The afternoon sun had begun to dip lower in the sky, casting a warm, golden light over the bustling streets of the city. The school day had ended, and the students scattered in all directions, eager to enjoy their free time.

Jaebom walked beside Chanmi, his hands in his pockets and a light smirk on his face. “You hungry?”

Chanmi glanced up at him, already knowing what was coming. “What do you have in mind?”

Jaebom raised an eyebrow and pointed down the street. “I was thinking tteokbokki.”

Her face lit up at the mention of spicy rice cakes. She had always loved the street food, but for some reason, she didn’t get it as often as she wanted. “You know I’m always up for tteokbokki.”

Jaebom grinned. “Perfect.”

They made their way toward the small shop tucked between two buildings, a cozy little spot that smelled like spice and fried snacks. The red sign above the door read “Soo’s Tteokbokki” in bold letters, and as they stepped inside, the comforting warmth of the small, casual eatery wrapped around them.

The shop wasn’t crowded—just a few people scattered at the tables, all indulging in the same cravings. Jaebom and Chanmi slid into a booth, and she immediately kicked off her shoes to settle more comfortably, resting her feet beneath the table.

The waitress came over with a smile. “What can I get for you two?”

Jaebom glanced at Chanmi before looking back up at the waitress. “Two orders of tteokbokki, please. Extra spicy.”

Chanmi rolled her eyes playfully. “Really? Extra spicy?”

Jaebom shrugged nonchalantly. “You know you can handle it.”

She hesitated for a moment, but then nodded. “Fine, fine. Extra spicy it is.”

The waitress smiled, writing the order down. “Coming right up!”

Once she was gone, Jaebom leaned back in his seat, a mischievous glint in his eye. “You’ve never tried this spicy before, huh?”

Chanmi narrowed her eyes at him. “I’ve eaten spicy before, you know.”

Jaebom chuckled, watching her reaction. “You’ll see. It’s on a whole different level. I’m not going to let you back out.”

She crossed her arms, a smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. “We’ll see about that.”

The atmosphere was light, the tension from school completely gone now. Jaebom and Chanmi were always good together, whether they were teasing each other, debating random topics, or simply enjoying each other’s company.

“So, about the party,” Jaebom started, swirling his drink with his straw.

Chanmi groaned. “Don’t remind me. I’m already dreading it.”

“I know, right? My dad’s been talking about it nonstop. He’s treating it like it’s some grand event, like it’s gonna change the world or something,” Jaebom said, his voice laced with sarcasm. “Honestly, I’d rather be here, eating tteokbokki with you, than wasting time at some rich person’s gala.”

Chanmi smiled, grateful for the easy conversation. “Same. But, you know, we kind of have to go. My dad will have my head if I don’t.”

Jaebom grinned. “Same here. But hey, why does this water tastes different?”

Chanmi laughed, shaking her head. “It's always like that.”

Jaebom raised an eyebrow. “When we crave spice, we’ll hit this place again. I’ll make sure you get your fill of spicy tteokbokki.”

Chanmi laughed again, the sound light and easy. She loved the way Jaebom always made things feel less heavy, even when the topic was something she wasn’t excited about.

Just then, the waitress returned with two steaming plates of tteokbokki, the spicy sauce bubbling slightly. She set them down in front of them, the scent of the dish immediately filling the air with its bold, rich aroma.

Jaebom’s eyes lit up. “Now this is what I’m talking about.”

Chanmi eyed the dish cautiously. The redness of the sauce was practically glowing, and she could already feel the heat rising from it. She picked up her chopsticks, taking a tentative bite.

The spice hit her immediately, sharp and intense. Her eyes widened, and she tried not to cough.

Jaebom watched her reaction, chuckling. “Told you it would be spicy.”

“I think I might be dying,” Chanmi muttered between bites, her face already turning slightly red.

Jaebom grinned, savoring his own tteokbokki. “Come on, don’t be dramatic. You’re fine.”

But as they continued eating, their conversation flowed easily, the heat of the food mixing with their laughter and easy companionship. Despite the spicy challenge, Chanmi couldn’t help but enjoy the moment, the simple pleasure of eating with someone who made even the most uncomfortable situations fun.

Maybe the party wasn’t going to be so bad after all. But for now, this was all she needed.

