The boy behind the silence

"Hahaha! Look at the blind girl!" "Y-Yoon Seo-ah…" someone stammered, panic in their voice. Laughter echoed, harsh and cruel. "Don't sit here, you blind freak!" "Please, help me…" Yoon Seo-ah cried, tears streaming down her face. "Ugh, stay away from us, creep!" Yoon Seo-ah's breathing grew ragged, her chest constricting as the voices closed in. "Nooooo!" she screamed. Suddenly, a sharp knock shattered the nightmare. "Yoon Seo-ah! You're going to be late for high school!" her mother's voice called. Gasping for air, Seo-ah jolted upright, clutching her blanket. Her heart pounded furiously, the cruel laughter from her dream still echoing in her ears. "Okay, Mom!" she called back, her voice trembling. She swung her legs to the floor and sat for a moment, whispering a quiet prayer. Please… this time, just let me have peace at school. "Mom?" she called softly. The bedroom door opened, and her mother entered, holding a neatly folded uniform. "Here's your uniform, Seo-ah." Setting the clothes on the bed, her mother gently cupped Seo-ah's face. "It's your first day of high school. I truly hope you'll be happy." Seo-ah leaned into the touch, a bittersweet smile on her lips. "Yes… I wish I could see you again." "You will, one day," her mother replied, kissing her forehead. "Now, get ready. Be careful. Don't get hurt." "I will, Mom. Don't worry," Seo-ah said, her voice steadier. "Even though I can't see, I've trained hard for this." The First Day With practiced movements, Seo-ah dressed and navigated her way downstairs. "Mom, I'm ready! Where's breakfast?" Her mother hurried over with concern. "Why did you come down by yourself? You could have called me—I would have helped." Seo-ah grinned, waving her hand. "I'm fine, Mom. I still have my legs and hands." Her mother sighed fondly. "Alright, alright. I made you a sandwich. You can eat it on the way." They got into the car, and Seo-ah ate her breakfast as they drove toward her new beginning. Soon, the car pulled up to the curb. "We're here. Let's go," her mother said. As they approached the entrance, a woman called out, "Excuse me!" She approached with a warm smile. "Are you Yoon Seo-ah, and this must be your mother?" "Yes, I am," Seo-ah replied politely. "Great! I'll show you to your classroom—I'm your homeroom teacher." Relief washed over Seo-ah. Her mother nodded gratefully. "That's wonderful. Okay, Seo-ah, have a good day." The Whispering Classroom Led by her teacher, Seo-ah walked into her new classroom. The room fell silent, then filled with hurried whispers. "Who is that?" "Wait, is she blind?" The teacher clapped her hands. "Class, we have a new transfer student. Her name is Yoon Seo-ah. Please make her feel welcome." Just then, a teacher from next door knocked. "Ms. Kim, the principal needs you," the other teacher said. Ms. Kim turned to Seo-ah, lowering her voice. "Seo-ah, please find an open seat. I have to step out for a moment." "Okay, teacher," Seo-ah replied quietly. Holding her white cane, Seo-ah walked down the center aisle. Sharp whispers swirled around her. "Is she really blind?" "How is she going to survive?" "Poor thing…" "Don't let her sit next to me." "I heard she transferred after an accident." Panic clawed at Seo-ah's chest. Her hands went numb as she tried to find an empty desk. Just as she reached one, a girl slammed her hand down, blocking her. "Yoon Seo-ah? What a crap name," the girl sneered. "Go away." Seo-ah froze, stranded in the middle of the room, unable to find a place to sit. A Sudden Realization Meanwhile, a boy burst from the classroom and sprinted to the gym. He spotted a tall figure. "Kang Min-jae! Come back to class, bro!" he panted. "There's a new girl—she's blind! Let's mess with her!" Kang Min-jae, the school's most famous student, didn't even look up. Sweat dripped from his jaw as he finished another set of pull-ups. The gym was his second home, and he wasn't in the mood for games. "Han-jo, leave me alone," Min-jae muttered, wiping his face with a towel. "I'm not interested." But Han-jo persisted, dragging him from the gym. "Come on, just look!" Min-jae sighed, letting himself be pulled along. "I don't know why you do this stupid stuff." At the classroom door, Han-jo pointed through the glass. "See? That's her." Min-jae's gaze landed on the girl standing helplessly in the aisle, a white band covering her eyes. Suddenly, the world blurred. Flashes of memory struck him— Blood. Jagged rocks. A desperate scream: "You did this!" "I didn't… I didn't do it!" Min-jae's face turned pale. He froze, staring at the blind girl in disbelief. He whispered her name. "Yoon Seo-ah…" Chapter End To Be Continued