More Than Just Notifications

Wenalin's POV

My eyes cracked open to the faint buzzing of my alarm. 6:00 AM. I squinted at the ceiling. I didn’t feel like a functioning human being. My body ached slightly from the night before maybe because it was four in the morning when I finally got home. My parents didn’t even bother to scold me that time. They just stared with tired eyes, disappointed but too sleepy to argue. I took it as a win.

The air in our small home was still. My bed was warm, but my room smelled faintly of my brother Welgico’s dirty socks because he slept on the floor last night like a stray dog. My jeans and hoodie were folded neatly on my desk chair, my default outfit. Shirt, jeans, hoodie. That’s it. No fashion sense.

"Wenalin! Wake up! You're going to be late again!" my mother’s voice echoed from the kitchen below.

Still buried under the blanket, I exhaled sharply through my nose. I wanted to ignore it. My bed was warm. My brain still fogged with sleep. My dreams had made no sense to something about a talking rice cooker and a rubber chicken. But the morning was merciless, and my family even more so.

I rolled out of bed and sat for a moment, tying my hair into a messy ponytail .

Few minutes later

I had already brushed my teeth, take a bath tied my shoelaces, and adjusted my backpack. I was out the door before anyone else.

As I opened the door to the hallway, chaos was already brewing in the house.

“Welgico, stop spraying cologne in the hallway! It smells like a perfume factory exploded!” Welgino snapped.

“because it's smell bad because of you" Welgico shouted back, laughing.

“You two are so loud” Welwen added from the dining room, probably trying to eat his breakfast in peace.

Mom was by the stove, flipping tamagoyaki like she was in a cooking show. Dad was at the table, already dressed in his house clothes, reading the morning paper with his thick glasses sliding down his nose.i sit down

“You’re late again last night,” my dad muttered, not even looking up.

“Not late. Early,” I retorted, grabbing a plate.

My mom sighed. “Wenalin, you’re still a girl. You can’t just go out anytime you want.”

“Why? Does crime clock out after 9PM?” I joked, biting into the egg.

mom:"Oh, you're talking back now?"

"no I'm not" I finish my egg and I grabbed my bento, neatly packed by my mom with some fresh side dishes. "I'm leaving"

dad:"Your not done eating"

I turn around

"I'm full already" I walk out from the house

In the street The air was cool and still dark, the sky slowly shifting from a deep navy to pale blue. Birds were just beginning their songs, and I slipped my hands into my jacket pockets as I made my way to the station.

When I arrived, the platform was quiet. A few high school students stood with headphones in, heads buried in their phones. I pulled out mine from my bag And put it in my ears and I get my phone listening to some sad song and unlocked my RP account.

Eris Byuntae Kyeopta Squad

The group chat had over 120 new messages.

Mark: You looked cute earlier when you glared at Josh lmao

Ash: Don’t be creepy, mark Let her rest. Why do you all talk so much?

Josh: Ash, shut up, you’re jealous you’re not her boyfriend lol

Kookie: She is mine. Get rekt.

I sighed through my nose and let out a soft, amused breath.

“Idiots.”

I read mark chat on me in our private conversation

Mark: Did you get home safe? I was serious about escorting you.

Mark: I know you said no, but still.

I just smiled a little and typed back:

Eris:Good morning ,I’m heading now to my school . and I'm fine.

Train arrived. I hopped on.and sit on the vacant sit.and continue reading I open my chatbox with Kookie

Kookie: Eris… good morning, I guess. You okay? Did you get home safe?

Kookie :Also… what did you think of our pairing? 👀

I replied:Yeah I did,and I'm still sleepy. about the pairing I think it was fine.

I smirked, slightly. . I opened our main group chat: Kyeopta Squad.

Josh: GUYS WAKE UP I HAD A DREAM ERIS CHOSE ME INSTEAD OF KOOKIE

Heather:"That's cheating your cheating on me in your dreams hmp"

Ash : Ugh. Dreams are better than this fake pairing bullsht.

Josh : Eris, you still owe me that fake date. Let’s skip the “fake” part tho~ ;)

Blake: LMAO calm down, simps.

Zacky : Where’s Zack? I miss him already~

Zack :"I’m literally in my classroom right now."

I rolled my eyes, but I smiled a little. I typed:

Eris : good morning everyone I’m alive. Stop crying.

Eris : And yes, Kookie. I’m fine with the pairing. It’s a game. Don’t fall in love.

Kookie : Too late

I closed my phone, hiding my tiny smirk, as the train pulled in. It was packed, as usual. I stood with one hand on the rail, staring out the window. —buildings, people, the occasional advertisement with neon anime girls.

When I finally got to my stop, I maneuvered through the crowd and walked straight to school. The concrete was still slightly wet from last night’s rain. I stopped at the gate and stretched my arms lazily.

“Let’s go,” I mumbled to myself.

---

Inside the classroom, I saw them—my loud, messy, lovable best friends.

“WENALIN!” Discirie squealed, rushing to me with a k-pop album in her hand. “LOOK! SUHO’S NEW PHOTOBOOK!”

I blinked. “It’s 8 AM.”

“I DON’T CARE. Look at his jawline. And his hands! He’s so daddy-coded.”

“You need therapy.”

“No, I need Suho,” she corrected."And this is for you"

my eyes widen when she hand on me the photobook of sehun.i grab it

"waahh thankyou eomma you are really the best"

“Good morning,” Jerneth “By the way, I think my boobs got bigger again. Touch it later?”

“No,” I said without hesitation.

“Just offering.”

Grejie slung her long arm around me. “How’s my favorite emotionless queen?”

“Tired.”

“I got a protein bar if you want. I already ate three.”

“Girl, how are you not a bodybuilder yet?”

“I’m working on it.”

Wenmar arrived late, yelling, “GUYS! I had a dream I was married to D.O We had a dog!”

“Shocker,” I mumbled.

“Don’t judge my dreams, they’re valid.”

Lorces was already sitting, sniffling. “I got scolded by my mom this morning…”

“Again?”

“She said I’m too sensitive…”

“You are sensitive.”

He sniffed again. “Thanks for reminding me.”

I shook my head, dropping my bag on the floor beside my chair. Despite all their weirdness, I was glad to be surrounded by them. It made reality bearable.

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