The precinct buzzed with emotion as Minjin, Kim Aecha, and the sunbae boy sat across from the policeman. Kim Aecha bravely shared the difficult moments she had experienced, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears.
The policeman, who was listening closely, shook his head in disapproval. "Why did you go to his house by yourself?"
"Jeogeyo, are you blaming her for what happened?" Minjin retorted.
"Aniyo, I just want to make sure you know it can be risky to visit a boy's house by yourself," the policeman gently reminded.
Minjin frowned at the suggestion.
He then turned to the sunbae boy and asked, "What about you? What's your side of the story?"
"Can you believe it? She actually came at me!" the sunbae boy exclaimed, his voice filled with disbelief.
The policeman addressed them and asked, "What do you want to do? Are you planning to file a complaint?"
"I will file a complaint!" The sunbae boy stated defiantly.
Just then, Tae-sung rushed into the precinct, looking concerned.
"Minjin-ah!" he exclaimed as soon as he saw her. He quickly bowed to the policeman and introduced himself. "I'm Park Tae-sung, Park Minjin's older brother. What's happening?"
The policeman detailed the incident, "This man intends to file a complaint against your sister."
Tae-sung asked Kim Aecha, "Do you want to file a complaint, too?"
"Aniyo, I don't want to," Kim Aecha suddenly interjected.
"Aecha-ah," Minjin exclaimed, surprised by her friend's comment.
Kim Aecha added, "We'll apologize, Sunbae."
Park Tae-sung gently shook his head. "No, please don't apologize. You're the one who's been through so much, Aecha-shi."
The Sunbae boy exclaimed, "Bo? She's the one who's been hurt? Just look at what happened to me!"
Ignoring him, Tae-sung said, "We'll file a complaint for you. I'll call our lawyer to handle this."
Soon after, a frantic woman appeared. She searched the area and quickly spotted her son rushing toward her.
"Yeong-seok-ah!" She cradled his face. "What happened? Who did this?"
"That girl, eomma!" the sunbae exclaimed, pointing at Minjin.
His mother glared at Minjin and stormed over, attempting to strike her. Tae-sung and the officer quickly intervened. Tae-sung pulled Minjin to her seat to hide behind him while the officer tried to calm the distraught mother.
."Why would you do this to my son?! I can't touch him, yet you go and hurt him!"
"Exactly! We will file a complaint!" the sunbae declared.
Tae-sung raised an eyebrow, "Your son acted inappropriately toward an innocent girl! Before blaming my sister, consider what your son did! We plan to file a complaint. Do you think your son is in a strong position? He could face consequences affecting his future if guilty!"
The mother's eyes widened at this news. Turning to the police officer, she asked, "Is that true, sir? Did my son really do that?"
The policeman sighed in response. "Yes, ma'am."
She then faced Tae-sung and exclaimed, "My son would never do such a thing!"
"Okay, let's take Aecha-shi to the hospital for a psychiatric evaluation. We can proceed with the complaint if the results align with our expectations. I'm calling my lawyer now." Tae-sung reached for his phone.
The sunbae's mother shot a disapproving look at her son. "Did you honestly do that to her?"
Kim Aecha started crying again, sobbing as she concealed her face. Minjin rushed over and embraced her while Kim Aecha remained seated.
"A-araso, I won't file a complaint anymore! "The Sunbae boy relented.
Tae-sung urged his lawyer to come to the precinct immediately. He turned to the sundae and his mother and said, "I am committed to resolving this. I cannot let others face a similar case with him."
His mother, feeling overwhelmed, turned to her son and struck him a few times in distress. "I'm just so upset right now! I feel so embarrassed. Your father and I have put so much effort into your future, and it hurts to see it go to waste!" With tears in her eyes, she gently hit him as the policeman stepped in to help her regain her calm.
The mother turned to Tae-sung. "Sir, I hope you can forgive my son." She kneeled before Kim Aecha, her voice softening. "Child, I ask for your mercy for my son. I promise he will learn from this for your sake."
The officer separated the mother from Kim Aecha, who kept crying in Minjin's arms.
The lawyer whom Tae-sung called had finally arrived. He introduced himself and handed his business card to the officer. They gathered in a private room to strategize against the boy. The mother pleaded with them while the boy maintained a frown. Tae-sung agreed that they needed the boy to write a handwritten letter confessing to his crime and promising not to approach Minjin and Kim Aecha again. Despite the boy's reluctance, his mother urged him to do it for his future. Tae-sung also suggested they assure him that they would keep this incident a secret, especially from their school.
