#Study Project Management Online

[a1globalcollege]

Earn an Online Project Management Diploma from Anywhere in Mississauga

Advance your leadership and organizational skills with an Online Project Management Diploma from A1 Global College. This flexible, career-focused program is designed for working professionals and aspiring managers who want to lead successful projects across industries. Learn key tools like Agile, Scrum, budgeting, scheduling, and team coordination all from the comfort of your home. Perfect for students across Mississauga looking for real-world, in-demand project management skills.

[tutor-helpdesk]

Working Capital Optimization: Essential Help for Finance Assignments

Introduction: What is Working Capital?

Working capital constitutes a crucial principle in the field of finance, signifying the short-term liquidity position of a firm. It is defined as the difference between an organization's current assets—encompassing cash, inventory, and accounts receivable—and its current liabilities, including accounts payable and short-term debt. In essence, it denotes the financial resources available to the company to facilitate its daily operational needs. Effective working capital management ensures that a company can meet its operational needs and financial obligations, while also channeling available resources to facilitate growth in the company.

Every student or learner involved in finance studies or assignments particularly those that relate to working capital, must understand the factors that explain the working capital. Why? Working capital belongs to the most critical indicators of financial performance since they directly reflect the financial result, availability of funds for operations, and risks involved. Effective management of work capital can enhance or develop efficiency in the business hence enhancing the performance by the firm. For students, to understand these dynamics students are usually tasked to solve various numerical questions to gain insights into the practical financial operations of businesses.

By opting for finance assignment help, students can get to know more about the  perspective of working capital optimization and other advanced techniques in the field. This means that one can seek working capital study assistance from professional experts, especially in complex working capital problems as opposed to what is found in textbooks and theories. This involves an opportunity for students to gain a greater understanding of the subject, hence exposing them to applicable strategies for succeeding in their assignments.

Working Capital Optimization: Issue Diagnosis in Details

Working capital optimization can be defined as the means and methods that are used in the management of the short-term assets and liabilities of a business with the aim of ensuring the operations of the firm are done in the most efficient and profitable manner. This also means that there is a fine line to be drawn between the need for liquid assets to meet short-term obligations and bringing down capital expenses.

As regards finance students, it may appear that working capital optimization is quite simple and quite basic as a subject however in a real sense, it is quite an elaborate and complicated subject that can make or break a business. In this regard, we shall look at why working capital optimization is important, how the companies achieve these goals and real cases where companies have demonstrated a working capital optimization impact.

Why Optimize Working Capital?

It is quite evident that working capital management is of great importance for all businesses as it influences many key performance metrics:

Liquidity: Sufficient working capital ensures that the company can perform its short-term obligations in terms of paying off suppliers and employees.

Profitability: Proper working capital management will minimize the capital cost incurred, therefore increasing cash flows available for financing growth and innovation.

Operational Performance: Focused and disciplined working capital management enables businesses to operate more efficiently, decrease waste, and enhance stock control.

Risk Management: Working capital management in a business alleviates the operational risk exposure – Supply Chain risks, economic downturns, and other surprises that a business may experience.

For students, such a study helps to understand the rationale behind the varying impacts of the financial decisions made in a company on its various operations.

Ways on how Working Capital can be Improved

There are various strategies that can be recommended for companies that require improvement of the working capital. These strategies are aimed at ensuring that companies maintain adequate amounts of cash, increase cash inflows, and reduce cash outflows that are unnecessary in the first place.

Inventory Management

Inventory management is one of the key components of working capital management. A firm can enhance its liquidity profile by lowering the total stock holding of unsold products by minimizing excess stocks.

Methods such as JIT manufacturing systems, where products are sourced and produced only when needed. This approach helps companies save on stockholding expenditure and overproduction.

Example: Toyota was able to change the face of the auto industry with the implementation of the manufacturing system called Just In Time (JIT), giving the extra edge of efficiency coupled with a reduction in working capital requirements.

Accounts Receivable Management

Customers paying their bills within the set timeframe is very important. For further optimization of receivables, some credit control measures are often applied such as allowing discounts for early payments or limiting credit for customers with a history of poor payments.

Another approach known as factoring helps in supplementing working capital. This involves receivables sold to a third party thus providing cash flow in a shorter time frame.

Case Study: In its attempt to improve cash flow, General Electric in the year, 2009 commenced sales of parts of its receivables and created 2 billion in capital within a year leading the firm to focus more on growth and investment avenues.

Accounts Payable Management

The payable side is much more interesting. This is about optimizing for the longest period before making any payment ta the supplier without jeopardizing any existing credit or relationships. Cash flow may be enhanced if payment terms can be adjusted without any serious penalty for longer terms.

Purchasers may utilize the assisted financial program to make early payments to their suppliers through financial institutions, while the purchaser gets extended terms to preserve working capital.

Example: Walmart has entered into extended payment terms with its suppliers to preserve its working capital for longer terms.

Cash Management

Firms need to ensure that there is an optimal cash reserve committed to the working capital requirements and also minimize cash that is idle earning no returns.

Firms utilize sweeping mechanisms, in which the excess cash is transferred to an interest-bearing account thereby making returns out of excess cash and at the same time preserving liquidity.

Example: Microsoft is well known for its cash management practices. The world’s biggest computer software company has for many years managed to keep positive working capital instead of spending it on many things and maintains generous cash reserves for investments, buying back stock, and paying dividends.

The Role of Working Capital Management

The effect of working capital optimization is not limited to the enhancement of liquidity and cash flow alone. This is capable of reinventing the potential of a company for growth and competitiveness within the industry.

Better Financial Condition: Reduction in the amounts tied up in working capital positively impacts the company's operating cycle and the balance sheet. Improvement in some of the operational ratios such as current and quick ratios is also observed. This subsequently increases the creditworthiness and the cost of borrowing reduces.

Secure Superior Position: Efficient working capital allows organizations to respond to changes in the market more effectively. For instance, they will be able to take advantage of bulk buying discounts and invest in new opportunities more quickly than its competitors.

Recovery from Impacts: When the economy is going through difficult times, the likelihood of companies that strategically manage their working capital to manage disruptions. For instance, during the most recent period when the majority of the companies were in a cash liquidity crisis due to covid19 pandemic, companies that effectively managed cash flows survived.

Long-Term Development: Firms can free up cash from operational efficiency which then allows them to seek more growth opportunities like R&D, marketing, or expansion. Optimization of working capital, therefore, becomes the initial move towards the attainment of competitive advantage in due time.

Case Example: Apple Inc.

Apple Inc. is probably the most referenced case when it comes to the optimization of working capital. This has been made possible because of the peculiarities in the businesses of Apple-it is able to maintain working capital which is negative by collecting money from customers before it pays suppliers. This offers the company a huge liquidity edge and a key reason behind its financial performance.

Due to Apple’s excellent supply chain management processes and beneficial contractual payment agreements with suppliers, the company does not require additional working capital. Such a strategy releases massive amounts of cash flow, which Apple has invested in R&D, advertising, and acquisitions. As a result, Apple has grown and become a market leader.

Expert Finance Assignment Help for MBA Students

Our finance assignment assistance service is primarily directed toward MBA students who are having a tough time comprehending and practicing difficult areas such as working capital management. We offer detailed, individualized help to students in dealing with difficult assignments, case studies, and analysis.

As for complicated financial topics including working capital optimization, our company employs seasoned financial specialists with expertise in sophisticated techniques on liquidity, cash flow, and operational efficiency management. We break down these concepts into simple steps for students to facilitate their understanding of the theory and practical aspects of the problem. Our aim is not only to assist the learners in solving practical problems but help them learn how and when to utilize these techniques when they face real financial problems.

How Our Service Makes Complex Financing Problems Simple

We use a combination of visuals, like flowcharts and financial models in order to simplify difficulties in complicated financial problems. By demonstrating the relation between the problem to its financial theory, we make sure that students never miss any important aspect of the solution. We offer tailored solutions for case studies and give in-depth information on different working capital strategies used by top companies. This helps students understand how to use these strategies in their studies.

More Sophisticated Techniques and Wider Scope

We introduce students to new and improved methods that they can adopt in solving questions that go beyond the basics of financial management. Among those advanced techniques include; modeling of dynamic working capital, cash conversion optimization, and enhancing working capital with financial technologies.

Apart from working capital optimization, we also offer finance assignment assistance in a wide range of subjects including but not limited to:

Corporate Finance

Risk Management

Investment Analysis

Financial Statement Analysis

Capital Budgeting

Mergers & Acquisitions

Benefits for MBA Students:

Many students ask the question: “Why should I choose your service?” The explanation is that they not only get custom-made solutions that enable them to complete their tasks in due time but also enhance their grasp of contemporary financial principles. Our specialists always give new ideas to the students to enable them to apply in their coursework assignments for top grades.

Conclusion:

Working capital management is an important aspect of financial management. This influences liquidity and profitability as well as risk factors. Students studying finance must learn the concepts to have a deeper understanding of the practical issues of business functioning. By opting for our service and getting help with finance assignments, students can learn from experts and understand important topics better. We provide sample problems, case studies, textbooks, and research papers to help students complete their assignments confidently and clearly.

Textbooks and References for Students

For students who want to undertake deeper studies in the area of working capital optimization, the is a selection of relevant textbooks and some research papers that lay a good base.

One such textbook is “Financial Management: Theory and Practice” by Eugene F. Brigham & Michael C. Ehrhardt.– This particular book attempts to explain the fundamentals of why decisions are made financially with reasonable chapters on working capital management.

Corporate Finance Jonathan Berk and Peter DeMarz– A commonly recommended textbook, which considers some of the working capital management aspects among other principles of financial management.

[dlxxv-vetted-donations]

Help support Reema's academic career and family

This post will no longer be updated, see here instead.

URGENT: We have 281 hours to get Reema registered in university. Done!!!

My other promotion lists

Updated: Sep 22

Update Sep 20: This campaign is NOT done, Reema is waiting for her campaign manager to raise it to $25,000. A short-term goal is CAD $1,800 for a new laptop (including gfm and banking fees), but this is a projected estimate and I'll have a clearer number when I get more details.

Member(s): @reemash46 (shadowbanned), @reema16 (shadowbanned), @reemagaza (Reema), IG: reema_shurr (confirmed hers, see under cut for proof)

Verification: Operation Olive Branch Masterlist #18

Payment methods: Credit/debit, Paypal through my Kofi (Be warned that Paypal takes a cut. I will post proof of donation within 24h under the 'receipts' tag)

Donation match: $5 CAD (see under cut), $5 CAD

Summary: Reema is an evacuated Palestinian studying pharmacy abroad in Egypt and just paid off her tuition. She needs additional funds to care for herself and her family back home.

Current progress:

CAD $ 15,514 20,051 / 25,000

CAD is weak compared to other common currencies. Your donation can go a long way.

Campaign details:

Reema is the cousin of @mohamedabushaban06 (source). A few days ago, I made an emergency promotion to get Mohammed registered for college abroad here (It's not urgent anymore but he can still use support).

She's a 4th (out of 5) year pharmaceutical student currently studying abroad in Egypt after her school in Gaza was destroyed. Pharmacy school is difficult but she has a high average.

She just fundraised enough to pay her tuition for all her remaining schooling (see fund allocation section) and will start her semester on Sep 21, 2024.

The campaign goal was raised to $25,000 and the additional $5,000 will go towards academic needs and Reema's family back in Palestine.

She needs a new laptop after losing her old one.

Fund allocation:

All the original $20k is for paying off all of Reema's remaining schooling. There was a rush to get her from $15k to $20k to pay off her current semester due to banking complications. Her campaign manager was not in Canada until very recently and could not access the funds already in the campaign.

Even now, the manager can only send $1,500 at a time. At the time of writing this (Sep 22), I'm not sure when Reena can access the $15k and she isn't online often because she has the flu.

MISC:

Sep 10: Donation match $5 CAD

Reema on IG confirms the Tumblr is hers

[littlebluebird2000]

Twirling Hearts- part 1

pairing: yeon si-eun x reader (female reader)

rating: 18+

genre: romance, smut

warnings: overprotective sieun, school bullying, discussion about food and weight, violence, harassment, eventual smut, mature language, sexual harassment, slow-burn, jealousy, baku always being at the scene of the crime…

summary: Who would've thought that a ballerina and the school's most feared nerd would complete each other so well? Being the new student was never easy—especially not when you were the only girl transferring into an all-boys school. To make matters worse, Eunjang High has a reputation for having its fair share of troublemakers. Some of the rumors were enough to make anyone second-guess stepping through those front gates…

author's note: the lack of fanfic dedicated to sieun is, in my opinion, completely unacceptable. I had to come back from hiatus for him. I’m warning y’all, it’s a long one. there’s a part 2 coming soon, maybe a part 3 if this goes well. please note that English isn’t my first language, so there might be some mistakes here and there. i hope you will enjoy, and if you do, please leave a comment <3

word count: 8k+ ( I know… I went overboard )

part : 1 , 2, 3., 4., 5.

Being the new student was never easy—especially not when you were the only girl transferring into an all-boys school. To make matters worse, Eunjang High had a reputation for having its fair share of troublemakers. Some of the rumors were enough to make anyone second-guess stepping through those front gates.

