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Chapter 11
Sia’s sharp eyes swept quickly over Yeoreum.
Long black hair that fell to her chest without bangs, fair skin that wasn’t too pale. A small face where her features were neatly arranged in harmony.
She didn’t seem the type to doll herself up—her bare face proved that much. Still, with well-trimmed brows, naturally red lips, and blemish-free skin, she was undeniably pretty.
But still…
“I’m prettier.”
Ever since she’d heard that Hyunho was on friendly terms with this girl, Sia had felt a vague unease and curiosity. Yet looking at Yeoreum now, she felt somewhat reassured. On the surface at least, she considered herself the superior one.
Just then—
Swish.
Hyunho subtly shifted Yeoreum behind him, as if shielding her. Sia caught the movement instantly, her face twisting in disbelief.
“Well, would you look at that?”
And it wasn’t just Hyunho. The others too, as though by some silent agreement, moved in a way that seemed to shield Yeoreum from view—as if there was something they didn’t want her to see.
To Sia, their behavior was downright insulting.
She kept her gaze cold on Yeoreum, though her voice came out feignedly weak, almost pitiful.
“Why are you all acting like that? Someone might think I’m bullying her. I only came to say hi and see what the new transfer was like since everyone kept saying she was pretty, that’s all….”
“뭘 했다고 저래 오바를 떨어 쌌노.”
The two girls at Sia’s side—Shin Min-jeong and Cha Ae-rin—glared daggers at Hyunho and Yeoreum, their voices sharp and accusing.
“We’re not exactly on greeting terms, are we?”
It was the first time Yeoreum heard Haein’s voice—cold, steely, and distant.
Yeoreum didn’t understand what was going on, but the heavy tension in the air made her uneasy. Her eyes darted nervously between the students.
“Is saying hello such a crime? What’s this about being ‘on greeting terms’?”
“Hey, let’s not do this. They probably just felt uncomfortable running into us suddenly. Come on, let’s go.”
Min-jeong and Ae-rin looked ready to pounce, but Sia quickly stepped in.
“Cut it out.” She pulled them back with a sharp hiss.
Even as she walked away, Sia shot a frosty glance at Hyunho, then at Yeoreum half-hidden behind him.
“Tch. Just when I was in a good mood, they had to ruin it.”
Haein spat the words bitterly, then seemed to realize his tone. He turned to Hyunho hastily.
“Hey, let’s get one thing clear. This isn’t because of you. I’ve always hated them. Even if you weren’t here—”
“I know.”
Hyunho’s answer was calm, but there was a heaviness to it—an unmistakable shift from the lightness Yeoreum had seen in him recently. She felt it instantly.
He didn’t even look at her. Only to the others did he say, “I’ll go ahead,” before walking off.
“…Damn. Shouldn’t have said that ‘ruined my mood’ stuff. That was my bad, huh?”
“What are you on about? It’s not your fault. The moment he ran into them, Hyunho dug himself back into that hole again.”
“Exactly. Don’t let it weigh on you. He’s probably just overthinking again.”
Jeongwoo and Gyeol exchanged a look, then both glanced at Yeoreum.
There was meaning in their eyes—a quiet concern for her, now caught in the middle because of her closeness to Hyunho. But Yeoreum, clueless to the backstory, couldn’t read it.
She wanted to ask what had happened between Hyunho and Sia. But the moment didn’t seem right.
Instead, she just rolled her large eyes nervously, until Haein finally sighed.
“…I’ll tell you another time. You should head out now. Study hall’s almost over—if you go now, they won’t notice you skipped.”
“…Okay. I’ll go first then. You’ll have Jeongwoo take you home, but still—text me when you get there.”
“Yeoreum, want me to walk you?”
“Gyeol. Don’t. Your place is the opposite direction. Go with the others.”
Her steps home felt heavy.
Yeoreum’s mind was full of Hyunho.
The image of his darkened face, the weight in his steps as he turned away—it lingered painfully.
He hadn’t spared her a glance, and that stung. But the more she thought about it, maybe it wasn’t that he didn’t see her.
