Cherreads

Chapter 45 - Chapter 45 – The Attack

The next morning—

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Yuna walked toward the school gate—

Bag on her shoulder—

Still thinking about yesterday.

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"…This is getting complicated…"

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Just then—

A black car stopped near the gate.

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The door opened—

And Jihun stepped out.

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Calm.

Sharp.

As always.

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Yuna glanced at him.

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"…You're late."

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Jihun adjusted his sleeve slightly,

"…Busy."

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A pause.

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"…Let's go."

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The two walked toward the classroom together—

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Unaware—

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That something had already gone wrong.

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The moment they entered—

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Minji rushed toward them.

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Panicked.

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"…YUNA—!"

"…JIHUN—!"

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Both of them stopped.

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"…What happened?"

Yuna asked.

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Minji grabbed her arm,

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"…Everyone is talking about Harin…"

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A pause.

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"…Something bad."

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Jihun's expression darkened instantly.

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He stepped forward—

Voice sharp—

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"…What happened?"

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The entire class went silent.

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Jihun looked at a boy nearby.

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"…You."

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"…Explain."

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The boy hesitated—

Then said,

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"…Everyone got an email…"

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A pause.

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"…With… pictures."

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Yuna frowned.

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"…What pictures?"

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The boy looked uncomfortable.

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"…Bad ones…"

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"…Of Harin."

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Silence.

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Minji whispered,

"…No way…"

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Jihun immediately took out his phone.

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"…Check."

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Yuna and Minji did the same.

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Inbox.

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New mail.

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Unknown sender.

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They opened it.

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And froze.

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Yuna's hand started trembling.

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"…This is—"

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Minji covered her mouth.

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"…No…"

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Jihun's jaw tightened.

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"…Fake."

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The images—

Looked real—

Too real—

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But something was off.

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Yuna's eyes sharpened.

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"…These are AI generated…"

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A pause.

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"…Someone edited them."

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Minji whispered,

"…Who would do something like this…"

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But Yuna already knew.

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Her expression changed.

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Serious.

Cold.

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"…Serin."

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Without another word—

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Yuna turned—

And ran.

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"…Where are you going—?!"

Minji shouted.

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"…Harin!"

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Yuna's voice echoed.

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"…Where is Harin?!"

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The classroom erupted into whispers again.

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Jihun followed immediately.

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"…Wait—"

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Minji ran after them,

"…Don't leave me—!"

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Meanwhile—

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Somewhere in the school—

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Harin stood alone.

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Phone in her hand.

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Screen open.

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The same email.

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The same images.

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Her fingers tightened around the phone.

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Her expression—

Unreadable.

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And for the first time—

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The "game"—

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Had crossed a line.

The corridors felt suffocating—

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Students whispering everywhere—

Phones in hands—

Eyes judging.

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Yuna ran through the hallway—

Jihun and Minji right behind her.

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"…Where is she…"

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Yuna's voice was low—

But filled with urgency.

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Minji looked around nervously,

"…What if she saw everything already…"

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Jihun's expression hardened,

"…She must have."

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Just then—

From the opposite direction—

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Kyungmin appeared.

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Walking fast.

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Searching.

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The moment their eyes met—

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"…You're looking for Harin too?"

Yuna asked.

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Kyungmin nodded—

His expression dark—

Anger clearly visible.

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"…Yes."

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A pause.

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"…Because of me…"

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His fists clenched.

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"…She became the target."

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Minji quickly shook her head,

"…No—it's not your fault—"

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Jihun stepped forward,

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"…It isn't."

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Kyungmin looked away—

Still frustrated.

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"…If I didn't drag her into this…"

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Yuna cut him off—

Firm.

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"…Stop."

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A pause.

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"…Blaming yourself won't help."

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She looked straight at him.

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"…We already know who did this."

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Silence.

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Minji spoke softly—

But clearly.

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"…It has to be Serin."

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Kyungmin's jaw tightened.

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"…Yeah."

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His voice dropped.

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Cold.

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"…It's her."

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Jihun nodded,

"…No one else would go this far."

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Yuna's eyes were sharp now—

Focused.

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"…This isn't just about you anymore."

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A pause.

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"…She attacked Harin directly."

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Minji whispered,

"…Those pictures… they're horrible…"

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Kyungmin's fists clenched even tighter.

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"…I won't let this go."

