Chapter 13

The soft hum of the hospital room was the only sound that filled the air. The IV drip beside me ticked rhythmically, a steady reminder that I was still here—still alive. The morning sun peeked through the half-closed blinds, casting streaks of gold against the white walls.

I was exhausted. My body still ached from the cold, my muscles sore from being trapped in that freezing room. But my mind was alert, unwilling to rest.

A knock sounded at the door, followed by a familiar voice.

"May I come in?"

I turned my head and saw Ms. Lee standing at the entrance, her face lined with worry. She carried herself with her usual grace, but there was an undeniable tension in her posture.

"Ms. Lee..." I murmured, pushing myself up slightly.

She stepped inside, closing the door softly behind her. "How are you feeling, Hera?"

I let out a small breath. "Like I was thrown into a freezer." I attempted a small smirk, but the weight of everything made it fall flat.

She sighed, walking closer. "I heard about what happened... The entire school is talking about it. The hearing for Han-Wool has been postponed."

My eyebrows lifted slightly. "Because of me?"

Ms. Lee nodded. "The daughter of Taeil Group was kidnapped—there's no way the committee wouldn't pause for that. The school's board doesn't want to bring more attention to the situation."

I sighed. "I guess that's understandable."

Ms. Lee studied me for a moment before sitting in the chair beside my bed. "Hera... this is getting dangerous."

I swallowed. I already knew that. The bruises on my wrists, the cold that still lingered in my bones—it was proof.

"You have to be careful," she continued, her voice softer now. "This isn't just school fights anymore. This is—" She hesitated. "This is war."

I nodded. "I know."

Ms. Lee lingered for a moment before leaving. As the door clicked shut behind her, I closed my eyes, trying to rest.

But something felt off.

A strange feeling crept into my chest, making the hairs on my arms rise. It was the kind of unease that only happened when someone I didn't like was nearby.

I slowly opened my eyes—and froze.

Han-Wool was standing at the foot of my bed.

A lazy smirk played on his lips, but his eyes—scanned me carefully.

"I heard the news," he said, his tone almost mocking. "You disappeared."

I stared at him, my fingers tightening slightly against the blanket. "You say that like you're concerned."

He tilted his head. "Shouldn't I be? Someone tried to kill you." His eyes darkened. "That's... troubling."

I let out a cold laugh. "Is it?" I leaned forward slightly. "It's funny because I could've sworn it was your people who did it."

Han-Wool's smirk didn't falter, but I saw the small flicker of something in his gaze—a warning.

"That's quite an accusation, Hera," he said, stepping closer. "Do you have proof?"

I held his stare. "No."

He chuckled, shaking his head. "Then be careful. Throwing around accusations can get you hurt."

I scoffed. "You've already done enough damage."

He said nothing, but his silence spoke volumes.

I studied him for a moment before tilting my head. Time to push a little further.

"...You should watch your back, Han-Wool."

He raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"

I smiled—a slow, deliberate smile. "Ryeowook is back."

His entire body stiffened.

The easy arrogance in his expression flickered for the briefest second, replaced by something else—something close to fear.

I watched as his jaw clenched, his fingers curling into a fist. He recovered quickly, but I had already seen it. I had already won.

Han-Wool exhaled through his nose, shaking his head as if unimpressed. "You talk too much, Hera."

I smirked. "And you're too scared."

His eyes flickered with irritation, but he said nothing. Instead, he turned on his heel and walked toward the door.

Just before he stepped out, he glanced over his shoulder. "Be careful."

And with that, he was gone.

I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding.

Ryeowook.

Even his name was enough to shake Han-Wool. That meant something.

I didn't know what was coming next, but I knew one thing—

This fight was just beginning.

Suddenly, the door creaked open, and I turned my head, blinking as Hee-Won stepped inside, holding a bouquet of white lilies.

"Hey, how are you holding up?" Her voice was gentle, almost like she was tiptoeing around my emotions.

I forced a smile, though it didn't quite reach my eyes. "I've been better," I said quietly. "But I'm still here."

