The Student Council President's Request
"......"
Kang Eun-seo stared at Sung-hoon. Intently, scrutinizing him closely.
I don't get it. I really don't understand him at all.
His expressions, his gestures. She tried to glean any information about Sung-hoon, but not even the tiniest hint emerged.
Two years had passed since that incident. Eun-seo had become student council president again, and fate had thrown her back together with Sung-hoon. She thought she'd grown a lot in those two years. She'd shed her old self, learned to take bold risks. She'd clashed with so many people. She'd gotten good at reading first impressions, picking up intel that ordinary high schoolers couldn't. That's why everyone praised her—friends said she was so reliable, teachers called her a genius.
But even so—
"Are you trying to get something out of me?"
She couldn't extract a thing from Sung-hoon. Instead, he voiced her very motives.
His voice—low, emotionless. Just hearing it made guilt creep up from deep inside her.
Why am I even here? I gave those siblings unforgettable trauma, hurt them so badly. Do I really have the right to drag Sung-hoon into this with such an aggressive ploy?
"Ugh...!"
She shook off the thought with effort. It was rude to drift away when the person was right in front of her.
But Sung-hoon had no intention of indulging her like that.
"Even after going through that incident."
He spoke first, before she could collect herself.
"Why did you invite me to join the student council?"
His words were calm. But—this wasn't a question. It was an interrogation.
"..."
Eun-seo's mouth clamped shut. No time to prepare an answer. Her mind went blank.
I have to say something. But—what?
Then.
Her gaze drifted sideways, unconsciously. To Haru. A subtle plea for help, barely perceptible.
Sung-hoon didn't miss it.
"..."
His eyes shifted straight to Haru.
A brief silence.
And then—
"Could you step out for a bit?"
So naturally. As if it were already decided. He asked her to leave.
But—
"I'll pass."
Instant refusal. No hesitation.
Haru shot down Sung-hoon's suggestion flat-out.
"If I leave you two alone, I feel like Eun-seo might be in danger."
The air chilled.
Blunt words. No attempt to sugarcoat.
"..."
Sung-hoon said nothing. He just—stared at Haru steadily.
That gaze. Neither cold nor hot. Which made it all the more eerie.
Haru felt a chill crawl up her spine.
What the hell is this?
Something was off. Normally, she could tell. You could sense it from people. Good or bad. Someone to avoid.
But.
This guy in front of me—
He didn't settle into either category. One moment, he seemed like he'd offer a friendly hand with a smile; the next, like he'd smash a fist into your face. No direction. That's why her instincts screamed danger.
"..."
Haru didn't budge an inch.
Then.
"Haru."
A small voice. It was Eun-seo.
"...It's okay."
Her breathing was a little unsteady. But—she forced it down.
"Go on out."
"..."
Haru's eyes wavered. This wasn't the student council president she knew. Her gaze kept slipping, her breath uneven, her body twitching at the slightest stimulus.
And yet—she was asking.
"...You sure you're really okay?"
"Yeah."
Short. But firm this time.
"..."
A few seconds. Brief silence.
In the end—
"If you yell, I'll come right back in."
Leaving those words, Haru headed for the door.
The door closed. The sound echoed louder than it should have.
Now the room held just the two of them.
"..."
Eun-seo drew in a breath. As the footsteps outside faded, Sung-hoon spoke first.
"Can you talk now?"
Eun-seo nodded. She'd wanted Haru gone. Sung-hoon had picked up on it and sent her out.
Haru had misinterpreted Eun-seo's glance on her own... but she'd left anyway. No matter.
Eun-seo slowly opened her mouth.
"...It was."
She explained slowly. Starting from the very first day she'd met Kang Sung-hoon.
As the new high school student council president, she'd craved talent. She'd gone around the classes herself, scouting students from each one. She'd popped into Sung-hoon's class on a whim.
"That's when I... met you. Sung—er, you."
She corrected herself on his name. She didn't deserve to use it.
When she saw his face, she'd been shocked. Have I finally lost my mind? She'd thought she'd never see him again. Just that had frozen her brain, scattering her thoughts.
"I kept wondering what to say. If I even had the right."
Her mind spun in circles. A bystander like her—could she even talk to him?
On one hand, a hunch that this was her only chance. Conflicting emotions clashed: hesitation against urgency.
She wasn't in her right state then, she said—not even aware of her own actions.
When she finally snapped out of it—
—Wait, hold on just a second.
She'd grabbed Sung-hoon, she said.
On a day when all the first-years had gone straight home. Like she was possessed, she'd blocked his path.
Eun-seo closed her eyes, as if reliving it.
"I'd already acted by then. Too scared to take it back."
