. No matter which country you go to, which animal you are, there would always be a food chain.
"Hey Jiho" Daniel smiles at mushroom kid, as you side glanced over to Daniel.
"Invite him over"
T...Those two! When did those two start hanging out with all the weirdos.
You sat infront of the three of them (Daniel, Duke, and Mushroom) as you just continued poking at your food. A bit conflicted over something.
Are they up to something? Do they collect nerds?
"Aw they're protecting the weak"
"What a great couple"
"They're really nice"
A random metal cup was thrown at your table as it bounced... right in front of Duke.
Y/N, who sat in front of Duke, wasn't happy about this.
"Oh sorry Y/N for startling you!" The guy who threw the cup spoke cockily, you didn't look at him but you recognized the voice from somewhere. (It was Vin Jin, sunglasses guy from Vocal Department. Asshole.) "Duke fetch me some water"
Duke stays still in his seat, completely frozen still.
Sunglasses (Vin Jin) gets up as you heard him getting closer to your table, he leans into Daniel's shoulder, "So you two are the new transfer students. You both are damn good looking and I like that. Want a cigarette? Let's go smoke" (I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THEY AUTOCORRECTED 'SMOKE' TO 'SNORKEL' AND I HONESTLY SNORTED)
You held your head down, your anger boiling over bit by bit. You clenched your fist onto the fork, bending the steel millimeter by millimeter.
Daniel on the other hand gave Vin Jin a death glare, his head turned over as you could see him having a similar reaction to you.
"Do you have a problem with me? What's with that look?" Vin Jin smirks, but for some reason he had a single thought cross his mind.
Daniel's eyes... were a bit scary.
'Huh?' Vin Jin than notices Jay glaring him down from another table, telling him to fuck off with every ounce of his psychic powers. 'What the hell is with this dick? What's he looking at?'
"Hey Vin Jin, stop fucking around with Y/N's group and get your own water." Zack mutters, he passes Vin Jin and their crew with Leorio like swagger. With his hand stuffed into his adid@s sweats and the other holding onto his lunch tray. Mira was by his side too, glaring at Vin Jin, she knew he was a troublemaker. And the fact that Vin would even throw a cup like that at Y/N's table made Mira gasp and seethe.
"What's up with Zack nowadays?"
"He's not bullying anyone lately"
Vin Jin scowls as his crew gets behind him, standing up from their lunch table, "Is Y/N your girl or something? You wanna get fucking messed up?"
"Can't you fucking see anything with you glasses on? I bet you hate (your favorite candy bar)" Zack retorts before stopping in his tracks as the three goons all backed up Zack.
Mira only continued walking over to your table.
'What the hell is he talking about?' Robbie thinks, 'What does (your favorite candy bar) have anything to do with this?'
"Oh they're gonna fight!"
"Fashion and Vocal!"
"Over Y/N no less!"
"Hey glasses" A new competitor came in as he narrows his eyes at Vin Jin, Vasco points at Vin with an accusing finger, "Pick up your own cup."
"Vasco wow!"
"I heard he fought somebody and now he had to rest!"
"Wow did he fight a hundred guys?"
...
Why are background characters so dumb through?
"You can put your cup in a sink" Vasco states as he and a few of the Burn Knuckle Crew walks towards Vin intimidatingly.
"What, are you all trying to start something? Mind your own damn business" Vin Jin sneers back defensively, he was starting to get more and more outnumbered. And that was pissing him off to no end.
"Didn't you mom ever tell you not to throw things on the floor?" -Vasco
"What, just get lost already!" Vin Jin
"Guess I'll have to scold you then." -Vasco
"Haha you wanna fight? Fucking bring it!" -Vin Jin
"Fine if that's what you want." -Vasco
"Hey." Your loud but stern voice stated out loud as everything went dead silent, all eyes laid on you, as you got up despite Mira's pleas that you just not get involved, "Take off your glasses short stuff. I'll fight you."
Even with your mouth slightly ajar, your eyes were glossed over, eyebrows relaxed as your calm posture contrasted the deadly atmosphere surrounding you.
Daniel stands up along with you, not wanting you to face Vin Jin by yourself.
The reactions to your sudden disturbance created a mix of comments to arise. Through they were in more hushed voices, you could still make out some whispers.
"I haven't seen her fight before, do you really think she's all that?"
"Didn't you hear? She fought against Zack and won."
"She's the international champion for boxing I heard."