As the group of Hyosan friends made their way toward the tteokbokki shop, the familiar chatter of their voices filled the air. Cheongsan, as usual, was leading the way, with Onjo’s backpack slung over one shoulder. The others followed closely behind—Gyeongsu and Joonyeong arguing over something trivial, Woojin checking his phone, Daesu talking animatedly with Jimin about the latest class gossip, and Hyoryung and Isak walking in tandem, their conversation quieter, but just as comfortable.

The friends hadn’t seen Sooheon and Namra all day, but they knew the plan was simple—meet up at the shop after school for a casual hangout. Despite their busy schedules, everyone was looking forward to the break.

When they arrived, the bell above the door jingled as they stepped into the cozy, warm atmosphere of Soo’s Tteokbokki. The comforting smell of spice and fried snacks immediately made their mouths water.

Cheongsan, always the protective one, had already made his way to the counter to order for the group. He handed Onjo’s backpack to her as she caught up, rolling her eyes as she took it back.

"You're gonna spoil me, Cheongsan," she teased, adjusting the straps.

Gyeongsu and Joonyeong scanned the menu, debating which level of spice they should dare to try today, while Woojin and Daesu found a table for everyone to sit. Jimin, ever the practical one, immediately grabbed a seat to save space for the others.

“Ready for some food?” Hyoryung asked, her smile lighting up the room as she sat down beside Isak.

Everyone nodded eagerly, the tteokbokki shop becoming a temporary haven where the noise of the school day could finally fade away.

Jaebom noticed the group that entered the tteokbokki shop, their laughter ringing out as they moved past the small tables. They wore uniforms, but not from Yong Tan High. He quickly recognized them as Hyosan High students from the style of their clothes. They were loud, clearly a tight-knit group, and their energy contrasted with the quieter atmosphere in the shop.

"Looks like they’re from Hyosan," Jaebom murmured, nodding toward them.

Chanmi glanced up from her tteokbokki, following his gaze. "Yeah, they're from a different school. Guess we’re not the only ones craving spicy food."

Jaebom nodded, casually returning to his meal.

Namra settled behind Sooheon on his bike, her hands gripping the sides of his jacket as they cruised down the streets toward the tteokbokki shop. The breeze was cool, but the warmth from the shop was a welcome change when they arrived. Sooheon pulled the bike to a stop just outside, and Namra quickly dismounted, adjusting her uniform.

Inside, the familiar buzz of the shop’s atmosphere greeted them, the sizzling sounds of the tteokbokki on the grill mixing with the chatter of students. It wasn’t long before Chanmi spotted them at the door.

“Hey, look!” Chanmi nudged Jaebom, who was already looking at the group of Hyosan students seated near the back. She pointed toward the door. “Isn’t that Sooheon and Namra?”

Jaebom’s eyes followed her finger. "You're right. Didn’t expect to see them here... and with Hyosan students?" He raised an eyebrow, a little surprised.

Chanmi leaned back in her seat, scanning the group. “Maybe they're friends from Sooheon’s old school?” she suggested, half-guessing.

Jaebom nodded, watching as Sooheon spotted them from across the room. With a quick wave, Sooheon grinned and made his way over with Namra in tow.

"Hey guys! You were here too!"

"Yeah. I didn't expect you here though."

“Chanmi, Jaebom! Hey, you two should join us!” Sooheon offered, his smile wide and casual. “We’ve got a table, come on over. It’s been a while since we hung out, right? Meet my friends.”

Namra, standing a little apart, gave a small nod of acknowledgment toward Chanmi and Jaebom but didn’t say anything, her usual calm demeanor intact. She wasn’t as open as Sooheon, but there was a silent understanding between them all.

Chanmi hesitated for a moment, then shot Jaebom a look. “Well... looks like we’re joining them.”

Jaebom smirked and stood up, motioning for Chanmi to follow. “Guess we don’t have much of a choice.”

As they moved toward the table, Sooheon slid over to make room, and Namra quietly took a seat beside him. The others at the table greeted them with nods and small smiles, but there was an unspoken tension in the air—everyone was trying to figure out how they all fit together.

Sooheon looked over at them and laughed lightly. “It’s a weird mix of old friends and new, huh?” he said, breaking the ice.

Jaebom chuckled. “Definitely, but I’m sure it’ll be fine.”