Dropping your heavy book bag with a sigh, the satchel hits the carpet of your dorm room floor with a dull thud, much like your current mood. Plopping into your old swivel chair, you pause to rest your head in your arms on your desk, unable to muster the energy to study just yet. Instead, your head was filled with frustration.

"I wanted to stay and hang out with them," you mutter to the empty room, "I wanted to be with Mark and stay until their pregame. I want him to put his arm around me again". Your words were a whinier tone than you would ever allow around other people. More so, around even yourself in the privacy of your now single room, but this time you allow it to voice the heavy grievance in your chest.

I finally get a boyfriend who I really like and I always have to leave early because of this.

"Man, fuck this scholarship," you huff, angrily unzipping your bag.

You slam the forsaken book, The Odyssey, onto your ill-fated desk. If this were a comic and your desk had a thought bubble, it would say, "fuck you too, y/n". Luckily, it isn't, and the inanimate furniture sits there quietly, unable to try your patience further.

"Damn this book," you curse, smacking it aside to make room for your laptop, "and screw this essay!".

Letting out a deep exhale, you calmly open your laptop screen. You smile sweetly. "Let's get this bread".

The following afternoon was filled with the sounds of rapid typing and pages flipping, your concentration unwavering from the callous literature report birthed from your tired mind. You imagine if it were an actual baby, you'd toss it off Mt. Olympus like Hera did Hephaestus. Alas, your laptop is far too expensive.

Working away at a particularly troubling passage, your ringtone brought you out of the academic trance. You fish for the device in your bag, eager to find an excuse for a break. Finally finding it under an old lab report, you check to see it's Yuna calling.

"Hey, bitch," you answer casually, holding the phone between your ear and shoulder as you continue typing.

"Hi, slut," Yuna replies in the same tone, the sound bringing a smile to your face. It's really good to hear her voice, especially now when you need a destresser. "Guess who just finished her PT for the day".

"The baddest bitch in Seoul?," you feign seriousness, leaning back to stretch your arms over your head.

"Yes ma'am," Yuna confirms, "I'll be able to throw it back in no time. Doctor says I'm doing really good and I should be able to walk some with crutches soon which is a damn relief since this wheelchair makes me look short".

You snort. Yuna, funny as always.

God, I love her.

"Thank goodness, wouldn't want you stealing my whole identity!" You spin around in your chair, resolving to take a small break. "But seriously, Yuna, that's great news".

"Thanks, babe," you can hear her smile through the phone. Hospital wifi is unfortunately not good enough for video calling, so you guys have to make do with old-fashioned audio-only. "Listen, Ten dropped by earlier and said they have a game tonight so he couldn't stay for as long today. He already left a while ago but," she sighs, "I don't know... there's no reason for me to feel bad, but this is his first game I'm going to miss since we started dating".

"You want me to wish him luck for you?," you ask carefully, knowing what your best friend was getting at. She must be so upset about the things she's missing because of the accident.

"You're the best"

"No, you," you retort, standing up and pacing around the dorm to stretch your legs, wincing slightly at the tingling numbness in your butt.

"But you must be so excited, though. It's your first game as Mark's girlfriend"

You grin at the mention of his name, "yeah I'm excited to see him tonight". You stop by your window, peering out at the late-fall scenery behind your building. Fallen leaves scatter across the full parking lot, a couple students chattering as they walk past. You tap your finger on the fogged-up glass, leaving behind a single dot of clear when you retract it. "I know that hockey is what they love best, so in a way I love it too".

"God, you're adorable!," Yuna exclaims. You imagine she's squeezing her fist tight and shaking it with excitement. "I bet Mark is really excited too".

"What do you mean?". Your dot on the window progresses into a smiley face.

"I mean like, well, you don't need to feel any pressure, but the guys tend to really like it when their girlfriends show up and cheer for them in like... a kind of extra way. Not like you have to - Mark will definitely be happy with you just being there. But I remember when Yangyang used to date Lindsay, she and I would do a little face paint and make signs".

You nod slowly, recollecting the moments when Lindsay visited your dorm to get ready with Yuna. Realizing Yuna couldn't see you, you clear your throat.

"So, like, I should dress up right? And... paint my face?". The proposition sounded even more ridiculous coming out of your mouth.

"Forget I said that, honey, you don't need to do anything"

"No but I need your advice, Yuna, you know what it's like to be a...," you search for the right term, "a good girlfriend! Ever since we started dating I feel like it's always Mark doing everything and I don't know how to pay him back," you admit. The moisture in your smiley face's eyes reaches a breaking point and 'tears' stream down it's face.

Sorry, buddy.

You wipe the whole thing away with your palm.

"Okay, I know for a fact that you could do absolutely nothing and Mark would still go nuts over you," Yuna stated confidently, "but, I feel where you're coming from. My best advice? Go call Lisa and Hope and ask them to help you get ready. Lisa's good with makeup and Hope always went with me to games when you wouldn't so she knows what you're looking for".

"You're a lifesaver, Nana," you gush, using the rare endearment that embarrasses you but your best friend loves so dearly.

"Nana!," Yuna squeals through the speaker, making you pull away from your phone due to the sudden change in volume.

