𝗦𝗨𝗡 & 𝗠𝗢𝗢𝗡 | ᴬᶰ ˢᵒᵒᴴᵒ 『English Version』

Chapter 19

"Stop looking at me like that."

"I'm looking at you the way I always do."

"No, you're not." Hyeori complained, setting her little muffin aside. She leaned back in her chair while Sieun kept staring at her. "I'm sorry, okay? But she started it."

"Hyeori... You've never gone so far as to hit someone before."

She lowered her gaze, her hands fidgeting as she avoided looking at the boy with bright eyes. "It's just that... She made me so mad, Sieun-ah..."

"I get it, but... Remember what Sooho used to say..."

"Don't cross the line... I know..." she muttered, nodding like a little kid. "I won't do it again, I... I'll control myself better." She looked up at him, noticing his eyes looked dull, almost tired, which made her lean in and touch his cheeks. "You haven't been able to sleep again, have you, baby?"

"Of course I have..."

"... Uh-huh, don't lie to your mom." she teased, giving his cheek a gentle pinch. "Let's stop by a pharmacy later, I'll get you some magnesium."

"Magnesium?"

"It'll help you sleep." She nodded, reaching for her muffin again, but the sudden slam of the door made her jump. Sieun didn't flinch, but she did, turning to look at the boy with the big nose who had just walked in.

"Seo Juntae!"

Hyeori looked around, she had no idea who this Juntae was, but it seemed like he was in trouble.

"Where is that idiot?"

She followed the direction the other students were pointing and saw a boy slowly getting up from where he'd been lying on his desk. Her eyes scanned him-short legs, small back, trembling even though he wasn't moving at all.

"Juntae, come here."

Hyeori watched the scene closely. The tall boy-she didn't know his name-was slowly approaching Juntae's desk. Juntae stood up after a moment. For some reason, Hyeori felt the urge to get up too.

His small eyes, his gaze fixed on the floor, the way he seemed to search for comfort in his own thoughts, his slightly trembling body-it all made her feel like this boy hadn't really done anything wrong.

Still, she didn't move, didn't make a sound, just watched every detail. When the taller boy kicked Juntae into the wall, Hyeori's legs moved on their own, but Sieun, who was also paying attention, made her sit back down.

The collective "oh" from the class made her frown, especially when the small boy stood up, hands raised defensively, causing a stir. She thought maybe he had a reason, maybe he knew how to fight back, but when he got hit once, twice, up to seven times, she winced.

"You look great! Come on, hit me!"

Hyeori's eyes stayed glued to the trembling boy as the taller one started kicking him. In her mind, that scene replayed-the one that had haunted her for almost two years.

"How dare you say my name!?"

"Who do you think you are!?"

"So, I'm beneath you!?"

The sound of the kicks, the groans from Juntae-they were the same sounds that kept her up at night, the same ones that had come from Sooho's throat with every blow, the same position her boyfriend had been in before his body couldn't take it anymore.

Hyeori suddenly felt her throat tighten, her hands shaking uncontrollably, her lips trembling, her eyes burning, but she couldn't look away. Suddenly, the whole place changed-she was back in that gym, watching as the only person she'd ever had was taken from her.