The Terrible Three

"What was that? W-what was it, w-what-"

"C-calm down, someone popped a bottle. It's just a bottle, Jesus Christ!" Mr. Butt-grabber grew antsy.

It was suddenly more silent than before. More eyes on her. Minji couldn't move; her tongue weighed a ton and her limbs were stone.

"Say something. What's up with you-" he shook her.

That was when she threw up all over his shirt.

--------

Being hung over during class was hell.

Minji feared her skull might split open at any moment just by how hard her head was thumping. And their lecturer's nonstop droning didn't help her matters in the slightest.

"Cognitive theories of psychology are based on internal states, like..."

He droned on,

"...and various mental operations including how the brain has..."

And on,

"...it's actually a quite relevant psychological theory, and will be related to your upcoming exams..."

And on.

Did he ever shut up? Dear lord...

Minji was at her limit, so she buried her face in her hands while whimpering under her breath. Sharp shots of pain kept piercing her brain. Helplessly, she pondered why she always put her self through this hell? She supposed it was all her fault anyway as she always let her friends drag her to parties. But she needed to stay likable, after all.

Someone seated right beside her tapped her shoulder, asking for a spare pen. She just pushed her entire pencil case towards him, head still in her hands.

Brrrriiiing.

Minji noticed her phone was vibrating- she'd gotten a text. Discreetly unlocking her phone under her table, she scrolled through her messages till she found the latest. It was from Soobin.

025SexySoobin: Minnie, I'm dyiiiinggg. so hung overrrrr. lol

Minji fought down a smile. She forgot how goofy she could be.

MinniePancakes053: saaaaame. :)

Minji added in an emoji for emphasis.

025SexySoobin: omg, does Proffesor Bahk ever shutup?

Minji let out a giggle this time and the guy beside her gave her a curious look. Soon, Professor Bahk announced the end of class and Minji heard someone let out a whoop of appreciation.

"Finally..." She shoved her books into her Gucci handbag and treaded down a row of tables, towards the class exit. Just before she was stopped by the professor. Looking to the left, she acknowledged that three of her University committee friends, including Soobin, were standing near their professor's desk.

Professor Bahk pushed his glasses up his nose bridge, clearing his throat. "Paek Soobin, Kim Geon, Sok Jiyoung, and Hwang Minji- as I mentioned at last week's University committee meeting, we still have a lot of documents to sign for multiple university events coming up. I know most of you typically don't show up but you must today because it's extremely important we finish those documents. I've already sent out emails to the other six committee members but since you four are in my Psychology class, I just decided to tell you in person. Please show up in Room 503 at 6 pm sharp, today. You are now excused,"

"Of course sir, you can count on us!" Soobin nodded along, grinning.

With that, he made his grand exit. Instantly, their respectful facade broke.

"Well...that was boring. And a total waste of our time." Geon rolled his eyes, whipping out his phone. "Christ, my hangover is killing me."

"I know! Ugh, I'm already running late for my afternoon massage appointment," Soobin groaned. "I totally am not going for the meeting. How about you guys?"

Minji just stared at them, letting out a nervous laugh. "But you just said..."

"...and?" Soobin laughed. "Jeez Minnie, don't be lame."

Jiyoung suddenly smirked. "Hey Minji, you're going right? You always go...so would you mind doing our parts for us again? Just like last time?"

Geon arched an eyebrow, "Yeah! Dude, I don't think we could manage it- the three of us have got bad hangovers. For real!"

Minji bit her lip, her head still throbbing. "But I also have a bad-"

"Come on Minnie, please? I know you always go, so do our parts for us like last time. Don't be mean, jeez." Soobin nudged her.

Minji wondered why she was so caught off guard. They always did this, so she should have been expecting this.

"Yeah Minnie, don't be mean. That's so lame," Jiyoung smiled sweetly. Geon snickered behind her.

And so Minnie did just that. Anything to stay in their good graces.

Minji stumbled all the way to Room 503 alone, at 6 pm sharp. Stepping in, it was empty- as expected. Most of her fellow committee members rarely ever showed up on time so she was used to it. Right away, she found ten piles of documents placed on tables. Professor Bahk soon strolled in, right over to the desk at the front of the class. Setting down his messenger bag, he smiled in her direction. Minji forced on a weak grin and began signing the documents.

"I'll begin the meeting in a moment Hwang Minji, let's let a few more people show up first." The professor sighed. "At least, I can always count on you to get here on time. As for the rest, I'm not too sure,"

Only two other committee members showed up after waiting twenty minutes; Dea, a girl in cat-eyed glasses who was clinging to a laptop and some hot guy in a varsity jacket who regularly attended meetings, yet Minji never saw him at the luxury parties the rest of them usually went to. Hell, she doubted she'd actually ever spoken to him properly. She eyed his jacket, already telling it wasn't designer. She was curious how a non-rich kid had made it onto the committee.

Anyway, the professor halfheartedly started the meeting.

"Right, well I've already laid out ten piles of documents for each of you to sign and organize. So all ten of you does your equal share of work." He pointed at Dea and the hot guy. "Hwang Minji has already started her pile, I suggest you both start signing and organizing yours. Whenever the other seven get here, they'll do theirs"

Over the next hour, miraculously, four more committee members stepped into the class.

"What? Have they got nowhere better to be today?" Minji muttered. She was alarmed at the snarky tone of her voice.

Professor Bahk subsequently got a phone call and had to step out. Minutes later, Minji watched him pace back into the class hurriedly.

"Hey everyone, something else came up. Another meeting...I'll have to leave for a while," He grabbed his messenger bag. "I'll be right back. But if I don't get back before our meeting ends, you're free to leave- don't forget to sign your names on the signup sheet."

The minute he exited, Minji watched as the rest of her committee members whipped out their phones and pushed aside their documents. Dea began watching a video online on her laptop. Only the hot guy in the varsity jacket still stuck to his pile. Minji just shrugged, ignoring the throbbing in her head while reaching for the unattended three piles of documents Soobin, Jiyoung and Geon were supposed to do.