Ch 1

Present Day

“Elephant! Elephant! Elephant!”

The chants from the students around me grew louder in my ears. I shut my eyes, trying to steel my face and deafen myself to the noise.
I needed one second of calm to understand how I had ended up here—right on top of Yohan’s chest.

I cracked my eyes open just enough to peek at the expression of the most popular guy in the universe. But instead of looking shocked or angry, his smile only widened.

“So, you like being on top, Elephant?” One of his eyes flicked toward the cluster of girls on his left.

Ugh… my face burned instantly. I was already preparing to erupt when Yohan grabbed my school tie and used it to pull himself back into a sitting position.

His Korean-idol face was now only an inch from my nose. “I think I’d be more entertained if you’d taken this position last night,” he murmured.

Ah! My mind immediately flashed back to that cursed night.

Stupid! How could I have fallen for this vile human’s trick? How could I have willingly handed my first kiss to this bully?

How… how did I really end up here?

07:00 AM — Three Days Earlier

A dull brown truck rolled into the yard of Westvale High School. Its rattling noise stopped once it parked right under a pine tree.

I kicked the truck door open from inside and stepped out, dragging a backpack stuffed with books.
Wait—two books had to be carried in my hands because my backpack was already ancient.

After grabbing the books and shutting my old truck’s door, I glanced right and left.

Thank goodness… no one was around. Or more precisely, no one from the Red Monkeys was in sight.

Don’t get it wrong. I love studying, but I hate school. There’s only one reason: the Red Monkeys.

They’re not some dangerous drug gang like in the movies. They’re bullies.
Everyone is a target—especially me, with my round face and midsize body. They usually call me Elephant.

I pulled my hoodie over my head to hide my curly brown hair. I couldn’t let them spot me from afar and come over…

“Hey, Elephant!!! Where are you going?”

Ah, too late! I cursed silently. Why doesn’t anyone sell Harry Potter’s invisibility cloak? I’d pay a fortune.

I turned my head and saw him. Yohan Michael Kang. Maybe because he’s half Korean, he always looks like a drama star. His angelic face is the complete opposite of his devilish behavior.

I lowered my head and quickened my pace toward the school’s main entrance, pretending to ignore him. But his Red Monkeys friends appeared out of nowhere and started singing a children’s song.

“Yohan! Do you know what’s really cool about the elephant?” Matt shouted.

Yohan replied, “They’re very big. They’re very smart aaaaaaand….”

At least three Red Monkeys joined in loudly:

“ELEPHANTS HAVE WRINKLES, WRINKLES, WRINKLES… ELEPHANTS HAVE WRINKLES, WRINKLES EVERYWHEREEE…”

I had to admit, today’s mockery was a little funnier than usual. Still, it was unbearably annoying. I wanted to fight back, but stopped myself.

Mom always says that giving bullies too much attention only makes them harass you in more creative ways.

At the security checkpoint, I was greeted by Mrs. Ruth’s sour expression—the rigid AP Math teacher who worships rules.

She glared at my hoodie. Westvale High requires uniforms, and they hate it when the uniform is covered for no reason, especially in summer.

“Miss Albarn, please remove your jacket and place it under the scanner,” Mrs. Ruth ordered.

No way! There was no chance I was taking off my hoodie right in front of the Red Monkeys.

“But… but… Mrs. Ruth,” I protested softly and awkwardly, glancing behind me. Yohan and his crew were already lined up behind me, humming Elephants Have Wrinkles.

“No buts, Miss Albarn. Students are not allowed to wear jackets or hoodies during summer. As a prospective valedictorian, you should at least read the school rules.”

“Mrs. Ruth… um… could I go inside… and maybe… take it off in the restroom?” I suggested quietly so the Red Monkeys wouldn’t hear.

Mrs. Ruth clicked her tongue impatiently. “Take it off here!”

Damn it. I had no other option. I raised my hands and removed my hoodie in front of everyone.

Sudden silence… ugh… I could feel their stares drilling into my back. Oh God… what were they going to say now? I felt like I might faint waiting for more verbal abuse.

Strangely… nothing happened. After I took off my oversized dark green hoodie, they went quiet. No elephant song. No mockery. Nothing.

Automatically, I glanced back. My eyes met Yohan Kang’s stare. Awkwardly, he cleared his throat and looked up.

I had no idea what was happening until—

“Miss Albarn! Please fasten the top three buttons of your shirt. Westvale uniforms must be worn properly!”

What?! I immediately looked down at my chest. My face flushed crimson.

Aside from Yohan and the Red Monkeys, my chest was the reason I’d been wearing hoodies, jumpers, or cardigans to school for the past month. For some reason, it had grown more… prominent, leaving my uniform painfully tight.

“I’m sorry, Mrs. Ruth,” I said while fumbling with the buttons. Once my bag and hoodie passed through the scanner, I grabbed them and ran straight to the girls’ bathroom before Yohan and his gang could comment.

I hid inside one of the stalls and just sat there. Damn it. I was so ashamed of my body.

I put my hoodie back on and promised myself I wouldn’t come out until the class bell rang.

Ignore the Red Monkeys. They’re not even in my classes anymore.

Starting this semester, I could take all AP classes. AP stands for Advanced Placement—special classes only high-achieving students like me can take.

In my junior year, I had access to all AP classes at Westvale, so I didn’t have to attend regular classes like Yohan and his friends.

Yohan. The moment his name crossed my mind, I instinctively covered my chest.

Did he see it? Or did he not? He looked away, right? Or did he look away because he saw it? Damn it… if he did, what would he say? Shit… shiiiiit!

The class bell rang, and the only thing I could think was that I hoped I wouldn’t run into Yohan Kang again today.