The Sunbae boy wrote a letter admitting his wrongdoing and promised to stay away from Minjin and Kim Aecha, ensuring that the incident would remain private within their school. The lawyer received this letter and informed the policeman that he would officially document it, allowing him to keep a copy for future reference.
After a tense confrontation outside the precinct, Tae-sung offered to drive Kim Aecha home, which she gratefully accepted. The ride was silent, and the weight of the evening's events was palpable in the stillness.
After arriving at Kim Aecha's house, she thanked Tae-sung, saying, "Thank you, Ahjusshi."
"It's okay; take some time to rest," Tae-sung said gently.
The car was quiet as they drove away until Tae-sung broke the silence with a sigh.
"I'm sorry, oppa," Minjin murmured, her eyes glued to her hands.
"How are your hands?" Tae-sung inquired, noticing the injuries.
Minjin looked down at the scratches and bruises. "They're fine."
"We'll get some medicine before we go home," Tae-sung assured her.
"Alright, thank you, Oppa," Minjin responded, her voice tinged with sadness.
Tae-sung sighed as he focused on the road. "I'm worried the school might find out. I promise to handle this for Aecha-shi's benefit. Minjin-ah, society often blames girls for boys' actions. The letter aimed to protect her from cruel judgments. I don't want that incident to steal her innocence."
Tae-sung gently tapped Minjin on the head with a reassuring smile. "I'm proud of you. You stood firm against what was wrong. Besides your intelligence, I appreciate your emotional wisdom."
Minjin stayed quiet, staring at her worn hands as Kim Aecha's terrified face lingered in her mind.
###
Kim Aecha stepped out of the car after Tae-sung and Minjin dropped her off at home.
The soft glow from the dining room greeted her. She spotted her mother sitting alone at the dining table. A half-empty bottle of soju sat beside a small plate of untouched side dishes. Her mother's hair was unkempt, and faint bruises marked her face.
Even with her disheveled appearance, her mother smiled faintly upon seeing Kim Aecha.
"Did you just arrive?" she asked, her tone gentle yet heavy with exhaustion.
Kim Aecha stood frozen, tears welling in her eyes. The sight of her mother's worn face was too much to bear. Unable to contain herself, she started to sob, her shoulders shaking as she cried openly.
Suddenly, her mother's smile faded. She stood unsteadily and hurried to her daughter. Cradling Aecha's face in her hands, she asked, "What's wrong, Aecha-ah?" Her voice trembled with concern.
Through her sobs, Kim Aecha pleaded, "Eomma, I beg you to leave him. Please, eomma. Just please..." Her voice quivered with anguish. "If you can endure him, it hurts me to see you like this."
Her mother's eyes filled with tears as Aecha's words pierced her.
She pulled her daughter into a tight embrace. "I'm sorry, Aecha-ah… I'm so sorry," she whispered, her voice breaking as they cried together.
###
Kim Aecha walked to school as the autumn breeze brushed her face.
The trees' amber, gold, and crimson leaves swayed before falling, creating a vibrant carpet on the ground. The air was crisp, with a subtle earthy aroma marking the season's shift. Her peaceful expression masked her quivering inside from the traumatic event the day before.
The fear from the previous day persisted not as vivid memories but as a physical response. She felt threatened, her hands trembling and her heartbeat racing.
With a deep sigh, she murmured, "I will be alright."
The image of her mother's suffering overshadowed her own distress. Witnessing her mother's struggles after her partner's mistreatment fueled Kim Aecha's resolve to be resilient.
As she approached the back door of her classroom, Kim Aecha noticed Minjin leaning against the wall outside, her head down and a worried expression on her face.
Taking a moment to pause and breathe deeply, Kim Aecha managed a cheerful smile and called out, "Minjin-ah!"
Minjin lifted her head when she heard her name. As she turned to Kim Aecha, her eyes softened at the sight of her.
Kim Aecha swiftly closed the distance, gently grasping Minjin's arm. "Have you been waiting for me?" she inquired.
Minjin smiled gently and nodded. "Hmm, how are you? Are you feeling okay?"
Kim Aecha managed a smile, her hands gripping Minjin's arm tighter. "Yeah, I'm fine."
"You really shouldn't have come to school today," Minjin said.
Kim Aecha chuckled softly, shaking her head with a reassuring air. "Aniya, I'm fine!"
Minjin's lips turned up into a small smile. "Araso, if that's how you feel."
Kim Aecha embraced Minjin and said, "Gomawo, Minjin-ah. I will always be grateful to you and your brother."
Minjin embraced her friend, softly patting her back. "It's okay, I would do it all again for you."
