In the bustling cafeteria, students were a lively chaos of chatter and laughter.
The cafeteria was a colorful mess—tables crowded with students joking around, some trying to sneak snacks from their friends, others hurriedly eating between classes.
There were students wearing funny, mismatched outfits, some with food stains on their uniforms, and a few who looked like they'd just rolled out of bed but still came to school with a swagger.
The air was filled with the hum of conversations, the clattering of trays, and the occasional burst of laughter that echoed across the room.
Ji-Woo sat alone at a corner table, her tray in front of her with simple food—rice, kimchi, a small bowl of soup, and a soft drink.
She gazed around, half-expecting someone to come and sit beside her.
Her grey bright eyes darted from table to table, her fingers nervously fiddling with her chopsticks.
She took a deep breath, feeling a little lonely, wondering if she had no friends or if she was just invisible in this noisy sea of students.
Just as she was about to give up hope and accept her solitude, a tray suddenly clattered down across from her with a loud bang.
Startled, she looked up and saw Eun-Woo smiling brightly, a goofy grin on his face as he plopped down into the seat.
He was munching on his food, oblivious to the mess he'd made.
"Hello! How's your day Ji-Woo? I saw you've become popular" Eun-Woo asked cheerfully, his mouth still full but his eyes sparkling.
Ji-Woo blinked, then looked away with a soft sigh. "It was great. They are very friendly," she responded, trying to sound nonchalant.
Eun-Woo grinned even wider.
"Oh, friendly? You never said that before. Guess people change," he whispered softly, nodding as he took another bite.
They fell into a comfortable silence, savoring their food. The cafeteria's noise became a distant hum as they shared the moment.
Then Ji-Woo hesitated, her voice gentle. "Eun-Woo..." she called softly.
He looked up from his plate. "Carry on," he replied casually, taking a sip of his drink.
She hesitated again, then asked softly, "Can I ask you something?"
"Sure," Eun-Woo said, nodding.
She took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts. "How was I with you? Before I lost my memory—what was my personality like?"
Eun-Woo blinked, then a goofy smile spread across his face. "How should I put this? You sucked," he said bluntly, earning a sharp gasp from Ji-Woo.
"Ya!" she shouted, offended. "Seriously, tell me!"
Eun-Woo chuckled and leaned back, scratching his head.
"Okay, okay. You're not really the talkative type, but whenever I made a mistake that you didn't like, you basically turned into my mom. Like, 'Eun-Woo, what are you doing?' or 'No, don't do that!'" he said dramatically, mimicking her voice.
Ji-Woo giggled softly. "That sounds like me?"
He nodded with a grin. "Yeah. But with other students, you're pretty withdrawn—quiet, a little scared, like you're just trying to stay out of trouble. Honestly, I'm glad you're okay now."
He pointed at her with his chopsticks. "But don't worry. You'll recover soon."
Ji-Woo blinked, her smile masking a flicker of uncertainty.
She ran a hand through her hair, careful not to touch her bangs, and tried to look composed.
Inside, she felt a mixture of relief and lingering confusion, masking it all behind a gentle smile as she leaned back in her chair, lost in thought while the cafeteria buzzed around her.
Meanwhile, at the far end of the cafeteria, Mi-Sook sat alone, her eyes fixed intently on Ji-Woo.
Her gaze was piercing, not filled with fear or curiosity—no, it was a cold, burning hatred.
She chewed on a piece of something—perhaps a snack or gum—her jaw clenched tightly as her eyes remained locked on Ji-Woo.
Her expression was intense, almost hostile, as if she was trying to burn a message through her stare alone.
After all I have done to get rid of you, she thought bitterly. You survived, Ji-Woo. You came back…
Lost in her dark thoughts, Mi-Sook didn't notice the presence approaching her until a hand gently rested on her shoulder.
She turned around quickly, her eyes narrowing as she looked up at the girl standing beside her.
The girl had long, flowing hair cascading past her shoulders, and a pink bandage was wrapped around her nose—evidence of a recent injury.
Her expression was confused but curious.
"What is it, Soo-hee?" Mi-Sook asked, her voice edged with annoyance.
"Why are you staring at her?" Soo-Hee asked, arching an eyebrow as she looked at Ji-Woo, who was sitting across the room, seemingly unaware of their gaze.
Mi-Sook's lips curled into a faint, cold smile.
"Don't ask me that," she murmured low, her voice almost a whisper. "Look at her… she's still alive."
Soo-Hee tilted her head, eyes narrowing slightly. "Why does it matter? She's lost her memory."
Mi-Sook's smile grew sharper, more calculated.
"Right," she whispered, almost to herself.
"She lost her memory… she won't remember me or what I did To her." Her gaze flicked back to Ji-Woo, a smirk curling on her lips as she watched her.
She ran a hand through her perfectly styled hair, her demeanor calm but filled with a quiet, simmering rage.
She sat back, her eyes dark with unspoken plans, her mind swirling with the bitter knowledge that her enemy—her past—still lingered, just out of reach, yet alive.
----
A sharp, resounding slap of a hand against the desk echoed through the room, causing everyone nearby to flinch.
Ji-Woo sat quietly on the dining chair, her hands resting on her lap, her head bowed down so that her hair fell in a curtain over her face. She was dressed simply in a pink t-shirt and jeans, her posture tense and subdued.
In front of her, Mrs. Kim stood with a stern expression, her eyes narrowed as she looked down at Ji-Woo. Her voice cut through the silence like a whip. "You're late."
Ji-Woo flinched slightly but whispered, "I'm sorry."
Mrs. Kim's glare intensified. "Why were you late? Give me a reasonable excuse."
Ji-Woo swallowed hard, her mind racing. She knew her excuse wasn't valid—she had been chatting away with Eun-Woo, lost track of time, and forgotten to return on schedule. But the words caught in her throat, and she remained silent.
Mrs. Kim scoffed and shook her head. "No excuse." Her tone was cold and final. "Go back to your room."
Without hesitation, Ji-Woo immediately obeyed. She slowly stood up, shoulders slumped, and quietly made her way out of the room, her heart heavy with guilt and shame.