★ | #03 | stairs
"get to class, ms. seong."

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motion sickness • phoebe bridgers

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WAKING up late was never uncommon for Seong Haewon, as she spent her nights staying up late reading the latest manhwa she had picked up earlier on in the day upon release.

Her steps were rushed as she jogged up the flight of stairs, backpack hanging off her shoulder as her breaths were heavy, hand holding onto the silver railing to the right of her.

Only, did she come to a pause upon seeing new steps of footsteps appear in front of her, head lifting to come eye to eye with none other than Kim Miyoung, alongside her two friends — Cho Areum and Jeong Eunji.

Her chest heaved up and down, cheeks flushed as she looked at the girl, brows slowly tying into a knot.

“Seong Haewon,” Miyoung began, tilting her head off to the side as a smile spread across her cherry pink lips. “Where are you headed in such a rush?”

Haewon shifted her gaze down, continuing up the stairs as she attempted to walk around the three girls, only for her path to be blocked yet again.

She sighed quietly, biting down on her bottom lip as she looked up at the girl. “Will you please just let me go, Miyoung? Don't you have better things to do?”

“What better to do than to punish a student for being late, hmm? I'm sure the principal wouldn't mind if I, a faithful classmate, disciplined you a bit for your irresponsibility.” Miyoung pouted, tilting her head.

The girl slowly stepped down the stairs in front of Haewon, causing said girl to back herself down the stairs, hand clasped tightly onto the railing.

“This isn't funny. Just leave me alone.” Haewon breathed out, misstepping and nearly tripping as she walked backwards down the stairs, a squeak leaving her lips at the near accident.

Miyoung laughed, rolling her eyes as she suddenly reached her arm out, hand clasping onto her collar as her eyes narrowed, scanning her white blouse.

“You managed to get the stain out, hmm? I must say, I'm impressed.” Miyoung spoke teasingly, brows raised.

“Let go of me.” Haewon huffed, her right hand reached up to wrap around Miyoung’s wrist, attempting to shake her tight grip on her clothing.

“Watch it, Seong. I could push you down these stairs if I really wanted to, so I'd be careful if I were you, yeah?” Miyoung hummed, a smile on her lips.

“You—” Haewon began, only to be cut off by a new voice as Miyoung quickly let go of her collar, fixing her posture immediately.

“Is everything alright here, ladies?” Mrs. Cha questioned, a singular brow raised as she pushed her rectangular specs further up the bridge of her nose.

After a brief moment in silence, Kim Miyoung was the first to speak, her expression coy as she curved her brows inward.

“Yes, Mrs. Cha. Seong Haewon was trying to skip class, and we were only trying to convince her otherwise.” Miyoung lied, blinking innocently.

Haewon’s lips parted, eyes widening at the lie. Her eyes immediately shifted to her teacher, meeting the woman's sharp gaze.

“Is that true, Ms. Seong?” Mrs. Cha questioned, eyes narrowing as she folded her hands neatly in front of her.

“I—” Haewon began, but paused as she saw the faces of Miyoung and her two friends, realizing it was a lose-lose situation, being three against one. In her eyes, there was no point in arguing.

“Yes, ma'am.” Haewon mumbled in defeat, looking down at her shoes as she heard the distinct giggling coming from Cho Areum, who quickly silenced herself upon a nudge given to her by Miyoung.

“Thank you, girls. Get back to class, I will handle this myself.” Mrs. Cha spoke, as the three girls nodded and bowed out of respect before scurrying off.

Once left alone, Mrs. Cha sighed quietly, shaking her head. “Come, Ms. Seong. I will personally escort you to class by myself.”

Haewon pursed her lips, nodding her head quietly as she headed up the stairs, following loosely behind the woman, who practically radiated her disappointment.

Once outside of her classroom, Mrs. Cha paused, turning to look at the student. “Ms. Seong,” she called out, clearing her throat.

Haewon turned her head to look at the woman, staying quiet as she waited for her to speak.

“I am very disappointed in you. Skipping class is a violation, resulting in detention. This behavior cannot keep happening. All it takes is a few more violations and you could be getting suspended, or even expelled. I expect a serious change in your behavior, young lady.” Mrs. Cha scolded, as Haewon hung her head low.

“Yes ma'am.” The student uttered out, bowing quietly.

A short moment passed, before the click of Mr. Cha’s heels filled her ears as she began to walk away.

“Get to class, Ms. Seong.” The woman added onto briefly, as Haewon took a deep breath, turning around before entering her classroom.

“Which creates— ah, Ms. Seong, so nice of you to join us today.” Mr. Byun paused in the middle of his teaching, head turned in the direction of the doorway where the girl stood awkwardly.

“Take your seat quietly.” Mr. Byun directed, turning his attention back to what he was teaching.

Haewon didn't reply, her feet carrying her to her seat as she avoided the stares of her classmates as she passed by.

Shrugging her backpack off of her shoulders, she set it down on the floor beside her feet, unzipping it to grab out her books. Once set up, she felt a shoe graze the side of her leg, attempting to catch her attention.

Haewon lifted her head, unbothered by the action of the boy, who happened to be her very own best friend.

Lee Heeseung tapped her pencil down onto a small piece of paper, reading “where were you?”

Haewon sighed, shaking her head as she dismissed it. The boy frowned, but brushed it off as he tried to push it to the back of his mind, for now focusing on the lesson.

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★﹐authors corner ．﹗﹑ 1.0k words
i am so depressed lololol anywayyyy writing is so
nice and therapeutic guyssss ahaha ^^

physical therapy is kicking my ass and i am stressing to the max omg !! yay

i literally just started and the people i work with are really sweet but it's so draining doing all of the exercises and knowing i have to do them or i won't get better is actually the most stressful thing ever to me like 😞😞

ok i will stop rambling i swear

thank you all for readingggg! mwahmwah ilysm
january 22nd, 2024 — 4:23pm.
not proofread.