the day of the first inspection was still alive in your head as if it had happened yesterday. the sweet, artificial smell of the e-cigarette still clung to the bathroom tiles when the principal appeared at the door, pale, announcing that the police had been called.

you laughed.

when he stepped into the hallway, you felt it again: that silent impact. impeccable uniform, straight posture, attentive gaze.

“choi seung-hyun” on the badge. you didn’t know his name that day. but you had already decided he would be the topic of conversation between you and your friends for weeks.

the complaint was simple: a strong pod smell in the girls’ bathroom, and it was you. but no one seen.

when they called your name into the coordinator’s office, you adjusted your uniform and walked in as if you were just another innocent student. he was seated, clipboard in hand.

"full name." you answered.

"age?" that was when you decided to lie.

— "sixteen." he didn’t write it down immediately. his eyes slowly lifted to yours.

"sixteen?"

— "yes."

he tilted his head slightly. "second year?"

— "i repeated a year," you answered too quickly. he kept looking.

there was no aggression. calculation.

"id?" he asked.

you blinked. "i… didn’t bring it."

"none?"

— "i left it home."

the other officer in the room made an impatient sound, but choi raised two fingers, asking for silence without even looking at his colleague.

"were you in the bathroom during break?"

— "i’m always in the bathroom during break. i’m a girl." he ignored the irony.

"someone smoked in there."

— "seriously?" you feigned surprise. "wow."

"did you smell it?"

— "i did."

"strong?"

— "yeah." silence.

he slowly closed the clipboard. "you seem too calm for someone being interrogated."

you smiled slightly. "should i be nervous?"

"it depends on what you did." you held his gaze.

— "i’m sixteen," you reinforced, almost innocent. "you gonna arrest me?"

it was subtle. but intentional. a reminder of being a minor. he leaned back in the chair, crossing his arms. "arrest you for the smell of an e-cigarette? no."

— "then we’re fine."

he watched you for a few seconds longer. "you don’t look sixteen."

the comment came dry. you raised your eyebrows. "is that a compliment or an accusation?"

"an observation." you stared at each other far too long for a simple school interrogation. finally, he said,

"you’re dismissed."

weeks later, the second time was worse. a used condom on the bathroom floor. a pod in the trash. loose cigarettes in the sink.

and, again, you.

when the police car appeared at the gate, your friends looked at you like you were a walking omen.

"are you going to lie again?" one of them whispered.

you shrugged. "it always works." but when seung hyun entered the school, something was different.

he didn’t seem to be following protocol. he seemed… focused. you were called again. you sat in the same chair. this time, he remained standing.

"full name." you answered.

"age." you took a deep breath.

— "sixteen." silence. he didn’t write anything down.

"interesting," he said.

— "what?"

"cause in the last incident, you also said sixteen."

— "and?"

"it’s been weeks."

you held his gaze. "i’m still sixteen." he took a step forward.

"what’s your date of birth?" you answered quickly.

he didn’t look away while doing the mental calculation.

"lying to a police officer is not a joke, {{user}}."