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Chapter 36: "Ju-kyoung? Is That You?"
Mean Seo-jin walked like the prince he was, his confidence radiating as he entered the hall with his friends. His skin seemed to glow with pride, and his face looked even more handsome that morning.
Most of the girls giggled, giving him flirty eyes, while the guys could only stare at him with envy. Seo-jin smirked slightly, but his brows furrowed when he noticed his untied shoelace.
He immediately stopped, raising a hand slightly to signal his friends, who also paused. Then, he bent down to tie his shoelace.
That was when he heard quick footsteps approaching. His eyes flicked up briefly—just in time to see Ju-kyoung, her face completely covered with cake, running straight toward him with her classmates chasing behind.
"Get out of my way!" she yelled, but Seo-jin, not understanding what was happening, just continued tying his shoelace without looking up.
She was still running at full speed—then, in one desperate move, she leaped over him, using his back for balance.
The entire hall gasped. Though her face was covered in cake, her leap looked surprisingly cool.
"What the…?" someone whispered.
Meanwhile, Seo-jin fell flat on the floor, groaning as he held his back. He turned, wincing, and saw Ju-kyoung sprinting like her life depended on it.
"What was that?!" he yelled angrily before catching himself.
His voice softened. "…Lim Ju-kyoung?" he muttered under his breath, confused.
Before he could get up, Su-ah and Kang-su dashed by, shoving anyone in their way—including him, knocking him down again.
"Ju-kyoung!" they both shouted, followed by a crowd of students echoing her name as they rushed out of the hall.
Seo-jin sighed in frustration, rubbing his sore back. "Are you kidding me? Seriously?! What the heck…" he grumbled as he got to his feet, glaring at the chaos.
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Ju-kyoung finally reached the corridor near the restrooms. The girls' toilet was to the right, the boys' to the left.
She rushed to the girls' door and pulled it open—
Only to be startled by the number of students already inside.
"You scared me!" one of them shouted.
She quickly shut the door and turned to the boys' restroom, hesitating for only a second before pushing it open—
Her eyes widened as she saw the shocked boys inside, and she immediately slammed the door shut, blushing furiously.
"I'm sorry!" she yelled.
Her heart pounded as she heard the voices of her classmates drawing closer.
There was nowhere to run.
"Let's wipe your face!" Su-ah's voice called out.
Ju-kyoung's mind was spinning. She didn't know what to do.
Within seconds, she was surrounded by classmates, all looking worried.
"Ju-kyoung, are you okay?" Su-ah asked.
Ju-kyoung stood frozen, breathing hard.
"Of course she's upset!" someone said. "You threw a cake at her face!"
More students from other classes gathered around. The corridor filled with whispers. Her head throbbed painfully.
Su-ah sighed. "Let me wipe it off—"
"No! Don't!" Ju-kyoung interrupted sharply.
But the noise grew louder, and suddenly—
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Her vision blurred.
Her heart pounded.
And in that dizzy moment… she imagined it:
She saw herself walking into the classroom with no makeup, her bare face revealed to everyone.
The room went silent.
Then gasps. Laughter. Disbelief.
"Who is that?" someone asked.
"Wait… is that the new student? The goddess?"
Ju-kyoung's heart slowed. "Guys… it's me. Ju-kyoung."
The class burst into laughter—even Su-ah and Kang-su.
Su-ah snorted, looking her up and down. "That's ridiculous! You—Ju-kyoung? So it was all makeup?"
Another student shook her head. "Whoa, this is unbelievable. You're… so ugly!"
Ju-kyoung's eyes filled with tears as everyone stared at her with disgust.
Her gaze landed on Kang-su, who sat like a queen, smirking.
"What was that about being a goddess?" someone sneered.
"Oh my God, you look awful without makeup."
Her hidden red spots, her tired eyes—everything exposed. She looked like a stranger.
"What happened to your face?" another asked.
"I'm gonna be sick," someone else said as laughter filled the room.
Ju-kyoung's voice trembled. "Why are you acting like this? We're… friends…"
Su-ah's face darkened with annoyance.
"Friends? We wouldn't have been friends if I knew you looked like this!"
More laughter.
Ju-kyoung cameback to reality though she knew it was her imagination right now butshe knew at any minute it can become reality.
And she definitely didn't have any idea up her sleeves.
Ju-kyoung stood still, silent, tears falling as the humiliation grew louder.
Her head spun.
Her heart ached.
Then—
She felt something soft over her head.
A jacket.
She looked up through her tears—
And saw Soo-ho, standing close, holding the jacket gently over her head.
His aura was calm, peaceful.
Their eyes met. For a moment, the world around them disappeared.
Then, quietly, he led her out of the hallway as the crowd parted in stunned silence.
"What was that?" someone whispered.
"What's happening ?" another murmured.
Ju-kyoung followed him quietly, still trembling— and she could still feel her heartbeat.
It was very fast and people gazes .
She held her emergency purse she picked from her sit firmly.
Following Soo-hoo quietly.
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