At the tap, Jinsu splashed water over his face, the cold sting mixing with the metallic taste of blood. His hands trembled as he scrubbed the crimson away, but no matter how hard he rubbed, the humiliation clung tighter than the stains.
If I leave now… I'm gonna be known as the loser who got beat up and dropped out… fuck… he muttered under his breath.
He stared at his warped reflection in the rippling water. His lips twisted into a bitter, desperate sneer.
Better to be known as crazy… than a loser.
He straightened, wiped his face with a soaked sleeve, and turned to walk away. But after a few steps, a calm voice cut through the quiet hallway.
"Where are you going?"
Jinsu froze. He turned his head to see Seolhyo standing by the hallway, her gaze sharp and unreadable.
"S-Seolhyo…" he stammered. He fully faced her, trying to stand straighter. "Ah… I-I'm not feeling well. Thought I'd just go home."
Another drop of blood slid from his nose and splattered against the floor.
"Oh…" Seolhyo sighed softly at the sight, then tossed him a small pack of tissues. "Here."
He caught it with both hands, staring down at it as if it weighed a ton.
Seolhyo turned as if to leave. "You're not even that kind of thug…" she muttered, half to herself.
Afraid this would be the last moment he'd ever have to speak to her, Jinsu called out.
"Seolhyo…!"
She stopped and glanced back over her shoulder.
His voice wavered. "I'm… gonna drop out. You probably won't see me much anymore." He swallowed hard, eyes dropping. "Back then… well… I'm really sorry. It wasn't supposed to turn out like that."
Silence stretched between them heavy, restrained.
Then Seolhyo fully turned, her expression firm but calm.
"...From now on," she said, voice steady, "Avoid situations where you'll have to apologize to me or to anyone. You're not that kind of guy are you?"
Jinsu stood there, frozen, staring at Seolhyo's back until she finally disappeared around the corner. Only then did he let out a shaky breath and turn to leave the school grounds.
From the other end of the hallway, Seolhyo watched his figure growing smaller. She leaned against the wall, arms falling weakly to her sides, her expression heavy.
"Are you okay?"
She flinched, turning to see me walking toward her. She gave a small nod, but her eyes were distant, troubled. Gently, I lifted both my hands to her cheeks and guided her gaze up to mine.
"What's wrong?"
She glanced around no one else was here at this time. Slowly, her hands rose to hold the backs of mine, her fingertips cold.
"I… I think all of this happened because of me," she whispered. "If I hadn't shown up that night... maybe none of this would've happened."Her eyes shimmered as a tear gathered."And when everyone got beaten up by my brother… I should've apologized. I should've said something. Now a friend is dropping out because of me…"
Before she could say anything else, I gently squeezed her cheeks just enough to make her lips purse like a little fish.She blinked, startled.I couldn't help but chuckle softly.
"Hey… not everything is your fault. No one expected a simple confession to turn into all this," I said, brushing away the tear before it could fall. "And to everything that happened? That was Yang Jinsu's choice. He just reaped what he sowed."
I held her gaze, her eyes finally meeting mine with something fragile but warm.
"So don't carry all of it on your shoulders… okay?"
Then I leaned in, closing the distance between us, and kissed her softly.
When we parted, I rested my forehead against hers, feeling her breath mix with mine.
***********
The weekend came, and Park Dong, Daegyu, and Jiseong were already standing around the meeting place when I arrived.
Park Dong raised his hand. "Hey, Seojin's here."
The others turned their heads toward me. For a second, no one said anything just a collective silence as their eyes swept over my figure.
Jiseong clicked his tongue. "F*ck, this is so unfair… how could he be so handsome?"
Daegyu didn't even bother hiding his stare, his lips curling into a wry smile, though his eyes looked like they'd given up on life.
I walked toward them, wearing a fitted black track jacket with two white stripes running down the sleeves, a plain white T-shirt peeking out from underneath. My jeans were straight-cut, slightly faded, and a little loose at the hem. On my feet were crisp white Reebok sneakers, spotless as if I'd just bought them. My hair was neatly styled short, layered, and slightly messy at the bangs.
