TCWS 12

Chapter : 12

“…!”

“I know you’re there.”

When she cautiously peeked her head out, Taesin—now wearing a short-sleeved T-shirt and pants—had opened his window and was looking this way.

He had just finished showering, and his clean, refreshed face looked almost sculpted under the streetlight.

“I wasn’t spying on you. I just happened to see you, that’s all.”

Unable to meet his gaze directly, Iseol rolled her eyes away.

“Let’s say that’s true.”

“It’s not ‘let’s say’—it really is—!”

Taesin pushed open the screen, climbed onto the windowsill, lightly jumped onto the low wall, and then softly landed in front of Iseol’s window.

There wasn’t a sound.

Did it even take a second?

Startled to find him suddenly right in front of her, Iseol gasped.

The distance from the window to the wall was pretty far—how had he crossed it so easily?

He was big, but he moved so lightly.

“What did you just—”

“Did I scare you?”

He asked as he looked into her wide eyes.

“Not scared, exactly… just amazed.”

Taesin glanced back as if measuring the distance he’d crossed, then lowered his voice.

“If anything happens, call me anytime. I’ll come right away—just like this.”

What could possibly happen, though?

Still puzzled, Iseol soon nodded.

Now only a thin window screen separated them.

“Is that your room over there, Mr. Lee Taesin?”

Taesin nodded and examined her window.

“This window’s too flimsy. Anyone could get in if they really wanted to.”

“Nothing like that has happened so far.”

“I should talk to Jaehyuk and have it fixed.”

Watching him closely as he continued inspecting the window, she asked,

“Why do you care so much?”

Since she’d brought it up, she wanted to be clear about it.

Come to think of it, everything about him was suspicious.

The fact that she’d thought he was gone forever, only for him to return as a transfer student in her class.
That he’d moved in right next door.
And now, how overly concerned he was.

“Am I… in danger?”

“……”

“Because I saved your life?”

He slowly nodded.

“If they find out about that, they won’t leave you alone, Ms. Yoon Iseol.”

“They?”

“I’ll explain when the time comes.”

Just what kind of person was he, that even the people around him might be at risk?

“But you don’t need to worry too much. No matter what happens, I’ll protect you.”

He was someone she should be afraid of.
Someone she had no reason to trust.
And yet, strangely, she felt reassured.

It felt like he would protect her from any danger.

When Iseol nodded, a faint smile spread across Taesin’s lips.

“Sleep well.”

Just as lightly as he had come, he vaulted over the wall and returned to his room.

Iseol stood there, watching until his figure disappeared.

“Iseol, hello!”

The next morning, as Iseol left the health office, Yushin bowed politely in greeting.

“Oh—hi. Good morning.”

Next to him stood Taesin in a black baseball jacket with leather sleeves, and behind them Jaehyuk, wearing a short-sleeved T-shirt and an apron despite the cool weather.

Strangely, the school uniforms suited them well.

Maybe it was the uniform, but they looked younger too.

Unlike in the past, many schools now chose jackets and comfortable pants instead of stiff formal uniforms.

Jang High’s uniform was popular among students because it was both comfortable and stylish.

With both brothers being tall and handsome, they practically sparkled just wearing their uniforms.

Her hope that their presence might fade a little in school uniform was instantly crushed.

“Did you sleep well?”

At Taesin’s greeting, Iseol felt her neck grow warm and looked away.

Why did such a simple, probably meaningless question feel so personal?

It had to be her imagination.

A sense of duty to protect the person who saved his life—that had to be all it was.
Nothing more.
It had to be.

Yushin and Jaehyuk exchanged glances, as if watching the two of them closely.

She worried that Director Jang’s comment about them sleeping while holding each other might have caused misunderstandings.

“I slept fine.”

In truth, she hadn’t.

Knowing Lee Taesin was right next door made it hard to fall asleep.

When she recalled the impressive sight of him vaulting over the wall, her heart raced on its own.

“It’s your first day after moving to the island—did you all sleep well?”

“Jaehyuk didn’t. A centipede came out last night.”

At Yushin’s words, Jaehyuk held out his hand.

“Just a slight exaggeration, but it was about this big.”

It was hard to believe someone who looked like he could take down gangsters with his bare hands was scared of centipedes.

Yushin giggled, and Taesin looked relaxed, like someone who’d already been through it.

“Looks like you don’t get along with multi-legged bugs either, Mr. Jaehyuk.”

“They’re not my type.”

“Spray insect repellent around the house so they can’t get in. They like humidity, so keep the place dry.”

“He probably spent all night researching extermination methods. Don’t worry.”

Iseol smiled and nodded.

“Yes, then.”

As she started walking, the two men naturally took positions on either side of her, matching her pace.

Since there was only one road to school, they had no choice but to walk together.

Starting tomorrow, she’d leave earlier to avoid running into them.

“There’s less than two weeks until midterms. Do you know the exam scope?”

“Yes, I heard from the class president.”

“I see.”

The class president of Class 1 had never lost her rank as top student—quiet, sharp, and reliable.

“Yushin, have you decided on your future path?”

“I’m planning to go to medical school.”

“Is becoming a doctor your dream?”

“Yes.”

“That’s admirable. What made you decide that?”

“My brother was seriously injured once. That’s when I made up my mind. Just like he protected me, I wanted to protect him too.”

So that was when he’d dropped out of high school.

“You must feel reassured, having a brother like that.”

At Iseol’s words, Taesin let out a small chuckle.

His usually cold impression softened with the hint of a smile.

“Mr. Taesin, come to the third-year teachers’ office during lunch. We need to choose electives and discuss college plans.”

“Alright.”

As they talked about midterms and arrived at school, students from Class 3-3 stuck their heads out the window and shouted,

“Teacher! Something’s wrong! Come quick! Jo Haewon and Kim Seondo are fighting!”

Her heart sank.

Jo Haewon and Kim Seondo.

They were the last students who should be fighting.

Neither had ever caused trouble—they studied well, were diligent and quiet.

What on earth was going on?

When Iseol started running, Taesin and Yushin followed close behind.

By the time they reached the classroom, students from other classes crowded the hallway.

From the back of the room came the sound of fists flying.

Pushing through the students, she saw the classroom in chaos.

Desks were shoved aside, chairs toppled over.

The larger Jo Haewon was pinned down, taking blows from the smaller Kim Seondo.

As Seondo swung his fists wildly, Haewon grabbed his face and shoved him away.

But neither was in better shape.

Their faces were bruised, lips split and bleeding, uniform buttons torn off.

There had been occasional scuffles among first-years, but those were minor—just a few bruises.

This was on a completely different level.

“Jo Haewon! Kim Seondo! What are you doing? Stop this right now!”

But with their eyes red and crazed, there was no way they could hear their homeroom teacher.

Iseol was smaller and weaker than her students—she couldn’t restrain them.

As she stepped forward to separate them, Taesin reached out and stopped her.

At that moment, Kim Seondo picked up a mechanical pencil lying nearby.

Gasping sounds rippled through the crowd.

“Seondo. Put the pencil down.”

All color drained from Iseol’s face.

“Please. Give it to me.”

She held out her hand, gently coaxing him.

If he stabbed Haewon in the eye with it, things would spiral completely out of control.

The moment Seondo raised the pencil high and brought it down, Iseol squeezed her eyes shut and staggered.

“Teacher.”

Yushin, standing behind her, caught her.