Your family had helped set up an apartment not too far from the academy and Eunjang High. A single bus route connected both places, making the commute manageable with your tight schedule. Originally from Busan, you welcomed the distance that Seoul offered. Being hours away from your parents gave you a kind of peace you hadn’t realized you needed until it now.

Back home, your father placed suffocating academic pressure on your shoulders, while your mother lived vicariously through your ballet career, projecting her own lost dream of becoming a prima ballerina onto you. Here, in this new city, you could finally breathe a little easier.

To balance both ballet and school, you needed a flexible academic setup. Thankfully, Eunjang High offered a unique mix of online and on-campus classes. A lot of the students there were repeating years or following unconventional tracks, which made the school more lenient with scheduling. It was one of the only reasons why they bent the rules to admit you, despite the school typically being reserved for boys. They needed to fill seats. You needed a compromise.

Although your father wasn’t exactly thrilled about the idea of you attending a school like Eunjang, there weren’t many better options. This compromise—the odd, messy arrangement—was the only way both your parents could get a piece of what they wanted. As long as you kept your grades up at this so-called “lousy” school and continued to perform well in the online program, your father was willing to compromise to please your mother.

Each weekday followed a strict routine. Mornings were reserved for intensive ballet practice at the academy. From there, you’d head straight to Eunjang High for your campus courses: English, mathematics, social studies, and science. After that, it was back to the academy for evening classes. Your online studies could be completed anytime throughout the week, as long as you met the deadlines. The weekends were yours, thankfully.

Today was the day everything would change.

To say you were nervous would’ve been an understatement. Your stomach was in knots, your thoughts racing faster than your footsteps on the way to the academy. There was a strange heaviness in the air, like something big was about to unfold.

Later, you’d look back and realize—you had every reason to feel that way.

✎﹏﹏﹏﹏✎﹏﹏﹏﹏✎﹏﹏﹏﹏✎﹏﹏﹏﹏

The morning had started better than expected.

You were pleasantly surprised by the atmosphere at the ballet academy. Though the classes were clearly going to be grueling and demanding, there was something deeply motivating about the environment. It felt purposeful. Focused. The kind of place where real growth could happen.

Your instructor, Mrs. Kim, was a stern older woman with a sharp gaze and impeccable posture—clearly someone who had spent her life perfecting her craft. She wasn’t warm, exactly, and you didn’t expect her to be. But her corrections were precise and never cruel. She was strict, yes, but not out of ego or power—she pushed for improvement… And that made all the difference.

The other dancers were older than you by a few years, likely in their early twenties, and carried themselves with the kind of quiet confidence that comes with experience. They greeted you politely, if a little stiffly, introducing themselves one by one before falling back into an easy rhythm of conversation that didn’t quite include you.

You didn’t take it personally. They weren’t being unkind or intentionally cold. It was just the natural awkwardness that came with a new arrival—especially one as young as you, dropped suddenly into their already well-formed circle. They didn’t know you yet. That would come with time.

At least they were civil. That alone was a relief.

Back at your previous academy, competition had turned the other girls into enemies. Whispers behind backs, sabotaged shoes, icy glares in the mirrors—it was a toxic place that made you question your love for dance. But here? The air felt different. More mature. Healthier. Safer.

You could handle being the outsider for a little while longer, as long as respect remained part of the equation.

And so, when class ended and you washed up quickly, put on your uniform, and gathered your things to head to your first afternoon at Eunjang High, your nerves buzzed with a strange blend of anxiety and cautious hope.

You had survived the first half of your day.

The next part, however—was still entirely unknown

As soon as your feet hit the pavement, a chill ran up your bare legs. The bus doors closed behind you, and you stood there for a second, staring up at the towering gray building of Eunjang High School. It honestly looked more like a prison than a school, with its cracked concrete walls and rusted metal gates. You hugged your blazer tighter around yourself.

You could still hear your father’s voice from last night’s call echoing in your head: “Stay out of trouble. Don’t talk to anyone unless absolutely necessary. These boys aren’t your friends.”

You wanted to believe he was just being dramatic… but as you stepped through the gates and onto campus, you weren’t so sure.

✎﹏﹏﹏﹏✎﹏﹏﹏﹏✎﹏﹏﹏﹏✎﹏﹏﹏﹏

Chaos greeted you like an old friend

Boys were everywhere—some shouting, others chasing each other through the halls like it was recess, not school hours. Someone threw a water bottle across the courtyard. Another boy ducked just in time to avoid a roll of toilet paper flying through the air. You grimaced at the sight.

You felt your breath hitch. This was going to be hell.

A quiet voice at your side made you turn. “This way.” The speaker was a boy, small with thick glasses framing his face. He didn’t meet your eyes as he spoke, just kept walking, hands clutched to his backpack straps.

“I’m Seo Juntae,” he added shyly. “We’re in the same class—1-5.” You nodded, falling in step beside him, grateful for the guide. At least one person here seemed sane.

“The teacher should be waiting already,” Juntae mumbled as you reached the classroom door. “You’ll be fine, probably.” He gave a nervous little smile and pushed the door open.

Probably?

Inside, it wasn’t much better.

The classroom buzzed with noise. Some students were arguing over who’d stolen whose eraser, while others leaned out of the windows shouting at someone below. A few boys sat on desks instead of chairs, and more than weren’t wearing their uniform properly.

You felt every gaze turn your way as you stepped in.

A few low whistles rang out from the back. Someone muttered something you didn’t catch, followed by a burst of laughter. You fought the urge to turn and leave.

“Quiet down,” the teacher said firmly, standing up from his desk. He was tall and slightly hunched. “This is our new student. I expect you all to treat her with respect.”

He smiled at me. “Please introduce yourself to your classmates.” Swallowing your nerves, you turned fully, facing the other students.

“Hello, my name is (Y/N). It’s nice to meet you all. Please take good care of me.” You said, bowing politely.

The room fell quiet for a moment, then:

“I’ll take real good care of you, if you let me.” Someone said from the back. A few more snickers followed. You flushed but stayed silent, keeping your face blank. You couldn’t say that you didn’t expect that.

“Enough.” The teacher snapped, glaring in the offender’s direction. “Y/N, you can sit next to Yeon Sieun. He’s by the window. Put your bag in the lockers in the back.”

You made your way down the aisle, trying not to meet any of the stares that followed you. The boy you were assigned to sit next to didn’t acknowledge your presence, not even a glance as you slid into the chair beside him.

As you settled into your seat, you quickly adjusted your skirt, tucking a loose strand of hair behind your ear. You focused your gaze on the teacher.

You had to remind yourself that this wasn’t about making friends. Your ballet and your studies were your priorities. Everything else was secondary.

Taking a deep breath, you forced yourself to focus on the lesson. The teacher, Mr. Yoon, was talking about social studies—something about historical figures and their influence on modern society. The words blurred together as you tried to push your thoughts aside, diving into your notes with the intensity you’d developed over the years.

It wasn’t easy. The whispers around you, the occasional chuckle, the glances…there was no escaping it. You heard the boys behind you muttering and laughing quietly, but you couldn’t make out the words. You didn’t want to.

The boy next to you, however, remained silent. Yeon Sieun hadn’t spoken a word since you sat down. He acted as if he didn’t care about you at all, like you hadn’t entered the room. You were weirdly grateful for that. The less attention you could get here, the better.

Social studies were now done. Mathematics were next. You sat quietly, shoulders tense, eyes fixed on the chalkboard as you copied the teacher’s writing. You were trying your best to blend in. Head down, mouth shut. Only three classes to go. Just three. You could survive this.

You glanced at the board again, where a string of complicated equations still glared down at you. Math had never been your strong suit. You were going to have to study harder than ever to keep up.

A tap on your shoulder made your heart skip.

You turned slowly, wary.

“Hey,” said a boy with a crooked smile, his tie hanging loose and shirt stained at the collar. “Got another pencil? Mine broke.”

Your stomach twisted. Something about his tone made your skin crawl. Still, you managed to nodded and offered him what you hoped was a polite smile. You pulled a pencil from your case, and handed it to him. “Keep it.”

You turned back around before he could say anything, silently praying that would be the end of it.

It wasn’t.

Another tap. You inhaled sharply through your nose, willing yourself not to react. You turned.

“Got an eraser?”

Without mentioning that there was one attached to the end of the pencil, you just grabbed your spare eraser and dropped it on his desk without looking at him.

Surely, that would be enough.

But you felt it again. A third tap.

Annoyed now, you spun halfway toward him. “What?”

He grinned, leaning forward. “Can I get your number too?”

A burst of laughter came from behind him. His friends fist-bumped like they’d just witnessed something brilliant.

You blinked, the question hitting like a slap. Your lips parted, but no words came. You just turned back toward the front of the classroom, disgust curling in your chest.

Pig.

The snickering didn’t stop. The teacher, annoyed at the growing noise, shushed them harshly.

You stared at the board, eyes blurry with shame and frustration. You should’ve known. Of course he didn’t want a pencil… You clenched your jaw and forced yourself to keep writing.

When the bell rang for lunch, the teacher dismissed the class and left before most students were out of their seats. You packed slowly, hoping the room would clear before you had to walk through it. As you reached for your last book, a shadow fell over your desk.

You could read his name tag now.

Hyoman.

He loomed close, too close. “So,” he said, voice low and smug. “You’re gonna give me your number or what?”

You looked up. His posture reeked of arrogance, and the heavy scent of sweat made your nose twitch. You pushed your chair back instinctively, putting space between you. “I don’t give out my number,” You said firmly but politely, smoothing your skirt and standing.

A chorus of oohs erupted from his friends and Hyoman’s grin vanished.

He stepped closer, and something in his eyes changed. Gone was the teasing gleam. In its place was something colder. More entitled.

“You’re gonna give it to me though,” He said, voice sharp. “I’m not asking. I’m telling you.”

Your pulse spiked. Hands clammy, you forced a calm expression. “I really can’t. I’m sorry.” You lowered your eyes, trying not to provoke him further. “Please, excuse me.”

You tried to step around him, but he grabbed a fistful of your hair and yanked you back, hard.

You gasped, pain flaring at your scalp. Your back hit his chest and you froze, heart slamming against your ribs.

“Listen here, bitch,” He snarled, his mouth near your ear, breath hot and sour. “You don’t get to say no to me. I was nice. Now you give me your number, or I’ll take it out on you in ways you won’t like.”

Still frozen in shock, your breath was caught somewhere in your throat. You were just about to cave—just about to say something to make it stop—when a chair scraped loudly against the floor. The sharp squeal cut through the chaos like a blade.

“Don’t cross the line.”

The voice was quiet. Almost too quiet, but something about it made every sound in the room stop.

No yelling. No rage.

Just a thread of quiet authority that made the air go still.

You didn’t dare turn to look, still locked in Hyoman’s grip. But the tension around you shifted.

“Fuck off, Yeon Sieun,” Hyoman spat. But his voice faltered at the end, cracking under pressure. Still, he yanked harder on your hair, and you let out a strangled sound as fresh pain bloomed across your scalp. “It’s none of your business. Stay out of it.”

A pause.

Then, calmly, Sieun said, “This is your only warning.”

Click.

The sound was soft, like a pen snapping into place.

Strangely, the sound alone was enough to make Hyoman freeze behind you. His entire body stiffened like a wire pulled too tight.

No one laughed. No one moved.

Click.

Again. That sharp, quiet snap.

Someone whispered, “Shit” under their breath.

And suddenly, Hyoman let go of your hair. Just like that. He shoved you away roughly as if to save face, but there was fear flickering behind his eyes now. You stumbled forward, catching yourself on the edge of a desk, one hand going to your aching scalp. “I was just playing,” He muttered, voice small and strained. His hands lifted in mock surrender, but it was all performance now.

He walked away quickly, dragging his pride behind him as his friends trailed after him.

Blinking away tears, you now took the chance to look at the student who had came to your help.

Yeon Sieun stood there like he hadn’t moved at all. His uniform hung a bit too loose on his frame. His dark hair fell into his eyes, shadowing the expressionless mask he wore.

But it was his eyes that caught your attention.

Sad. Hollow. Tired.

Not the kind of tired from a long day, but the kind carved from sleepless nights and things too heavy for someone his age to carry. He looked distant, detached, like he wasn’t really here at all. The pen in his hand was held like a weapon.

With a slow, almost mechanical motion, he slid the pen into the inside pocket of his blazer. Without sparring you a glance, he turned, walking toward the door as if nothing had happened.

“Thank you.” You said before he left completely, your voice unsteady, barely more than a whisper. “Thank you, Yeon Sieun.”

He paused. Without a word, he turned slightly, just enough to acknowledge you with a sharp nod, then left.

And that’s how everything began.

✎﹏﹏﹏﹏✎﹏﹏﹏﹏✎﹏﹏﹏﹏✎﹏﹏﹏﹏

Most of your days were now spent going to ballet classes and hanging out with Sieun and his friends whenever you weren’t busy with your online classes. You would eat regularly with him, Juntae, Bakua, and Gotak. Even though Sieun didn’t talk much, you appreciated his calm presence, especially since the others could be a bit … much. Not Juntae though. He was a sweetheart.

It only took a few days for you to feel like you fit in with the group. While your father might disapprove of your new found friends, these guys had shown time and time again that they had your back in a way that none of your previous 'friends' had.