"I'm hanging up"

"No! Wait a second, I actually have something important to tell you". Her tone is more serious now and you can tell she means it. Flopping down on your bed like a starfish, you wait for her to continue. "I was debating bringing this up now since I don't wanna bring down the mood, but I know you'd want me to tell you".

"Trust me, you could never bring my mood down," you comfort.

"The police came by about an hour ago with an update". You sat up quickly, adjusting the phone to listen closer. "They searched through all the surrounding traffic cams when the accident happened and they found a car that was leaving the street at around the right time. The shitty thing is... they covered their license plate and disappeared off the grid".

"Fuck". This was the only response you could think of. Your heart gripped with dread at the turn of events. Everyone always thought it was some drunk driver who was too guilty to come forward but this makes it seem as if it was-

"I know, it looks like it was premeditated," Yuna affirmed your worst fear. "But the good thing is, whoever hit me with their car didn't think everything through. Police showed me an image they captured with the traffic cam, the person covered their face with a hat, but their sweatshirt read 'Seoul University'. They might go to our school, y/n".

Your jaw hits the floor at the account and you raise a hand to cover your mouth in shock. Mind racing with possibilities, you try to think of anyone who could've had it out with Yuna: she's an icon for envy, for sure, but there was nobody out there who would actually try to hurt her for it in your mind. Your best friend is a good person and never wronged anybody.

"Does Ten know?," you inquire after a moment's pause, changing the topic slightly, probably for the benefit of both of you.

"Yeah, he was with me at the time," Yuna certifies, "and we called my parents right after".

"Okay, that's good. It's good we have a lead - the police will catch them for sure," you offer. What more could you say?

"Oh yeah, don't worry. If that bitch wants to hurt me, they better say it to my face next time because I ain't going down without a fight". There's humor and spite in her voice; as expected, she's a true soldier. The best thing you could do for her is just to be there for her.

"Once they get 'em I'll flay they ass, Nana, on sight. Strike 'em with the toe pick, they won't know what hit 'em".

"Fuck yeah". The two of you laugh together at the thought. You pick at your jacket drawstring worriedly. "But it's getting kinda late, y/n. You should call Hope and Lisa soon to get ready for the game".

"Oh, crap!" You check the clock on your desk. She was right.

"Go get 'em, tiger!," Yuna cheered.

"Love you, babe," you coo into the microphone of your cell phone before she ends the call.

Hopping off your bed, you open the wardrobe door to survey your pitiful clothing selection. Sighing, you switch your phone back on.

Der sum hoez in dis houz:

You: lisa, hope can y'all come over rn?

Hope: O0O

Hope: yes!

Lisa: dude, we thought you'd never ask ;) be there soon

You: <3 i simp for both of you

Well, that's that.

Giving up on your own wardrobe, your eyes wander towards the other side of the room. Yuna definitely wouldn't mind if you borrow something, in fact, if she were here she would force you to wear her clothes. You almost go to open her closet door when the jacket slung over your swivel chair catches your eye. It's Mark's, the one that he gave you that night at the lake when you almost kissed for the first time. It's a simple garment, neutral gray and cotton. It is in every way a basic zip-up jacket except for the black embroidered letters on the back: "Lee 02".

You smile while feeling the soft fabric between your fingers.

He did say he liked it better on me.

Knocking at the door prevents you from daydreaming about your boyfriend.

"It's open!," you shout.

"Yo!" Lisa greets, letting herself in.

"Hi, y/n. Getting ready for tonight?," Hope asks sweetly.

"That's exactly it - I don't know what I should do to get ready... I was hoping you guys could help me?". You look at them with pleading eyes.

"Dude, you're adorable," Lisa states, already lying down in your bed, "you wanna do something for Mark right?"

"Yeah," you verify. Continuing, you explain what Yuna told you earlier to your two friends. Hope remembers what Yuna used to do and after a lot of googling reference images and makeup wipes later, you donned a subtle red "02" on your left cheek. The others, being true friends, painted "gators" on their own cheeks in solidarity to you feeling embarrassed about the audacious look. Lisa helped you with the rest of your makeup and you started warming up to your guise. All you really want is to do something for Mark. If this makes him happy, then you'd tattoo it to your face forever.

Your friends help you choose a simple pair of black ripped skinny jeans and a plain white tee to complete your outfit. Zipping up the front of the oversized jacket, you turn towards the mirror to examine your appearance.

"How do I look?"

"Aw, y/n you look adorable!," Hope proclaims, shaking your shoulders.

"Mark is gonna kiss your ass for real," Lisa agrees, "He's already a total simp but man, if I were him, I'd leave the game and go straight to the bedroom forreal".

"Stop!," you shriek, kicking your legs at her in a faux attack, "we're not like that... yet".

"Okay, okay!," Lisa cackles, backing up onto your bed to escape the fate of your sneakers.

"Guys, let's go!," Hope reminds, "the game starts soon!".

"Right!," you clap, "let me get my phone".

The two friends start to head out the door and you snatch the device off your desk to follow them, hesitating when you notice a new message. The smile melts off your face, but you plaster it back on when you see Hope and Lisa looking at you expectantly.

"What is it?". Hope sounds concerned.

"Nothing," you assure as you usher them out, but when you turn away to lock the door behind you, you can't stop your eyebrows from creasing in hurt.