It was Sunday today, and I thought it would be a good opportunity to get myself a new winter jacket from downtown. The shops there were much cheaper than the mall, and Mom had been nagging me about my old jacket being too thin for the upcoming winter. Plus, I needed to get some books from the library. I figured I'd just stop by after getting the jacket—kill two birds with one stone.
The morning sun was warm but not too hot, a perfect autumn day. The streets were bustling with families and couples enjoying their weekend, and for a brief moment, I felt almost normal. Just another teenager running errands. Just another son helping out at home.
Mom was working on her laptop at the dining table, her brows furrowed in concentration. She'd been taking on more freelance work lately, trying to build up a cushion of savings. I sidled up to her and wrapped my arm around her shoulders in a side-hug, pressing a kiss to her temple.
"Mom, I'll be back around evening," I said softly. "Call me if you need anything."
She looked up from her screen, her tired eyes softening as she patted my head lovingly. Her hand came to rest on my cheek, and she smiled. I'm glad the swelling had come down and the pain relief patches had worked wonders. She hadn't noticed anything unusual, and I intended to keep it that way.
"Sure, Seo-ah. Take care of yourself," she said, squeezing my hand before turning back to her work.
I grabbed my bag, slipped on my cap, and shut the door behind me. The hallway was quiet as I waited for the elevator, my mind already drifting to the day ahead.
I wonder if Jongsuk is okay... How did I forget to take his number? I mentally kicked myself. We'd had such a nice moment in the park, and I'd been so caught up in the relief of making a friend that I'd completely forgotten to exchange contact information. But then again, maybe it was for the best.
I guess it's better if I don't contact him again. It'll only get him in trouble...
The thought sat heavy in my chest as the elevator doors slid open.
---
The downtown area was lively, filled with the chatter of shoppers and the occasional street performer. I wandered through the small shops, eventually finding a decent winter jacket at a reasonable price—dark blue, warm, and simple. Nothing flashy. Nothing that would draw attention. Exactly what I needed.
I was making my way toward the library, my new jacket folded neatly in my bag, when I spotted him.
Minseok.
My eyes widened in fear. He was standing outside a café, talking to someone on his phone, his expression bored and arrogant. The sight of him made my stomach drop. My heart started racing, pounding against my ribs like a caged bird.
No, no, no... Please don't notice me now. Not here, please...
I pulled my cap down lower, trying to blend in with the crowd. For once, I was glad that I wasn't very tall—I could easily disappear among the sea of people. I lowered my head, quickened my pace, and slipped into the library like a fugitive escaping capture.
The library was quiet, filled with the comforting smell of old paper and the soft rustle of pages turning. I grabbed a random book off the nearest shelf—I didn't even look at the title—and scanned the room for an empty seat. Finding one in the corner, I sat down heavily and let out a shaky sigh of relief.
The stranger sitting across from me eyed me for a second, his expression curious, before returning to his book. I took off my cap, thinking the coast was clear, and tried to calm my racing heart.
That's when Cheng walked in.
My blood ran cold. He was scanning the room, his eyes searching, and I knew—I just knew—he was looking for me.
"Quick! Duck under the table," said the stranger across from me, his voice low and urgent.
I didn't hesitate. I slid off my chair and crouched beneath the table, my heart hammering so loudly I was sure Cheng could hear it. The stranger casually placed his bag on my seat, covering the space where I'd been sitting.
Please don't come here! Please go away...
I squeezed my eyes shut, my hands trembling as I covered my mouth. I could hear footsteps approaching. I could see his legs stop right in front of me—standing where I'd been sitting just moments ago. My body tensed, every muscle screaming with fear.
"Is this seat taken?" Cheng's voice was casual, but there was an edge to it. A predator's curiosity.
"Yeah, I'm waiting for my friend. Sorry," the stranger replied smoothly. His voice was calm, unbothered.
"Oh, alright."
The footsteps moved away. I kept my hand over my mouth, barely daring to breathe, my eyes fixed on the floor beneath the table. I heard Cheng's voice fade into the distance, followed by the sound of the library doors opening and closing.
I stayed down for what felt like an eternity. My legs were cramping, my back was screaming, but I didn't move. I couldn't. Not until I was sure they were gone.
"You can come out now," the stranger said after what must have been fifteen minutes. "They're gone."
I slowly crawled out from under the table, my limbs shaking as I returned to my seat. I handed the boy back his bag, my voice barely above a whisper. "Th-thank you..."
"No problem," he said, his expression neutral. "You're holding the book upside-down."
I looked down at the book in my hands—it was indeed upside-down. I quickly flipped it, and the boy giggled at my flustered action. I looked down again and realized I'd flipped it upside-down again. Aish... I lowered my head in embarrassment, my cheeks burning.
"Thank you for helping me earlier," I managed. "I'm Choi Junseo."