"What? I thought she was fought in Taekwondo?"
"I heard the last time she fought it could've been a fluke..."
You could tell these were kids from different classes, because everybody in your class knew that your fighting skills wasn't for show.
Maybe it's discrimination or something because all the negative comments were directed towards you. And not Daniel, even through he was the one who had squared up with Zack first.
You itched the back of your head, wishing everybody would just disappear.
While all the group of nobodies were gossiping amongst themselves, Vasco stood with an emotion blossoming in his chest.
He grabbed onto his collar of his wife beater and squeezed it as he bit his bottom lip. 'I-Is she... possibly trying to keep me from fighting because she thinks I'm still hurt from before?'. Vasco makes his own little scenarios in his head, which is why he probably jumps to conclusions so fast.
Jace looks back at Vasco trembling a bit as he pays his back, "Yo Vasco, you good?"
When you and Daniel both stood up and started walking towards the commotion, Jay immediately stood up and followed. Through he was far behind, he didn't want to see the two of you possibly get hurt. Even by a scratch.
Zack only sighs lightly before smirking, 'Ah, she's such a handful. Look at how she's walking, she probably feels so cool. She's gonna get hurt if she keeps on being so confrontational, maybe I should throw her a bone and help her.'
Zack was in complete delusion himself, maybe he had simply forgotten that you had beaten him up twice before. But seriously, the way he was grinning so cockily like he could swoop in and become the knight in shining armor was just... nahhhh...
Mira's eyes followed your back as her eyebrows knit together, she couldn't believe you had just gone and picked yourself another fight like that. Even when she had pleaded with you not too! Y/N really is like some other muscle for brains person she knows.
She sighs, gripping onto her spoon as she looked down at her lunch tray frustrated. "Ugh! Whatever!" Mira began to scoop her mushroom soup into your bowl, 'She'll need the extra energy after she's finished with Vin!'.
Both Jiho and Duke watches how Mira was just doing this with complete confusion in their eyes.
As everybody parted for you, Daniel followed behind you like an obedient puppy.
The way to Vin Jin was simple, as soon you were face to face with him, and by face to face I really meant you were exactly almost his height.
This made Vin Jin taken a back, he didn't think you'd be this tall either. But he couldn't help but notice that your beauty really did exceed you. He was in the midst of fawning over your flawless face when your leg pulled up to kick the lunch table behind him.
This made Vin jump, he immediately falls back down on the seat as your leg (which you wore some sweats under your uniform's skirt, don't worry) blocked his left side.
"You like talking mad shit huh?" You hummed, bored eyes boring into his sunglasses.
Vin Jin coughs into his fist, his face slowly turns away. Even through you were clearly mad, Vin couldn't help but take the time to comment a cheesy pick up line, "I- I don't hit girls, especially cute ones"
...
Bro smooth as fuck for that one.
You closed your eyes as you purses your lips, trying really hard not to let out a laugh.
You couldn't help but want to through, the comedic timing was just too good.
But you decided to push your leg off the table before turning away, walking back into the confused crowd as you passed Daniel who was just dazed at Vin Jin's comment.
Vin only lets out a small laugh before he stands up again, "Now where were we—"
A métal cup smashes into Vin Jin's table, just passing him by a hair as the object bounces off with a huge dent on the side of the cup. It smashes into a nearby window as it shatters on impact.
This got a few students screaming as a lot just backed away, freaking out at the sudden and loud noise. A lot of people just stood stunned as everybody looked back at where the cup came from, only to find you in a pose that reminded some of a pitcher in baseball.
Your eyes flickering from bored from dead serious as you regained your posture, stretching your arms back before standing upright confidently.
Everybody turned their eyes on you, your face twisted as you looked like you were ready to kill Vin, "Take off your fucking glasses"
Vin Jin only blinks as he looks around for support, finding his friends ducking their heads down pathetically.
Sweat started to drip down the side of his face before his mouth turns into a scowl, "Fuck this!" Vin Jin immediately turns tail and leaves, his friends peeking up to see if the close was clear before they all high tailed it out the cafeteria, embarrassed.
"Holy shit."
"Should we call a teacher!"
"Fuck no, did you see that?!"
"Y/N's crazy!"
"She's crazy strong..."
"Shit, that almost gave me a heart attack!"
"My soul left my body tbh"
You looked at your palm dramatically, knowing you were definitely fucked.
