* Please note that this article is a fabrication based on a creative work. *
*Please note that there is profanity.*
"Hey, Wonwoo!"
"You're here? Let's go."
The next morning, as I left the house, I saw Wonwoo standing in front of my apartment. As I came out, he seemed to have been waiting for me, standing next to me as we walked together.
"But don't you usually come by car?"
"Oh, I'm just going to go for a walk for some exercise."
"Hmm, exercise is good haha."
I was sitting at the bus stop with Wonwoo, waiting for the bus. I heard Seungkwan's familiar voice, and when I looked up, I saw him standing there with his hands in his pockets. I greeted him brightly, and he took the trouble to step in between me and Wonwoo, sitting down.
"Why do you have to sit here?"
"I'm a little cold right now."
"Are you cold? Should I give you a hot pack?"
" .. thank you. "
When Seung-kwan said he was cold, I took out the hot pack from my pocket and handed it to him. After hesitating for a moment, he held it in his hand and said thank you.
"Now that I think about it, Seungkwan is secretly involved a lot haha."
" I? "
"Yeah, like a baby..."
"Baby~? Oh, I guess I'm a little more comfortable now?"
I remembered taking care of him last time, so I muttered something about him being like a baby. He must have heard me, because his eyes widened and he continued. Seung-kwan was so shocked by his sudden change in behavior that he was speechless. He was flustered to see me like this.
"Ah, Seung-Kwan Boo! The female protagonist is surprised."
"Oh, sorry... Are you okay?"
"Huh..? Yeah! It's okay haha."
I tried to pull the corners of my lips together, and Seungkwan continued to look at me and apologize.
As Wonwoo and Seungkwan walked to school together, many students' eyes were focused on them. It wasn't the first or second time, but today it seemed like more people were looking at them.
"Kwon Soon-young said he cleaned out the store, so hurry up and do it."
" also? "
"I don't know, I guess I'm in a good mood today~."
Sunyoung would occasionally sweep the store clean, so my locker was always stocked with snacks. Thanks to them, I never went hungry, but I felt like I was getting too much, and with them around all the time, I didn't spend much money.
"You're here, Yeoju~? Morning chocolate milk!"
"Thank you haha."
"Are the three of you coming together today?"
"Because we all take the same bus."
I sat down, holding the chocolate milk that Soonyoung had handed me, and smiled at the sight of them brimming with energy since morning.
After a while, the class started and the performance evaluation and midterm exams were approaching, so the class atmosphere was quiet.
"Now that the performance evaluation preparation and test scope are out, the class president, Yeoju, will make sure to announce it well. That's all."
After the morning service, I was studying with earphones in both ears. I'd been concentrating for so long that my throat started to hurt, so I looked up. The kids were nowhere to be seen. Then I noticed a note taped to my desk.
- We'll do something. I'll leave a note since you're studying so hard.
I burst out laughing when I saw a piece of paper that looked like it had been written quite diligently in a crooked handwriting. Just then, someone roughly pulled out one of my earbuds and sat down on my desk.
"Hey, who are you to be class president without even voting?"
" ... uh? "
" Shit, because the teacher is good to youFucking hellGood? Huh? "
A group of girls would come up to me and tap my shoulder every time I spoke, leaving me with my head down, speechless. I'd been somewhat confident when I was around other kids, but I was still a loner. Without them, I'd be speechless, like an idiot.
"Are you going to answer, or are you dumb?"
" sorry.. "
As expected, it was an apple again.
What on earth did I do wrong that I have to apologize every day? It was just something I always said, but thanks to them, I thought it was slowly being forgotten, but it seems to have started again.
"Okay, come to the rooftop after first period. If you don't come or tell them, you'll die."
" ... ... "
" answer. "
" huh.. "
"Haha, see you later, Yeoju?"
The girl who had been twirling my hair gave me a pat on the shoulder and left the classroom. I lifted my head, catching my breath. The kids, all avoiding my gaze, went about their business. So I fled to the bathroom.
As I sat on the toilet, brushing my chest, I remembered the exercises Wonwoo and Mingyu had taught me. That day, when they had guided me through my struggles and taught me techniques to defend my body.
