You're not exactly the star of West Ridge High, you're nore like one of its lesser-known background characters— the kind who blends in at the cafeteria, avoids the drama, and tries to keep your head down during the principal's daily lectures about "future success."
However today is different, and it's not just because you can hear the voice of Yuri---- the class president--- bounce off the hallway walls as she scolds some poor freshman about cheating on the pop quiz.
You sigh, clutching your backpack straps, and make your way toward the Lost and Found because of course, today of all the days in the month, you had to lose your favorite pen— the one with the little pig charm your aunt gave you.
The Lost and Found at West Ridge High is a metal cabinet in the farthest corner of the main office, right next to a trash can that ALWAYS smells like pickled radish.
It's disgusting and also next to Mr. Kim's desk, which means you're going to be treated to his suspicious glare the entire time you'll search through the cabinet.
"You again," he says with that teacher-tone that makes you feel like going somewhere to hide.
His glasses slide down his nose as he looks at you and he doesn't even bother to push them up before asking;
"What did you lose this time, Minjun?"
"My pen," you mutter, trying to sound casual as you open the squeaky cabinet.
Inside, it's the usual mess of abandoned umbrellas, scrunched up scarves, half a pair of baby shoe---- you don't even know why that is there---- and a stack of papers that might actually be older than the school itself.
But then you see it----- no not your pen, a plain black diary with worn cover but is oddly clean amongst the dirt and mess around it and is sitting right on top of a school bag.
------ Who on earth would forget a school bag? You don't know but your mind is more on the diary and you frown, pointing at it as you turn to Mr Kim.
"Did someone turn this in?"
Mr. Kim takes one look at it and shrugs. "Not that I know of. It's probably just another one of those K-pop fan diaries. You know how they are."
He then returns to grading a stack of papers with his red pen and you turn back to face the cabinet again.
Curiosity gets the better of you so you grab the diary, tucking it under your arm, and slip out before Mr. Kim can notice you 'stealing it' and ask you to stay for detention.
The hallway smells like floor polish and teen sweat with a mix of deodorant of course and ramyeon, as you walk through it.
And then your phone rings in your backpack's left pocket.
Of course it's Jisoo, your best friend; you know before you even look at the screen.
> JISOO: OMG! Did u see Hana's meltdown during lunch? She threw her milk at Taehyun's face! 😂💦
> YOU: Nope. Missed it. Why did she do that?
> Jisoo: She thought he called her "auntie." LOL
You snort, imagining Hana's glare----- the girl's temper is legendary in this school.
Making use of the pause, you take your backpack off from your right shoulder, you let it dangle on your left shoulder while you open the zip and slide the diary into it, closing the zip back and setting the strap back over your right shoulder.
As you resume walking, you hear some underclassmen having a loud argument about whose group chat is the most lit, while a trio of seniors debate about which BTS fan member is secretly dating their math teacher.
It's typical West Ridge chatter.
You finally make it to class just as the bell rings and droop your eyes at the usual horrible scene in front of you.
The second- year classroom is a literal zoo with bags thrown everywhere, desks scribbled with graffiti and all the windows half open because someone thought the breeze might scare away the smell of old sneakers half the class wears.
Ignoring everything, you walk forward and slip into your seat.
Beside you, Taehyun's head is down and you see him sketching some unholy combination of a demon and a cat while his dark hair keeps falling over his eyes.
Yuri is up front, already lecturing the teacher about something being "unfair."
While Hana is busy glaring at everyone.
The teacher manages to settle the matter and you find yourself yawning while Yuri walks happily to her seat----- the girl loves perfection so much it almost hurts.
You try to focus on the lesson when the teacher starts---- something about quadratic equations that only makes your head spin---- but the diary in your backpack is the only thing that has your attention.
At lunch, you sit with Jisoo and Hana at the corner table, the one by the window that overlooks the soccer field.
"You look weird today," Jisoo says between bites of kimbap. "Did Mr. Kim assign you extra homework or something?"
You shake your head. "No. I just…found something."
"What is it?" Hana asks curiously and with that attitude that's almost always on her tongue.
You pause for a while, while they stare at you expectantly, and then say;
"A diary."
"Ooooooh!" Jisoo squeals.
"Did you read it yet? Maybe it's someone's secret love confessions! Or death threats! Or a poem about Mr. Kim's nose hair!"
Hana snorts, now sounding lazy and uninterested. "It's probably just some lame crush diary."
You roll your eyes at the both of them. "I don't know yet, I haven't opened it."
"Why not?!" Jisoo asks and leans over the table. "You gotta open it. Like, now."
You glance around the cafeteria---- which is a mess of shouting, laughter, and the smell of kimchi stew from the lunch lady's very questionable special recipe------ and feels like everyone's watching, even though they're not.
With a sigh, you reach into your bag, pull out the diary, and set it on the table.
The cover is thoroughly black, although a little too clean and even the corners have no duck ears at all.
"Looks creepy," Hana mutters almost to herself. "Open it already."
You flip it open and see that the first page is blank, however you shrug it off as nothing--- after all people like Yuri love to leave the first page of their new book blank before starting on the next.
So, you turn the next page, reading the words on it— and your heart skips a beat
> "Tomorrow you'll stand in front of the whole class and confess a secret you've never told anyone."
Jisoo squeals. "Wait, what?! You wrote that?!"
You stare at the page whose ink on it looks fresh, and stammer out.
"I— I didn't write this."
But Hana raises an eyebrow at you. "Sure you didn't, it ooks like your handwriting."
"It's not," you insist. "I mean— I didn't—"
Just then, there are three buzzing sounds, and You, Jisoo and Hana stare at each other before reaching for each of your phones and opening the message that popped on your screens.
> YURI: Hey, there's class meeting tomorrow. Everyone has to share something personal. It's Mr. Kim's orders so be prepared.
Jisoo's eyes widen. "No way. The diary's predicting the future?! That's so cool! We can totally use it to—"
"Shut up," Hana snaps. "This is freaky. Like, really freaky."
"Okay, that's enough." You say and slam the diary shut, but then Hana reaches for it.
"Let me see it," she says but you grab it off the cafeteria desk and shove it back into your bag.
"No. It's mine."
"Ugh, fine," she mutters, crossing her arms. "But if you start acting like a psycho, don't say we didn't warn you."
Jisoo giggles nervously. "Maybe it's cursed," she whispers. "Like, seriously. You'll wake up tomorrow with your head spinning backward or something like from JunJi Ito collection."
"Not funny," you say, snapping at her and begin digging into your lunch.
Hana and Jisoo stare at him, but neither say anything and just start digging into their lunch trays.
While you eat, you wonder who in your class is pranking on you?
Then you think about your secrets anyone could possibly try to use for fun— like the time you stole a test answer sheet, or that one time you lied to Yuri or the time you stayed up reading horror stories instead of studying during night class.
But none of them seem too bad
Shrugging off the thought, you reach out and steal Jisoo's Kimbap.
"Hey...!!!" She yells and twacks your arm with her spoon.
"Oww!"