Voices from the Victims
Invasion from Seoul—that post went up on the community boards without a single warning. It was so out of nowhere that at first, everyone just dismissed it as the ravings of some delusional troll and let it sink without a trace.
I still remember the date clear as day. It was sometime in month X, 2022. Around second period that day, I woke up from a nap at the back of the classroom to the sound of kids chattering. When I looked around, Suyeon and her delinquent crew were talking among themselves. I wanted to keep sleeping, but they were so damn loud I couldn't. I glared at them without thinking, and Suyeon caught my eye. "What the fuck you staring at, bitch? Pissed off or something?"
I was already a little annoyed, so I said, "Can you guys keep it down?" Suyeon came at me with, "Ugh, you fucking loser nerd bitch," slammed my desk a few times, and snarled, "What, wanna fight?" I shrank back, scared shitless, and she laughed, "Look at this pussy loser freak out lololol." Then they went back to their bullshit.
For a few days after, she and her crew messed with me, but they lost interest quick and stopped. Still, that shit scarred me right up until the end of last year. After that, everyone branded me a "loser" and ignored me. I barely made any friends. This is the real deal between me and Suyeon—no denying it. Up until her accident, she'd smirk at me every time she saw me. Made me hate myself.
But after her kickboard crash last year, rumors started that Suyeon was going around apologizing. I thought it was bullshit, but then she actually showed up at my place. "The stuff I did back then must've really hurt you. I want to apologize." I dumped water on her—half out of anger, half hoping it'd make her snap. But she just stood there quietly and left. She came back a few more times, saying she wanted to apologize. Same thing every time: I lashed out, she left without a word.
One day, I told her, "If you're really sorry, write a reflection statement on a big poster and stick it on the school gate. Then maybe I'll listen." Next day, she fucking did it. I was shocked. Everyone else was too. That's when I started opening up to her—maybe she was for real. After that, she treated me sincerely. Back then, I had no friends and zero self-esteem because of her crap. She talked to me, hooked me up with friends, and became one herself. Now school life's a blast.
If that was the end of it, it'd just be a feel-good turnaround story. But nah. Turns out, after the kickboard accident, Suyeon was in a coma as a vegetable and woke up with massive memory loss. Her personality flipped too. She only vaguely remembered bullying me. But she apologized anyway, even humbled herself with that poster. And it wasn't just me—she atoned to everyone she hurt. Normally, you'd feel hard done by, right? "Why apologize for shit I don't even remember?" But she did.
I asked her later, and she said, "Even if I don't remember it, if I did it, I gotta pay the price." Just because it's right. Can't deny pre-accident Suyeon was a bully. But post-accident? She's one of the nicest girls at Han Seung High. That senior claiming to be an alum never got our okay as victims to post that shit. Never even met us. So why's she going off on her own about Suyeon being a bully who needs to get kicked out? We don't agree. We think Suyeon deserves to shine and succeed. Don't twist our stories for your "exposé." She's not that girl anymore.
There had been hints. A few comments on the original exposé post:
But those got buried under "PR stunt" accusations. Nothing happened after, so people figured it was just noise. Then boom—this post drops.
It blew up, turning the internet into pure chaos. Every hundred people meant a hundred opinions; every thousand, a thousand more. Factions clashed, making the web a goddamn warzone.
The internet thrives on fights—the more opponents, the fiercer the flames. Bashing Ha Suyeon and Group Sound took 10% effort; debating her bullying? 100%. Group Sound drama, which held 1-20% of hot posts, skyrocketed past 50%. Namuwiki pages lit up with all-nighters arguing right vs. wrong.
"Stop. Let's take a break."
The kids halted at Myeongjeon's word.
"Cut the distractions, focus up. Pace is solid—keep it like this, we're good."
Practice followed his schedule to a T. He'd worried the fallout might rattle them, but their headspace held steady. Iseo's hand twitched toward her phone out of habit, then froze. Myeongjeon caught it and chuckled inwardly. If she skips that crap.
"Just check it. No big deal."
Post-scandal, the girls watched his mood. At first, shock that "Ha Suyeon" was that kind of kid. Midway, horror at the hate, wondering if she'd off herself. Now? Awe at her apologies. "God, when does this shit end..."
"Dunno. Won't drag on forever, probably." Myeongjeon gazed at the ceiling in reply to Hyeona's mutter. Since the mess blew up, she felt a tad closer to him.
"Whoa, this is hilarious. Suyeon, you see this?"
"What?"
Seoha shoved over a short clip—views around a million. For some reason, it featured Suyeon... and what looked like Dain's crew picking on her. They poked and prodded; she said "Don't," and they mocked with "Huuuh~," "Huuuhguh~," kept at it.
"When the hell was this filmed..."
Myeongjeon sighed, tapped comments.
Top comments overwhelmingly backed Ha Suyeon. A few like "Isn't this the bully?" or "Concept shot incoming lol" sparked fights already.
"How's it going?"
"Eh... whatever."
Iseo's sudden question. Myeongjeon picked his words. How to spin this?
"On track, anyway. Didn't expect this level of blowup, but no issues."
Mid-sentence, his phone buzzed. Unknown number, but weirdly familiar. He picked up.
"Hello."
The voice hit familiar too. "Ooh, you answered. Surprising? Actually picking up calls."
"Who is this?"
"...Playing dumb? Oh right, all that amnesia bullshit you spewed."
Out of left field. Myeongjeon considered hanging up. But she spilled: "It's Seong Ju-hee. You know? Who wrote that post. Where we meeting?"
"Why'd you wanna meet?"
"Formal talk's creepy. Doesn't suit you. Ah... part of the amnesia act? You're deep in the concept."
Some empty corner café near Seoul. Masked and hatted, Myeongjeon met Ju-hee. Confirmed no one around, place his pick... still on edge. Who knew what she'd pull.
"Get to the point. Phone on the table, no recording. We're not that close, right?"
"Nitpicky bitch. Same as always?"
Ju-hee grumbled, plopped her phone. No recording signs. Myeongjeon did the same—tiny recorder tucked in his pocket.
But instead of talking, she pulled a notebook. Sensitive stuff in writing, apparently.
Thorough as hell. Why'd a shark like her scam folks? Myeongjeon eyed her sneering face.
Ju-hee: Straight to it—give me 50 million won.
"...Pardon?"
Ridiculous demand. Myeongjeon blinked. She chuckled, scribbled more.
Ju-hee: 50 mil and I'll recant. Say it was all lies, my delusion. They wouldn't pay me, but I did you for free outta spite. Now I want cash from you—you're loaded.
Myeongjeon clamped his mouth, stared. Motive makes sense. Quiet till now, sudden meetup... yeah.
'They' though. Implied a planner. Their idea to write notes too? He shook it off. Not important.
Tore a page, grabbed a pen.
Myeongjeon: 50 mil's too much, no?
Ju-hee: Haggling? Rich ass, no discount. Full 50.
Myeongjeon: No idea why you'd think I'd pay. Do what you want.
Glanced at her face—flushing, stiffening. Scribbling faster.
Ju-hee: Think your friends' counter-testimonies will save you? No cash, you'll regret it.
Myeongjeon: Try me. See who regrets.
Ju-hee: Wanna get backstabbed? It'll hurt bad. Pay up or 70 mil now.
Her eyes chilled him. The escalation from 50 to 70 hinted at leverage. But he knew what.
Myeongjeon: Do whatever the fuck you want, you bitch.
He dropped the pen, flipped her the bird. Ju-hee's face went beet red beyond words.