Kim Aecha felt tears in her eyes and swallowed hard, forcing a soft chuckle. "I'd do it for you, too," she said.
The school bell rang, indicating the start of class. Minjin and Kim Aecha exchanged glances before smiling warmly. Kim Aecha linked her arm with Minjin's as they walked into the classroom together. Heo Yeong-hwan watched the touching moment from a distance, a warm smile on his face as he continued to their classroom.
###
Choi Ye-Joon entered the senior class with his customary confident stride. His eyes immediately fell on Lee Deji's desk. After dropping his backpack in his seat, he approached Lee Deji, who was busy chatting with her classmates.
Choi Ye-Joon set a roll of kimbap on Lee Deji's desk as a kind gesture. "Here."
Lee Deji glanced up from her chat and smiled at the food. "Great, I haven't had breakfast yet. Gomawo."
Choi Ye-Joon nodded and returned to his seat. Amused by the interaction, the girls sitting before Lee Deji leaned in closer. "He really cares about you!"
Lee Deji shrugged casually. "He's been like this since middle school. It doesn't matter."
"Don't brush it off as unimportant," another girl interjected.
Feeling embarrassed, she bit into the kimbap and glimpsed Choi Ye-Joon. She quickly turned her head to avoid his gaze.
The bell rang to signal the start of class. The students settled into their seats. Mr. Chun entered the room, and the class greeted him with dullness. After speaking with the class representative, he handed out the calculus assignment notebooks.
"Some of you did not pass. What is happening? Is this my fault that everyone failed?!" Mr. Chun asked.
The students bowed their heads as the other notebooks were passed down the rows. When Lee Deji got hers, she eagerly scanned the pages. Her eyes grew wide with astonishment when she discovered she had earned a perfect score.
Eager to share her excitement, Lee Deji called out to Choi Ye-Joon. When he didn't respond, she quickly wrote a note about her perfect score and tossed it to him. It landed on his desk. Choi Ye-Joon glanced at the note, his eyes widening in surprise.
A smile spread across his face. "That girl might be a genius," he muttered.
From her desk, Lee Deji felt warmly satisfied at his smile.
###
Lee Deji kept glancing at her watch during class. It was nearly noon, and as soon as the bell rang, she jumped up from her seat before the teacher could leave. Suddenly, she grabbed Choi Ye-Joon by the collar, catching him off guard. He opened his mouth to ask what was happening, but her determined look urged him to follow her without question.
Lee Deji tightened her grip on Choi Ye-Joon's arm outside the classroom. "Where are we headed? I'm starving," he complained.
"We need to find Park Minjin," Lee Deji replied sharply.
Choi Ye-Joon felt her hand warm against his arm, and the unexpected flutter in his stomach took him by surprise. However, he didn't have time to process it, as Lee Deji hurried them toward the 11th-grade section. When they reached the classroom, she let go of his arm and looked inside.
As a student exited the room, Lee Deji approached him. "Hey, do you know Park Minjin?"
The student shook his head and replied, "Aniyo."
"Araso, move over," Lee Deji said with impatience as he stepped aside to let him pass.
Then she noticed Bang Eun-kyung. "Eun-kyung-ah!" Choi Ye-Joon called out to him.
Bang Eun-kyung turned in surprise. "Oh, Hyung?"
"Is Park Minjin here?" Choi Ye-Joon asked.
Bang Eun-kyung scratched his head in confusion. "Park Minjin? We don't have anyone by that name in our class."
"Bo? That can't be right," Lee Deji said, her brow furrowing.
"I've got it!" She seized Choi Ye-Joon's arm again, pulling him along.
"Where to next?" he asked, irritation creeping into his voice.
They rushed to the cafeteria, bustling with students enjoying their lunch. Lee Deji scanned the crowd, her eyes searching for Park Minjin. Spotting Heo Yeong-hwan in the distance, she confidently walked toward their table. Minjin, Kim Aecha, Heo Yeong-hwan, and two other boys shared a meal at the table.
Kim Aecha scowled and glared at Heo Yeong-hwan across the table. "Why do you insist on having lunch with us?"
"Why shouldn't I? There's nothing wrong with it," Heo Yeong-hwan answered, feigning innocence.
"You bullied her!" Kim Aecha nearly shouted.
"That was ages ago!" Heo Yeong-hwan retorted.
Kim Aecha kept glaring at him. Suddenly, Lee Deji and Choi Ye-Joon arrived at their table.
"We've finally located you! Park Minjin!" Lee Deji declared confidently.
Heo Yeong-hwan and Kim Aecha shared perplexed looks.
Minjin raised his gaze, taken aback. "What do you want from me?"