You just destroyed and vandalized school property, this time they were definitely gonna expel or at least suspend you. And then your mom would find out, and she'll whoop your ass until you can't sit on anything for a month.
"Y/N, are you okay?" Daniel said quickly as he was by your side in an instant, "You're trembling..."
You didn't even realize before he pointed it out, you felt Daniel's hands on your shoulder as his chest was basically hugging your arm. He was just that close to you.
"Hey! You fucker!" Zack's loud voice hollered as you saw Daniel being shoved off of you. "You really are an opportunist, huh?!"
Zack grabbed onto Daniel's collar as you could see him popping a vein. Daniel grunts as Mira pops out of nowhere and grabs onto Zack's arm.
"Stop it Zack! Just let go of him!"
"Hey stop that. The both of you." Vasco suddenly was thrown into the mix as he pries the both apart with his immense strength. He then tilts his head up to locked eyes with you, and you had to admit, he looked like a baby deer with his eye shape and pout.
Why was he looking at you?
Like for what?
"Hey, looks like they all really care for you. Got our boss to defend you too." A voice appeared behind you, as you don't know how everybody is so damn fast that they just appear out of nowhere.
You looked back as you saw a dude with really big ears. You pursed your lips again, trynna not to be rude as you just nodded.
"You're lucky, not many people have so many to care for you." Big Ears (Jace) smiled.
"Sure" You only said as you suddenly had an icky feeling inside the pits of your stomach.
"Ooh just look at them through"
"The students from the fashion department gives me chills~"
"Even through Y/N is scary, I think she's pretty cool."
"Yeah, and she's so gorgeous too."
A lot of people were starting to crowd the group, Daniel had managed to get Zack off of him with the help of Mira and Vasco as he started to face another challenge.
The girls surrounding him all bombarded him with questions, asking if he really was your boyfriend and other nonsensical things.
'Whatever, this was annoying as shit, I'm thirsty.' You pushed Jace out of the way before stopping, you saw Duke handing you a cup of water with both hands. Your eyebrows furrowed as he smiles sweetly.
"Must be tiring, huh?" He only says as you let out a short laugh.
"Fuck yeah it was." You said as you took the water, chugging it down.
"Hey Daniel, are you going go in the slave auction?" Some girls asked Daniel as you did a spit take, you coughed violently on your water.
"Y/N?! Are you ok?" Duke says worryingly as the attention was on you again.
'No I'm not ok, she just fucking said slave auction. Slave!' You thought trying to calm your lungs down, your throat feeling on fire.
Daniel immediately dismisses the girls, trying to pass them as he comes up to you to give you a napkin that he had taken from another girl's hand. But by the time he reaches you, he sees Vasco, Mira, Zack and even Jace (what the hell) was already trying to give you a napkin. All of them staring at each other.
"What the-" Girls began to flood around Daniel once more, trying to move him away from you as he gasped and reached out for you. You, however were busy reaching for a random napkin, not giving a fuck who you take.
"Daniel! You have to perform!"
"If you go in the auction I'll buy you, teehee"
Your hand brushes up against Mira's as you taken it and muttered a small thank you in return.
This caused Mira to smile before patting your back and soothing you. The other guys had no chance as they felt a winters storm or cold feeling wash over them. The feeling of rejection.
You began to calm down a little as the choking subsided, Mira was clearly worried about you and asked if you wanted to go to the nurse's office. Zack was by your side too, insisting he can even Princess carry you to the nurse's office if you needed. You just took a seat, wanting to just enjoy your lunch for the remaining time you had left.
Daniel was still being smuggled and surrounded with no way to escape, I guess all the girls thought this was a chance to talk to the famous transfer student. Who knows.
Jay on the other hand randomly disappeared a while ago to pay off the window you had smashed as Vasco backs away and begins to watch you from afar, a single tear dripping down his cheek as all he can do is watch because he wasn't apart of your social group.
Zack took a seat next to you, crossing his legs in the process, not even giving a damn about the napkins "Man, that guy was an asshole, guys who bully people for no good reason aren't cool. Am I right?" He spoke with a blush, watching you eat your cold mushroom soup that somehow got fuller...
Mira giggles at him as you ignored his presence, noticing Duke and Jiho were just casually finishing their meal as well.
You laid down on your desk, legs dangling off as you scrolled through social media. You stopped at a video where an idol guy was singing live, you watched it for a bit as Daniel looks over at you.