She'd stopped Sung-hoon. Couldn't let him go like that. Had to say something, anything, to hold him.
And what came out was—
"An invitation to the student council, huh."
"Yeah... it was all I could think of."
Nothing else to say. Bringing up the past would've ruined everything, given their history. So she'd focused on the present, naturally.
Sung-hoon, having heard it all, looked at her.
"So, calling me outstanding—that was just to get my attention too?"
Before, Eun-seo had told him he was exceptional. But that wasn't empty flattery to draw him in—it was sincere.
Eun-seo shook her head at his words.
"No, that part was real."
"There's no way I'm better than you, sunbae."
"No, that's one thing I can say for sure."
She cut him off firmly. She couldn't comprehend how he could think he wasn't outstanding.
Two years had passed already. The perpetrators who'd gone to juvie were probably out by now. She'd checked through her father. None of them could hope for happiness anymore.
"You're more exceptional than anyone I've ever seen."
"...Is that so? I'll take it as a compliment, then."
He said it without changing expression.
Eun-seo gazed at him with mixed feelings, and Sung-hoon spoke again.
"So? What's the real point here?"
"...Huh?"
"Don't play dumb. You didn't call me here to answer my questions."
Eun-seo fell silent at his words. Until he pointed it out, she'd just been ready to respond to him.
She didn't know why she'd acted that way. One thing was clear: this conversation felt good. Her heart lifted naturally. Just talking with Sung-hoon put her at ease.
But... if I say what I came for, it might shatter.
She was sure of it. Bringing up her goal now could snuff this moment out like a match flame.
So Eun-seo hesitated. Her lips twitched open and shut, agonizing for dozens of cycles before—
"Your little sister. How's she doing these days...?"
She broached it cautiously. Like plucking whiskers from a lion—delicate, precise.
"......"
Sung-hoon went quiet. But soon replied.
"Why the sudden interest?"
"It keeps bothering me... and I'm so sorry."
Eun-seo trembled, almost servilely. Seeing it, Sung-hoon decided to tell her about Da-eun's current state.
"She's doing okay... or so I think."
"......"
"Settled in fine at her new middle school. Doesn't tremble like she used to."
Sung-hoon reminisced leisurely. It took a year for Da-eun to recover. Before, she'd clung like a sticker. Afraid to leave the house, holed up like a hikikomori.
But she'd pulled through. The whole family pushed hard, and Da-eun put in her own effort.
Eun-seo seemed a bit relieved at that.
"...That's good."
Softly. Barely a whisper, slipping out like a sigh.
"..."
The moment he heard it—
Sung-hoon's eyes narrowed, ever so slightly.
"...That it?"
Low. A voice settling quietly.
"..."
Eun-seo's shoulders flinched.
"She's okay now, so that's a relief."
A beat.
"And?"
Not quite an interrogation. But—crueler.
"...No."
Eun-seo shook her head.
"I didn't mean to end it there... no."
Her lips quivered. She had to say it. If not now—there might never be another chance.
"...I..."
Her breath caught. Throat tightening.
Still—she had to.
"...I want to apologize to Da-eun."
She finally spat it out.
The air froze.
"..."
Sung-hoon said nothing. Just—watched her steadily. Like he wouldn't let her run.
"...I know."
Eun-seo continued.
"What position I'm in."
A twisted laugh escaped.
"That I'm a bystander."
"..."
"No... worse than that."
A pause.
"I told her to wait. And then Da-eun went through that horror."
Those words. That instant—the air sank again.
"..."
Sung-hoon's gaze dropped, subtly.
But—still silent.
Eun-seo pressed on, enduring the quiet.
"Still..."
Her hands shook. But she clenched them.
"Still, I want to say it... just once."
Straight on. No more dodging.
"...That I'm sorry. Sorry I was so worthless and stupid."
The words landed heavy.
"..."
A few seconds. Silence.
And then—
"So."
Sung-hoon spoke.
"You're asking me for that?"
Direct. Blocking any escape.
"...Yeah."
Eun-seo nodded.
"...I can't go alone."
The truth.
"Seeing me... might break her."
Her breath shook.
"So—if you say it's okay."
A hesitation.
"Then... I want to meet her."
Eun-seo added.
"The culture festival's coming up soon."
Her gaze wavered just a bit.
"Then. Just for a moment. A little time... that's all."
A plea. She was ready to kneel if needed.
"..."
Sung-hoon didn't answer. Just—dropped his eyes, thinking for a moment.
And.
"..."
He spoke.
"I'll think about it."
Short. Clean.
That was it.
With the culture festival approaching, more and more people were starting to gather.