Chapter 7

We had just finished cleaning the study room, and everyone was sitting back, catching their breath. It wasn't much—just a small, dusty room tucked away in the farthest corner of the school—but it was ours. It felt good to finally have a place where we could meet without the constant eyes of others watching us. The work had been tough, but we'd made it better than the library, which was always overcrowded and hardly ever used by the right people. Here, we could finally start something new.

After taking a moment to relax, Ga-Min turned to face the group. "So, who exactly is Han-Wool?" His voice was casual, but there was a hint of curiosity. The question hung in the air, and I felt my body stiffen in response.

"You don't know him?" Se-Hyun eyes widened surprise with Ga-Min question, as if he has been living in a cage.

Se-Hyun didn't hesitate to answer, his voice steady as he spoke about Han-Wool. "He's the one who created the app where students fight to rank. His family is the biggest donor to this school, and they practically control everything around here. Han-Wool's not just some troublemaker—he's dangerous. He'll do anything to take someone down. There's even a rumor that he was involved in the death of a teacher last year."

I felt a chill run through me as Se-Hyun's words sank in. My mind raced, but before I could process, the door to the study room swung open, and there he was. Han-Wool, dressed in his usual sharp, effortlessly stylish clothes, strolled in with that arrogant smirk on his face.

Behind him was his ever-present companion—Min-Hwan, the guy with the bucket hat. Han-Wool took a long look around the room, his eyes scanning the space as if it wasn't quite up to his standards. He chuckled under his breath, his tone dripping with disdain.

"So, this is the new hangout spot for you guys?" he said, his voice dripping with mockery. "How fitting. It was an unused room before, and now it's even more useless. I don't get it. Why bother with this when you can all be part of my group? Power. Money. It's all there for the taking if you join me."

His words felt like a slap, and my anger flared. I found myself speaking up.

"That's not what we're here for," I retorted, trying to stand my ground. "We don't need your money or power.

Han-Wool's gaze turned to me, his lips curling into that familiar, devilish smirk. He took a step closer, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Ah, Hera. Always so proud and headstrong," he said, his voice dripping with mock affection. "But maybe we should remind everyone here of our little history. You know, the time we used to date?"

I felt my heart drop. I hadn't expected him to bring it up here, not in front of everyone. The words came out like they were meant to provoke, to strip away whatever semblance of control I had. I saw the shock on their faces—they all stared at me, wide-eyed.

"You two used to date?" Hee-Won asked, her voice filled with disbelief. Her face twisted with confusion as she looked back and forth between me and Han-Wool, trying to piece it together.

I felt my face flush. The last thing I wanted was for my past with Han-Wool to be laid out like this. But Han-Wool wasn't done yet.

"Oh, you didn't know?" he said with that infuriatingly smooth voice. "Hera and I used to be pretty close. Until she decided to leave, of course. Too good for me, right?"

The words stung, but I refused to show it. I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms as I fought the urge to lash out. He was playing his usual game, trying to humiliate me, but this time, I wasn't going to let him get away with it.

Just as I was about to slap him across the face, Ga-Min stepped in, his hand wrapping around my wrist with a firm grip. "Not here, Hera," he said in a low voice, his touch steady but unyielding.

Han-Wool watched the interaction with interest, that same smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "You think you can control her, Ga-Min?" he teased, his voice low and mocking.

Ga-Min didn't respond. He simply stood there, his presence calm but commanding, like he wasn't going to take Han-Wool's bait. Finally, with a slow, deliberate motion, Han-Wool turned and walked out, Min-Hwan following closely behind him.

Once the door slammed shut, the room erupted with questions. It was as if all the pent-up curiosity had exploded at once.

"He used to date you?" Hee-Won asked again, her voice full of disbelief. "Why didn't you tell us?"

"Is this what you mean taking down Han-Wool?" Ji-Woo chimed in, her eyes wide as she looked between me and Ga-Min. "This is crazy"

The bombardment of questions came fast and furious. I could hardly catch my breath, let alone come up with an answer. I wanted to tell them the truth, everything—about why I left, about what happened, but something stopped me. The last thing I wanted was for them to think less of me.

Ga-Min must have sensed my hesitation. Without missing a beat, he stood up and raised a hand, his voice cutting through the noise. "Settle down, everyone," he said, his tone firm. "Let's not make this more complicated than it needs to be. Hera doesn't owe us any explanations right now."

His words instantly brought the room into silence. The others exchanged uncertain glances but remained quiet, letting the air settle.

After school, Ga-Min and I walked out together, the usual hustle of students filling the hallways. Ga-Min didn't say much at first, but then he looked over at me, his expression softer now.

"You okay?" he asked, his voice sincere.

I glanced at him, my emotions swirling. I wanted to say yes. I wanted to tell him that everything was fine, that I could handle it. But the truth was, I wasn't okay. Not with Han-Wool's words still ringing in my ears, not with the past I thought I had escaped, now coming back to haunt me.

"No," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. "I'm not okay."

Ga-Min didn't press further. Instead, he gave me a small, reassuring smile. "Then how about we go get some ice cream?" he suggested, the lighthearted tone in his voice offering a welcome distraction.

I couldn't help but laugh, a real laugh that felt like a weight lifting from my chest. It wasn't much, but in that moment, it felt like exactly what I needed.

"Thanks," I said as I followed him toward the nearest shop. The cool evening air felt refreshing, and for the first time that day, I felt a small flicker of hope.

Maybe, just maybe, Ga-Min was exactly the kind of distraction I needed—someone to take me out of the world of power plays and painful memories.

Someone who could protect me.