Five months had passed since your arrival at Eunjang High School, and things were going better now. Your ballet classes were going smoothly, you were doing well in your online classes, and now that you were close with Baku and his friends, no one dared to bother you. Plus, they were all terrified of Sieun and his pen. After hearing the stories from Gotak, you couldn’t say you didn’t blame them.

For the school classes, everything was fine, except for mathematics, which wasn’t surprising. You were very thankful that Sieun was taking some of his time to help you study. More than once, you would found yourself staring at him instead of listening to his explanation.

He was rough around the edges at first, but once you really started to know him, it was clear that he hid a lot of what he really felt.

It felt like a small victory every time you managed to pull even the faintest smile from him. You were sure you'd seen it twice. Once for real, and once when the corner of his lips twitched like it wanted to. It was rare, fleeting… but beautiful. Seeing even a glimpse of happiness on his face—however brief felt like sunlight breaking through clouds.

There was a quiet heaviness that always clung to him, a kind of sadness that never quite left his eyes. You remembered the night he opened up—told me about his old friends and how everything fell apart. You knew he hadn’t told you everything, only the outline of it, the parts he could bear to say out loud.

Sieun didn’t open up easily, and you didn’t push him. But even from that glimpse, you could see how deeply the guilt had rooted itself in him. You wished you could take some of that weight off his shoulders. Maybe if enough people kept on reminding him that it wasn’t his fault, he might start to believe it too. Someday.

✎﹏﹏﹏﹏✎﹏﹏﹏﹏✎﹏﹏﹏﹏✎﹏﹏﹏﹏

You met up with Baku and Gotak at your usual spot near a quiet corner shop downtown. The air had a sharp bite to it, the kind that crept under your clothes and settled in your bones. The sky was a dull, steely gray, and the wind whipped through the streets, rustling the fallen leaves that hadn’t yet been swept away. The chill in the air was a clear sign that winter was closing in fast.

You pulled your jacket tighter around yourself, trying to trap in whatever warmth you had left. “I hate the cold,” You mumbled, already shivering as your breath came out in faint, misty clouds.

Baku laughed. “I can warm you up if you want to.” He teased, dancing towards me like a complete fool.

“Gross! Get away from me, you big brute!” You halfheartedly exclaimed, giggling a little as you pushed him away.

“What’s going on?” A voice said behind you.

You turned quickly, the smile still lingering on your face until you saw Sieun standing there beside Juntae, his expression unreadable but eyes fixed on us. There was a flicker of something in his gaze. Confusion, maybe, or something else you couldn’t quite name. You stepped to the side a little bit, creating a circle with everyone.

Gotak shrugged. “Nothing special. Just Y/N breaking Baku’s heart again.”

Baku whipped invisible tears from his eyes. “If this goes on, I might actually start to think that you aren’t interested in me, Y/N. Stop pushing me away.”

You only hit his arm, a smile of amusement still tugging on your lips. “You’re stupid.”

Sieun suddenly coughed and adjusted his hoodie on himself. You looked at him then, but he avoided your gaze, looking to the side with a bored expression on his face.

Juntae, bless him, stepped in before things got awkward. “Does anyone want anything in the store?” He asked pulling at the fogged-up lenses of his glasses with one hand.

“No, thank you.” You declined politely, looking down. You were suppose to follow a certain diet for ballet, and you were already toeing the line with the calories you’d allowed yourself for the week. Thankfully, the food at the cafeteria had healthy versions. The real issue was back at your apartment were snacks were always within reach and boredom made them way too tempting. You were trying hard to get it under control lately. “I’ll wait here.”

“Can you bring me some shrimp crackers?” Pleaded Baku, bathing his eye lashes dramatically. “I’ll pay next time!”

Juntae nodded, a small smile on his lips as he entered the shop. “I don’t know what I want. I’ll go have a look.” Said Gotak, entering as well.

Sieun stood next the entrance of the shop. For a split second, he looked straight at you. His eyes, dark and tired, held yours for a few seconds longer than you expected. Your breath caught a little, but then he glanced over your shoulder at something—or someone—and the moment broke. Without a word, he turned and stepped into the shop after the others two.

The cold wind nipped at your face, but it wasn’t what made you shiver. You stood there, arms wrapped tightly around your body, watching the door slowly swing shut behind him.

You turned back towards Baku, who looked like he was seconds away from bursting into laughter.

“What is it now?” You asked, already dreading his answer.

“I’m just wondering if I should ask him if he’s carrying a pen with him tonight.”

You recoiled, looking confused. “What? Why would you ask him that?” Your voice rose in disbelief.

He gave a dramatic shrug, puckering his lips like he was trying to look thoughtful. “Oh, I don’t know? Maybe because he just gave me the look.”

You shoved your hands into your jacket pockets, trying to preserve whatever warmth you had left. “The look? Really?” You rolled your eyes. “What does that even mean?”

Baku grinned, eyes gleaming with mischief. “Come on, Y/N! You know exactly what it means. It’s that thing his eyes do when he’s trying not to lose it. Just for a second, it’s like you get a peek inside his brain. His eyes were practically screaming at me.”

You scoffed, tilting your head to the side. “Yeah? What were they saying then, oh great Eye Whisperer?”

He smacked his lips, pretending to deliberate. “Hmm… I don’t know if I should tell you. It might scare you.”

You crossed your arms over your chest, rolling your eyes again. “Just admit you’re making things up and talking out of your ass.”

He snorted, raising his hands in mock surrender. “All right, all right. You asked for it.” He leaned in dramatically, crouching slightly to meet your gaze. “I think our little Sieun has a big, fat crush on you and he was mentally murdering me with his eyes earlier because he was jealous.”

You stared at him, heart skipping a beat, mouth slightly open until you quickly shut it. “Stop speaking nonsense,” You muttered, shoving him hard in the shoulder. He stumbled back, unfazed, laughing so hard he had to wipe actual tears from his eyes this time.

“It’s not funny, Baku!” You exclaimed, still flustered. “You can’t say things like that.”

He calmed down a little bit. “It’s true though. I’m not lying.” He shivered, pulling his hoodie tighter. “Everyone sees it. He’s not exactly subtle, Y/N. Around you, he… speaks. That’s already saying a lot.” He wiggled his brows at you.

“He speaks to you guys as well, don’t be dramatic.” You looked away, trying to focus on the foggy shop window instead of the chaos Baku had just stirred in your chest. “You’re reading too much into things.” You muttered, but even you didn’t sound convinced.

It was true that over the past months, Sieun and you had gotten a bit closer. It just felt easy talking to him. At first, he’d simply stare blankly at you while you rambled on about your day at the academy. He wouldn’t say much…just the occasional nod as if he were barely listening. He seemed completely unapproachable, like there was some invisible wall around him that you could never quite break through. But slowly, you chipped away at it. By the end of the second month, he actually started listening. He’d sometimes ask questions, offer advice where he could. He even started helping you occasionally with mathematics after you broke down in tears over your mock exam grade.

Since then, even though he still mostly stayed quiet and distant, his presence never left you feeling completely alone. It was strange, but also comforting.

Your cheeks burned now, and it wasn’t from the cold. “Can we drop this, please?” You said as Baku was opening his mouth again. “He doesn’t treat me any different.” You spoke firmly, now too shy to meet Baku’s gaze. You couldn’t shake the feeling that he might see something in your eyes that you weren’t ready to face yet.

Before Baku could say anything, the door to the shop creaked open, and the rest of the group stepped out, carrying bags. Juntae handed Baku a bag of chips, and without missing a beat, Baku ripped it open, shoving a handful of chips into his mouth. He spared you a quick look, his grin still wide. You shifted uneasily, still feeling the weight of his teasing.

“Let’s go everyone.” Called Gotak, already heading towards the karaoke room with a purposeful stride. “Let’s not stay outside longer than we should.”

The walk between the karaoke room and the store was short, but with Sieun walking silently by your side, it felt much longer. The air between you two was thick with unspoken words.

You tried to focus on the sound of Gotak and Baku’s bickering when you felt something press into your hand. Looking down, you saw Sieun offering you a piece of triangle Kimbap along with a hand warmer pouch.

He kept his gaze straight ahead, as though nothing out of the ordinary had just happened.

“Sieun,” You said softly, touched by his quiet gesture. “Thank you.”

“It’s nothing,” he replied nonchalantly, not meeting your eyes. He shoved his hands into his pockets, maintaining his usual cool composure.

You decided to put the hand warmer in my pocket, saving it for when you would head back home . “I’ll give this back to you though.” You returned the Kimbap piece in his opened hand. “I can’t eat it.”

He stopped walking, and finally, his eyes met yours. For the first time in a while, you noticed how much better he looked. The dark circles under his eyes weren’t as prominent anymore, thanks to Juntae’s magnesium supplements. “What do you mean by that?” he asked, his expression slightly confused. “It’s the flavor you like, no? Spicy chicken?”

Always so observant.

“Yes, it is,” You replied, walking again and feeling his presence beside you. “But I can’t eat it tonight.”

“Oh.” He furrowed his brows. “Are you not feeling well? You should have said so if that’s the case. We could have rescheduled.”

You gave him a tight-lipped smile, feeling suddenly uncomfortable talking about this. “It’s not that. I’m pretty sure I’ve gone over my calories for the week. I can’t eat anymore today.”

Before you could take another step, Sieun’s hand landed lightly on your forearm, stopping you in your tracks. The look on his face was incredulous, the biggest expression I’d seen from him in a long time, if ever. It was almost enough to make you laugh.

“You can’t be serious right now, Y/N.” He said, his voice low and almost… protective?

“Sieun,” You sighed, exasperated. “I’m not starving myself. Calm down. I’m just counting my calories to stay on track.” You suddenly felt a little uneasy , like you were exposing too much. “You know I’m a ballerina. It comes with the hobby.”

He only blinked. “I understand that, but a single piece of Kimbap won’t make much of a difference anyways. If your body feels hungry, you should eat. Everything is good in moderation.” He handed you back the black triangle. “Please.”

Reluctantly, you took the food and put in inside of my pocket. “You win.” You rolled your eyes, trying to act as if you didn’t care, but deep down you were touched by his concern. He was always acting so cold, but he was warm-hearted. “ I’ll eat it at the karaoke.”

Your heart felt strangely lighter now, though you still couldn’t explain why. Maybe it was the simple act of him caring, even in the smallest way. You smiled to yourself.

“What are you guys talking about?” Ahead of us, Baksu had also stopped his walk and had turned around to watch us. His eyes were sparkling with amusement and you hoped that he would keep his mouth shut.

Without responding to his question, Sieun and you both continued walking, side by side, your steps quiet as you neared the karaoke building.

Once you were close enough, Baku threw his arm around Sieun’s shoulders, pulling him close in a playful manner. He was grinning like a cat who had just found a mouse. You went ahead of them to enter the establishment, not wanting to hear the nonsense that was sure to come out of his mouth. You climbed the stairs rapidly, eager to join your other two friends and escape the awkwardness.

“So, I don’t get any of your precious Kimbap?” Baku teased in Sieun’s ear, his voice light, but with that edge of knowing exactly how to push Sieun’s buttons. “I thought we were friends, man. You’re gonna make me beg for it?”

Sieun stiffened, but only for a second. He didn’t answer, his face completely blank of emotion. He on gave a single glare as he shrugged Baku’s arms off with a slow, effortless motion.

“Don’t touch me,” he said flatly.

Only Baku could see the faintest flush spreading across Sieun’s neck.

✎﹏﹏﹏﹏✎﹏﹏﹏﹏✎﹏﹏﹏﹏✎﹏﹏﹏﹏

The triangle Kimbap was indeed delicious. You ate it in three single bites. While Juntae, Baku, and Gotak were singing their hearts out, Sieun and you were relaxing in the seats behind, content with watching. The room was dim, lit by rotating colored lights that swept across the walls in soft pulses—pink, blue, green—giving the whole place a dreamy glow. The screen was huge, displaying lyrics in bold font, while a score in the corner judged every note. You giggled at Gotak’s poor attempt at the Wonder Girls choreographer for the song “Tell Me”. His shoulders bounced like jelly, and Baku’s dramatic backup dancing wasn’t helping.

Sieun let out a quiet breath beside me. Not quite a laugh, but close. His arms were crossed, eyes half-lidded in his usual indifferent way, but you caught the subtle curve at the corner of his lips.

“You know,” You whispered, leaning a little closer, “You almost smiled just now.”

He glanced at you, and for a second, our eyes locked in the flickering lights. His expression was unreadable, but not cold. Just… careful.

“I didn’t,” he said softly.

“You did.”

He looked away, pretending to be more interested in the screen than you. “You’re imagining things.”

You giggled softly at him, eyes sparkling.

You let the silence hang for a while, watching the others collapse in laughter as Juntae hit a tragically off-key note and the karaoke machine scored him a humiliating 58. Your shoulder brushed lightly against Sieun’s, and you didn’t move away.

Neither did he.

For a long moment, you just sat there, side by side in the dim, glittering room, the noise around you fading into the background. The others were loud, off-key, ridiculous—and perfect. But here, in the stillness between songs, with the soft lights brushing his cheek and his presence warm beside you, something delicate hung in the air.

A feeling of melancholy suddenly came over you. You hadn’t felt this kind of friendship, ever. You never felt understood. Not at home. Not at school or at the academy… But here, with your friends… You had found your people.