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Jihun placed a hand on his shoulder—

Firm.

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"…And we won't act blindly."

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A pause.

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"…First, we find Harin."

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Yuna nodded immediately.

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"…She shouldn't be alone right now."

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Minji added,

"…She must be really hurt…"

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For a second—

All of them went silent.

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Because they knew—

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Harin wasn't someone who showed weakness easily.

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Which made this—

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Even more dangerous.

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Yuna suddenly turned—

Determined.

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"…Split up."

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"…We search every floor."

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Jihun nodded,

"…Call if you find her."

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Kyungmin didn't wait—

He already started running again.

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"…Harin…"

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His voice was low—

But desperate.

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And somewhere—

Hidden from everyone—

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Harin stood alone—

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Looking at her phone—

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As the whispers around her—

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Got louder.

The school felt colder than usual—

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Kyungmin searched everywhere—

His steps fast—

Heart racing.

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"…Harin…"

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Then—

He found her.

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Sitting alone—

Near the back side of the building.

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Head slightly down—

Phone still in her hand.

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From a distance—

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He could see it.

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Her eyes—

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Shaking.

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Like they wanted to cry—

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But she wasn't letting them.

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Kyungmin stopped.

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"…She saw everything…"

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His chest tightened.

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"…And she's holding it in…"

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Meanwhile—

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On the other side—

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Yuna walked past classrooms—

Searching.

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"…Where are you…"

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She was about to pass one room—

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When she heard laughter.

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She ignored it—

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Then—

A name.

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"…Harin…"

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Yuna stopped.

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Her eyes narrowed.

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Slowly—

She stepped closer to the classroom door.

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Inside—

Voices continued.

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Serin's voice—

Calm.

Satisfied.

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"…Good."

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A pause.

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"…Because of you two…"

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"…The photos reached the whole school."

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Another pause.

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"…Now she knows her place."

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Yuna's fists clenched.

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She slowly moved—

Looking through the glass reflection.

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And saw them.

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Serin.

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Park Haeun.

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And another girl—

Holding a laptop.

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Yuna's eyes darkened.

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"…So it was them…"

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Inside—

Serin crossed her arms.

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"…Why did you help me?"

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She asked Haeun.

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Haeun scoffed.

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"…I don't like them."

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A pause.

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"…Because of them—"

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"…Jihun has changed."

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Another pause.

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"…And Choi too."

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Serin nodded slightly.

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"…Same."

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Haeun continued—

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"…And because of that Harin…"

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"…Their group will become weak."

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A small smirk.

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"…Then I can target Yuna."

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Yuna's expression turned cold.

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"…So that's your plan…"

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Haeun added bitterly,

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"…Because of her…"

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"…Even Elite 7 hates me now."

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The third girl spoke nervously,

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"…Please… you both should stop…"

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Silence.

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Serin stepped closer to her.

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Smile gone.

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Voice cold.

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"…Don't forget."

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A pause.

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"…Your father works under mine."

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The girl froze.

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"…One call…"

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Serin continued—

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"…And your whole family can lose everything."

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Fear.

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Clear in the girl's eyes.

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Outside—

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Yuna's grip tightened.

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"…They forced her…"

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Her phone—

Still recording.

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Proof.

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Enough proof.

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Her eyes burned with anger.

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"…That's enough."

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Without hesitation—

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Yuna pushed the door open.

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BANG.

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All three turned.

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Shock.

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"…Yuna—?!"

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Before anyone could react—

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Yuna walked straight toward Haeun—

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And—

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SLAP.

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A loud sound echoed in the room.

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Haeun's head snapped to the side.

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Silence.

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Complete silence.

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Serin's eyes widened slightly.

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The third girl froze.

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Yuna stood there—

Breathing heavy—

Eyes filled with anger.

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"…That was for Harin."

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Her voice—

Cold.

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Dangerous.

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Haeun slowly looked back—

Shocked.

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"…You—"

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Yuna stepped closer.

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"…Say one more word…"

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A pause.

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"…And I'll make sure the whole school knows the truth."

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She raised her phone slightly.

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"…Including this."

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Serin's expression changed.

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Not shocked anymore—

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Interested.

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"…You recorded it."

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Yuna didn't look away.

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"…Every word."

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Silence.

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The power in the room shifted.

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Completely.

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And for the first time—

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Serin—

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Wasn't fully in control anymore.

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