The alarm rang across the room, and Haerin’s eyes fluttered open, greeted by her cream-colored ceiling. She reached for her phone on the bedside table and turned off the alarm. Sitting up, she stretched her arms and let out a small yawn. She stared blankly at the floor for a moment before sighing and getting out of bed. After going through her usual morning routine, she headed out in her uniform, skipping breakfast as she always did.

At school, Haerin walked along the wide pathway toward the main building. To her left was the beautiful scenery of the soccer and track field, where a group of guys were already playing soccer early in the morning. To her right were the basketball courts, where a group of seniors were being loud as hell while playing. As she walked among the other students, someone suddenly bumped into her, causing her to fall to the ground.

Furious, Haerin looked up. “Hey!”

The person who had bumped into her turned out to be a girl she had never seen before. Haerin was the type to study people’s faces and eventually memorize every student who attended her school. It sounded crazy, but it was one of her habits. The girl only spared her a brief glance before looking straight ahead and continuing to walk, not even bothering to apologize or help her up.

Haerin pushed herself off the ground and huffed. She’d never forget this morning.

As after-school hours approached, Haerin packed her things. Midway through, she received a text from her friend Hyein.

"Hey, girl. Get your ass over here at the café. I promise you, no more weird guys. xo."

Haerin’s brows furrowed as she read the message, but she decided to go anyway.

When she reached the café, she entered and scanned the room for her friend. Hyein, who was sitting at a table meant for six, spotted her and waved enthusiastically.

“Over here!”

Haerin walked over, greeted the other four girls at the table, and sat down beside Hyein. She then noticed the empty seat directly across from her.

“Am I supposed to third-wheel all of you?” Haerin asked.

“No, silly. Your blind date will be arriving shortly,” Hyein replied, rolling her eyes before giggling.

Blind date? Blind. Date?! If she’d known, she wouldn’t have come.

“Why didn’t you tell me? I’m leaving—” Haerin started, standing up, but she was immediately cut off by a deep-voiced woman approaching their table.

“Sorry, I’m a minute late. I had to walk,” the girl said. Her eyes briefly met Haerin’s before she raised a brow. “Oh. It’s you.”

Haerin’s face hardened as irritation flooded her entire body.

“You two know each other?” Hyein asked cluelessly.

Neither Haerin nor the girl answered. Their eyes stayed locked on each other, as if engaged in a petty mental squabble. Realization dawned on Haerin—this girl was her blind date—and it only made her angrier.

She’d rather be swallowed by a sinkhole right then and there than go on a blind date with this woman.