Beside you, you felt Sieun shifted and you look over to see him already staring at you. His eyes… you could get lost in them. You cleared your throat, leaning slightly to make sure he heard over the loud music. “Are you alright?”

He nodded. “What about you? You seemed somewhere else.”

You shrugged, taking a deep breath in. “It’s nothing. I’m just being a child.” You took a sip of water.

Sieun was silent for a while. He just kept looking at you, quiet, unblinking—like you were something worth paying attention to. It made your heart beat faster

“You can tell me, if you want. I’m the least likely in this room to go around telling everybody.” He finally said, shrugging his shoulders.

A small delicate laugh escaped you, and your imagination could have fooled you into seeing a softness entering Sieun’s eyes. You looked down suddenly embarrassed.

“I was just being sappy.” You muttered, tucking a loose strand of hair behind your ear. Letting out a deep breath, you finally let the words spill—the ones you’d been holding in for far too long.

“I’ve never really had friends like you guys before.” You said quietly, eyes fixed on the screen ahead. “It’s… kind of a new feeling. Being around people who don’t just tolerate me but actually enjoy having me around. It’s nice.”

You bit your lip, hesitant but too far in to stop now. “With my parents, I always have to be this perfect version of myself. The one that follows every rule, never talks back, never messes up. It's exhausting. I feel like I’m always performing for them. But here… I can actually make my own choices. I get to be me—no filter, no pretending.”

Your gaze drifted from your lap toward the others now, to Baku laughing about something with Gotak, Juntae nudging him with a bag of snacks in hand. “It’s the first time I don’t feel like I have to shrink myself just to fit in. It’s a relief not to always be worrying whether I’m too much or not enough.”

You hadn’t noticed the sting in your eyes until a tear slid down your cheek, then another. Startled, you wiped at them quickly, hoping Sieun hadn’t noticed. Your voice came out a little bit shaky, rushed. “Sorry. Told you I was being a child.”

Sieun didn’t respond right away. You expected silence—maybe one of his usual non-answers—but when you looked back at him, he was still watching. There was no judgment in his expression, no awkwardness. Just… stillness.

And his eyes.

They held so much sadness, so much depth, like the ocean. You stared too long. Long enough to forget what you had just said. Long enough to forget we were in a room filled with singing and ridiculous dancing. All you could see were those ocean eyes.

“I know that feeling,” he said at last, voice low. “Being around people, but still feeling alone.”

Your throat tightened. “It’s exhausting,” You whispered.

Sieun gave the tiniest nod. The glow from the karaoke lights painted faint purples and pink across his skin, and for a moment, you thought he looked almost unreal. His hair fell slightly into his eyes, and he didn’t bother fixing it.

He was pretty. So damn pretty.

“Do you ever feel like… no one really sees you?” You asked, almost afraid to hear the answer.

Sieun turned his gaze away briefly, as if the weight of the question was too much to meet head-on. Then, with the softest voice you’d ever heard from him, he said, “All the time.”

You reached over without thinking and lightly touched his sleeve. “I see you.” You said.

His eyes flicked back to mine—just a flicker—and something unreadable passed through them. Not quite surprise. Not quite disbelief. Maybe both. But underneath it, there was something tender. Shy. His lips parted like he might say something, but then Baku’s voice echoed through one of the microphones.

“Lovebirds in the back! You’re making us single people look bad!”

You jumped, pulling your hand away from Sieun’s arm like you’d been caught doing something forbidden. Heat bloomed across your face.

You were about to protest, but Sieun, for once, beat you to it. “Shut up, Baku,” he said, still calm but with a rare hint of embarrassment. His ears had gone red.

Baku only snorted. “Touchy!”

Juntae frowned between bites of leftover chips. “What did I miss? What happened.” Gotak blinked, eyes darting between Sieun and you.

You shifted uncomfortably in your seat, and Baku seemed to suddenly have some sympathy for you.

“You didn’t miss anything.” He said to both Gotak and Juntae. “False alarm. Let’s not make it weird.”

Without any more explanation, Baku marched forward and quickly cleaned up the trash left on the table in front of Sieun and you. The former was still glaring at him.

Noticeably, Baku made sure to take Gotak’s leftover ramen along with his chopsticks.

“I’m not risking my life tonight.” He whispered to you two, but mostly to Sieun with a wink.

Baku turned back around, snickering to himself. He gave Juntae’s shoulder a playful shake, hand already reaching for his bag of chips. “Back to the important stuff—karaoke and salty junk food.”

Gotak and Juntae still looked mildly suspicious, but Baku had already grabbed a mic and queued up the next song, dramatically clearing his throat.

With a resigned shrug, they both let it go, and soon the room was full of singing and laughter again—as if nothing strange had happened at all.

When Sieun’s knee brushed yours again, you didn’t move away.

✎﹏﹏﹏﹏✎﹏﹏﹏﹏✎﹏﹏﹏﹏✎﹏﹏﹏﹏

The group was still lingering outside the karaoke building, debating whether to get late-night ramen or just call it a night. Baku, as always, was still hungry.

“I’ll be right back,” You said quietly, pulling away from the circle. “I need the restroom.”

Juntae gestured vaguely. “There’s one beside the café next street—they let us use it last time.” You nodded.

“Don’t get murdered,” Baku called after you, half-joking.

“I’ll try not to,” You muttered with a laugh.

The city was quieter now, the glow of signs reflecting off the pavement. You turned down the narrow path between the karaoke place and the café, leading to the next street. You quickly head for the door with the bathroom sign.

That’s when you heard it.

“Well, well. Didn’t expect to see you here alone.”

You froze.

That voice—it sent a ripple of nausea straight through you. Slowly, you turned.

It was him. Hyoman.

From school.

He was leaning against the wall like the world owed him something. “I heard you were into ballet.” He said, looking me up and down. “Guess that means starving yourself and hanging out with losers, huh?”

You clenched your jaw. “Leave me alone, Hyoman.”

He stepped closer, not listening. “Or what? You’ll twirl away from me?”

His hand shot out, grabbing your wrist. “You act all quiet and high-and-mighty, but I know what girls like you are really like. You think you’re special. But you’re just fake.”

“Let go of me” You snapped, trying to pull back, fear creeping in.

He didn’t.

A smirk curled at his lips. “You still pretending to be all graceful and perfect?” he sneered, stepping closer. “Still playing the innocent card, huh?” Your eyes filled with tears, and panicked grounded you in place.

“You think just because you hang out with Baku, you’re safe now?” His eyes raked over you repeatedly, colder this time. “I bet under all that discipline, you’re just waiting for someone to mess you up a little. Isn’t that what you dancers want?” My throat tightened again.

“Let go of me,” You said softly, your voice trembling, breath caught in your chest. “Please.”

He leaned in, and you could smell the alcohol on his breath. “C’mon, just a little fun. Don’t act like you’re too good for it.”

And then, like lightning—

Sieun.

He grabbed Hyoman arm and yanked him back with so much force that the boy stumbled and hit the wall behind him with a grunt. For a moment, Hyoman looked stunned.

“She said to let go.” Sieun said. His voice wasn’t loud. It didn’t have to be. It was sharp. Direct. Steady in a way that made the hair on your arms rise.

Hyoman pushed off the wall, sneering. He stumbled a little bit, and you suspected that it wasn’t just because of the alcohol. “What, you gonna fight me? You’re just some freak who never talks. You think being quiet makes you scary?”

Sieun stepped forward without hesitation and shoved him again—harder this time. “Try touching her again,” he said, “and I swear I won’t just push you.”

Sieun’s eyes burned with something raw. Not anger, exactly. Something more dangerous..

Hyoman backed off, scowling. “You’re both crazy,” he muttered, spitting to the side before stalking away.

The silence he left behind felt suffocating.

You stood frozen, staring at Sieun. Your chest was still tight, adrenaline spiking through you.

He was breathing heavily. The fury slipped from his face when he saw your face.

“Are you okay?” He asked, stepping closer.

You nodded, but it was a lie. The moment you met his eyes—soft now, worried—you cracked.

“No.” You whispered.

He didn’t hesitate.

Sieun stepped forward and pulled you into him, his arms wrapping around you like it was the most natural thing in the world. He held you—not too tight, just enough to remind you that you weren’t alone.

And you broke.

The tears came fast. Hot, angry sobs that you couldn’t hold back any longer. You clutched his hoodie in your fists and buried your face against his chest. You couldn’t stop shaking.

Sieun didn’t say anything. He just stood there, solid and quiet, letting you fall apart in his arms. For someone who rarely showed emotion, he held you like he’d done it a hundred times. You melted into his warmth.

That was when you heard footsteps.

“Y/N?” Baku’s voice called, too cheerful at first, until it dropped with concern. “Y/N, what happened?!”

The rest of the group came into view, Juntae and Gotak behind Baku, who stopped mid-step when he saw you in Sieun’s arms.

Gotak blinked. “What the hell…?”

Juntae looked concerned. “Wait, is she crying?”

Baku’s eyes narrowed as he looked around. “What happened, Sieun?”

Sieun didn’t move. He kept holding you, shielding you with his body from the boys’ growing panic. You didn’t lift my head, not yet. You didn’t want them to see you like this.

“She’s okay now,” Sieun said, voice flat but firm. “Someone crossed a line. It’s handled.”

The others were still trying to piece together what had happened, but something in Sieun’s tone, something cold and sharper than they were used to, shut them up.

Baku muttered under his breath, something about looking for whoever did it. But he didn’t press further.

Sieun’s arms didn’t move until your breathing calmed. And even then, he didn’t let go until you gently pulled back, cheeks still damp.

There was no judgement on his face when you backed away.

✎﹏﹏﹏﹏✎﹏﹏﹏﹏✎﹏﹏﹏﹏✎﹏﹏﹏﹏

The walk back to the karaoke room was quiet.

No one asked questions. Not even Baku, who usually couldn’t stay silent if his life depended on it.

Sieun didn’t speak.

He just stood beside you in the quiet night air, his hands in his pockets, his expression unreadable as always—but there was a tension in his posture, like he was still on edge.

“I think I’ll go home,” You said finally, voice hoarse from crying.

Sieun looked at you, then gave a small nod. “I’ll walk you.”

“You don’t have to—”

“I know.”

But he came anyway.

The city lights flickered around us as we walked. The only sounds were the occasional passing car and the soft rhythm of our footsteps. You kept your eyes on the ground, the cool breeze brushing against your cheeks, hand warmer between your palm. You didn’t feel like talking, and Sieun didn’t push you to.

Halfway home, you glanced at him from the corner of your eye. His shoulders were slightly hunched, like he was carrying something heavy.

“I’m sorry,” You murmured.

He looked at you, confused. “For what?”

“For ruining the night.”

“You didn’t ruin anything,” he said, tone even. “Don’t apologize for something that isn’t your fault.” Wind ruffled through his hair.

“I was scared,” You admitted after a while. “Not just in the moment. Scared he wouldn’t go away. Scared no one would come.”

You let out a quiet breath, the words catching on the edge of your hesitation before you finally spoke. “I know you were scared too. But you still stepped in. You chose to protect me.” Sieun didn’t say anything, didn’t even look at you directly—but something in him shifted.

His expression remained unreadable, but his shoulders eased, just slightly, like some invisible weight had loosened its grip. “Thank you,” you said, gently.

There was a pause.

Then, barely above a whisper, Sieun said, “I’ll always protect my friends. No matter what.”

We walked the rest of the way in silence, but it wasn’t the kind that made you feel alone.

When you reached your door, you turned to him and gave a small smile. “Thank you… for everything.”

Sieun stared for a second too long. Then, awkwardly, he nodded, eyes flicking away.

“I’m just glad you’re okay.”

And before you could step inside, he added—barely above a whisper, “Text me when you’re safe in bed.”

You blinked. “You want me to text you?”

He rubbed his neck, trying to look nonchalant. “I just… want to know you’re okay. That’s all.”

Warmth bloomed in your chest, and you couldn’t help but smile softly.

“Okay”

✎﹏﹏﹏﹏✎﹏﹏﹏﹏✎﹏﹏﹏﹏✎﹏﹏﹏﹏

That night, you kept my promise and texted him.

[10:42 PM] In bed. Safe.

There was a long pause before his reply came.

[10:47 PM] Okay. Sleep well.

Simple. Distant. But it made you smile anyway.

You curled under the blanket, still feeling the ghost of his arms around you, the way he had pulled you close without hesitation. It stayed with you long after you closed your eyes.

You dreamt of him.

Of Sieun.

Not the quiet, cold version of him the world knew. But the one you saw tonight—the one whose eyes burned when he saw you hurt, whose voice sharpened when he defended you, whose hands didn’t shake when he held you.

In the dream, we were alone again. But it was warmer somehow. Softer.

You stood beneath a streetlight, the city blurred around you. He stepped close—too close—and reached out to tuck a strand of hair behind your ear. His fingers lingered just slightly against your skin, and his eyes… they were locked on mine like I was the only thing that existed.

And then—his hand slid gently to your jaw. His thumb brushed your cheek.

He leaned in.

His breath touched yours.

And just before your lips met, you—

Woke up.

Your eyes snapped open. The room was dark and quiet, the covers twisted around your legs. Your skin felt hot and sticky.

You sat up slowly, pressing your hands to your cheek.

It had been so vivid.

Too vivid.

You groaned quietly and flopped back against the pillow, staring up at the ceiling.

What was wrong with you?

