Two Years Ago: The Secret She Confided
Two years ago, back in middle school. This was when Eun-seo was in her third year. She lived her school life more diligently than anyone else. She studied, hung out with friends, and even honed her leadership skills as the group's leader. A fulfilling school experience that no one could dismiss as empty words. Naturally, Eun-seo met and befriended students from various grades. Among them, the most satisfying relationship was—
"Eun-seo unnie!"
A junior came running from afar. Her name was Lee Da-eun. Though a first-year, she was the closest junior Eun-seo could claim. Da-eun kept charging straight toward her. She's gonna trip at this rate, Eun-seo thought—just as Da-eun's body wobbled and tilted.
"..Ah?!"
A sharp yelp. Eun-seo dashed forward, but at the same moment, Da-eun's body froze mid-air. Someone had grabbed her arm. Thanks to that, she managed to regain her balance without falling.
"I told you you'd trip."
The one holding Da-eun's hand spoke with exasperated amusement. Da-eun glanced at his face for a moment, then shrugged it off casually.
"Pfft. Making a fuss over nothing."
"You almost fell just now."
"I knew you'd catch me anyway."
Da-eun flashed him a bright smile. Kang Sung-hoon. Da-eun's brother, and a junior just a year younger than Eun-seo herself. Most siblings bickered like they wanted to devour each other, but these two just playfully tussled without any real snarling. Honestly, the idea that they were siblings at all felt off. From a distance, they didn't look related; up close, their differences stood out more than any similarities.
Lee Da-eun. Kang Sung-hoon. According to them, they'd each taken their respective parents' surnames. Seeing one alone, people nodded along like it made sense. But put them side by side, and the sharp-eyed ones caught on to the truth. Kang Eun-seo was one of them. She'd intuited their not-so-secret secret right away but never brought it up.
So Eun-seo approached the bickering pair.
"Hey, Da-eun."
"Eun-seo unnie! It's been forever!"
Da-eun threw her arms open and hugged Eun-seo like a massive retriever barreling in. Eun-seo instinctively caught her—and nearly toppled backward.
"Whoa, we're.. falling!?"
"Wh-what?!?!"
A firm hand pressed against her back. Sung-hoon had slipped behind her in an instant, acting as a brace.
"Th-thanks."
"Phew~ That was close!"
Eun-seo expressed her gratitude, Da-eun sighed in relief. Sung-hoon stared at them blankly for a second, then turned on his heel.
"Let's head back quick. The mart sale's starting soon."
He said it like a total housewife, adding that dinner quality would drop if they missed it. With that, he started walking.
"Y-yeah, let's go, unnie!"
Da-eun reacted instantly. Last time they'd missed the sale, Sung-hoon had deliberately skimped on dinner as payback.
And so, Sung-hoon led the way out the school gate, with a hurried Da-eun and flustered Eun-seo in tow.
Luckily, they made it to the time sale. The three of them carried bulging plastic bags—Sung-hoon's the largest, then Eun-seo's, then Da-eun's.
Why was Eun-seo lugging a bag? Simple: she'd insisted on helping. She couldn't just show up empty-handed at Da-eun's place. Her stubborn argument won out, and now her hands were full of spoils of war.
With that, the trio returned to Sung-hoon's house.
……
"Thanks for the meal!"
Da-eun and Eun-seo set down their chopsticks. Sung-hoon eyed the two stuffed girls, picked up the now-empty pot, and headed to the kitchen. That's when Da-eun called out.
"Oppa."
"What now?"
"What was today's food called?"
"Mille-feuille nabe. I'll make it again when Mom and Dad get back."
Sung-hoon replied as he vanished into the kitchen. The steady rush of water followed.
Listening to it, Da-eun glanced that way.
"...He won't come out for a while, right?"
"Huh?"
"Oppa."
She whispered.
"Once he starts dishes, it's at least ten minutes. Super thorough."
Eun-seo chuckled softly.
"Isn't that a good thing?"
"It is, but... not right now. Or maybe exactly now..?"
Da-eun scratched her cheek awkwardly, averting her eyes. Then she bolted up from her seat.
"Unnie! Let's go to my room!"
"Huh? Suddenly?"
"Quick, quick!"
Da-eun grabbed Eun-seo's wrist and tugged. Swept along by the momentum, Eun-seo followed her to the room. The door clicked shut, muffling the kitchen sounds even more.
"Ta-da!"
The door had barely opened before Da-eun flung her arms wide. Her room was—
"...Whoa."
Eun-seo let out a short gasp of admiration. Posters plastered the walls, shelves crammed with figures and merch. The desk, the bed—everything overflowed with cute knickknacks.
"What do you think?"
