"Eunji is my mother," Joon finally said, like the words had been choking him.
I froze. My irritation slipped into shock before I could stop it. Slowly, I turned back toward him.
"…What did you just say?" My voice came out sharp, more confused than I wanted it to sound.
Joon's eyes dropped to the ground. "Her real name isn't Eunji. It's Lee Yena."
He let out a long breath, the kind people release when the truth burns on their tongue.
"She's always been obsessed with money," he muttered, bitterness spilling through every word. "My dad wasn't rich, but he wasn't poor either. We had a good life… until he got diagnosed with High-grade Gliomas. Brain cancer."
The way his voice cracked made me clench my jaw. He kept going, each word heavier than the last.
"My grandmother spent everything—every single won—trying to save him. But in the end, nothing worked. And when the money ran out… she left. My own mother left me and my grandmother like we were nothing. Chose wealth over family without looking back."
He finally lifted his head, eyes locking onto mine. "Years later, we found out she'd latched onto the President. Reinvented herself completely. Eunji, the perfect fiancée of South Korea's most powerful man. But to me? She's just a gold digger. She's no mother."
I didn't say a word. Not because I didn't care, but because for once—I couldn't.
Joon's lips curved into a sad smile. "I know you're wondering why I'm even telling you this. It's because… I don't want there to be secrets between us."
Something in his tone made my instincts flare. He wasn't telling me everything.
"That's not the only reason, is it?" I asked quietly, studying his face.
He hesitated. "That's all," he said at last, eyes flicking away.
I didn't believe him, but I wasn't going to drag it out. Instead, I held out my hand.
"Your phone."
His brows furrowed. "What for?"
"Do you always question everything?" I sighed, palm still outstretched.
"…Fine." He fished his phone from his pocket and handed it over.
I typed my number in and gave it back. "I won't sneak out again. If you've got something to say, just text."
I turned to leave, but his voice stopped me.
"Chaeyoung."
I didn't look back. "What?"
"…Have a good night."
For some reason, my chest tightened. I didn't respond. Just walked away, faster than before.
Why did it feel like he wanted to say something else?
***
By the time I climbed back into my room, it was already past 9. I barely had time to rip off my hoodie before the knock came. My blood ran cold.
Crap.
I dragged my sheets over my head, ruffled my hair, then cracked the door open with the fakest yawn of my life. "What now? Did he order you to keep me awake too?"
The poor staff stammered out some excuse. I cut them off.
"Don't bother. Just… don't disturb me again."
"Yes, Miss."
Door shut. Heart racing.
I collapsed onto my bed, phone buzzing.
Joon: You there?
Me: Yeah. Almost got caught.
Joon: Lucky. Good night.
Me: …Night.
The second I hit send, I stared at the ceiling. My brain refused to shut up. My life was turning into a twisted novel, and somehow Joon was the only one making it stranger.
***
The next morning, school felt suffocating.
Three bodyguards. Every hallway. Every class. Everyone staring like I was radioactive.
It wasn't protection—it was isolation.
Even Joon didn't dare approach.
By the time Physics rolled around, I was more than ready to blow up at someone.
"Today we're starting Electromagnetism," Mr. Feng announced. "Who can explain how electric and magnetic fields interact?"
Dead silence. Of course.
"Yuxin?"
The transfer girl stood up, oozing fake confidence. "They don't. Electric forces affect charges, magnetic forces affect mass. Totally separate."
…Did she just—?
I actually sat up, eyes wide. "Wait, WHAT? Are you serious right now? That's the dumbest thing I've heard all week—and that's saying something."
The class gasped like I'd slapped her.
Mr. Feng arched a brow, amused. "Then, Miss Park, perhaps you'd like to enlighten us?"
Gladly.
I stood, voice steady. "They're literally connected. Maxwell's equations, Lorentz force, the right-hand rule—electric currents create magnetic fields, magnetic fields induce electric currents, and the forces are always perpendicular. That's how we have motors, generators, electromagnetic waves. Honestly, I thought everyone knew this."
The silence this time was different. Heavier. Respectful.
Mr. Feng's smile was genuine. "Excellent, Miss Park. Well done."
I sat back down, smirking at Yuxin. "Relax. Losing isn't the end of the world. Just… embarrassing."
Laughter rippled through the class, but no one dared to say it out loud.
Literature next.
***
I walked in, already planning to tune out, when Miss Shin clapped her hands. "Before we dive in, everyone, please welcome our new student…"
The door opened.
And the chaos that followed almost made me roll my eyes.
But that's another story.