It was just a dream. Just a dream. Just—

But the image of his eyes, the sound of his voice, the way he held you like you were something precious… You pressed your palms against your eyelids. You knew, no matter how hard you tried, you weren’t going to forget it anytime soon.

You were screwed.

[2456788sworld]

The It-Girl Blueprint: Where to Put Your Energy :

An It-Girl doesn’t waste time overthinking, gossiping, or stressing about other people's actions or behaviour. She doesn’t entertain unnecessary thoughts or internal conflicts. An it-girl doesn't dwell on things that drain her. Instead, she detaches, refocuses, and puts all that energy into herself—her growth, her glow, her dream life.

Learning a new language

Crocheting

Reading (books, articles, etc.)

Learning sign language

Practicing Pilates, Yin Yoga, and workout

Writing a novel

Writing comics or short stories

DIY projects (decor, stationery, etc.)

Dancing or learning new choreography

Listening to pep talks and podcasts

Doing facial massages

Weekly exfoliation & masks

Staying hydrated

At-home spa days

Hair care routine

Nail care routine

Skin care routine

Tracking skincare progress

Start a blog and share your journey

Learning digital art and design

Drinking lemon water for skin clarity

Cleaning makeup brushes regularly

Applying SPF daily

Cleansing your skin twice a day

Learning video editing skills

Learning effective communication skills

Painting & sketching

Practicing meditation, mindfulness, and self-awareness

Making your favorite food and experimenting with new recipes

Learning attractive body language and self-presentation

Learning about fashion & finding your style

Diy candles

Planning ahead for studies and personal goals

Planning and preparing for exams in advance

Creating a schedule for consistent progress

Organizing and cleaning your desk

Experimenting with makeup and beauty routines

Learning photography

Exploring new music and creating playlists

Designing and organizing your personal planner

Taking nature walks

Trying out journaling

Making your personal playlist for different moods

Learning about astrology or spirituality

Doing vision board

Exploring aromatherapy and creating a calming space

Practicing gratitude journaling or affirmations

Creating a travel bucket list

Developing a signature fragrance

Growing your own mini garden

Trying out new hairstyles or hair experiments

Staying active with fitness routines

Mastering time management

Learning new skills online

Doing regular digital detoxes

And yet, there are so many more... the list goes on...

[xiranjayzhao]

Iron Widow College AU

Zetian: Poli-sci major, gender studies minor. Goth. Worked at Arby's as a teenager but now findoms as a side hustle. Coordinator in the campus' Women's Centre and fighting a war with a rogue TERF faction trying to ban trans people from accessing it.

Yizhi: Chemistry major, pre-med. In a shady elite frat. Shockingly, not one of Zetian's paypigs. Known Zetian since highschool but they didn't go to the same one. They just met in the Arby's parking lot when she was taking a smoke break during the short time she picked up smoking (she has since quit).

Shimin: Literature and philosophy double major, 4.33 GPA. Becomes Yizhi's sugar baby when even working two jobs can't keep him afloat but doesn't realize he's a sugar baby because he thinks it's totally normal to get paid thousands of dollars to tutor Yizhi for like 20 minutes per week.

Wan'er: History major. Friends with more profs than fellow students. Completely different demeanour online vs offline. You'd never guess she's a Reddit moderator (of r/ShitLiberalsSay).

Taiping: Economics major, in a shady elite sorority. Goes clubbing every night and barely shows up to class yet still manages to ace her exams.

Qin Zheng: Poli-sci major. Shows up to class in a leather jacket and Che Guevera shirt. Regularly embarrasses Zetian when they have to do projects together. Is the guy with the megaphone at every protest. Has a definitive list of best places to hook up on campus.

Qieluo: Never went to college as a student but got a job in administration anyway. Tired of dealing with Qin Zheng's shenanigans.

Helan: Legacy admission nepo baby. In Yizhi's chemistry class. Will join protests but draws the line at property damage/occupation. Got roasted on r/ShitLiberalsSay.

[babyleostuff]

⸻ how the hip hop unit helps you study

scoups

your typical dad trying to explain math homework 

cheol really tries his best. he does. it’s just the way in which he tries makes you want to rip out your hair, cry, and run away. because he’s so stubborn he’ll act like he knows the topic so much better than you, even if he has zero clue what it's truly about. will tell you that he read an article online and that he is 100% correct. so even if you ask him to simply read the terms from your flashcard, nothing more, just read, so you could revise the topic, he’d act all: no, but actually! and if you try to tell him otherwise, he’ll just start arguing with you. and we all know how petty this man can get if someone disagrees with him. 

3/10 experience 

too bossy 

too stubborn 

gets frustrated in 0.0001 second and starts pouting 

will tell you that you don’t love him anymore

wonwoo

drops anything to help you out, no matter what you need help with

you need to buy something for your project? he’s already at the store. you need more paper for your flashcards? he’s out chopping wood all nara smith. you need to read a hundred pages of boring articles? let me do it for you! come on, jeon wonwoo, the acts of service man himself would do anything to help you out. even if it means sitting by your side for hours in complete silence, because you need emotional support. even if it means watching numerous youtube videos on topics he cannot even comprehend. even if he has to rewrite the damn book by himself, he will do it. such an encouraging, supportive, sweet, and genuinely helpful study buddy!

100/10

chops wood 

attempts to make study snacks 

will become an expert in the topic you don’t understand, so he can explain it to you 

makes the prettiest flashcards

mingyu

the one that takes it a bit too seriously 

you need help studying? do not worry, here comes kim mingyu with his fake glasses. he’s clearly excited that you need his help, but for some reason he treats it as this super important mission impossible that requires all of his brain cells, as if he’s the one to study. and don’t even try to mention that it’s not that serious, because he’ll get offended. you’d think he’d be all “one kiss for one correct answer”, but no. for some reason turn into this strict, annoying teacher, acting all smart with you. mingyu just takes his job a bit too seriously. similarly to cheol, at some point he will start to act all smarty pants with you, and yeah, you’re smart mingyu, but? let’s calm down a bit, yeah? 

6/10 experience 

you actually manage to revise your material with him 

looks good in glasses 

acts like mr know it all 

falls asleep/gets hungry fifteen minutes into revising

vernon

gets so into the topic that your studying turns into a lecture 

which to be honest - great way to revise your material. vernon is just so curious about… basically anything that even if your topic is as interesting as watching paint dry, he’ll get so into it and ask if you could elaborate. thus, your study time turns into lecture time! and i know he’s the greatest listener too. could sit there for hours and listen to you talk, because - 1. he gets to listen to you, and 2. learns new random facts, which he can use as a party trick later on. and if there’s something that you yourself do not understand, vernon does anything he can to educate himself on said topic, so he can explain it to you. 

11/10 experience 

genuinely interested 

at the end of the night will know more than you 

you get to experience the POV: you’re an academic professor  

great way to spend quality time

[healthyfamiliesbrightfutures]

Researchers at the Lyda Hill Institute for Human Resilience with the University of Colorado are recruiting LGBTQ+ teens (ages 15-18) and their caregivers for a study of an affirming online group program for teens and their parents/caregivers.

Please note that we will always keep your information that you provide safe.  As queer researchers, we are committed to helping the queer community. This project is being led by Heather Littleton (https://resilience.uccs.edu/staff/heather-littleton-phd) and Katie Edwards (https://ivrl.ssw.umich.edu/home)

Parents and teens can EACH earn up to $160 for their participation.

Click the link below to learn more!

[grapejuicenharry]

HI, could you write a blurb where Harry is a rich businessman and he is really busy with his work etc etc and is really stressed with something so yn goes to him and gives him a blowjob so that he feels good. Something like that?

a/n: sorry it took me a while! but i hope u enjoy it <33

warnings: blowjob, smut, 18+, kissing.

✶⋆.˚꩜ .ᐟ˙⋆ . ✶⋆.˚꩜ .ᐟ˙⋆✶. ⋆.˚꩜ .ᐟ˙⋆✶ ⋆.˚꩜ .ᐟ˙⋆✶

It was that time of the month again, the most stressful time for Harry. Mid-November had arrived, and with it, an overwhelming workload. He'd recently fired a few employees, which only added to his responsibilities. Between catching up on finances, preparing presentations, and attending client meetings, the pressure was taking a toll on his health. The air outside was chilly, snow was starting to form, and Harry, running on low energy, desperately needed rest.

༘˚⋆𐙚｡⋆𖦹.✧˚

Harry was the CEO of a multimillion-dollar company, just at the age of 28, he had his name appearing in Forbes several times. He owned homes in London, Los Angeles, Italy, and New York. But after getting married, he and Y/N chose to live in a luxurious penthouse—Y/N loved the city life and feeling like a spoiled kitten. 

They first met at a business conference, where Y/N was there with her clients, managing a project. The moment Harry laid his eyes on her, he felt a connection. He instantly knew she was the one he wanted as a life partner, the mother of his children.

After their wedding, Y/N decided to leave her job. The constant stress and long hours had been wearing her down. Harry supported her choice completely, happy to see her take a break and enjoy life. Now she could relax at home, focus on their relationship, and indulge in the luxury that Harry’s success provided.

༘˚⋆𐙚｡⋆𖦹.✧˚

Throughout it all, Y/N had been his rock. She supported him at every turn, stepping in whenever he was overwhelmed. She made sure he was taken care of—preparing healthy soups, ensuring he took his medicines on time, and giving him massages whenever his body felt sore and achy. She understood when he was too drained to talk or spend time with her, simply letting him rest his head in her lap, where she would gently scratch his scalp until he fell asleep.

Despite his gratefulness, Harry couldn't help but feel guilty. He knew he wasn't spending enough time with Y/N. There were days when they barely exchanged a word, and even when she asked if he was okay, all he could muster was a tired nod. He tried-he really did— setting aside at least an hour from his hectic schedule to be with her, but his heavy eyelids, sunken eyes, and pounding headaches often got the better of him. Still, he knew Y/N understood; she stayed by his side, making sure he didn't collapse under the weight of his responsibilities. He felt blessed to have her as his wife.

༘˚⋆𐙚｡⋆𖦹.✧˚

Today, Harry was working from home. He had been in online meetings since seven in the morning, and it was now eleven. Y/N had brought him coffee and breakfast earlier, giving him a quick peck on the cheek, like the good wife she was. But after five straight hours of him being hold up in his study, she decided he needed to take a break. He needed to rest, and she had an idea she'd been wanting to try for a while.

Entering the room quietly, she was dressed in one of Harry's old T-shirts that said safe sex and a pair of tiny shorts. Her sock-clad feet tapped softly against the hardwood floor as she approached. Harry's eyes were glued to his laptop, his hair messy atop his head, glasses slipping down his nose, like he hasn’t gotten the time to push them. Hearing her, he looked up, a tired but soft smile curving his lips. "Hi, baby," he greeted.

Y/N felt a flutter of excitement at his gentle tone. His voice never fails to excite her. She circled around the table and settled onto his lap. "Hi," she whispered, wrapping her arms around him and inhaling his scent. "I miss you."

"Mmm," Harry hummed as she threaded her fingers through his hair, the gesture immediately easing some of the tension in his head. She pulled back slightly, adjusting his glasses and gazing into his tired eyes.

"You need a break, Harry. You've been working non-stop for hours. You deserve to relax," she insisted, ending her words with a kiss near the corner of his lips.

Harry's smile widened in amusement. He knew she was right—his body was sore from sitting in one place all morning. "And how do I relax, baby?" he asked, lacing their fingers together and kissing her knuckles. "Are you here to help me unwind?"

"Y-yes," she whispered, surprised he didn't need convincing. Her confidence wavered for a moment, but she pushed her nerves aside, determined to follow through with her plan. "Let me help you relax, Harry. I want to." 

She leaned in and pressed her lips to his jaw, trailing wet kisses down his neck, nibbling his earlobe—a spot she knew he loved. Harry's head tipped back slightly, giving her better access, his eyes fluttering shut. Her nails lightly grazed his toned abs under his shirt, making him shiver. "Fuck," he muttered, voice low.

He pulled her close and kissed her deeply;the kiss was a heated mess of tongues, teeth, and moans. His hand slipped under the hem of her shirt to get rid of it—but she pulled back with a teasing shake of her head. Sliding off his lap, she kneeled before him, his eyes widening as he realized what she had in mind.

"What are you doing, baby?" he asked, his thumb brushing her lower lip.

"Helping you relax," she whispered, parting her lips and taking his thumb into her mouth, swirling her tongue around it.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" he asked, his voice husky. "Yes, I'm sure.” that all the encouragement he needed. He withdrew his thumb, smirking.

 "Filthy girl, my filthy girl," he murmured while shaking his head, his words sending a jolt of arousal straight to her core. "This was just an excuse, wasn't it? You just wanted my cock in your mouth."

A whimper escaped her lips at his words, her panties already damp with arousal. "Take me out," he ordered. Without hesitation, she fumbled with his shorts, pulling down the zipper and freeing his hard length. She swipes her thumb on his tip, and licking it off, Harry’s eyes darken with lust, eager to see what she does next.

Y/N licked a slow, deliberate path from the base to the tip. She kissed the tip before taking it into her mouth, sucking it gently. She starts prepping kisses along the length before taking it in her mouth. "Fuck, baby. Just like that," Harry groaned, his head falling back as he tangled his hand in her hair, gathering it into a makeshift ponytail without pushing her down, letting her set the pace.

