Middle School Days (2)
Two years ago. Back when Sung-hoon was still in middle school.
"Ugh..."
Sung-hoon was mulling it over a bit. It might seem trivial to others, but it was a big deal to him.
His little stepsister was avoiding him completely. Anyone who heard might say it was natural, but...
'We used to get along so well...'
Sung-hoon thought as he glanced toward the door.
Beep beep beep. Da-eun came into the house.
Sung-hoon looked at her and said,
"Hey. What do you wanna eat today..."
"..."
Slam. The door shut with a dull thud.
She used to say at least a word before going in, but lately, they could barely talk.
At first, he thought she was just sulking.
But now, Sung-hoon knocked on Da-eun's door like it was routine.
"What do you wanna eat? Tell me quick."
"Pasta. Carbonara pasta."
And she'd answer right away when he asked like that.
Sung-hoon figured puberty must've hit her late and headed back to the kitchen.
Like that, another week passed.
Time flowed on unchanged—but the air in the house grew increasingly awkward.
Da-eun felt it more than anyone.
"......"
She stood at the door, holding her breath.
Before opening the front door. A house she'd normally enter without a second thought—
These days, even turning the knob took effort.
Beep— She opened it carefully.
And slipped inside, muffling her footsteps as much as possible.
"...You're back."
A voice from the living room. Da-eun's shoulders flinched.
"......"
No reply.
She kept her head down, took off her shoes, and passed by.
"You're late today."
"......"
"School lunch suck? You didn't eat much?"
Casual questions tossed out like nothing.
But—Da-eun knew. They weren't casual at all.
"......"
Instead of answering, she walked faster.
The moment she reached her door—
Slam.
She shut herself in right away.
The presence beyond the door faded.
A moment later, no more words from the living room.
That day.
The next day.
And the day after—
The same thing repeated.
. . .
And—Da-eun became certain.
'Something's wrong.'
With her brother.
Kang Sung-hoon.
He definitely noticed.
He didn't ask outright.
Didn't force it out of her.
But—little by little. So subtly.
'He knows something...!'
He chose his words more carefully than before.
No pointless teasing.
He knocked fewer times.
Instead—
"...Food's by the door."
He'd leave a short message and go.
And wouldn't say another word.
"......"
That was harder for Da-eun.
She wished he'd keep talking like before—
This distance now. It felt like—
"...Is he being considerate?"
The murmur slipped out.
That night, Da-eun peeked through the door crack into the living room.
Sung-hoon was on the sofa.
Reading a book.
Communicating with Pubescent Students
"...What the hell is that."
Da-eun muttered in disbelief.
Did he think she was going through puberty?
She felt relieved thinking that.
Right then.
"What're you doing there."
"......!"
She slammed the door in shock.
Her heart pounded.
"...Did you see?"
Did he catch her? Or just guess?
But—no more words came.
Just silence.
"....Haa."
Da-eun slid down against the wall.
"Why's it gotta be like this."
She couldn't hide it much longer.
Still—she couldn't say it.
She didn't want to worry her one and only brother.
. . .
The next day, at school.
"Da-eun."
Da-eun looked up at the familiar voice.
"Eun-seo unnie..."
Eun-seo approached.
Same expression as always.
But—her eyes on Da-eun were a bit more careful.
"You okay?"
A short question. Da-eun hesitated.
"...I'm fine."
The habitual response.
But—her face said otherwise.
Eun-seo watched her a moment, then asked quietly,
"...It's tough, right?"
"......"
Silence. That was the answer.
"...But I'm okay."
She forced a smile.
"Thanks to you. I can...hang on for now."
Eun-seo didn't deny it.
The day after Da-eun confessed her secret to Eun-seo, the girls' attacks lessened.
Eun-seo must've done something.
Da-eun felt a little relieved, thinking she'd been right to tell her.
But bullying's like a swarm of bugs.
Crush one part, another takes its place.
Just as she caught a breather from the girls' sneaky harassment—
"Now it's the boys...?"
"Yeah...unnie."
Eun-seo sighed, rubbing her temple.
She'd somehow handled the girls.
But now a new problem.
Da-eun's face darkened.
So Eun-seo forcibly changed the subject.
A stopgap, but better than nothing.
She brought up something else to distract Da-eun.
"How's home?"
Da-eun didn't want to say she was being bullied.
Didn't want her family hurt or crumbling because of her.
"......"
Da-eun's expression stiffened a bit.
Sensing it, Eun-seo asked urgently,
"Anyone in your family...notice?"
A brief silence.
And—
"...No."
Da-eun shook her head.
"No one knows."
"What about Sung-hoon?"
At the name, Da-eun flinched.
She shook her head even harder.
"...Especially not oppa."
"Good...then."
"He's too quick on the uptake. More thorough, I guess..."
Da-eun smiled bitterly.
Her body trembled faintly.
"He reads expressions so well...knows everything without me saying. That's why—"
She stopped.
"...I can't even look him in the eye."
A quiet confession.
"Feels like he'll see right through if I do."
Eun-seo watched her silently for a bit.
Then—slowly spoke.
"Still, let's hang in there a little longer."
Short words. But heavy.
"I'll be by your side."
Da-eun's eyes wavered.
"...Yeah."
She nodded faintly.
. . .
Time passed like that.
But—things didn't improve.
If anything, they worsened.
"Hey, whose desk is this?"
"Oh~ Don't you know? The owner's right here."
Giggling laughter.