Hee-Won set the flowers down on the bedside table, her hands lingering for a second as if she wasn't quite sure where to put them. She pulled a chair close to my bed and sat down, her eyes filled with concern. "Everyone's been worried about you," she said, her tone soft but sincere. "Ji-Woo wouldn't stop talking about you today. She's been a mess without you around."

I felt a pang in my chest, the weight of knowing how much they all cared for me. "I didn't mean to worry anyone," I muttered, my gaze dropping to my bruised hands.

Hee-Won didn't say anything, but she gave my hand a gentle squeeze. We sat there in silence for a moment, just breathing in the quiet of the room, and I felt a little bit of the tension in my chest ease.

A moment later, the door opened again, and Ji-Woo walked in, carrying a small bag. She immediately looked around, her eyes landing on me with such a soft look in them that I almost felt guilty for not being stronger.

"I brought your favorite snacks," Ji-Woo said with a smile, though it didn't reach her eyes. She handed me the bag, and I could see a variety of familiar snacks—things we used to eat during our study sessions. "I thought you might need something to cheer you up."

I reached for the bag, my heart swelling with gratitude. "Thank you," I said softly. "I can't believe you remembered."

Ji-Woo smiled faintly, though it was clear she was holding something back. "How's everything? You're feeling okay, right?"

I took a deep breath and leaned back against the pillows, trying to find the right words. "I'm trying," I murmured. "I just... I don't know what's going to happen next. Everything feels like it's spinning out of control."

Hee-Won and Ji-Woo exchanged a look, and I could see their worry deepening. It wasn't like before. This wasn't just about school or the study group anymore. This was something bigger, something more dangerous.

Hee-Won reached out and placed her hand on mine, her grip firm but comforting. "You don't have to control everything, Hera. You just need to focus on getting better. We've got your back. All of us."

"I know," I whispered. "It's just hard. I feel like I've been fighting so long, and I'm not sure I'm strong enough anymore."

Ji-Woo shifted uncomfortably before speaking up. "You are strong. You're stronger than you realize. We're all here, and we're not going anywhere."

Before I could respond, the door creaked open again. I turned my head, and there he was—Ga-Min. His presence filled the room in a way that only he could, a comforting silence settling around him as he approached my bed.

"How's it going?" His voice was quieter than usual, almost like he wasn't sure what to say. He stood by my bedside, his gaze soft but intense.

I gave him a small smile. "I'm managing," I said, trying to reassure him, though it was clear I wasn't.

Ga-Min didn't say anything at first. Instead, he reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a small box, placing it gently on the table next to my bed. "I thought you might like this," he said, his voice quieter than usual.

I opened the box and found —a picture of the two of us, smiling, carefree. It was simple, but the meaning behind it was clear. I felt my chest tighten as I stared at it.

"Thank you," I said, my voice shaking just a little. "This means a lot to me, Ga-Min."

Ga-Min gave me a soft smile, though his eyes betrayed a hint of something deeper. "You don't have to thank me," he said. "We're all in this together. We always have been."

The room was quiet for a moment, the weight of his words settling in. I realized that no matter what happened, I wasn't facing it alone. I had my friends. I had my team. They were there for me, and they always would be.

Lee Joon and Se-Hyun who had been standing quietly by the door, finally stepped forward, his usual energetic self back in place. "I didn't want to interrupt the moment," Lee-Joon said with a grin, "but I brought some more snacks. You know, the good ones." He waved a bag of chips in the air, and I couldn't help but laugh.

"You're impossible," I teased, though the smile on my face felt more genuine than it had in days.

Lee Joon chuckled, setting the snacks down on the table next to the flowers. "Hey, you've got to eat, right? You can't get stronger without some junk food."

"I'm glad you think that way," I said, feeling my spirits lift, just a little.

Se-Hyun was still sitting beside me, his presence steady and reassuring. "We're all here, Hera," he said quietly, his voice low but filled with conviction. "We're not going anywhere."

And for the first time since everything had started, I truly believed it. They weren't just friends—they were my family. And no matter how dark things got, they would always be there, pulling me back from the edge.