Chapter:9 –
The corridor buzzed with chatter and laughter as students leaned against their lockers, trading jokes before class. Yo Chan stood at the center of it all, one hand shoved lazily into his pocket while Joon and Joungki laughed at his teasing remarks.
But inside his pocket, his fingers nervously fumbled with the old photograph. He didn't even realize how tightly he had been holding it until he pulled his hand free—and the photo slipped, fluttering quietly to the ground.
Yo Chan didn't notice. His laughter carried on, but a random student passing by did. The boy's eyes caught the faded picture, curiosity sparking. Without hesitation, he bent down, snatched it up, and walked away with it tucked against his chest.
---
Anna and Seirin were walking down the hall together when chaos brushed against them. A boy, running too fast, slammed into Anna's shoulder.
"Yah! Watch where you're—" she snapped, but her words died in her throat when something slipped from his hand and fell at her feet.
She bent to pick it up, and the sight froze her blood. A familiar face smiled back at her from the glossy surface.
Her mother.
"…Umma," Anna whispered, her voice trembling as though saying the word aloud might break her.
Seirin's eyes widened. "That's… your mother, right?"
Anna nodded, her throat tightening, confusion and disbelief swirling inside her chest. She turned to the boy sharply, holding the photo up.
"Where did you get this?"
The boy blinked, startled. "I—I found it on the ground. She looked so pretty, so I just kept it. Why?"
Anna's jaw clenched. She snatched the photo from him, her voice low and firm.
"Shut up. Get back to your class."
The boy scrambled away, but Anna barely noticed. She stood frozen in the middle of the hallway, staring at the photo, her hands trembling.
---
The classroom later felt suffocating. The teacher's voice droned on, chalk scratching across the board, but Anna didn't hear a single word. Her mind spun with the echo of her father's voice from days before.
It wasn't an accident. Your mother… was murdered.
Her grip on the photograph tightened until her knuckles turned white. The truth and lies she'd been told clashed violently inside her chest.
---
At the same time, in the schoolyard, Yo Chan was pacing with Joon and Joungki. His easy grin had vanished, replaced with a sharp, restless expression.
"Did you guys see a photo? I… dropped it," he whispered urgently.
Both of his friends shook their heads. Yo Chan swore under his breath, scanning the ground desperately, but the photo was nowhere to be found.
---
That evening, back at Yo Chan's house, his father checked the drawer where the photo used to be. Empty. His expression hardened like stone.
Later, at the dinner table, he spoke casually, though his eyes betrayed the storm brewing beneath.
"By the way… have you seen any old photos lying around?"
His sister glanced up, puzzled. "Photos? No… why?"
He forced a smile, but his clenched jaw told another story entirely.
---
Dismissal. The school gates overflowed with students streaming out in clusters.
Anna walked ahead with Seirin, while Yo Chan emerged just behind with Joon and Joungki.
For a fleeting moment, his gaze found her. Her eyes locked with his. Neither spoke, but in that single glance, something unspoken stirred in the air between them.
Joon and Joungki exchanged knowing looks. Seirin, too, noticed the strange weight in Anna's silence.
Anna quickly tore her eyes away, pretending indifference, though her chest ached with a tension she couldn't name.
---
That night, Anna returned home quietly, the photo clutched in her hand. Minjun sat at the table with their father, frowning at his math homework. Their father leaned over patiently, guiding him through each step.
Anna stood in the doorway, watching for a moment before speaking softly.
"Dad… I want to talk to you."
Something in her tone made him look up immediately. Without a word, he followed her into the living room.
She held out the photo, her voice unsteady.
"This. Why did I find this at school? You told me she died in an accident. Tell me the truth."
Her father's face fell, the weight of years pressing down on his shoulders. Tears welled in his eyes before he even spoke.
"I can't hide it anymore… Anna, your mother was murdered. They were powerful people. I fought, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't win the case."
Anna's lips parted, her breath catching. "…So all this time…"
"You look so much like her," her father whispered, his tears streaming now. "That's why I beg you to stay out of fights, to stay safe. I don't want to lose you too."
Anna clenched her fists, her whole body trembling. But she refused to cry—not in front of him. She bowed her head, swallowing her pain in silence.
---
Meanwhile, in Yo Chan's room, the mood was different. Joon and Joungki sprawled across his bed, laughter bubbling as they teased him.
"Yah, Yo Chan," Joungki grinned. "Be honest. Do you… like Anna?"
Yo Chan smirked, trying to cover his face with his hand. "Aish, shut up."
But Joon pressed, smirking. "Come on, you keep staring at her. We all saw it today."
For a long moment, Yo Chan stayed quiet, his usual sharp tongue faltering. Then, finally, with a crooked smile tugging at his lips, he admitted:
"…Yeah. I think I do."
His friends exploded into laughter, clapping him on the back.
"Enemies to lovers? Wahhh, this is going to be fun!" Joungki shouted between laughs.
Yo Chan laughed too, embarrassed, but deep down, he knew there was no denying it anymore.
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End of chapter: 9