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Chapter 5: Are You Crazy?
Ju-kyoung sat on the ground, tears slowly rolling down her cheeks. She placed her hands over her face, trying to wipe them away, but more kept falling. Her vision grew blurry as the memories of earlier that day rushed back.
She had entered the classroom and stopped right at the door. The noisy classroom fell silent. All eyes turned to her, filled with irritation and mockery. Whispers echoed around her.
She caught sight of Sam-mi. For a moment, Ju-kyoung was surprised—Sam-mi actually smiled and began walking toward her. But Ju-kyoung knew better. She ignored her and walked past, trying to stay calm.
But Sam-mi wasn't done. "Look, everyone. Here comes our superstar!"
The whole class burst into laughter. "Troll! Troll!" they shouted in unison.
Someone pointed at the television. "Guys, look!" On the screen, the video of Hyun-bin kicking her cookies played.
Ju-kyoung turned pale. Her heart sank.
Her humiliation, her rejection—everything—was playing on repeat in front of everyone. The room filled with cheers and cruel laughter.
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Back in the present, Ju-kyoung whispered, "Nobody likes me..." Her voice trembled. "How can I possibly go to school tomorrow?"
Her tears came heavier, her fists tightening. Then, without thinking, she stood up. Her mind was blank, her spirit crushed. She picked up her broken glasses and shoved them onto her face, then slung her school bag over her shoulder.
She stepped into the elevator and pressed the button—up, not down.
She stood quietly as it rose. Her eyes were hollow, her hair messy, her uniform wrinkled. She looked like a ghost of herself—fragile and lost.
When the elevator stopped, she walked out and stepped onto the rooftop. The wind whipped through her hair as the cool air stung her face. The night sky was beautiful, but she couldn't feel any of its beauty.
Ju-kyoung stood on the iron railing, wobbling slightly. A small misstep and she would fall from the five-story building.
She inhaled deeply, her gaze fixed on the distant ground.
Then her eyes landed on a poster nearby—a young boy, around her age. The rumor was he had jumped from a building to end his life. "What a shame… He was only eighteen," she whispered.
That snapped her back to herself.
"I... I don't want to die," she murmured. Her legs trembled. Her body was weak from crying and emotional exhaustion. She shivered. "Oh my goodness… it's so cold…"
Suddenly, someone sprinted toward her—and yanked her back with full force.
Caught completely off guard, Ju-kyoung stumbled backward. Her glasses flew off her face, and she hit the ground hard.
"Is this how I'm going to die?" she thought, her heart pounding.
But she wasn't falling. She opened her blurry eyes and touched the surface beneath her—it was someone's chest.
"What a relief," the boy said, catching his breath.
"My glasses…" Ju-kyoung whispered, fumbling to touch her face.
Realizing she was lying on someone, she panicked and scrambled to her feet.
"What was that about?!" she asked, squinting at the boy.
"I can't see anything without my glasses," she said, kneeling and patting the ground. "Where are they?"
The boy watched her quietly, still shocked.
"What were you doing?" he asked. His voice was calm, not harsh or cold, just steady.
Ju-kyoung turned to him but could barely see his face.
He took a slow breath. "Are you crazy? Are you out of your mind?"
She stood silent.
He stepped closer. "Why would you do that? What's troubling you so badly?"
His tone was filled with concern, more than anger.
"Why would you make such a choice?" His voice rose.
Ju-kyoung was startled. She looked down. "I wasn't trying to—"
The boy cut her off. "Face your life with courage. Have you thought about the people you'd leave behind? How much they'd grieve?"
She opened her mouth to speak, but he continued, "Someone might carry the guilt forever… for not being able to save you."
His voice turned soft and pained.
"Did you think about that? Once you're gone… there's nothing you can do."
There was a long pause.
"So don't do it," he finished, and began to walk away.
Ju-kyoung stood frozen, tears clinging to her lashes. He turned again.
"What? Are you going to jump after I leave?"
She shook her head. "No."
He continued down the hallway. Ju-kyoung immediately followed. "Wait… my glasses…" she murmured. "Wait!"
She ran after him, but the elevator had a sign: Out of Order – Maintenance in Progress.
He sighed and started down the stairs. Ju-kyoung followed slowly, gripping the rail tightly, blind without her glasses.
"I can't see!" she called. "My prescription is minus eight!"
He didn't look back.
"Please… I don't know what's what without my glasses!"
She slipped on the steps and fell, groaning as pain shot through her body.
The boy paused mid-step. He was already on the third floor while she was still at the first.
Ju-kyoung wiped her tears. "He must be gone…"
Just then, she heard footsteps returning.
"You didn't leave…" she whispered, smiling faintly.
"Hold my hand and get up," he said, stretching out his hand.
Ju-kyoung reached for it. As he helped her up, she stumbled and accidentally grabbed his backside.
"Watch where you're grabbing!" he said, flustered.
"I-I didn't mean to!" she stammered.
"Just get on my back," he muttered, squatting.
She hesitated, then climbed on. "Thank you…" she whispered.
"You're heavy," he said plainly.
"I know…"
"You called me sir earlier," he added.
Ju-kyoung nodded. "Well… you sound older."
As he climbed each step, breathing heavily, Ju-kyoung whispered, "Why were you up on the rooftop?"
"…Ma'am," he teased.
"Don't call me that!" she said. "I'm wearing a school uniform."
She leaned closer to his ear. "Did someone you know… jump from a rooftop?"
He paused briefly. The silence said everything.
"You saved me… and got so angry. I thought… maybe someone close to you died?"
"If you say another word, I'll drop you right here," he snapped, picking up the pace.
Ju-kyoung went quiet for a moment. Then, "You can do it!" she whispered cheerfully.
"Please stop," he said, half-laughing.
Finally, they reached the ground floor—only to see the elevator doors open and a guard walk out.
"Sir, isn't the elevator out of order?" the boy asked, panting.
The guard blinked. "No, it was just a routine check. Didn't you hear the announcement?"
The boy dropped Ju-kyoung on the ground and punched the wall, clearly exhausted.
"Maybe… we should've waited," Ju-kyoung said nervously.
He didn't reply. Just stormed off.
Ju-kyoung followed him into the night. She heard his footsteps fade, then stop as he turned and pushed her gently into a taxi.
"Wait!" she shouted. He turned again, sighing.
Ju-kyoung bowed slightly. "I'm not in the place to say this, but… hang in there."
He stared at her silently.
"The dead… wouldn't want the people they left behind to suffer too long. So please… be happy. You have to be."
She stepped into the taxi, and it drove off.
"Sir, please take me to Busheon," she said quietly.
"Alright," the driver replied as the city lights passed them by.
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