Just Say the Word
After a long commotion.
I figured this kind of fuss would be buried soon enough once a little time passed.
But contrary to my expectations, as the end-of-class bell drew nearer, the whispers rising from every corner of the classroom only grew louder.
Blatant contempt arrowing straight at me like daggers.
I lifted my head from the desk, glaring murderously at the stares treating me like some freak show.
'What the hell are you looking at, you bastards.'
The bottled-up rage I couldn't spit out loud.
Not worth dealing with them anymore—I buried my face back in my arms.
Scraaaape—
The front door slid open, and the homeroom teacher's dull closing ceremony began.
"Alright, quiet down! Quiet! Everyone head straight home—no detours. Got it?"
"Yes, sir~!"
The second the teacher finished, the kids erupted in lively responses.
Maybe because the festival was coming up—excited suggestions like "Karaoke after?" bounced around here and there.
Of course, excluding me.
I grabbed my bag without a word and stood, ignoring the noise.
I didn't want to make eye contact with anyone right now.
What was the point of chatting with these idiots who wouldn't even listen to me?
"Fuck... guess I should just go home..."
I swallowed the frustration crushing my chest and headed for the main gate.
That's when a long shadow stretched out, blocking my path—my feet stopped dead.
Choi Jia stood there, arms crossed, radiating a chill vibe.
She stared me down, voice low and gravelly.
"Hey, come with me for a sec."
***
The dim lot behind the old building echoed with dull thuds and groans.
Thwack—!
Thud—!
"Ugh...! Grrgh..."
I lay crumpled on the ground, clutching my stomach, begging her to stop.
Honestly, what the hell did I even do wrong?
You're the ones who spread the rumors, not me...
Thud—!
"Urk—!"
Off in one corner of the lot.
Choi Jia leaned casually against the railing, silently sucking on her cigarette.
She sauntered right up to my face and blew a thick cloud of smoke I'd seen her hold in her mouth straight into it.
Hooo—
"Cough, cough! Urgh..."
As I hacked and writhed from the acrid haze, Jia growled low.
"Haaah... so that's it. This bullshit I'm dealing with? All because of a worthless shit like you."
Something had felt off.
Lee Woojin, who used to keep to himself quietly, suddenly started hanging around Baek Haeun all buddy-buddy.
And now this—dating Yu Jiwon out of nowhere?
No matter how I sliced it.
Everything that went to hell traced back to this pathetic loser right in front of me—rage boiled up.
"It's obvious you spread those weird rumors, you crazy fuck."
Wham—!
Jia slammed her shoe mercilessly into my side.
"Ugh... stop...!"
I screamed and rolled across the dirt.
But Jia didn't let up—she grabbed my hair and yanked.
"Having fun earlier, huh? Hey, hold him, girls."
She was about to stub her cigarette out on my face when—
"N-no... I didn't... really... I swear!!... Fuck...! Just... listen to me... please... you bitches... hng... ugh..."
Tears and snot streaming, I begged.
"The hell it isn't, you psycho freak."
Jia glared daggers through my face.
"You know how much Haeun cherished you, right?"
"...What? Haeun... cherished me?"
My pupils shook at the unexpected mention of Haeun.
"Jia, stop it."
That's when it happened.
Haeun burst into the lot entrance, panting hard.
Her face pale as a ghost, she rushed to Jia and desperately grabbed the hand clutching my hair.
"If it's because of me... Jia... please stop..."
She started pleading.
"Nice timing, Baek Haeun!"
Even in that moment, I felt a flicker of hope.
"Yeah, whatever. So what? As long as Haeun's by my side. Who cares if the idiots throw a fit. Lee Woojin."
I still delusionally thought even this was part of my plan to tame Haeun, staring at her like an idiot.
"......"
Jia glanced down at Haeun for a beat, then surprisingly let go of my hair without a fight.
She leaned in close, whispering just loud enough for Haeun to hear.
"...Sorry."
"N-no, it's fine. I'm... I'm okay. Jia... we're friends, right?"
She wanted to apologize for what happened before.
Reflect on the past, on how she'd said awful things to her friend.
Haeun forgave Jia, taking her hand.
"Jia... I'm fine...! So just stop now..."
Haeun tried to shield me again.
But Jia cut her off sharp.
"But Haeun. This guy's... no good. For real."
Jia looked down at me with utter contempt.
Using the rumors to humiliate Haeun was her fault, one way or another.
I could let it slide since she didn't even know if I'd done it.
But what...?
The search history for "Making a Childhood Friend Menhera" on his phone, the posts he'd flung on community boards—they crossed the line by miles.
"...That's one thing. This is another."
Haeun put on a troubled face, trying to calm Jia.
But Jia's eyes were steely.
She pressed her face right to Haeun's ear, dropping a chilling offer.
"You like him that much? Want him?"