"It was no biggie. My name is Sehun." He was probably older than me, judging by his height and the way he carried himself. "It's alright now. I saw them leave in their car."
"Thanks, but how do you know there was more than one?" I asked, my brow furrowing. He'd only seen Cheng—so how did he know there were others? Unless...
Ahh... You're sharp.
"I'm from Delight High as well," he said, confirming my suspicion.
My eyes narrowed. "You most likely know what's going on in school... Are you sure you should even be seen with me here? What if someone saw us together?" I fiddled with my fingers nervously, biting my lower lip. The thought of dragging another person into this mess made my stomach churn.
Sehun smiled faintly, shaking his head. "Don't worry about that. Most students don't go to the 'public' library. And downtown is the last place they want to be seen at."
I hummed in reply, still not convinced. "I still don't get why you would help me knowing how much trouble you could get in..."
Sehun sighed, leaning back in his chair. His expression shifted, becoming more serious. "Listen, I don't mean to cause any harm to you. And I can't help you in school. This is all I can do for now. Standing up against Daejung is the last thing I'd do right now."
His aura suddenly became darker, and I felt a chill run down my spine.
"Do you know what happened last year?" he asked quietly. "About Kim Seung?"
I shook my head, my throat tight with sudden apprehension.
Sehun took a deep breath, his eyes growing distant. "Kim Seung was Daejung's senior. He got in a fight with Minseok, and the two ended up in detention. Seung refused to apologize to Minseok, saying that Minseok hit him first. And that was when his downfall started."
He paused, and I could see the weight of the story pressing down on him.
"Daejung was furious. Since Jaesung was in the same class as Seung, he made not only his school life but also his family's life hell. Daejung is the next heir to the Hwang Group—one of the biggest conglomerates in the country. He stopped all the investments going to Seung's family business. The Kim Corp. was on the brink of bankruptcy within months. Seung's father blamed him and forced him to apologize to Daejung."
I felt sick. My hands were clammy, and I gripped the edge of the table to steady myself.
"Seung begged on his knees, but it was of no use. Hyunwoo helped Seung, but he ended up becoming their next target. Daejung finally decided to invest back into the Kim Corp., but the condition was that Seung would keep quiet about what happened at school."
Sehun's voice dropped even lower.
"The Kim Corp. recovered—doing better than ever, in fact. But the same couldn't be said about Seung. The bullying got too severe. It went from threatening him to beating him up so hard that he ended up in the hospital for two weeks. When he returned... nothing changed. It only got worse. He tried telling his parents, but they told him to bear with it for a few more years—for the company."
I could barely breathe. I knew where this was going. I didn't want to hear the rest, but I couldn't stop Sehun.
"The next day, they found his body. He had committed suicide."
Sehun's voice cracked slightly, and he paused to collect himself. "They found a note on his desk. It said: 'I'm not afraid of dying anymore. I'm more afraid of living. I don't see the point anymore. Was there ever one? Because if it was to just go through life feeling the way I do, then I don't wanna be here. I am sorry, Dad.'"
The words hung in the air like a funeral bell. I felt like I'd been punched in the gut. My vision blurred, and I blinked rapidly to keep the tears from falling.
"After that, Hyunwoo became their next target," Sehun continued, his voice hollow. "And now it's you."
He said it in defeat, like there was nothing more to be done. Like this was just the way things were. The injustice of it all made my blood boil—but the fear was stronger. The fear was overwhelming.
Sehun glanced at his phone and stood up abruptly. "Oh, my driver is here. I'll get going now." He paused, meeting my eyes with a serious expression. "Please act like you don't know me in school."
He bowed slightly before turning and walking away, leaving me alone at the table.
I sat there for what seemed like half an hour, my mind reeling. The story of Kim Seung played on a loop in my head. The hospital. The suicide note. The parents who told him to bear with it.
Is that why Jisung told me to change schools? I thought numbly. Now I get it...
I tried to think of a way out. Maybe if I just don't give them the pleasure of seeing my suffering face, they'll leave me alone? But I immediately rejected the thought. Don't be dumb, Junseo. That'll just make it worse.
But still... why did Sehun tell me this? Was it a warning? A threat? Or did he want to help but couldn't do it freely?
Hmm... That's probably the case.
I glanced at my watch and nearly jumped out of my seat. It was already 7 PM.
I've been here for four hours already?!
I grabbed my bag and rushed out of the library, the story of Kim Seung still echoing in my mind. The streets were quieter now, the sun beginning to set, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink. The beauty of it felt almost mocking.
As I walked home, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was walking toward something inevitable. Something dark. Something that had already claimed a life before me.
I should head back home...
But deep down, I knew I wasn't really going home. Because home was supposed to be safe, and right now, nowhere felt safe at all.
---
To be continued...