Chapter 23

It felt like the ground beneath me was shifting when Han-Wool walked into the school. The moment he stepped through the door, the usual hum of chatter stopped, and a wave of whispers spread through the hall. He was back—everyone had heard the rumors, but nobody had expected him to return so soon, and especially not to school.

His presence was like a storm, unsettling everything around him. The punishment that had once kept him away from the school had been swept aside. The power of Yeonbaek, his family's influence, had managed to make it all disappear like a shadow at dawn. No one dared to question it.

I could see the unease on the faces of the students as Han-Wool strolled through the corridors, his head held high, as if he had always been a part of the school. The teachers, who once seemed so sure of his expulsion, now looked the other way. It was as if nothing had ever happened. He was untouchable, and the weight of his family's name was heavy enough to erase everything.

Han-Wool made his way to the courtyard where the study group had gathered. As soon as he approached, the air seemed to freeze, and I couldn't help but tense up. Everyone was silent, watching him.

His eyes flicked to Ga-Min first, and then to me, with that same arrogant smirk plastered across his face

The group stayed silent as Han-Wool turned to face Ga-Min, his eyes narrowing slightly. "I thought you were smarter than this," he continued, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "But hey, guess it's your choice. After all, Hera's got her... assets, right?"

Ga-Min didn't respond right away, but his posture remained strong, as if he wasn't going to let Han-Wool's mocking words get to him. Still, I could feel the unease in the air.

"You know," Han-Wool said, his tone shifting, "I hear there are a lot of elites out there vying for a chance to get close to her. They might even want to marry her—she's more than just a pretty face." He looked at me for a moment, his eyes lingering before he shifted his gaze back to Ga-Min.

Ga-Min stood his ground, and I could see the hint of a smile playing at the corner of his mouth. "I'm not worried about elites, Han-Wool," he replied calmly, his voice steady.

Han-Wool chuckled, then suddenly turned to the rest of the group. "Well, congratulations, Ga-Min," he said in a mocking tone. "You managed to land her. Don't screw it up."

The words hit harder than I expected. The reminder of everything that had happened, everything we had been through, stung more than it should have. But Ga-Min didn't show it.

"I didn't land her," Ga-Min replied, his voice firm. "Hera's not some prize to be won. She's her own person. And she chose me."

"That's cute," Han-Wool smirked again. "I guess we'll see how long that lasts. Don't forget, Hera has a lot of people watching her back. And those people don't like to lose." He gave me a long, pointed look before turning on his heel and walking away, leaving a thick silence in his wake.

Later that day, as the chaos began to stir in the school, things took a violent turn.

The sound of engines roaring outside the school gates was unmistakable—the rumble of motorcycles, the telltale sign of Ryeowook's gang. They appeared out of nowhere, storming onto the grounds with no warning. Ryeowook wasn't with them, but his presence was still felt. His gang members had a particular look about them—sharp eyes, tattoos, the way they moved with cold precision.

The students were panicking, unsure of what to do. Some tried to hide, others looked for a way out, but it was clear that the gang wasn't here for a casual visit. They had come to send a message.

The study group members, each looking serious, positioned themselves for whatever came next. No one said anything—actions spoke louder than words at that moment.

As the gang stormed the school courtyard, breaking windows and knocking over tables, Se-Hyun and Hee-Won stepped aside.  Lee-Joon immediately jumped into action, engaging with the attackers. They weren't going to stand by and let the destruction unfold without fighting back.

I wasn't about to sit back either. My blood was boiling, and the sight of Ryeowook's men wreaking havoc on everything I cared about only fueled the anger inside me.

I charged forward, throwing myself into the chaos. It was hard to keep track of who was fighting who. The gang members were ruthless, and they fought like they had no fear of getting hurt. I kicked one in the stomach, sending him stumbling back, but another one grabbed me from behind. Before I could react, Ga-Min was there, taking the attacker down with a clean punch to the face.

"Stay focused!" Ga-Min shouted at me as we fought side by side.

But just as quickly as they'd arrived, the gang members began retreating. They weren't interested in staying to fight—they had come for one thing: to send a message. As quickly as they had stormed in, they left, disappearing into the distance.

I stood there, catching my breath, the adrenaline still pumping through my veins. It was over for now, but the fear hadn't subsided. Ryeowook's gang was sending a warning, and it was clear that they weren't done.

Se-Hyun was the first to speak, his face hardened from the fight. "What the hell was that? They just came in, caused a mess, and left like it was nothing."

Lee-Joon wiped his hands on his pants, frustration clear on his face. "I knew something was off when I heard the motorcycles. But... they were just showing us how little they care."

"You don't think it's a warning, do you?" Hee-Won asked quietly, her usual confidence now replaced with a hint of uncertainty. "They were here for a reason."

"Of course it's a warning," I said, my voice tense. "Ryeowook's not here, but his gang sure as hell is. And they're trying to send a message. To me. To all of us."

Ga-Min stood next to me, his jaw clenched, looking out toward the direction the gang had fled. "Ryeowook won't be satisfied until he's caused chaos. That's what he does. And this is just the beginning."

Se-Hyun's eyes narrowed. "What is he playing at? He's trying to tear you apart, Hera. He's already been messing with your apartment, and now this. It's like he's testing you, seeing how far he can push you before you break."

I looked around the group, the weight of their words sinking in. "I don't know how much more of this I can take. And if he's doing this to all of us, then it's not just me in danger anymore."

Ga-Min's voice cut through the tension. "You don't have to deal with this alone. None of us are going anywhere. We've got your back, Hera." His tone was steady, firm. "And we'll make sure Ryeowook knows he's not going to get what he wants."

Lee-Joon smirked, wiping the blood from his lip. "Let him bring it on. If that's his game, then we'll play. We're not going down without a fight."

Hee-Won nodded, her eyes flashing with determination. "We're in this together, no matter what. He doesn't stand a chance against all of us."

"But..." Se-Hyun hesitated, glancing at the group before meeting my eyes. "This isn't just about fighting anymore, is it? We're going to have to be smart about this. Ryeowook's dangerous. And if he's really declared war on you, then we need to prepare for whatever comes next."

Ga-Min looked directly at me, his expression softening for a moment. "We can't let him win. Not when we're so close to reaching our goals. But we have to be ready for anything."

I nodded, feeling the weight of the decision pressing down on me. "I don't know what Ryeowook wants. But I know I can't back down. Not for him, not for anyone. I've already lost too much."

"Exactly," Lee-Joon added. "Ryeowook's not just going to sit back and let this go. He's going to keep coming for you, Hera. And we'll be ready. We won't let him tear this apart."

I turned to Ga-Min, meeting his gaze. "I know this is dangerous. But I can't do this without you. I can't do this without all of you."

Ga-Min reached out, taking my hand. "We're in this together. You're not alone, Hera."

The weight of the situation didn't feel any lighter, but with the support of my friends—of the study group—there was a flicker of hope. We might not know what Ryeowook had planned next, but we would stand strong together. And we would make sure he knew he couldn't break us.

The police arrived soon after, summoned by the chaos. Teachers were frantically trying to keep order, but the damage was done. Windows shattered, tables overturned, walls scratched and scarred with graffiti.

The threat of his return hung over all of us like a storm cloud.