The classroom was empty at this point of the day as Daniel on the other hand was mopping the floor like a good boy. He insisted on doing it because of how tired you must be after that lunch room incident.
You hated mopping the floor or cleaning in general so your lazy ass just gave him a thumbs up and a thank you. Also you promised to cook him unburnt ramen noodles this time.
"This guy's good." You said nonchalantly as Daniel looks over at your screen, seeing a handsome guy singing.
"Hey Y/N" He suddenly said your name as you gave him a "huh?"
"Do you think I can ever be on stage? Like... singing too?" He asked you before shaking his head, "Wait I'm kidding, ju-just ignore I ever said that."
"Sing." You State as you turned off your phone.
"Wh-What?" He was caught off guard as you sat up on your desk, feet on your chair as you rested your chin ontop of your palms.
"I want to hear you sing."
***
Duke walks by himself through the empty halls as he thinks to himself, 'I have lyrics but without a melody they're all dull. If only I can mix a song like Vin Jin or Jeong Gi it'll be better. But I can't help it, I'll just have to do my best'.
An unknown song was heard, a delightful one as Daniel's singing voice filled the hallways. A voice of kindness filled Duke's ears.
Duke's POV
As the sun went down and darkened the classroom I heard his voice.
As a cool fall breeze filled the empty room.
It was like he was crying out to me.
I was not sure why his voice felt so lonely even through he was such the prefect guy.
What we have in common.
And why I felt empathy for him
As I walk closer I heard another voice, a humming this time that went well with Daniel's singing. I even heard a thumping, a beat was being created.
Was that? ...
Y/N?
Her humming, the melody she was creating with her angelic voice, an emotion swirled inside me. One filled with empowerment, a push for me to achieve greater things.
Her way to form a melody through the tempo of her foot thumping, the hum of her voice. She was a gang leader, a delinquent, a martial arts champion...
She was so talented already, who knew she was able to create a lovely melody.
***
As the song ended, Daniel sneaks a peek up at you. And when he did, he was quickly floored at how beautiful the shine of sun setting on your face looked. The orange hue had made your skin look iridescent. The light bouncing off the side of your face made you look like you were glowing from the inside.
Daniel takes a step forward towards you, hand reaching out subconsciously as something inside him felt the need to grab you and hold you tight.
Like any moment you would just vanish, just like a dream.
But when you opened your eyes, he stumbles, his hand pulling back as he only smiles at you.
"So? W-Was my singing alright?" He asks.
"Did you make up that song?" You asked, eyebrow raised as it caught him off guard.
"U-Uhm, yeah. I did, I mean I sorta did. It was... It was actually a song my mom would listen too often. I don't remember the lyrics exactly but..." Daniel trails off before he turns his head back at you, "Never mind that! Your humming was amazing! It really helped me during the song when I couldn't remember the lyrics exactly."
"Nah it was nothing" You smiled cheekily, your nose getting longer because of the compliments. "It's just some made up beat, my friend back in (Country Name) could mix a way better one digitally. She makes songs for fun, I just copy what she taught me honestly."
Daniel laughs as he sits on the desk opposite from yours, the both of you close together which made you a bit uncomfortable.
"But hell yeah you should go on stage! I'll root for you too!" You said some words of encouragement, flashing him a thumbs up to somehow lighten the mood. He sighs in relief before smiling back at you.
"So if I become a singer... would you... only look at me?"
When Daniel blurted that out, he didn't even realize at first. This made you pause too as Daniel finally registered what happened, he blushes before holding his hand in front of his mouth, turning his head to the side.
But this moment was suddenly disturbed by a noise, a door opening as you turned you head over to see who just entered the classroom.
"H-Hi" You recognized Duke standing there.
"L-Lets-" He began as he looked at the two of you, "Perform at the school festival together, the three of us"
...
Huh?
"I know it's crazy but I was wrong about the two of you. I feel honesty in both of your voices. Please. I need you two!" He begged, "Y-You two must feel bad at my proposal. I'm not trying to capitalize your guy's popularity or anything"
This guy...
"I'm confident in my rapping. The three of us will blow them away I promise!" He spoke
He just...
"If you want to hit me go ahead, but please... Just think about it" Duke squints his eyes, like he was expecting to get socked or something.
... Saved me from a hella awkward confession.
"U-Uh, yeah of course." Daniel stammers as you stayed quiet. Only nodding.