"My good girl," He breathes out praise, encouraging her, while running his hand through her hair. In response, she moans out, the vibrations bringing him close, making him grip her hair tighter. The praises made her pussy clenching around nothing. Her own arousal pooled between her thighs, and she squeezed her legs together in a desperate attempt to relieve some pressure.

She popped his cock out of her mouth briefly, taking a deep breath before returning to him, this time taking one of his balls into her mouth, licking and sucking gently. Harry's hips bucked involuntarily, hitting the back of her throat. "Sorry," he panted.

"Don't hold back. Fuck my mouth," she whispered, looking up at him with wide, eager eyes.

Harry smirked, "Yeah? You think you can handle it, baby?"

She nodded, unable to respond with her mouth full. That was all the confirmation he needed.  He gripped her hair and began thrusting gently, fucking her face at a steady pace. Y/N focused on breathing through her nose, taking him deeper in her throat, her hands stroking what she couldn't fit into her mouth. His breathing grew heavier, moans escaping his lips. Y/N knew he was close, so she starts fondling with his balls, squeezing them in her palm. The sound of his moans and her gagging filled the study. Y/N, thank heavens the housekeepers went off early today. 

"I'm gonna cum, baby." he warned, his thrusts growing sloppy.

"Cum," she urged, her voice muffled. With a groan, he released into her mouth, “Y/N,Y/N—fuck, so good, so good baby.” He pants with a loud cry.  warm spurts filling her. She keeps sucking him until he's completely dry, making sure to take every drop. She swallows without hesitation, the familiar salty taste not bothering her at all. His eyes softened as he looked down at her, her teary eyes, lips glistening with him. He wiped the drool from her chin.

"Are you relaxed now?" she asked with a small smile.

Harry chuckled, pulling her up onto his lap. He kissed her deeply, tasting himself on her lips. "So relaxed," he murmured, pecking her lips again. "So relaxed."

They both laughed, his silliness lightening the room's heavy air.

────୨ৎ──── ────୨ৎ────

[stardustbae]

LADS-High School AU//Headcanons

Pairings: Xavier, Zayne, Rafayel, Sylus and Caleb x Non-MC!Reader (Separate)

Genre: Slice of Life

Note: This is my first time ever writing, so please be nice!🖤✨️

Xavier

-The guy who slept in the back of class all the time yet still got excellent grades, so the teachers didn't care.

-Wore a jersey mostly since they were warm and cozy. Whenever he wore a blazer, he always had his white hoodie under it.

-Forever had a bedhead, but he looked cute with it. (Everyone also thought that was how his hair naturally looked since it was somehow still neat)

-Was definitely on the chess team and did athletics for a sport. He also has a certain interest in fencing.

-Barely spoke to anyone and minded his own business.

-Weird he somehow ended up becoming acquainted with you since he practically lived by "EAT. SLEEP. GAME. REPEAT" and was perfectly fine with that and no one else. (Except for maybe Jeremiah, who was his childhood friend?...acquaintance? He's not sure either)

-It all started when you sat next to him in class. You gave up one of the front seats for your friend with bad eyesight and took something at the back since it was full, which ended up being right next to him. It wasn't bad, to say the least. The silence that followed after you nodded each other a greeting was peaceful. You never cared much for attention or talking to people unless necessary... or you were close enough to info dump, so this was nice.

-He acknowledged your existence and thought you were cool.... then he ended up unintentionally keeping track of your mannerisms, from the way you brushed back your hair to the sounds of doodling on your notebook (which may have lulled him to sleep a few times). He was intrigued and kept watching, masking it with his folded hands on the desk, or quickly shutting his eyelids whenever you felt his gaze and turned towards him.

-Only managed to properly talk to each other once you two got assigned for a paired project, then learned that you two have a common interest in video games. Which led to game exchanges and eventual online matches as a team.

Zayne

-Quiet nerd who sat up front and never had time for BS or anything really.

-People were secretly scared of his icy nature.

-Every girl was after him because he was cool and... face card never declined. He absolutely hated the attention.

-Always in a blazer, no matter the temperature and his hair was perfectly neat all the time.

-Did Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Pure Math and Accounting - everyone's worst nightmare.

-You ended up sitting next to him up front because the teacher thought you were talking to your friend, so she just moved you next to him as if you were a delinquent who could be changed. You didn't argue since there'd be no point to, so you just accepted it and moved your stuff to the desk next to him. After a nodded greeting, you just sat down, checking your notes whilst waiting for lunchbreak.

-He didn't think much of you other than that you were attractive and noisy according to teacher, so he didn't bother.... was really surprised when he saw you open up your notes to find it incredibly neat and detailed.

-You two don't end up interacting much, even though you really would like to. It's just that you couldn't find an opening.

-One day, you did end up finding it - he was chomping on a literal bar of chocolate before class could start. To say you weren't taken aback would be an absolute lie. He whips his head back at your shaky form when he hears suppressed giggles to which you quickly recovered and apologized, saying that it was cute. His ears got red.... visibly red. He never ate chocolate around you again until you offered him some of your favorite, and you ended up bonding on sweets.

-Warms up to you and become friends(?), walks you to classes discussing schoolwork with you and branching off into study sessions.

-As he got comfortable with you and got to know you better, he realized that your slight upbeat energy is really nice, so he kept you around.

Rafayel

-Artist at the back of class who'd rather be anywhere but at school but goes since well... you have to.

-Always sketching when not actually putting effort into notes - which needs color and hand lettered headings.

-Had the best hair and customized uniform to his taste with pins and so on.

-Hated when anyone stared for too long at his sketchbook.

-Definitely took Technical Drawing and got bored but still kept doing it because he could draw. His favorite was English due to the creative and literary aspects.

-Excellent swimmer but never did it as a sport, preferred wandering instead.

-Has everyone's attention on him. Girls, guys, others... you name it, but he hated interacting with people too much - he is a social recluse after all.

-Likewise you didn't like attention at the front of the class so you sat in the back, in front of him and next to the window. You were getting stuff from your bag behind you, and then you noticed him sketching. As if in a trance, you rested your head on the back of your chair and continued watching the pencil strokes grazing against the paper. Snapping back to reality with a flick to the forehead from the artist, he looked rather displeased, so you apologized and complimented his technique before turning back around.

-Taken aback, he didn't expect you to know anything about art and thought you were going to bat your eyelashes at him and attempt to win his attention over by half-heartedly asking to see more of his sketchbook. Hesitantly, he taps on your shoulder, asking if you drew as well, to which you gave a soft nod. He considers getting your number and just asks to see your work at break instead.

-Never left your side ever since, not that you minded or anything. He was a good friend who was always there for you. You would never ask for anything else.

-On the other hand.... He. Was. Fucked. After the little while, you two had become friends, he couldn't help but find you as his muse (he had a crush on you but would never admit that)

Sylus

-"Bad boy" loner

-Everyone thought he was a delinquent because of his ear piercings and death glare. Not to mention the way his attire was: unbuttoned shirt, loose tie, random jacket, and messy hair.

-Did MMA out of school. In school, he didn't get along with many and preferred being on his own.

-Did the business course and added physics as an extra subject.

-Was put next to you because the teacher thought he'd absorb your goodness and become a good kid.

-You weren't intimidated by him. In fact, you could match his glare. Band for band? No. Glare for glare.

-There was a time in which he took your ruler to smack someone with.... you shot him a nasty glare, and he put it back quietly and apologized.... maybe the teacher was right about the good vibes?

-there were mostly short interactions between you two. He grew closer once he noticed the way other boys in class treated you. It wasn't the absolute worst thing, but he could tell you were ticked off, so he stood by as a safety net. Your guard dog. He never understood them for their actions since you were decent according to his standards.

-There was a shift after a while. People avoided you, which made little sense until sylus plopped down next to you, ah there's was your answer. You didn't mind, he was nice and pretty and tall- great, now you have a little crush.

-He could sense something was off about you. You were shy and never made eye contact with him. Oh? He sees it now.... and uses it to his full advantage. He can't tell when you're blushing despite hiding it well, but not well enough. He's officially your worst nightmare now with all the teasing. Good luck with that hun!

Caleb

-Popular kid who knows everyone to the point it's annoying.

-Played either soccer or basketball and did the thing where he lifted the front of his shirt to wipe the sweat off his face and flashed his abs, which made girls faint literally.

-Did similar subjects as Zayne except he swapped out accounting for Engineering, Graphics and Design.

-Was every teacher's favorite student. So neat and respectful, and he was perfect, if only they had another student like that. Y/n? Oh... yeah no

-Always with Gideon, occasionally meeting up with Zayne. Otherwise, he pesters you whilst your friend has heart eyes, and you aren't impressed in the slightest. He's too bright to the point that your eyelids might be burning off. You don't have the energy for this. You just want a nap.

-You never got the hype. His popularity pissed you off, not in a jealous way. It all just gave you a massive headache when you heard girls squealing. Very overstimulating when they cornered his table and knocked your stuff over whilst invading your space. Yes, you sat next to him in the middle of the class, sadly, and are now cornered.

-poking him on the side, you nonchalantly tell him to tell his fangirls to leave and then plop your head down due to your massive migraine. His expression turns from a sweatdrop to slight concern when he clears the area and asks if you're okay. You can't even hate your academic rival. He's too nice.... and cute... maybe you do get the hype... slightly.

-Irrespective of rivalry, you two hold a certain respect for each other. Maybe it's a little more than respect. You push each other to do your best and end up tying most of the time. Maybe you two are more in sync than you thought.

[ancha-aus]

Ghosts & Medium AU. Alternative timeline

So. I was just doing my normal things today. When I had a thought.

Wouldn't it be fucked up if in my Ghosts&Medium AU The brothers were switched?

Meaning Dust died and Ash was still alive?

Let me give you a rundown of how that would FUCK with everything. Warning!! It is LONG :D

First. How did Dust die instead of Ash?

In short? The fucking Coach. In short? Dust? Never liked coach. He always got bad vibes off of him. It wasn't until later when Dust got more powerful and skilled in his skills that he realises that they reaosn for this was that the spirits of his past victims were trying to warn Dust.

But little ten year old Dust? Was not yet aware of this. He just felt a bad vibe of the coach and didn't like being alone with him and didn't like his brother being alone with him.

The thing is though? Ash? Ash trusted the coach. Trusted the coach MORE than his parents. Pretty much. ash was the golden child. the favourite. The prodigy. Dust was the weird kid. The second son that just couldn't measure up to Ash. He wasn't as athletic or smart or talented or social as Ash. Dust was a little trouble maker that broke things and lied about stupid ghosts having done it.

The coach was the person who told Ash that he was doing a good job and that Dust was looking to Ash for guidance. Telling Ash he wasn't being silly or dumb for concentrating on his brother as well.

So? Ash told Dust. If you ever find yourself alone, or scared or if our parents kick you out and you can't find me? Go to coach.

In the main timeline this never happened.

But in this one?

It was something dumb. Some ghost broke something in the hosue again (their house was HELLA haunted) and their parents kicked him out again. Dust hadn't minded at first. Ash had promised him they would go get icecream. So Dust jsut walked to school (close to 30 minutes to a hour walk) and he looked around but he couldn't find Ash. So he waited. and waited. and waited. But by the time it was evening? By the time it had gone dark and cold and started to rain? Still no Ash.

Dust was cold and was unsure what to do.... the Coach happened to come across him and asked him what is wrong... and sure Dust got a bad vibe off him... and sure he feels uneasy near him... but Ash said it was fine... and Ash is smart and ALWAYS right... so Dust tells the coach he is waiting for Ash to get ice cream but he hasn't seen him yet...

In the end? The coach manages to convince Dust to come wiht him... Dust goes with him...

And well.. the faith that was meant for fifteen year olf Ash... ended up happening to ten year old dust.

Ash? Ash had to stay late for some stupid study project group. One his parents put him in adn he had already felt so guilty for being late to get ice cream with his little brother.

Dust adores and looks up to ash. Wants Ash to be happy. Always. Ash? Ash sees Dust as HIS little brother. Since the moment he was born Dust had been HIS and HIS little sunshine. Ash is HYPER protective of his little brother.

So to come home? To not see dust? Panic. instantly. He yelled at his parents for kcking him out and ran to search for him.

Eventually the coach tries to do the same with ash. but the coach makes one mistake. he mentions how he hopes that ash will cry and sob like dust did.

Ash killed the coach without a moment of hesitation.

The police found him and ash jsut lied through his teeth that it was self defence. And ash? Model student. promising athlete and everything? Well... the cops started looking through the stuff... and found pictures of past victims.

Ash broke into the evidence locker and found pictures that the coach had made. Ash never truly forgives himself. It was HIS word that made dsut trust the coach. That is what made the coach able to get to him.

improtant is. Ash is no medium. He never was. He never felt the ghosts or anything. But he KNEW his brother saw them. He KNOWS they are real. Ash did a LOT or random rituals and stuff he found online. All to try and summon his little brother back to him.

So in the end? It was Dust who as spirit had to spend his very limited energy and power to show hismelf to ash. Becuase Dust saw how dangerous Ash was being... So dust made himself visible again. Ash and Dsut still make charms to make dust anchored to ash. Because while Dust would be sad and miserable he would accept Ash moving on to the afterlife. Ash? Ash isn't okay with this. He can't handle dust being gone gone. Ash is ona mission to bring his little brother back.

there is one small issue however.

