Every step up the hill toward Kirin Arts felt like I was moving through waist-deep mud.
My chest and shoulders were screaming at me, a constant, throbbing reminder of Ji-hoon's "Isolation Work."
I reached the gates, moving stiffly, looking less like a "Mountain" and more like a statue that had been pushed over and glued back together.
"San-ah! Where's your shadow?"
I didn't even have to turn around to know it was Kang Min-ah. She was leaning against the lockers, her phone already out, eyes darting behind me looking for the blonde gremlin who I usually followed.
"She took an earlier bus," I grunted, shifting my backpack. My traps flared in protest. "We had a... little argument this morning."
"Argument? You?" Min-ah laughed, falling into step beside me as we headed toward Class 2-B. "You're too laid back to argue. What did you do? Eat her last strawberry milk?"
"Something like that," I muttered. "Anyways, why did you add me to that Kakao group? 'Dae's Birthday..?' Seriously?"
Min-ah rolled her eyes. "Why? Because you're his friend, aren't you?"
I stopped at my locker, thinking about the way we'd played basketball until our lungs burned.
"To think about it... probably yes?"
"Probably?" Min-ah giggled. "You two are practically a K-drama bromance at this point. But wait... didn't he invite you to the actual party?"
I tilted my head, my face a complete deadpan. "Should he have?"
"Of course!" Min-ah hissed, looking around to make sure the 'Prince of Darkness' wasn't lurking nearby. "I understand why he didn't want to invite Jun-seo or Ha-neul—there's too much... history there. But what about you? You're the new blood. Aish... that stupid punk."
She glanced toward the back of the classroom where Myung-dae's empty desk sat.
"Don't you think it would be fair if you came anyway? We can just sneak you in."
"Nah," I said, my voice flat. "I'm not doing it. I may be crazy, and I may have a 'Comma' haircut I don't know how to maintain, but I'm not impolite for sure. Going to a party where half my friends are banned? That's a skip."
Min-ah pouted, her bottom lip sticking out.
"But it would be so much fun! You're the life of the party now, San."
She leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a whisper.
"His birthday is on Tuesday. The group is preparing a surprise for him at school since he's being so difficult about the party. Even if you don't go to the bash, you should at least participate in the school surprise."
A slow, ominous smile spread across my face. It wasn't the "San 2.0" idol smile. It was the smile of a guy who had spent too much time being chased by a girl with a pillow.
"Participate?" I mused. "Oh, I have an idea."
"What kind of...?" Min-ah started, her eyes widening with a mix of curiosity and genuine fear.
"Good morning!"
The sharp crack of a clipboard hitting a desk echoed through the room.
We scrambled to our seats as Ms. Choi walked in. She looked refreshed, but her ponytail was pulled back so tight it looked painful.
The room fell into the "Test Silence."
"Roll call," she barked. "Kim Dong-hyun?"
"Present."
"Park Min-ji?"
"Present."
"Lee Ha-neul?"
"Here."
As Ms. Choi continued the routine procedure—asking about who was sick and who was 'skipping'—Min-ah leaned over her desk, her voice barely a breath.
"So," she whispered. "How's Lee Sora?"
I blinked, staring at my history textbook. "What?"
"The girlfriend!" Min-ah hissed, her eyes darting toward Ms. Choi. "Have you texted her already? Did you meet her at the house to go to school together? It's the first morning after the big confession, San! You should be acting like a lead actor!"
I stared at her, completely blank.
"No. Should I?"
Min-ah stared at me for three long seconds. Then, she slowly raised her hand and performed the most soul-crushing facepalm I had ever witnessed.
"You are hopeless," she breathed. "You are literally the most popular guy in school, and you have the romantic instinct of a potato."
The Boyfriend Manual (Not Included).