The three of us turned toward Suwon as he walked up blue graphic T-shirt with a giant "ABC" on the chest, beige straight-cut pants, chunky sneakers… the full disaster package.
Park Dong sighed. "Guys. Be honest. What do you think about this guy's fashion?"
Daegyu studied Suwon with the seriousness of a fashion judge. "Hmm… honestly? He's already screwed from the socks up."
I stepped away from Suwon. "Don't walk too close. People might think we're together."
Suwon stared at me, wounded. Is it really that bad?
Daegyu crossed his arms. "First off your socks. They're just… socks. At least wear something like these."He lifted his pant leg, revealing crisp white ankle socks with green trim, a bold green animal logo, and matching lettering along the side.
Park Dong blinked. "You've got a lot to say today, huh, Daegyu?"
Daegyu ignored him completely. "And your shirt and pants… you look like a middle-aged man pretending to be young. Like someone tried copying youth fashion from memory."
"And don't forget the duffle coat you wore at the start of the semester. That thing was a total disaster."
I laughed out loud. Suwon glared at me, face red with embarrassment.
"It was the worst," Park Dong added, grinning. "Absolutely the worst."
"My mom bought it…" Suwon muttered miserably.
Daegyu softened instantly. "Well… in the face of a mother's love, fashion doesn't matter. Moms are great."
Park Dong stared at him. He just talked his way out of it??
Daegyu clapped Suwon's shoulder. "Anyway, you need to change. Head to toe. Otherwise we're not hanging out with you."
Park Dong stepped in. "I'll give you points for tailoring your uniform. That alone removed like… some of your dork aura. But we're from Sangji High. Something fundamental is still missing."
"…What?" Suwon blinked.
Park Dong clenched his fists like he was preaching a gospel."Your hair. It's everything for a guy. Especially the sideburns and the back. Even a loser can look legit with the right cut."
He pointed at Daegyu. "Look at this. Even this handsome guy looks like a complete loser with the wrong haircut!"
Then he swung his finger toward me. "Even Seo..."
He froze.Because I was currently surrounded by girls.
"Hey, what's your name?""What school are you from?"
All four boys stared at me with deadpan expressions.
Park Dong slowly redirected his finger. "Even Kim Jisung this guy! Even if he looks like this now, when his hair was long he..."
He stopped again, remembering that Jisung with long hair looked exactly the same.
"…Point is," he finished weakly, "if you don't fix your style"
Jisung glared at him. "Why'd you stop mid-sentence, bastard?!"
The girls who had crowded around me shifted their attention. They glanced at Daegyu then giggled among themselves before walking off.
Park Dong watched them leave. "If you keep dressing like this, you'll graduate without talking to a single cute girl like them."
Suwon followed their retreating backs, his face flushing.She… she looked at me just now… right?
Suwon answered Park Dong with a small, self-mocking laugh, staring at the ground.
"Heh… I've never even properly dressed up before. How's it gonna work on someone like me?"
Park Dong snorted, slapping his back lightly.
"Lol. You've at least gotta try, man. Or do you wanna stay like this forever?"
**********
Meanwhile, Seol Hyorim was washing dishes, her hair a little messy, wearing a gloves.Seol Minsu came up behind her. "Move. Let me do it."
Hyorim didn't even glance at him. "It's fine."If you wash it, all the oil stains will be left behind anyway…
Minsu watched her for a moment, then asked quietly, "…Where are you going?"
"Hanging out with friends."
"…Boys?"
"The boys will be there," she replied, smirking a little as she turned to look at him. "What? You gonna beat them up again? What a busy life you're living. Just get lost you're annoying."
Seol Minsu's jaw tightened, a vein popping slightly at his temple. "Hey."
Hyorim flinched a little at the sudden firmness in his voice and glanced back.
"Today… you got money to hang out?"
She froze. That realization hit her instantly she'd spent all her allowance.
Without another word, Minsu took out his wallet, pulled out a bill, and stepped closer. He slipped it into the pocket of her shorts.
"Come home early," he murmured. "And don't drink alcohol or anything."
He tapped her pocket gently. "I put it there."
Hyorim's face flushed red to the ears.
Even if I rebel, I'm still just a kid living on allowance…Fuck…!