"Don't just learn it, learn it and use it against those who bully you. I'll teach you really well."
I remembered what Min-gyu had said to me then, and I clenched my fists and vowed that I wouldn't give up this time.
As I entered the classroom, the kids were all sitting in their seats, playing around, wondering when they'd arrived. Seungkwan saw me entering the classroom and chatted for a moment, asking where I'd been.
As soon as the bell rang after first period ended, the group of girls from earlier abruptly rose from their seats. Then, without anyone noticing, they glanced at me and nodded, and I slowly rose from my seat.
"Huh? Where are you going, Yeoju?"
"Ah, the bathroom.. heh."
"Go and come back quickly!"
Seungkwan happened to be asleep, so I thought I could leave quietly, but Seungchul saw me and asked where I was going. I vaguely told him I was going to the bathroom, then hurried out of the classroom. Taking a deep breath, I went to the rooftop, and when I opened the door, three girls were standing there, looking askance.
"Aren't you coming quickly?"
" ... ... "
"Okay, are you a bit of a show-off these days? Are you feeling a bit better hanging out with 5 other people?"
" .. oh, okay."
" what? "
"Do for me what you don't do for me. Be nice to me and take care of me."
"Is this crazy?"
For the first time, I looked straight into their eyes as I spoke, pressing down on each word. One person, who had chuckled at my behavior, raised his hand. For a moment, memories of the past came flooding back, but I remembered Min-gyu's words and grabbed his wrist.
"Oh, don't let go?! "
"Is it easy because I keep putting up with it?"
After I blurted those words out, I raised my other hand, not the one holding her, and struck her in the face. It was my first time using violence, but it felt exhilarating, as if all the pressure I'd been holding back had been lifted in one fell swoop.
" this yearDid this really happen? "
So literally the situation was a mess and I wasn't really sure if the exercises the kids were teaching me were effective.
But is this the worst case scenario?
Why is it that I started the fight but the kids got caught?
"These guys are beating up women, huh?!"
"No, teacher! I'm telling you, we're really not like that."
"That's right! Can't you see that Seungkwan Boo woke up?"
I looked at them anxiously through the staff room window, while Seung-kwan, still half-asleep, listened to the nagging, his eyes barely open. Finally, I slowly opened the staff room door and stood before them and the teacher.
"Teacher... I was in that fight..."
" .. My lady!"
"Hong Yeo-ju..?"
"Hey, what's wrong with your face!"
I clasped my hands together and spoke slowly, and at my words, the entire staff room fell silent. I was fidgeting with my hands, and Seungcheol, perhaps seeing my slapped face, approached me and cupped my face.
"Your parents know very well, Yeoju, that you are very sincere."
"I know, but if a kid like that fights, isn't it serious?"
Eventually, my parents came to school, and I sat in the counseling room, my head bowed as if I were on a bed of thorns. They knew I'd been bullied, and even my teachers were unaware, so everyone was shocked.
"If you apologize properly now, I'll let it go."
"...I'm sorry, heroine."
" sorry.. "
" Sorry. "
"..I'm sorry for hitting you too."
I didn't want to make a big deal out of it, so I decided to just apologize and leave it at that. My parents and I were left alone in the counseling room, watching the situation.
"Why didn't you tell me, lady?"
"It's just... I know it'll be hard for mom and dad too."
"You should have said something, I was so surprised."
Tears welled up in my eyes as my mother hugged me tightly, but I held it in until the end and told myself that it was okay.
"But do you know, oppa? If you find out, you'll be in big trouble."
"I already knew that. That's why I barely managed to stop him from coming to school with me."
"Ah... Tell me it's okay. Tell me not to worry about it."
".. If you don't say anything like this again, you'll get in trouble."
Fortunately, everything went well, and when I left the counseling room, the kids were waiting for me. I greeted my parents, and just as I was about to leave, my father spoke.
"Oh, aren't you the five of them?"
"Dad, do you know these guys?"
"The sons of big businessmen. Aren't they Seungkwan and Wonwoo and those kids?"
"Huh?! Aren't you the president of 00 Company? But Dad...?"
What is this? It's ruined...?