As living medium? Dust makes a lot of magic, mana and lifeforce. Stuff that spirit ash could take little bits off and remain stable. This is also why the others can anchor on. Medium adult dust? Makes a LOT.

Spirit dust? Who never had a chance to even practise his abilities and grow? He can't make his own lifeforce. Much less as a spirit. and Ash who isn't a medium can't make it either.

But... well... they learn. They learn that spirits can take from other spirits but that is risky as it can corrupt the spirit feeding into changing shapes to the next higher form.

And Ash can't make this energy as he jsut doens't have the ability for it....

But they find something else out. Newly died people release that lifeforce. if left alone it can shape into a spirit of the person. but it can also be used to feed other spirits.

Ash already killed one person for his brother. He doesn't care he has to kill more to make sure his brother remains strong and there with him. And well... back when ash decided this dust was only ten and a newly traumatised little spirit. he was NOT going against Ash.

What happened after?

unlike with dust as medium. Ash doens't have a way to get into the medium community. He doens't have a way to get the right information as he can't speak with spirits directly. So. Ash continues on. He finises school. continues training. goes to college and competes in the fucking olympics.

And kills on the side to make sure his little brother remains by his side.

on that note? Ash makes Dust study and learn stuff as well. Even if he is a ghost, and ash is both happy and heartbroken to see spirit dust grow up as normal, it is no excuse to not learn when they can! it is important that dust is ready for when they bring him back!

because that goal stays the same. Ash promised himself he WILL bring Dust back. it is his one true goal. everything else? just stuff to keep busy and have a stable base for them to life on. it is just that in the dust as medium they wuickly try everything they can. with ash as 'medium' their research is much muhc slower adn they can't try everything. it is a very slow process. which means that ash still ahs high hopes to get his little brother back to be alive.

Becuase Ash can't see Dust on his owna dn Dsut needs to use his limited energy to be visible means that Ash WILL grow anxious quickly when he can't see or feel Dust. Over time ash grows a bit more sensitive to sense ghosts, or maybe just dust, and he needs that. Dust remains almost plastered against his brother and they aren't together rarely. honestly only when ash needs to shower and then dust just waits outside his door.

They are very co-dependent. Especially in this one.

Over time the killing that Ash commits does end up with him growing more magically able and much stronger. Strong enough that Ash can summon bone attacks that can actually hit ghosts.

If Dust is a sorceror. Ash is a paladin/fighter.

Other spirits often try to eat/absorb Dust's spirit. He is a medium spirit. Those are RARE and have powerful energy. Ash beat a Wraith to a second dead with a bone club when he was seventeen and spirit dust was 12. No one is touching his little brother.

how do they meet the guys?

Hoenstly? I think Ash summons Nightmare.

Ash has a lot more money than dust ever had and more options. (funniest is that the people who interview him? 100% beleive dust is just alive. because ash never says he is dead and just says he does all this training and hard work to help take care of his little brother. and for if his parents ever sold him out? well... Ash did not take kindly to his parents kicking out his baby brother which caused him to die. and for his parents to mention dust was a waste of space anyway... and Ash thinks it was fitting. that at least THIS way they would take care of dust in the smallest way they SHOULD have.)

And after growing magically strong enough with LV and EXP he didn't need to do the whole serial killer thing anymore as his own life force wa strong enough to help dust.

With dust stable they looked for more options.

Ash found stuff about nightmare. Dust put together a circle and summoned nightmare.

AGAIN!! Ash? doesn't have the ability TO communicate or summon things. that is ALL dust. and even in this situation. it would STILL be dust. They just need a work around as dust doesn't have the energy available to him to do it! but they make it work.

Ngihtmare meets ash and dust. and is intrigued. because this? this is a very strange situation that he can honestly say he never saw before.

Ash and him make a deal. Ngihtamre will help them figure out a way to bring dust back to life IN his own healthy body. and in turn Ash will help Nightmare collect artifacts to ensure his own strength and ability.

Turns out it is easy to get those things if you have enough money to throw at people. Ash is quick to complete his part of the deal. Ngihtmare needs more time to figure out how to fix this situation.

So ngihtamre in this timeline is the first to be added. The others follow eventually. Cross would be the latest as he and dust wouldn't have been friends beforehand.

Killer is STILL the first and main love interest of dust. because even now with dust being much more quiet and timid? He still asks killer for his opinion. what he thought. what he thinks.

and well... fun fact. Killer is a very strong poltergeist. Dust? Also a poltergeist. Just much lower on energy as all his energy is focused on his medium magic.

Killer flirts with dust ONCE.

Ash beats his ass with a bone club.

ngihtmare, who was told their story by dust over a long time. tiny snippets at a time. pulled killer aside and warned him against trying to do anything he may regret. Killer is not one to be discouraged.

eventually ash snaps at him to stop forcing dust to relive his trauma nad killer learned what happened to dust. He still adores him. but he keeps it to more platonic touches. like hugs nad glomps and stuff. Never below the belt again even as he flirsts and sings dust's praises and follows him EVERYHWERE!

Ash does evetually start accepting and approving of killer. one. the fact he immediantly stopped asking for sex or anything like it when he learned of the trauma. and two? One time dust wa VERY low on magic and energy and neither ash or ngihtmare (who can also donate magic) were nearby. Killer isn't an idiot. he knows that people how this lifeforce and KNOWS it comes free when they die.

Dust is too weak to easily pull it from living people? okay. Killer will MAKE it free for him to take.

So that is why Ash approves of Killer here. (nightmare starts to adore dust over time as well. dust is calm and quiet and timid but curious to ask him things abotu his books and read and learn with him. it is nice.)

horror is still added much the same as they first time. horror however would be a bit older or a spirit than in the original timeline. He spots killer and dust about looking for ash and just goes with them to keep them out of trouble adn quickly grows attached to both of them.

Cross probably ends up looking for like the ghosts killing people and evnetually finds the group. i am not sure HOW he would end up joining them but he does!!

Who knows? maybe ash ends up killing XGaster? That would be a fun one...

so yes! the poly would STILL be in the making.

Eventually Nightmare figures out how to bring Dust back, and he also brings back killer and horror to complete the set.

So yes. That is the idea. alternative timeline for Ghosts&Medium au :D

[sinnabarmoth]

The LaDS Men as Uni Students

Zayne: Pre-med and stressed 24/7. Never not working. Head always in a book. Mutters quietly to himself keeping everything memorized. Super skinny, tall guy that only eats like twice a day and runs primarily on coffee. Anyone who makes noise in the silent section of the library is subject to his death glare. Takes long walks around campus to relax and get fresh air after studying, does not matter the weather. MC is a campus barista that thinks he's cute and leaves encouraging notes and reminders on his coffee cup. 'Good luck on your exam! You got this!' Or 'Don't forget to get something to eat later.' Eventually writes her number on the cup with a little note, 'In case you need a friend' He is about to throw it away but decides to keep the number in his phone just in case of emergencies. He doesn't know what emergency will require calling his barista but you never know.

Xavier: English major. Was undecided but then his advisor told him he could do a lot with an English degree so he went with that. Got a full scholarship through fencing. Sleepy all the time. Everyone expected him to be a jock brain but he does exceedingly well in class too. He is always in class but he always looks asleep so people have no idea how he is acing everything. Works part time at the university library. His dorm is FULL of snacks. Illegal hotplate that's caused the fire alarm to go off at least once a month. Constantly taking food out of the cafeteria. Met MC when he scared off a creepy guy harassing her at the gym. Became gym buddies and eventually study partners. Friends to lovers but they're oblivious to it until Xavier sees her drunkenly kiss another guy at a party. Everything clicks into focus at that and now he is determined to be her boyfriend.

Rafayel: Art major. Loner and yet ridiculously popular because of his raw artistic talent and good looks. Joined swim team for a semester and was super talented there too but thought it was too much time away from his art so dropped it. Forgets to do laundry constantly so by the time his hamper is overflowing he is down to the weirdest clothing combinations. Girls definitely switched majors to be in the same classes as him. Got paired with MC for a class project in a GenEd class they have together. He's been quietly crushing HARD on her since the start of the semester. She isn't obsessed with him which is refreshing but at the same time he wants her to be as obsessed with him as he is her. Start dating eventually but because he has such a big fan base they keep it quiet so she doesn't get harassed.

Sylus: Business management major. Rich kid. Star baseball player. Has a luxury apartment off campus. Takes most classes online. Often found lurking at parties but stays off in a corner no one notices him in despite being so tall. More like a cryptid than a student since he's only talked about in passing and sightings of him on campus during the day are rare. Can only be found in daylight during practice and games. Took an elective piano class that MC was also taking. He liked her taste in music and listening to her make up songs. Asked her on a date but she rejected him at first cause she wanted to focus on school. Threw a party at his apartment just to invite her. Started talking and went so well they actually left the party in full swing so they could take a walk in private. After they started dating she came to all his games and he'd give her one of his clean jerseys to wear. Rides to class on his motorcycle, doesn't matter what time, even if it is 8AM he is taking his girl and picking her up.

[kaiyunsim]

split —

pairing : best friend!taesan x gn!reader

summary : you find youself caught in the subtle whirlwind of unrequited love with someone and one-sided pining.

warnings : ANGST! holy angst, love bombing, maybe more

a/n : “christmas is coming” !! another niki inspired fic :3

songs queued ! : split - niki, oceans and engines - niki, drivers liscence - olivia rodrigo

— w/c : about 1k — not proof read ! —

taesan : online

the early spring sun filtered through the large windows of the university café, illuminating taesan’s face as he smiled. the warm light softened his sharp features, making him look effortlessly beautiful, as if he belonged in a painting. you tried not to stare too long, shifting your focus to the steaming cup of coffee in your hands.

“you’re so easy to hang out with,” taesan said suddenly, his voice cutting through the soft hum of the café. it was the boy you were crushing on for 2 years.

you blinked, caught off guard. “what?”

he grinned, leaning forward on his elbows. “i mean it. it’s like, no matter what we do, it’s always fun when i’m with you.”

your heart skipped a beat, warmth spreading through your chest. “you’re exaggerating,” you said, trying to laugh it off.

“i’m not,” he insisted, his gaze locking with yours. “you’re just… different. in a good way.”

you looked away, heat rising to your cheeks. moments like this were what made it so hard to walk away, even when you knew better.

“so,” taesan continued, leaning back in his chair with a casual ease, “what do you want to do today? we’ve got the whole day to ourselves.”

it was rare to have a day like this, just the two of you. your schedules usually didn’t align, and taesan was always surrounded by friends or admirers. but he had texted you the night before “free tomorrow. wanna hang out? just us?” and you’d jumped at the chance.

“i don’t know,” you said, forcing a smile. “what do you feel like doing?”

taesan tilted his head, his eyes sparkling with something playful, almost teasing. “come on, y/n. don’t make me decide everything. you always have the best ideas.”

he reached out suddenly, brushing his fingers against the edge of your sleeve. “you’re too modest, you know that? you should give yourself more credit.”

you felt your breath hitch at the contact, his words settling over you like a warm blanket.

“i heard there’s a new vinyls at the records store,” you offered, trying to steady your voice. “we could check it out.”

taesan’s face lit up, his enthusiasm palpable. “perfect. let’s go.”

the store was quieter than you expected, the echo of damp music filled the rooms. taesan walked ahead, stopping occasionally to inspect a disc. every so often, he’d glance back at you with a mischievous smile, like he was silently inviting you into his world.

at one point, he paused in front of an vinyl by earth, wind, and fire, splashed with bold reds and blacks. “do you like this one?” he asked, gesturing to it.

you shrugged, stepping closer. taking a listen to it through on of the portable players the store provides.“it’s nice. calm and nostalgic. i would definitely listen to it again”

taesan nodded thoughtfully, his gaze fixed on the cover. “it sounds nice. something that i enjoy over time.”

then he turned to you, his expression softening. “kind of like how i feel when i’m with you.”

your heart stuttered, and you stared at him, unsure if you’d heard him correctly.

“don’t look at me like that,” he said, laughing, though his voice held a warmth that made your chest ache. “i’m just saying the truth. you’re good to have around, y/n.”

you managed a small smile, even as his words carved deeper into the fragile hope you tried to ignore.

lunch was at a small, tucked-away diner taesan insisted on visiting. over plates of beautifully served sushi, he regaled you with stories about his latest escapades which were really just late-night study sessions, group projects that went horribly wrong, as well as music he had been producing.

“you always know how to make me laugh,” he said at one point, shaking his head in amusement. “seriously, what would i do without you?”

your stomach flipped, the sincerity in his voice making it harder to stay grounded.

“probably the same things you’re already doing,” you replied, trying to keep your tone light.

“no way,” he shot back, leaning across the table slightly. “you make everything better, y/n. don’t sell yourself short.”

he reached out then, brushing a crumb off your sleeve. the gesture was so casual, so natural, but it sent your heart racing.

“you’re quiet today,” he said, his tone softening. “everything okay?

you hesitated, unsure how to answer. how could you explain the weight of feelings you’d carried for so long, feelings you knew he’d never fully return?

“i’m fine,” you lied.

by the time the sun began to set, the day felt like a dream slowly slipping through your fingers. the park was almost empty, save for a few joggers and dog walkers, the horizon painted in hues of orange and pink.

taesan leaned back on the grass, his hands tucked behind his head, while you sat beside him, arms wrapped around your knees.