Da-eun stood silently at her seat.
On the desk. Words scrawled in black marker.
"..."
Her hands shook.
But she didn't erase it.
She knew it'd just come back.
. . .
Thud—
"Ah, sorry."
A voice that wasn't sorry at all.
A milk carton hit her shoulder and fell.
Some spilled, soaking her uniform.
"Hand slipped."
Laughter erupted around her.
Da-eun said nothing.
Just—lowered her head.
. . .
And—even the girls who'd quieted down once.
"Hey, she's still coming to school?"
They came back.
The ones who'd backed off after Eun-seo's intervention.
But—they hadn't vanished completely.
They waited for an opening.
Clung to the strong side.
"Seriously tough mental."
"Or just brainless?"
The taunts started again.
Da-eun's hands shook harder.
. . .
Around then.
Kang Sung-hoon—
Realized it all.
"...Ha."
A short sigh.
The pencil in his hand snapped.
"Knew something was off."
Muttered to himself.
Staring at the broken pencil, Sung-hoon closed his eyes.
Clues were everywhere.
Avoiding gazes.
Fewer words.
Forced distance.
And—
"...Puberty?"
A scoff escaped.
"Am I an idiot? No way."
That—wasn't the Da-eun he knew.
So the answer was one.
"External factor."
Sung-hoon's eyes narrowed.
"School."
Conclusion led to swift action.
He headed straight to the first-year classroom that day.
Da-eun's desk was covered in graffiti.
Words telling her to die.
Blood rushed to his head for a second, but he held back with superhuman restraint.
At the same time, giggles echoed from the hall.
"Eun-seo unnie?"
"Why's that guy suddenly...?"
"The one who pressured us. It's Eun-seo sunbae."
They badmouthed Eun-seo as they passed Sung-hoon.
Naturally, his destination was set.
Bang—!
The student council room door flew open.
Eun-seo had been student council president even in middle school.
"Kang Eun-seo."
Sudden entrance.
Eun-seo's eyes widened.
"...Sung-hoon?"
An unexpected visit.
And—his expression.
Not his usual.
"What's up?"
Eun-seo asked as calmly as she could.
But—her heart raced a bit.
'No way...'
Anxiety flashed in her mind.
'Did he find out?'
That Da-eun was being bullied.
Did Sung-hoon know?
"Da-eun."
One short word.
It was enough.
Eun-seo's pupils shook faintly.
"...What?"
Playing dumb.
But—too late.
Sung-hoon looked down at her slowly and said,
"How long have you known."
Certainty.
Not suspicion—conviction.
"..."
Eun-seo shut her mouth briefly.
Couldn't deny it.
Those eyes. That vibe.
Da-eun's words came to mind naturally.
-'My brother reads expressions and feelings super well.'
It was true.
One glance, and she felt exposed.
So.
"...A while."
She admitted it in the end.
Short silence.
And—
"Why didn't you tell me."
Low voice. Emotions suppressed.
"Da-eun didn't want me to. Said not to tell family."
Immediate answer.
"So you just left it?"
Sung-hoon's eyes sharpened.
"Not leaving it."
Eun-seo's voice lowered too.
"I've been stopping it."
"This?"
Short retort.
Packed with clear anger.
"...Not perfect."
Eun-seo admitted.
"But rushing in makes it worse."
"So?"
Sung-hoon stepped closer.
"Until when?"
"..."
"When do you step in?"
Eun-seo had no answer.
Sung-hoon didn't miss the gap.
"I'm ending it now."
Firm declaration.
No hesitation.
Blood trickled from his clenched fist.
"Right now."
"You can't."
Eun-seo cut in immediately.
"Acting on emotion tangles it more."
"It's already tangled. Can't untie it smoothly now."
Sung-hoon's reply was short.
He said with conviction,
"Cut it clean before it festers."
"If you do—"
Eun-seo's eyes shook.
"Da-eun breaks more."
Quiet words.
But they landed heavy.
"She's holding on now."
"That's holding on?"
"But. It's the only way."
Eun-seo's gaze met his straight on.
"Bit by bit. For sure. From the root. Eradicate it."
"......"
Brief silence.
Their eyes clashed head-on.
Speed vs. certainty.
Now vs. future.
Different choices.
And—
Bang—!
The door opened again.
Not Sung-hoon this time.
"Ha, President!"
A student burst in, panting, grabbing the door.
Gasping hard, couldn't get words out.
"...What is it."
Eun-seo reacted instantly.
Pushed down the prior emotions, back to council president mode.
"Right now—right now..!"
The student gulped air.
"A student's...in danger!"
The air froze.
Sung-hoon's eyes flashed.
"Who."
"Wh-which student..?"
"Who. Speak."
Short, sharp demand.
The student glanced between them with trembling eyes—
Then opened her mouth.
"Lee...Lee Da-eun..!"
The name—tore the air.
"...What?"
Sung-hoon's pupils shook visibly.
"Where."
His voice dropped.
But—the anger was clear.
"Behind the gym..!"
Before she finished—
Thud.
Chair toppled.
Sung-hoon.
His body moved first.
"Hey—!"
Eun-seo tried to grab him—but too late.
Bang—!
The door slammed open again, and Sung-hoon bolted out.
"...!"
Eun-seo gritted her teeth.
"...Damn it."
Short curse.
Then—gritting harder, she yelled,
"Get everyone. Now."
Her voice was firm.
And—Eun-seo ran too, without hesitation.