A Dangerous Warning
672 Words
Monday morning arrived sooner than Ji-ah expected.
She stood in front of the mirror, brushing her long black hair into a neat ponytail. Her mother smiled as she placed a lunchbox into Ji-ah's school bag.
"I added your favorite rolled omelet today."
Ji-ah hugged her from behind.
"Thank you, Mom."
Her mother laughed.
"What's with all the hugs lately?"
Ji-ah smiled to herself.
"I don't know... I just feel lucky."
"If you're smiling this much, someone at school must be making you happy."
Ji-ah's cheeks instantly turned pink.
"Mom!"
"I'm only teasing."
They both laughed before Ji-ah hurried out the door.
Neither of them knew how precious that ordinary morning would become.
The moment Ji-ah entered the school gate, she sensed something was wrong.
Students stopped talking as she walked past.
Some looked at her with pity.
Others whispered.
Ha-neul came running toward her.
"Ji-ah!"
"What happened?"
Ha-neul hesitated before handing over her phone.
"I didn't want you to find out like this."
Ji-ah looked at the screen.
Her heart dropped.
Photos from the Spring Festival had been posted on the school's anonymous gossip page.
One showed Seo-jun catching her when she slipped.
Another showed them holding hands beneath the fireworks.
The caption read:
"Looks like the poor scholarship girl finally caught Korea's richest prince."
Thousands of comments flooded the post.
"She's obviously after his money."
"She planned this from the beginning."
"Girls like her are dangerous."
Ji-ah's hands trembled.
"I... I never..."
"I know," Ha-neul said softly. "Anyone who knows you knows it's a lie."
Before Ji-ah could respond, a voice echoed through the hallway.
"Take it down."
Everyone turned.
Seo-jun stood at the end of the corridor.
His expression was colder than anyone had ever seen.
He walked straight toward the group of students gathered around the phones.
"If I ever see any of you insulting Ji-ah again," he said calmly, "you'll answer to me."
No one spoke.
His words weren't loud.
They didn't need to be.
The silence was enough.
Seo-jun turned to Ji-ah.
"Are you okay?"
She forced a small smile.
"I'll be fine."
But he could see the sadness in her eyes.
During lunch, Ji-ah slipped away to the rooftop.
She needed a moment alone.
The wind blew gently across the empty space as she stared at the city skyline.
"Running away?"
She turned.
Seo-jun stood by the door, holding two cans of peach juice.
"I thought you might be here."
He handed her one.
"Thanks."
They leaned against the railing in silence.
After a while, Ji-ah spoke.
"Do you ever wish people would stop deciding who you are before they know you?"
Seo-jun looked out at the sky.
"Every day."
She looked at him.
"When I came back from studying abroad, everyone expected me to be perfect."
He smiled sadly.
"But they never asked if I was happy."
Ji-ah nodded.
"They think I'm chasing your money."
"And they think I'm just a rich boy who can't make his own choices."
Their eyes met.
For the first time...
They realized they understood each other more than anyone else did.
As school ended, Ji-ah walked toward the front gate.
Just before she reached it, someone bumped into her shoulder.
A folded piece of paper fell into her hands.
She looked up.
The person had already disappeared into the crowd.
Confused, she unfolded the note.
Three words were written in neat black ink.
Stay away from him.
Beneath the message was a single red cherry blossom petal.
A chill ran down her spine.
She quickly looked around.
No one seemed to be watching.
Or so she thought.
From across the street, inside the same black sedan, the mysterious man lowered his binoculars.
He smiled faintly.
"She got the message."
He picked up his phone.
"The warning has been delivered."
The voice on the other end answered without hesitation.
"Good."
"If she ignores it..."
"...we'll make her regret it."
The line went dead.
Ji-ah slipped the note into her bag, trying to convince herself it was just a cruel prank.
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