When Did I?
"What the hell do you three think you're doing?"
Three pairs of eyes snapped toward the bathroom entrance at the sound of the voice.
"……!"
It was Baek Haeun.
Soyeong and Jina, still clutching their mops, went deathly pale at her unexpected appearance.
"D… Doeun…"
The two girls shrank behind Doeun in terror.
But Doeun knew full well that Haeun had orchestrated the entire scheme.
"Haah, fuck…"
She scowled, furrowing her brows in irritation, and started walking toward the exit without meeting Haeun's gaze.
Just as Doeun tried to brush past her—
"Come up to the rooftop later."
"......."
Doeun didn't stop walking. She bit her lip, gave the tiniest nod, then dragged Soyeong and Jina out of the bathroom.
Once the bullies were gone, Haeun rushed over to Jiwon, who was still huddled on the floor, trembling.
"Jiwon, are you okay?! Did they hurt you anywhere?"
Haeun pulled the shaking girl into a warm embrace, her voice full of concern.
"I-I'm fine… hic…"
Jiwon finally burst into tears.
Without hesitation, Haeun slipped off her own cardigan and draped it over Jiwon's soaked shoulders, covering the underwear that showed through her wet uniform.
"I'll explain everything to the homeroom teacher. Go rest in the student council room for a bit, all right?"
Despite Haeun's gentle offer—
Jiwon clutched the cardigan tightly, tears still streaming down her face, and forced a smile.
"N-no… I have to… go to class…"
She tried to smile even in her miserable state.
Haeun looked down at her in silence, then smiled back—her eyes empty, hiding a grotesque satisfaction.
"…Really? You shouldn't push yourself. At least change into your gym clothes so you don't catch a cold. I'll talk to the teacher for you."
"Th-thank you, Haeun…"
Haeun reached out and gently brushed Jiwon's wet hair aside.
"It's fine. You don't have to thank me, Jiwon."
She smiled at Jiwon once more, then turned and left the bathroom.
The moment the door closed, every trace of warmth vanished from Haeun's face, replaced by a chilling, satisfied smile.
"I'm the one who should be thanking you."
The thorn that had been hovering around Woojin was finally being crushed by someone else's hands.
Humming a cheerful tune, Haeun walked back to class with a light, satisfied step.
***
Break time.
Crash—!
The rooftop door flew open with a violent bang.
"Hey. Baek Haeun."
Kim Doeun stormed in, radiating fury.
Haeun, who had been leaning against the railing enjoying the breeze, slowly turned her head.
"…You're here."
"Fuck…"
Doeun glared at her with bloodshot eyes.
"Is this enough for you?"
"…What is?"
Haeun tilted her head, feigning innocence.
That calm expression made Doeun snap.
"What?! You saw everything! You've already stomped on her and humiliated her this much—how much more do you want?!"
She looked at Haeun like she wanted to stop, but Haeun merely shrugged.
"I already told you."
Her cold voice cut through the wind.
"Keep going until I say stop."
"What? Look, honestly, if I don't date Lee Woojin, that's the end of it! Even if I'm a piece of shit, I don't have some sick hobby of destroying people's minds!"
A mocking smile spread across Haeun's lips.
"Hmm? You seemed to be enjoying yourself in the bathroom earlier."
"Don't bullshit me…! I'm done. Figure it out yourself."
Doeun raked a hand through her hair and turned toward the door.
"Well, if you want to quit…"
Haeun's quiet murmur stopped her in her tracks.
"Jiwon seems to be having a really hard time because of you guys. She was shaking so badly her underwear was showing through her wet clothes."
"What…?"
Doeun frowned and looked back—only to find Haeun had silently closed the distance, her face now inches from Doeun's.
She leaned in and lightly bit Doeun's ear.
"You… what the hell—!"
Doeun tried to push her away, but Haeun was faster.
She pressed close to Doeun's ear and exhaled slowly.
"Huu—"
"…Ugh!"
Doeun's shoulders trembled at the warm breath against her ear.
Her face flushed bright red with embarrassment and shame.
Haeun whispered, her lips almost touching Doeun's ear.
"What you just did in the bathroom… I think I have no choice but to report it to the homeroom teacher."
"……!!"
Doeun's pupils shook violently. Just moments ago she'd been declaring she was done.
"Hey, you fucking told me to do it!! You said you'd turn a blind eye!!"
"Huh? What did you say?"
Haeun pulled back slightly, wearing the most innocent expression imaginable.
"When did I say that?"
Realizing she was being used and discarded, Doeun lost control and lunged at Haeun.
Thud—!!
"You crazy bitch!!"