“this is nice,” he murmured, closing his eyes.

you watched him, the way his chest rose and fell with each breath, the faint smile on his lips. it was moments like these that made everything harder, moments where you almost let yourself believe there was something more between you.

“taesan,” you began, your voice trembling.

he opened one eye, glancing at you with a hint of curiosity. “hmm?”

you swallowed hard, your heart pounding. “do you ever think about… us?”

he frowned slightly, propping himself up on one elbow to face you. “what do you mean?”

you looked down at your hands, unable to meet his gaze. “i mean… do you ever think about what we are? what we could be?”

the silence that followed was deafening.

“y/n…” taesan’s voice was gentle, almost apologetic.

you braced yourself, already knowing what was coming.

“i care about you so much,” he continued, “but i don’t think i can give you what you’re looking for.”

his words felt like a punch to the chest, the air leaving your lungs in one sharp exhale. you nodded, forcing a smile you knew didn’t reach your eyes.

“it’s okay,” you said, your voice barely audible. “i just… i needed to know.”

taesan reached out, placing a hand on your shoulder. the gesture was meant to be comforting, but it only made the ache in your chest worse.

“you mean so much to me,” he said softly. “i hope you know that.”

you nodded again, unable to speak.

that night, as you lay in bed staring at the ceiling, your phone buzzed on the nightstand. it was a message from taesan.

“i hope you’re okay. let me know if you want to talk.”

you stared at the screen, your chest tightening. the rational part of you knew he cared in his own way, that he didn’t mean to hurt you. but that didn’t make it any easier.

for the first time, you didn’t reply.

instead, you turned off your phone and curled up under the covers, tears slipping silently down your cheeks.

you knew this was the end of the lingering hope you’d clung to for so long. there would be no magical moment of realization, no shift in the way he saw you.

and while the thought of letting go felt unbearable, you knew it was the only way to start healing.

because staying would only break you further.

taesan : blocked

[onedingo]

BIG INFO POST ABOUT BRENTON TARRANT AND CHRISTCHURCH ATTACKS + FILES UPLOADED TO DRIVE BY ME WITH PICTURES AND INFO

This folder was made by me. I gathered all the visual information about Brenton Tarrant that I have so far. Most of it I found on reddit, and I would like to give credit to a specific user, who is u/uncanealguinzaglio

Brenton Tarrant was born on October 27, 1990, in Grafton, New South Wales, Australia. In his manifesto, he described himself as an ordinary white man who had a normal childhood. In his own words:

"Just an ordinary White man, 28 years old. Born in Australia to a working-class, low-income family. My parents are of Scottish, Irish, and English stock. I had a regular childhood, without any great issues. I had little interest in education during my schooling, barely achieving a passing grade. I did not attend university as I had no great interest in anything offered in the universities to study. I worked for a short time before making some money investing in Bitconnect, then used the money from the investment to travel. More recently, I have been working part-time as a kebab removalist. I am just a regular White man, from a regular family. Who decided to take a stand to ensure a future for my people."

Despite this, there are some relevant details about Brenton's childhood and past before the attack, such as:

His parents' divorce when he was still a child. After the divorce, Tarrant and his sister, Lauren, lived with their mother and her new partner, who became violent, leading them to move in with their father, Rodney Tarrant. Other significant events include a fire that destroyed their family home and the death of his grandfather.

Between the ages of 12 and 15, Brenton gained weight, became overweight, and was bullied at school, where he also had few friends. He showed little interest in classes, although he managed to get good grades. The only subject that engaged him was history, where he demonstrated great interest in topics such as World War II.

After graduating from Grafton High School, he did not attend university, as he claimed there was nothing interesting to study. Instead, he pursued a career as a personal trainer at Big River Gym in Grafton, obtaining certification in 2009. He left the job in 2012 after an injury and decided to use an inheritance he received after his father’s death to travel.

Tarrant frequently traveled to countries such as France, Portugal, Spain, Serbia, Croatia, Montenegro, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Turkey, North Korea, and Pakistan. He had a keen interest in photography and travel.

Personality and Internet Activity

Brenton exhibited racist behavior from a young age. He spent a lot of time online and was exposed to far-right ideas through internet forums. He was an active user of 4chan from the age of 14 and developed strong anti-immigration views during his teenage years. He was also reported to have made racist remarks about one of his mother's boyfriends, who had Aboriginal heritage.

He spent years purchasing firearms and related equipment, yet authorities never intervened, allowing him to continue acquiring weapons, including semi-automatic rifles and shotguns.

Attack Planning

Tarrant began officially planning his attack in 2017. According to the Counter Extremism Project:

"By his own account, Tarrant was radicalized over a month-long period during his travels in Europe in the spring of 2017. On April 7 of that year, an Uzbek asylum seeker drove a truck into a crowd in Stockholm, Sweden, killing five people. On May 7, anti-immigration French presidential candidate Marine Le Pen was defeated by moderate Emmanuel Macron. In Tarrant's own words, he found his 'emotions oscillating between seething rage and suffocating despair at the indignity of France’s invasion,' referring to the immigrants he saw there."

There is also a connection between two terrorism-related crimes. In 2017, Alexandre Bissonnette carried out the Quebec mosque massacre in Canada, killing six people and injuring 19. Although never explicitly mentioned by Tarrant, Bissonnette was a major inspiration for him, and his name was inscribed on one of Tarrant’s rifle cartridges.

Tarrant spent a great deal of time online, using platforms such as Facebook, Twitter (now X), 4chan, and 8chan. He frequently shared memes and "shitposts" satirizing immigrants, Black people, Muslims, and communists. Some of these memes were created by him, while others were reposted.

Additionally, it was confirmed that Tarrant financially supported far-right organizations, including the French and Austrian branches of the Identitarian Movement, which promotes the "Great Replacement" theory, a white supremacist conspiracy claiming that white populations are being replaced by non-white immigrants.

Attack Execution

Tarrant carefully selected the Al Noor Mosque and spent considerable time researching it. He studied its layout using online tools, flew a drone over the mosque to map the area, and visited in person multiple times. Some survivors believed they had seen Tarrant attending Friday prayers before the attack, pretending to pray and asking about the mosque's schedule. He also engaged with Muslims to learn about Islam, intending to use this knowledge against them.

He customized his weapons, engraving them with names and symbols associated with white supremacy and historical Christian-Muslim conflicts. Some of these inscriptions included:

Vienna 1683: Reference to the Battle of Vienna, where the Holy Roman Empire fought the Ottoman Empire.

Luca Traini: Italian who shot six immigrants from his car, sentenced to 12 years in prison.

Gaston IV: Viscount of Béarn, known as "The Crusader" for his role in the First Crusade.

Charles Martel: French ruler who defeated Muslim armies at the Battle of Tours in 732.

Alexandre Bissonnette: Responsible for a mosque shooting in Quebec, sentenced to 40 years in prison.

Marco Antonio Bragadin: Venetian resistance leader in Cyprus during the Ottoman conquest in 1570.

14: Reference to the "Fourteen Words," a white supremacist slogan.

Before the attack, Tarrant posted his manifesto, The Great Replacement, on 8chan along with a message:

"Well lads, it's time to stop shitposting and time to make a real-life effort post. I will carry out an attack against the invaders and will even livestream the attack via Facebook."

He also uploaded 150 photographs to his Facebook profile. These photographs were mostly memes and shitposts with prejudiced content and highlighting his ideologies. In these posts, Brenton makes clear his admiration for Dylann Roof, Anders Breivik and Timothy McVeigh.

At 1:32 PM, he began live streaming on Facebook while driving to Al Noor Mosque. He played two songs: Serbia Strong (a Serbian nationalist and anti-Islamic song) and The British Grenadiers (a traditional British military march).

At 1:39 PM, Tarrant parked near Al Noor Mosque, armed himself with a Mossberg 930 shotgun and a Windham Weaponry AR-15 rifle, and approached the entrance. He was greeted by a man who said, "Hello, brother," before Tarrant shot and killed him along with four others. Inside the mosque, he continued firing indiscriminately.

He used a strobe light on his weapons to disorient victims. After exiting the mosque, he retrieved another rifle from his car and shot two more people in the parking lot. He then re-entered the mosque and shot injured individuals before leaving again, killing a woman outside. He then ran over her body as he drove away. In total, 49 people were killed at Al Noor Mosque.

While driving to the Linwood Islamic Centre, he continued streaming, singing Fire by Arthur Brown. However, the livestream was cut due to a connection failure.

At the Linwood Islamic Centre, he killed two more people, but his attack was less effective as some of his weapons malfunctioned and he became disoriented inside the mosque. He then drove away, intending to attack a third mosque.

At 1:57 PM, two police officers rammed his car off the road. Tarrant was arrested without resistance at 1:59 PM, 18 minutes after the first emergency call.

Trial and Imprisonment

Tarrant was convicted of 89 crimes and sentenced to life in prison without parole. His behavior in court was inconsistent—sometimes smiling and laughing, other times appearing emotionless. During one hearing, he subtly made a "white power" hand gesture.

While in custody, he claimed to have been subjected to "inhumane or degrading treatment" that prevented a fair trial. In 2022, he appealed his conviction, but no hearing was immediately scheduled. In 2023, he requested a judicial review of his prison conditions.

Tarrant is currently held in Auckland Prison’s Extreme Risk Prisoner Unit.

For more information about the victims, I highly recommend this article:

[glowettee]

✧ pre-med extracurriculars: for my future doctor angels ✧

hi my lovely pre-med angels!! 🤍 it's mindy hereee!

today's post is extra special because so many of you have been asking about extracurriculars for medical school!! if you know, my ultimate dream is to become a doctor, i'd love to either be a psychiatrist or a cardiologist, so anything medical-related is my favorite cup of coffee!! i'm literally so excited to share this comprehensive guide that will help you shine on your future applications. this post is for you if you're in high school or college, this guide will be your bestie through the journey!!

~ ♡ for my precious high school sweethearts ♡ ~

hospital + healthcare volunteering (my absolute fave!!) • aim for 100-150 hours minimum • try different departments to explore • build relationships with nurses + staff • pro tip: volunteer during summer break for more hours • keep a reflection journal of your experiences • bonus: ask for recommendation letters if you connect well!!

research opportunities • reach out to local universities • email professors about summer programs • join science fairs with medical projects • create your own research project • tip: start with literature reviews if labs aren't available • document everything for future applications!!

leadership + school involvement • start a medical interest club • lead health awareness campaigns • organize blood drives • create mental health support groups • join science olympiad • participate in biology competitions • personal story: i started a "future doctors club" + it literally changed my life!!

~ ♡ for my darling college angels ♡ ~

clinical experience (super important!!) • medical scribing (literally the best!!) • certified nursing assistant (CNA) • emergency medical technician (EMT) • phlebotomy certification + gain a bunch of different certifications online • medical assistant • tip: aim for 200+ hours minimum • pro secret: try different specialties!!

research involvement • join multiple labs if possible • aim for publication opportunities • present at conferences • write abstracts + papers • network with graduate students • maintain good relationships with PIs • secret tip: join journal clubs!!

leadership positions • pre-med society officer • tutoring coordinator • mentorship program leader • research team leader • volunteer coordinator • tip: create new positions if none exist!!

~ ♡ extra special activities for everyone ♡ ~

medical mission trips (life-changing!!)

start a health education blog

create medical awareness social media

join medical podcasting

organize health fairs

volunteer at free/non-profit clinics

shadow different specialists

join pre-med summer programs

work as a pharmacy technician

volunteer at nursing homes

organize medical supply drives

create health education programs

~ ♡ my personal tips + secrets ♡ ~

quality over quantity always!!

maintain each activity for at least 6 months

document everything (literally everything!!)

take lots of pictures (for memories + portfolio)

get contact info from supervisors

keep detailed reflection journals

network with other pre-meds

create spreadsheets to track hours

always ask for recommendation letters

maintain professional relationships

~ ♡ time management secrets ♡ ~

use google calendar religiously

block schedule your activities

don't overcommit (seriously!!)

maintain 2-3 main activities

rotate seasonal activities

leave time for self-care

schedule study breaks

plan one year ahead

keep backup activities ready

remember my loves: medical schools want to see dedication + passion!! don't just collect activities like pokemon cards (even tho that would be cute). focus on meaningful experiences that truly speak to your heart!!

pro tip: start a bullet journal to track your journey!! include your thoughts, feelings, and learning experiences. future you will literally cry happy tears when writing your personal statement!!

also!! please please please remember that your mental health comes first!! it's okay to take breaks, it's okay to say no, and it's absolutely okay to prioritize self-care. you'll be a better doctor if you learn these habits now!!

sending you the biggest virtual hugs + all my love!! you're doing amazing sweetie, and your future patients will be so lucky to have you!!

feel free to send more asks if you need specific advice!! i'm always here to support my precious future doctors and followers i call my sweetheart community!!

xoxo, mindy 🤍

p.s. remember to hydrate, get enough sleep, and take your vitamins!! doctor's orders!! <3

p.p.s. i'll be sharing more detailed guides about each activity soon, so stay tuned my loves!!

btw, if you need personal study advice or anything, submit to glowettee hotline 💌: https://bit.ly/glowetteehotline