"...What...?"
"Want me to turn him into a retard?"
"W-wait... Jia..."
"Just say the word, and I'll make him your personal dog."
Haeun's face froze at the sudden proposal.
'...Not a bad idea.'
I was going to corner Woojin and make him like that eventually anyway.
But if you do it, Jia...
"It'd be no fun."
Haeun smoothed her expression, smiling at Jia again.
"Jia... I'm fine... You'll listen to me, right? We're friends."
Haeun wrapped her arms warmly around Jia's waist from behind.
"......"
Jia bit her lower lip, feeling Haeun's warmth.
She couldn't understand why Haeun kept protecting trash like this.
"........."
"...You'll stop, right...? Yeah...?"
It disgusted her to play along with this saintly bullshit.
"Haaah... fine, since you're asking, Haeun."
Jia scratched her head like it was a hassle and pushed off the railing.
"Hey. Let him go, girls."
At Jia's order, the gang holding me hesitated and backed off.
"Don't let me see your face again, or I'll kill you."
With that icy warning, Jia and her crew left the lot.
"......Woojin... you okay...?"
"......."
Where the hell did it all go wrong...?
I'd thought I laid out the perfect board, controlled everything.
"A... ahk..."
"W-Woojin! L-Lee... Woo... jin..."
The incomprehensible weight of reality made my sanity blur.
Finally swallowed by the encroaching darkness, I passed out in the cold dirt.
***
The quiet infirmary carried a faint whiff of disinfectant.
On the bed with its crisp white sheets lay Woojin—uniform torn to shreds, face bruised bloody—moaning faintly in unconsciousness.
The school nurse standing by the bed frowned at his battered state.
"This... looks like violence. Bruises this bad all over..."
Suspicious circumstances.
But Haeun, sitting demurely beside the bed, gazed up at the teacher with clear, innocent eyes—not a flicker of doubt.
"No, teacher. Woojin was running somewhere in a hurry and fell down the stairs... He passed out from the shock, so I brought him here right away."
"Oh... really?"
The teacher had her doubts for a second, but what good would it do for the student council president to lie?
She dropped her suspicions at Haeun's performance, letting out a short sigh.
"Sigh... kids these days, always rushing. Wait till you're my age~ By 10 PM, your bones ache from fatigue... ahem."
The teacher cleared her throat awkwardly, glanced at the wall clock, and took off her gown.
"Anyway, I'm heading out. When Woojin wakes, help him up and go together. Lock up properly."
"Yes. Thank you, teacher. Take care."
Haeun bowed politely.
Creeeak—
Click—
Haeun sat still until the infirmary door shut and the teacher's footsteps faded down the hall.
"...Now it's just us. Woojin?"
Her voice, so tender moments ago, sank into something eerie—languid, sticky.
Haeun rose from the chair, slowly leaning over the bed where Woojin lay.
She carefully—but deeply—pressed her cheek to his broad chest.
Thump, thump—
A faint heartbeat pulsed through his shirt.
"It's Woojin's sound...!"
Haeun's empty eyes fluttered shut in ecstasy.
"Woojin... you know. I... I love this so much right now."
Back in middle school, after our big fight, we'd slowly drifted apart.
But what was that about again?
Me clinging too much?
Are you my mom?
Stop following me?
I only did it because I cared about you, Woojin...?
I was wrong back then.
So forgive me just once...? No...? You won't?
I liked the old Woojin from back then, but I love this obedient Woojin now too.
"I wish time would just stop like this. Then... we could stay like this forever..."
Haeun turned her head slightly, pressing her nose to his nape.
Sniiiiff— haaah—
It was exactly what Suah had done hugging him on the street not long ago.
"So this is what recharges your energy."
"......."
"You know, Woojin. I almost got jealous last time. Of Suah."
Just because she was family, burrowing into Woojin's arms.
"Almost..."
Haeun inhaled his scent deeply once more.
Sniiiiff— haaah...
"No... this is enough for now..."
Right as Haeun basked in his warmth, savoring the satisfaction—
"Urgh..."
A faint, pained groan leaked from Woojin's lips on the bed.
Twitch—
His fingers stirred faintly.
Shh—
Haeun quickly straightened up and sat back in the chair.
"W-Woojin...! Are you okay?!"
Woojin slowly pried open his heavy eyelids, squinting at the harsh white fluorescent light pouring down.
Agonizing pain screamed from every joint in his body.
"Wh... where... is this..."
In his raspy question, his blurring vision caught Haeun gazing down at him, eyes brimming with tears.
"The infirmary... You collapsed in the lot, so I brought you here."
Haeun gently stroked his bruised cheek, her voice pitiful.
"How's your body...? Does it hurt a lot...?"
"I-I'm... fine..."
It fucking hurts like hell.
But who cares.
As long as Haeun's by my side.