She grabbed Haeun by the collar and slammed her onto the rooftop floor.
"Fuck, you're really dead, Baek Haeun!!"
She raised her fist, ready to smash it into Haeun's face.
But—
Instead of looking scared, Haeun smiled brightly up at her from the ground.
"Go ahead. Hit me."
"……!"
"Hit me, you thug."
Doeun's raised fist trembled in the air.
She could do it. But if she hit Baek Haeun here…
Her life would be over. She knew that.
"…F-fuck…!"
Her fist dropped. She released Haeun's collar and staggered to her feet.
Still lying on the cold concrete, Haeun spoke in a low voice.
"Just one more time."
"…What?"
"If you torment her properly one more time… I'll stop too."
"……Fuck…"
Doeun bit her lip hard, then stormed out, slamming the door behind her.
Crash—!
The rooftop fell silent again, leaving only the cold wind.
Haeun lay spread-eagled on the cement, staring blankly at the clear blue sky.
"You know, Woojin…"
A faint smile played on her lips.
"The sky looks especially clear today."
Her voice was peaceful and sweet, even as everything spiraled toward ruin.
"I guess warm spring is coming soon."
***
"......."
Jiwon slipped quietly into the classroom through the back door, now wearing loose gym clothes instead of her wet uniform.
The room was loud and chaotic with festival preparations.
"Hey! Don't put that on me, I'm seriously gonna die!"
"Oh, come on~ You're the one who's gonna wear it anyway!"
Some girls were trying to force the maid outfits Haeun had bought onto the boys, laughing as the boys fled in embarrassment.
Elsewhere, students huddled together painting posters.
The atmosphere was bright and excited.
Only Jiwon felt completely out of place.
"Oh, Jiwon, you're here?"
The teacher spotted her and waved her over.
"Haeun already told me what happened. If you're not feeling well, don't push yourself. Just help the others with the festival prep."
"…Okay."
As Jiwon bowed and headed for her seat—
Her eyes met Doeun's across the room.
"…Ugh."
Jiwon's shoulders stiffened.
The memory of the bathroom incident made her instinctively shrink back.
Doeun stared at her for a moment, then scowled and looked away.
"Tch."
Jiwon let out a shaky breath—relief or despair, she wasn't sure—and shuffled to her seat.
"Hey. Yoo Jiwon, where were you?"
Woojin's voice reached her as she fiddled with a poster.
I approached her with an indifferent expression.
She hadn't been around all morning, and now she was in gym clothes instead of her uniform.
"Huh…? No, I…"
Jiwon avoided my gaze, mumbling.
"I wasn't feeling well since morning… I was in the nurse's office."
'Ah, is that so?'
So that was why she hadn't been bothering me lately.
"Yeah. Take care of yourself. Don't overdo it."
I tossed out a half-hearted reply and looked away again.
Jiwon's eyes dimmed with loneliness, but I didn't notice.
Just then—
"Oh? The class rep is here!"
The front door slid open, and Baek Haeun walked in wearing her student council armband.
"Oh my, our Haeun must be busy with council work…"
The teacher asked warmly. Haeun smiled brightly.
"It's fine, teacher. The urgent stuff is already done… and since it's our class's festival, of course I should help my friends."
While the teacher nodded approvingly—
"Woojin~!"
Haeun called my name and stuck right next to me.
"Hey, why are you suddenly clinging to me?"
"Look at this. Wanna try it on, Woojin?"
Before I could push her away, she pulled something out from behind her back.
"It's the Nyan Hatsune Miku costume I was going to wear. I thought it'd suit you~"
"…What?!"
The nightmare of the bunny girl fitting room flashed through my mind. I recoiled in horror.
"Are you insane?! Get lost. I'm not wearing that."
"Why not~? It looked good on you yesterday."
Haeun poked my arm with a mischievous grin.
"Hey! Keep it down…!"
I clamped my hand over her mouth in a panic, sweating at the thought of the others hearing.
"……."
Jiwon watched the entire scene in silence.
'…This looks like…'
The two of them seemed so natural together.
Lee Woojin grumbling and blushing while Baek Haeun teased him with a bright smile.
'It's like… Haeun is his real girlfriend.'
Jiwon's heart ached.
Unlike her, standing there in shabby gym clothes, unwanted—Haeun shone brilliantly.
'I'm… Woojin's girlfriend…'
Her fingertips trembled.
Still holding the paintbrush, her gaze dropped to the floor.
'No… Maybe Haeun suits Woojin better than I do…'
Jiwon swallowed back her tears and quietly continued painting meaningless colors onto the blank paper.
No one noticed her breaking heart.