ChapterFour
1040 Words
The group began making their way down the stairs, their laughter carrying across the space. Among them was Kang Tae-jun, the school’s football captain. He walked with his hands in his pockets, listening to a boy beside him complain about their upcoming match.
His girlfriend, Yoon Ha-rin, walked on his left side, surrounded by two cheerleaders.
One of the boys rubbed his palms together and grimaced.
“Ugh. I need to wash my hands. I feel like I’ve touched something disgusting.”
His friend laughed. “You should. You never know what you might catch from people like that.”
The others laughed.
“Give her a break, man. You’ve done enough.”
Tae-jun’s comment came with an amused smile. His teammates laughed again.
Ha-rin, however, had stopped walking.
Why had he said that?
She had watched him stand by countless times while other students were bullied.
But now, he had spoken up for that scholarship girl.
A strange discomfort settled in her stomach. She tried to dismiss it, but the thought kept irritating her.
“Tae-jun! Ha-rin! Hurry up!” A voice called from downstairs.
Ha-rin forced a smile onto her face and followed the others. Whatever that was about, she wasn’t going to let anyone notice it bothered her.
⸻
By the time Ha-eun returned to her classroom, the other scholarship students had gone their separate ways.
She took her seat quietly, trying to ignore the soreness in her body. Her palms still hurt from where she had scraped them against the rooftop floor.
She had barely settled down when a student approached her desk.
“Choi Ha-eun?”
Ha-eun looked up.
“The coach sent me. He wants you at the gym.”
She frowned slightly.
“The coach?”
“That’s what he said. Come on. I’ll show you.”
Ha-eun glanced towards the classroom door. She didn’t know why a coach would be looking for her, but she stood and followed the student.
They walked through the school corridors until they reached the gym. The student stopped at the entrance.
“You can go in.”
Ha-eun thanked her and stepped through the door.
The moment she entered, she noticed several girls gathered at the far end of the gym.
Ha-rin stood among them.
Ha-eun stopped.
Before she could ask what was happening, Ha-rin walked towards her and raised her hand.
The slap landed hard across Ha-eun’s face.
Her head jerked to the side. She staggered a step, bringing a hand to her burning cheek. For a moment, she simply stood there, stunned by the sudden attack.
Ha-rin stepped closer.
“Who do you think you are, filthy b***h?”
Ha-eun slowly turned her face back towards her.
Her hand remained against her cheek, but her eyes lifted.
The look was cold and frightening. Her expression had changed completely. For one brief moment, there was nothing timid about her. Her eyes seemed to promise that if Ha-rin came any closer, she would make her regret it.
Ha-rin’s steps faltered.
Shibal. Did this b***h just stare me down?
The thought unsettled her more than she wanted to admit.
But Ha-eun remembered why she was there. She couldn’t afford to expose herself, not over a slap.
She lowered her head.
Ha-rin watched her for another second before her expression hardened again.
“What are you waiting for?” she snapped at the girls behind her.
Two of them grabbed Ha-eun by the arms. Another shoved her from behind, sending her stumbling forward.
“Let go,” Ha-eun whispered.
Instead, they struck her.
One hit her shoulder while another slapped the back of her head. She tried to shield herself, but they kept pushing and hitting her, laughing whenever she stumbled.
A girl picked up a carton of milk and walked over.
“Here. You need a bath.”
Before Ha-eun could move, the milk was poured over her head. It soaked her hair and uniform, running down her face and dripping from her chin.
The girls burst into laughter.
“She’s even more pathetic now.”
Ha-rin watched without saying anything.
“Take her away.”
The girls dragged Ha-eun towards the gym storage room. Inside, shelves were packed with basketballs, cones, folded nets and other sports equipment.
They shoved her through the doorway.
Ha-eun stumbled, catching herself against a shelf.
“Wait!”
The door slammed.
She spun around and grabbed the handle. It wouldn’t move.
“Open the door!”
She pulled again, then struck the door with her palm.
“Please, open it!”
Outside, the girls’ laughter gradually faded. Their footsteps moved away, leaving her alone.
Ha-eun pressed both hands against the door.
“I’m sorry! Just open it, please!”
No answer.
The room was too small. The shelves stood close together, leaving barely enough space to move. The air felt heavy, and the little light coming through the high window barely reached the corners.
Her breathing began to change.
She tried to take a deep breath, but her lungs seemed unwilling to cooperate. Her chest tightened. She stepped away from the door, only to bump into a shelf.
A ball rolled onto the floor.
The sound made her jump.
No. No, she couldn’t stay in here.
She rushed back to the door and twisted the handle again. It wouldn’t open.
“Help me!”
Her voice cracked.
She banged on the door with both hands, each knock louder than the last. Her heart was racing. She could feel it pounding against her ribs, while her breaths came faster and faster.
The walls seemed to be closing in.
She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to steady herself, but the darkness behind her eyelids only made the fear worse.
“Please! Somebody!”
Tears slipped down her cheeks, mixing with the milk still dripping from her hair.
She kept knocking.
Then she heard footsteps.
Someone was coming.
Ha-eun rushed towards the door and began banging on it again.
“I’m in here! Please!”
The footsteps stopped outside.
She heard the lock turn.
There were two clicks.
The door suddenly swung open.
Ha-eun looked up.
Her eyes widened, and the colour seemed to drain from her face.
She hadn’t expected to see him.
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