But he couldn't see any lies either.
Choi's eyes dropped to the red stain on Hyun Woo's collar. His voice came sharp.
"What about that? The blood. And your nose earlier. Why were you wiping it?"
Hyun Woo's chest tightened for a second. His mind screamed Seok's name.
He could say it and throw it all out. But then he thought—Seok and his dogs won't last the night. They'll be gone. What's the use?
That one second of freeze, the warmth in his chest spread again.
[Heart of Themisar—Stabilising]
[Suppressing hesitation. [Forcing calm.]
Hyun Woo raised his head a little. His voice even.
"I slipped in the class this morning. Hit my nose on the desk edge. That's all."
The words came smoothly. No shake. No rush. His eyes didn't flick away. His body didn't twitch.
Choi watched him. Waited. Most kids cracked under that kind of question. They blinked too fast, bit their lips, and rubbed their hands. This boy gave nothing.
[Judge Eye Activated]
[Target: Choi Do-hyun]
[Verdict: Not Guilty — Suspicion Detected]
[Transferring inner thought…]
Doesn't feel right… too calm. But nothing to hold. Just a story.
Hyun Woo sat still, face blank. Inside, his lips almost curled. Keep doubting. You'll never see the truth.
The questions went on, but nothing more came out of it. Choi leaned back, still watching, but Hyun Woo stayed calm till the end.
The rest of the day dragged on. Classes meant nothing. Teachers spoke, but it was just noise in his ears.
Hyun Woo kept his head lowered most of the time, but now and then he pulled up his sleeve and looked at his wristwatch, waiting for the hours to crawl by.
The last bell rang, and the class was over. Students picked up their bags and rushed outside the classroom.
The room filled with noise. Chairs pushing back, footsteps, laughter. It wasn't the noise of study anymore; it was the noise of freedom. Everyone wanted to go home.
But under that noise, there was something else too. Kang was dead.
Some kids who always got bullied by him didn't say it loud, but their faces looked lighter. Some even had smiles they couldn't hide.
Out in the hallway, groups of kids whispered to each other.
"Can you believe it? Kang's gone."
"Serves him right… bastard made me buy him bread every morning."
"He broke my ruler last month. Just for fun."
A boy with messy hair grinned, whispering close to his friend, "Feels like the school's cleaner now. Like the air's lighter."
His friend nodded fast. "Yeah… finally. Finally."
Some smiled as they walked, some even laughed, but the smiles didn't last long.
Everyone knew. Seok was still here. If Kang was gone, Seok had already taken his place. Their happiness was only for a moment in their face.
Hyun Woo walked among them, head lowered, listening. Every word reached him.
Inside, his chest burnt. I did this. Kang will never touch them again. Never.
For the first time, he felt it. He had made a difference.
But as Hyun Woo was walking in the hallway, a hand tapped his arm.
"Hyun Woo!"
It was Min-jae. His only friend. He was fat, round-cheeked, his glasses slipping down his nose.
A bandage covered one finger, stiff and white. Kang broke it last week. Min-jae had spent a whole week locked up in his room, hiding, healing.
"You don't know, man," Min-jae said, grinning wide. His voice shook like he had been holding it in for too long. "When I heard Kang's dead, I almost cried. Finally. Finally that bastard's gone. I can walk without looking over my shoulder."
Hyun Woo gave a small smile, weak, but it was there. "You were lucky you weren't in school that day."
Min-jae nodded fast, his glasses bouncing on his face. "If I were, he'd have broken my other fingers too. Maybe both hands." He laughed, but it was bitter and sharp.
Hyun Woo looked at the bandage, then at Min-jae. "…It's over now."
They walked together out the gate, side by side.
As Hyun Woo and Min-jae walked together, Seok and his friends blocked their path.
"Well, well… "Who's here?" Seok said, grinning. "Two dogs walking together."
Hyun Woo and Min-jae stopped. Their eyes looked at Seok and his gang.
When Min-jae saw Seok and his gang, he gulped. His breath caught for a moment, stuck in his throat. His heart beat fast, too fast.
He took one step back, just one, but even with that step his legs were shaking.
His hands almost trembling with fear, his plaster finger twitching like it hurt again.
"Seok… Seok…" Min-jae's voice trembled, breaking.
"Fuck… fuck… my luck…" he whispered, almost crying.
But beside him, Hyun Woo was standing still. His face didn't show fear. His eyes stayed on Seok, not moving away.
Inside his eyes there was a fire, a burning passion to kill him right there, right now. But he held it back. He kept it down.
Seok grabbed Hyun Woo's collar and shoved him. "Lucky dog today. The teacher saved you. Who saves you now?"
Seok grabbed Hyun Woo's collar and shoved him back. His head hit the school gate.
Bang!
The sound was loud and rough, like hitting iron.
Min-jae shouted, "Stop! Leave him!" But one lackey kicked his legs, and he fell. His glasses dropped, and his plaster hand hit the dirt. He cried in pain.
Hyun Woo bent down, hand reaching. He picked Min-jae up. His legs didn't shake; his hand was steady.
Min-jae looked at him, shocked. Even with blood on his lip, even with bruises, Hyun Woo's eyes were calm. Firm. Different.
Seok spat on the ground. "Bring money. Tonight. Karaoke club. Don't forget. Or I'll break you worse than Kang ever did."
They laughed and walked away, leaving both of them standing.
Min-jae held his broken finger close, his glasses still tilted on his face. He kept staring at Hyun Woo.
"Those bastards…" Min-jae muttered, his voice low. "Wish they would vanish like Kang."
Hyun Woo didn't answer with his mouth. Only inside, his voice spoke cold.
'Don't worry, Min… they will.'