Rumors
762 Words
The next morning, Seo-yeon stood in front of the gates of Haneul Academy, holding a black umbrella in her hands.
She stared at it for a few seconds.
Even now, she still found yesterday strange.
Why had Kang Min-jun lent her his umbrella?
From what everyone had said, he wasn't the type to care about others.
Yet he had walked to his car in the rain.
Because of her.
Seo-yeon shook her head.
There was no point thinking about it.
She would simply return the umbrella and forget about it.
Taking a deep breath, she walked into the school.
Almost immediately—
the whispers began.
"Look."
"Isn't that Min-jun's umbrella?"
"No way..."
"Why does she have it?"
Seo-yeon slowed her steps.
More and more students began staring at her.
Some looked shocked.
Others looked curious.
A few girls looked openly jealous.
Her grip on the umbrella tightened.
Why was everyone acting like this?
Before she could think further, someone suddenly blocked her path.
Yoo Na-ri.
And judging from her expression—
she was not in a good mood.
The two girls standing behind her folded their arms.
The hallway gradually became quiet.
Na-ri glanced at the umbrella.
Then back at Seo-yeon.
Her expression darkened.
"Where did you get that?"
Seo-yeon blinked.
"...This?"
"Don't play dumb."
The hallway became even quieter.
Seo-yeon looked around.
Everyone was watching.
Again.
She was beginning to hate this school.
"Kang Min-jun gave it to you, didn't he?"
Gasps immediately filled the hallway.
Seo-yeon's eyes widened slightly.
How did she know?
Na-ri's jaw tightened.
The fact that Seo-yeon didn't deny it was enough.
"You've only been here for a few days."
Her voice became colder.
"So how exactly did you get his attention?"
Seo-yeon frowned.
"Attention?"
Na-ri laughed.
A laugh without warmth.
"Don't tell me you're pretending to be innocent."
"I am not pretending."
"Then explain."
"There is nothing to explain."
Na-ri stared at her.
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then she suddenly stepped closer.
"So listen carefully."
Her voice dropped.
"Stay away from Kang Min-jun."
The hallway became silent.
Seo-yeon looked at her in confusion.
"I don't understand."
"You don't need to."
Na-ri folded her arms.
"Just remember your place."
Those words again.
Seo-yeon's expression slowly changed.
She looked directly at Na-ri.
"And what exactly is my place?"
Na-ri looked surprised.
The other students also froze.
Seo-yeon continued.
"Studying?"
"Going to class?"
"Trying my best?"
Her voice remained calm.
"Because that's the only reason I'm here."
Na-ri clenched her fists.
This girl...
Why was she always so calm?
Why did it feel impossible to intimidate her?
Just then—
Someone spoke.
"Move."
A familiar cold voice echoed through the hallway.
Everyone turned immediately.
Kang Min-jun.
The crowd instantly parted.
Na-ri's expression changed.
"Min-jun..."
He ignored her.
His gaze fell on Seo-yeon.
Then—
the umbrella.
She was still holding it.
For some reason, his eyes remained there for a second longer.
Seo-yeon suddenly remembered why she had brought it.
"Oh."
She stepped forward slightly.
"This belongs to you."
The entire hallway held its breath.
No one dared speak.
Seo-yeon held out the umbrella.
Min-jun looked at it.
Then at her.
"...Keep it."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Seo-yeon's eyes widened.
"...What?"
"You forgot your umbrella once."
His expression remained unreadable.
"You might forget it again."
Several students nearly choked.
Yoo Na-ri looked like she had been struck by lightning.
Did Kang Min-jun just...
show concern?
For someone?
Impossible.
Seo-yeon herself looked completely confused.
"I can't keep it."
"Then throw it away."
"..."
"..."
A few students looked as if they wanted to faint.
This conversation was unbelievable.
Min-jun finally looked away.
"I'm late."
And with that, he walked past everyone.
Leaving behind complete chaos.
The hallway exploded.
"Oh my God!"
"Did you hear that?!"
"He's letting her keep his umbrella!"
"This is insane!"
Seo-yeon stood there, speechless.
What had just happened?
Meanwhile, Min-jun walked down the hallway, his hands in his pockets.
His expression remained cold.
But his thoughts were elsewhere.
For some reason...
he could not stop thinking about her.
Her eyes.
Her voice.
The strange feeling he got whenever he looked at her.
Suddenly—
A blurry image flashed in his mind.
Cherry blossoms.
Laughter.
A little girl smiling brightly.
Then—
everything disappeared.
Min-jun suddenly stopped walking.
His brows furrowed.
"...What was that?"
For the first time in a very long time—
his heart felt uneasy.
And somewhere behind him—
beneath the soft falling petals—
Han Seo-yeon stood holding a black umbrella,
completely unaware
that she had already begun changing Kang Min-jun's world.
- Writer
