chapter 11

The next day

Bo Mi walked through the hallway. Something felt... off.

She noticed the whispers.

Soft at first. Then sharper.

"Did you hear? Han Sugang was almost stabbed.""Yeah. He got lucky. Barely missed."

Her steps froze.

"What the hell?" she muttered to herself.

Without thinking, she ran-her shoes slapping against the cold corridor floor. Her heartbeat spiked, faster than her legs could carry her.Why did it feel like this?This weight in her chest...This strange, sudden ache at the thought of him getting hurt.

She reached her classroom.

Empty.Completely silent.

"What...?"

Then her eyes caught movement.

Down below, through the classroom windows, she saw them-Sugang, Moonki, and the rest of his gang.Walking in tense silence.Every step deliberate.The atmosphere around them heavy and unreadable.

"Sugang..." she whispered.

Her feet moved before her mind did.

She ran down the stairs, urgency pushing her.

And then-

She reached them.Stood in front of him.Her chest heaving. Eyes wide. Searching his face.

"Are you... okay?" she asked softly.

He raised an eyebrow.

Then leaned forward just slightly, smirking.His voice was low, sharp, and laced with something else-something broken.

"And may I ask... why do you care?"

Her lips parted. But the words didn't come.

She looked away."I mean-"

But then...

"Oppa!"

Mina's voice chimed in from behind.

She walked over, worry written all over her face."Are you okay?" she asked sweetly.

Sugang nodded-barely. His eyes rolled slightly.

"Now leave us alone," he said, voice stiff. "We've got unfinished business."

With that, he turned.And just like that-They walked off.

Leaving silence in their wake.

Bo Mi stood there.Still.Watching him go.

Then-

"Bo Mi."

Mina's voice stopped her.Not bitter this time.

Firm. But different.

She stepped closer.

"I'm sorry," Mina said."I shouldn't have hurt you."

Bo Mi blinked, unsure how to respond.

Mina didn't wait for one.

She simply turned...And walked away.

She spotted him-Standing on the second floor, just outside the hallway.

Without thinking, Bo Mi bolted up the stairs.

"Sugang!" she called out, breath catching in her throat.

He turned, slowly.

"Hmm?"His voice was soft, unreadable. Like always. His face gave nothing away.

"Did you get hurt?" she asked, voice laced with concern.

He nodded once, silent.

He turned, as if about to leave again.

But Bo Mi wasn't done.

"Sugang."

He paused.

"...Did you really mean what you said yesterday?"She didn't need to say what. They both knew.

He stepped closer.One slow, deliberate step.Now their eyes locked.

His gaze was unwavering.

And then-His voice, low and final:

"Yes. And?"

Before she could respond, before her breath even caught up with her-

"I'm sorry for what I'm going to do in advance."

What-?

And then-

He leaned in.

And kissed her.

Right there.

In front of everyone.

Gasps echoed through the hallway.Mouths dropped.Phones came out.Whispers sparked like wildfire.

Bo Mi's eyes flew wide open.

What the hell?

His arms wrapped around her waist-pulling her close.

It wasn't aggressive... but it was possessive.

She didn't kiss him back.Her hands were against his chest, frozen.

And then-

She shoved him back.

"YAAH!"

More gasps.

All around them-students stopped. Watching. Whispering.

And then-His voice came again. Calm. Cold. Sharp.

"Bo Mi... Don't look at me like that."

His eyes darkened."Or I might lose control."

She froze.

And then he turned.

Faced everyone around.

His voice rang out, loud and unapologetic:

"Everyone. It's clear now, isn't it?"

"Bo Mi is mine."

Then, more softly, just for her-

"Bo Mi. I love you."

Her heart pounded, breath uneven.

"No. You can't-" she stammered.

He cut her off with a smirk.

"You know me. I get what I want. Always."

And then-

"Alright students!"

Ms. So appeared behind the crowd, clapping loudly with authority.

"It's class time. Everyone, move!"

Students scattered reluctantly, still buzzing with what they'd witnessed.

Bo Mi stood frozen.

And Sugang?

He leaned on the balcony railing like none of it had fazed him.

Like he was just getting started.

Last period.

The room was dull, the teacher's voice a distant echo about some math problem no one cared about.

But then-

BANG.The classroom door slammed open.

All heads turned.

Sugang walked in.

His expression?

Unreadable.His eyes didn't even flinch at the startled teacher.

And then he spoke, eyes still forward-

"Get out."

The class froze.The teacher blinked, confused.

Then Moonki entered, hands shoved deep in his pockets, eyes scanning the class like he owned it.

"Yah, can't you hear?"His voice sharp, bored, commanding.

The teacher flinched, scrambled to collect his books, and all but stumbled out of the room.

Silence.Everyone held their breath.

Moonki wandered in front, stepping between desks with casual menace.

"A few days ago, god damn cat ran off after getting beaten by Sugang."His eyes scanned them."And now, turns out-they're hiding here. In our school."

He smiled slightly-cruelly.

"So cooperate. If you find them-scars, bruises, gauze-any clue on their arms? That's your golden ticket. You get the cat's face, you get a free pass for life."

Then the other guy chimed in:

"But if you help them?" He grinned."Then you're dead."

"Roll up your sleeves." Moonki ordered.

A wave of fear rippled through the room.

Students hesitated.

But the gang moved desk to desk-forcing people's sleeves up.Checking wrists. Elbows. Arms.

Bo Mi sat still. Frozen.

She glanced at Sugang-he hadn't even looked at her once.But the cuts on his lip and the bruise on his cheek told enough.

She swallowed.

Then Moonki moved closer.Two desks away. One.And then he stood before her.

His voice cool, almost amused:

"Roll up."

She looked at him. Silent.

Didn't move.