Da-eun's eyes sparkled with anticipation.
"I worked super hard decorating!"
"Yeah... it shows."
Eun-seo nodded, scanning the room.
"Totally Da-eun's vibe."
"What's that supposed to mean? Sounds like you're teasing!"
She grumbled, but looked pleased. Da-eun dragged Eun-seo around, showing off her treasures.
"This one's brand new—"
"A friend got me this for my birthday—"
"Oh, this limited edition was a pain to snag!"
Her chatter never stopped. Eun-seo watched, a natural smile forming.
And so—time slipped by.
……
"Haa.."
Eun-seo flopped onto the bed. It was a small room, yet packed denser than a museum.
"Da-eun's stamina... insane."
"Nah, you're just weak, unnie!"
Da-eun was still full of energy. Eun-seo pressed her hand to her forehead, catching her breath.
A brief silence fell. The lively atmosphere settled just a touch.
Seizing the moment—
"...Unnie."
Da-eun spoke up. Her voice much smaller than usual. Eun-seo looked up.
"Yeah?"
Da-eun's lips parted and closed several times. Say it? Don't say it? Her hesitation was plain as day. Her fingers fidgeted with the blanket.
"...Um."
"...Yeah. I'm listening."
Eun-seo didn't push. She just waited. Da-eun opened her mouth once more, then shut it. And then—very softly. Like a secret that could never be overheard.
"I.."
"....."
"...I'm being bullied."
The words dropped into the quiet room.
……
Eun-seo said nothing. She just looked at Da-eun calmly.
"...Um."
Da-eun spoke again. Even smaller now.
"This... isn't weird, right?"
"Yeah."
"I'm not the weird one, right?"
That wasn't a question. It was a plea for confirmation. Only then did Eun-seo reply.
"...No."
Short and firm.
"Da-eun did nothing wrong. You know that too."
At those words, Da-eun's shoulders trembled faintly. Like a dam cracking under long-held pressure.
"Right... yeah?"
"Yeah. Obviously."
Eun-seo nodded.
"Wanna tell me what happened? Slowly."
Her tone was the same as always. Gentle, steady, reassuring. Da-eun hesitated a moment, then began.
"...At first."
Her fingers twisted as she continued.
"I thought it was just teasing."
"......"
"Ignoring me, excluding me from groups except when we had to... stuff like that."
Eun-seo listened without interrupting. Drawing closer to Da-eun's heart, bit by bit.
"But it got... worse."
Da-eun's gaze dropped to the floor.
"No gym partners... no eating lunch together..."
"And then?"
"Sometimes... graffiti on my desk."
Her words were calm. But the emotions beneath weren't.
Eun-seo asked slowly.
"Know who started it?"
"...Kinda."
"Names. Can you tell me?"
Da-eun paused. Then whispered a few names, barely audible. Eun-seo filed them away methodically. Her expression unchanged.
"The teacher?"
"...No idea."
"Why not tell them?"
Da-eun froze. Then, sharply, as if she'd sorted her thoughts.
"...If I do."
A beat.
"It'll get worse."
A familiar excuse. The classic line. Eun-seo closed her eyes, then opened them.
"...What about Sung-hoon?"
Da-eun jumped.
"No way!"
Forgetting to whisper, her voice spiked. Eun-seo was almost curious at the instant reaction.
"Absolutely don't tell him."
"...Why?"
"...He'd worry."
That was it.
"My oppa... he wouldn't just sit still."
Certain conviction. Da-eun bowed her head.
"...That's why I hate it."
Anyone getting hurt because of her. Things blowing up because of her. All of it.
Eun-seo watched her quietly. And—
"...So you told me?"
Da-eun nodded.
"I thought... unnie could handle it."
Those words left Eun-seo speechless for a moment. Trust. And with it—responsibility.
"...Got it."
Eun-seo spoke slowly.
"I won't tell anyone. Promise."
"...Really? You swear?"
"Yeah. I swear."
She met Da-eun's eyes directly.
"But."
"...But?"
"Trust me a little, okay?"
Da-eun hesitated—
"...Okay."
—then whispered her answer. Eun-seo stood.
"I won't do anything big right away."
Her voice stayed calm.
"But I'll sort it out, one by one."
"How..?"
"Who the ringleaders are, who's just following. I'll confirm everything."
Plans were already spinning in her head.
"I'll end it for good."
Those words rang like a declaration. Da-eun stared blankly—
"...Unnie."
"Yeah?"
"...Thank you."
Eun-seo paused at that. Thanks from someone close hit different.
"...No need to thank me yet."
She smiled faintly.
"Save it for after it's over."
That day, Eun-seo stepped into Da-eun's problem.
And she would regret it for the rest of her life.