“Maybe it was something he didn’t want me to see… like being caught vulnerable. Was that why?”
She worried—what if Hyunho went back to the boy he’d been before, the one with no smile?
“He just started to laugh again… what if he loses it all over?”
“Hope he’s okay….”
“What is?”
“Ah! You scared me!”
Yeoreum jumped at the sudden voice. What she’d whispered to herself—only she should have heard it.
Clutching her chest, she turned and saw Taeyoung. Relieved, she lightly punched his arm.
“Could you at least make some noise when you walk? You scared me to death.”
“I called you. You didn’t hear.”
“Oh. Did you?”
She gave a sheepish smile. He only clicked his tongue at her, amused.
“Did you at least study hard in night class?”
“Of course. You ditched, though, didn’t you? Always said you wanted to skip.”
At that, Yeoreum flashed a triumphant V-sign with her fingers.
“Cute.”
“What?”
“Are you going tomorrow?”
“Yeah. Gotta.”
He nodded simply.
The road home wasn’t far, but the quiet alleys made the night feel darker. The streetlights glowed dimly, and hardly anyone walked around. Most Whiyeong High students lived in Yeonghwa-dong, the opposite direction from her neighborhood, Sacheong-dong.
That’s why Yeoreum usually stuck to the main roads when it was late, even if it meant a longer walk. But this time, walking with a friend beside her, she felt oddly at ease.
Soon they arrived at her house.
“Here’s my place. What about you? Do you live nearby?”
“Me? Yeonghwa-dong.”
“Oh… wait, that’s the other way.”
“Go on in. I’ll get going.”
With a faint smile, Taeyoung turned and left.
Watching his retreating back, Yeoreum thought, He’s kind of odd, when you think about it.
Later, sprawled on her sister’s bed, Yeoreum replayed the day.
It had been a good day overall. Fun, even. But the memory of crossing paths with Sia dampened it.
“She really was pretty, though….”
But again, her thoughts circled back to Hyunho.
“Unni.”
“What.”
“What kind of thing makes friends so upset they can’t even stand to see each other again? Like, the person directly involved looks gloomy, and the friends get all defensive and angry.”
Ga-eul, who had been fiddling with her phone, set it down and studied Yeoreum carefully.
“People fall out over the smallest things. Especially in school—it all feels bigger than it is.”
“So… it might be nothing?”
“Could be. Still, don’t overthink it. When he’s ready, listen to what he has to say. Then decide. For now, stop guessing.” She frowned. “And go to your own room.”
“Che.”
Yeoreum pouted her lips dramatically and stomped off.
That same night.
Sia sat gnawing her nails, replaying the encounter with Hyunho. The way he stood with them—the comparison made her blood boil.
“Damn it. This is so irritating, in every way.”
If not for what had happened with Hyunho, it should have been her standing there, not Yeoreum.
Most of her close friends, even the seniors who had adored her, had moved to other schools. Starting over was exhausting. She still had people around her now—friendly enough—but it wasn’t the same.
“They’re decent-looking, I’ll give them that.”
She thought of Hyunho, Jeongwoo, and Gyeol. It would’ve been so much better to be with them. Even Haein was preferable to Min-jeong and Ae-rin.
“Those two are just noisy and dumb.”
Not that she hadn’t gotten some entertainment out of their stupidity.
While Sia brooded, Min-jeong and Ae-rin chattered loudly beside her.
“Ugh, so noisy.”
“…What?”
“Huh? Oh, I meant the motorcycle that just passed. So loud.”
“Anyway, you should just ignore Hyunho now. Don’t give him the time of day.”
“Exactly. I saw your face earlier, all fired up like you were gonna bite their heads off. What did they even do to deserve that look?”
“They didn’t. But… of course they’ll side with Hyunho. They’re closer to him than me.”
“You’re too softhearted. How are you gonna survive like that? Even now, you’re defending him. He’s the one who screwed up, but you’re still—”
“Don’t badmouth him too much. It’s over now. We’re in high school. Time to act more grown up.”
“…You really are something.”
Their nagging sounded like concern, but Sia barely heard it.
She just kept biting her nails, lost in thought.