Didn't blink.

One of the gang members stepped up, irritation in his voice.

"Yah. Are you deaf?"He reached to grab her sleeve.

But then-

CRASH.

Sugang.

In a blur, he slammed the guy's head onto the desk-right in front of her.

"AAH!"The classroom gasped.Moonki's eyes widened.Bo Mi flinched, shooting up from her seat, her breath trembling.

Sugang didn't move.His hand still pressing the guy's head to the desk. His voice deadly calm.

"Yah. Don't touch her. Got it?"

The guy whimpered, nodding fast.

Sugang released him.

The boy staggered back, clutching his head, face pale.

Then Bo Mi whispered, still shaken:

"You didn't have to do that..."

Sugang finally looked at her.

"Then you should've done it earlier. Right after moonki told you too."

She stiffened.

And then-He reached forward.

His hand gently took hers, lifting her wrist in the air.

No resistance.

He slowly rolled up her sleeve.

His fingers grazed her skin lightly, carefully, like he was scared she'd break.

Nothing.

No scars. No bruises.

Just smooth skin.

He looked at it for a second longer than necessary.

Then he let go.

And for a brief moment...

It was quiet again.

But everything had changed.

The school was a warzone.

Upstairs. Downstairs.Everywhere, sleeves were being rolled up.Frightened hands trembled under the eyes of Sugang's gang.

Bo Mi silently packed her things, ready to head home.

Meanwhile-

Sugang and his gang stormed into another class, eyes sharp, lips bloodied, and knuckles bruised.

Then-

A voice.A girl's voice. Loud. Angry."Stop! Who gave you the right to terrorize everyone?! This is a school! There are rules! You're just doing this because you got beaten up-you're embarrassed!"

The hallway turned silent.

Sugang turned slowly.And then-

Snap.

His temper cracked.

In a blur, he grabbed the girl by her hair.

"We're looking for the cat because of bitches like you."

His voice was venom.

"You think this is about my pride? I'm going to kill him so everyone wakes the hell up!"

And with that-He dragged the girl by her hair across the floor.Her screams echoed through the hallway.

---

Bo Mi heard it.

"What...?"She froze, halfway through zipping her bag.

Then more shouting.Screams. Panic.

She stepped into the hallway.

Students stood in frozen circles, backs pressed against walls-too scared to breathe.

And there-

Sugang.

His foot pressed on top of the girl's back, her face turned sideways against the cold floor.She clawed at his leg, sobbing.

Bo Mi's eyes widened."Is he mad...?"

Her breath hitched. Her fingers clenched into fists.

And then-

Sugang's voice. Loud. Unhinged. Ringing through the hallway:

"Make no mistake. If that little cat doesn't come forward-if no one speaks-then I'll beat one of you to death every single day."

"Got it?!"

Silence.

Then a girl nearby-sobbing-turned to Bo Mi.

"You're Bo Mi, right?"She fell to her knees."Please... please make him stop."She folded her hands in front of her.

Others followed.

"Please... she didn't do anything...""He'll kill her..."

Bo Mi froze.

"I... I can't..."

"Bo Mi. Please."

Their cries pierced her.

Her legs moved on their own.

She stumbled forward, through the sea of terrified students.

And then, trembling, she stood before him.

Sugang didn't move.

His boot still planted firmly on the girl's back.

His expression unreadable-but his eyes?

Wild. Burning. Dangerous.

Bo Mi's voice came out quiet, shaking:

"Sugang..."

He looked at her, still unmoving.

"Please... let go of her."

Moonki stood off to the side.Silent. Watching.Muttering under his breath, just for himself:

"Why, Bo Mi... why do you always put others first?"

Sugang arched an eyebrow at her.

Then, slowly, with annoyance in his tone-

He pressed down harder.

The girl beneath him cried out in agony.

Bo Mi gasped. She took a step forward.

"SUGANG!" she shouted, voice cracking.

He smiled. Not happy-mocking.

"Hm?"

She swallowed.

"Please..."

"...Why?"His voice was low. Sharp.

Bo Mi's breath trembled.

Eyes locked with his.

She whispered, barely audible-

"I like you."

The words hung in the air.

Sugang's expression didn't change-That same unreadable look on his face.But Bo Mi wasn't even looking at him.

Her eyes were on the girl beneath his foot.The one still sobbing in pain.

Then Bo Mi spoke again, louder this time, voice trembling but clear:

"Sugang... I like you."A pause. A sharp inhale."But this Sugang... you're not the same."

A lie.A soft, dangerous lie told not for love-But for mercy.

She lied for the sake of the girl being crushed.For the terrified students around them.For peace.

But at what cost?

---

Moonki stood frozen in place.Eyes wide, unmoving.

"What the hell is wrong with her?" he muttered under his breath.

His jaw clenched.

From a few feet away, Mina had heard it too.

The moment the words left Bo Mi's mouth-She looked at Moonki.

His body was trembling.His hands clenched into fists, veins rising.But he didn't move.

Mina rolled her eyes, but even she looked shaken.

---

Bo Mi looked up once at Sugang-

Then suddenly-

She fell to her knees.

"Please..." she said, voice cracking, eyes glistening."I'm begging you. Let her go."

The entire hallway stood in stunned silence.

And then-

Sugang let out a breath through his nose.

Slowly... he stepped off the girl.

The girl gasped and crawled away as her friends rushed to help.

Sugang then lowered himself to kneel in front of Bo Mi.

He reached out, his thumb brushing under her chin, forcing her to look at him.

Her lips trembled.She was holding back tears. Barely.

His voice was quiet.

"Is this... genuine?"

Her eyes lowered.She stared at the cold floor beneath them.

Then-She nodded.

A lie.

A heavy, desperate, dangerous lie.

But what else could she do?