Soo-ji remained frozen on the floor, her soul practically leaving her body.
Slowly, very slowly, she lifted her head.
Jae-hyuk stood there staring down at her, one brow slightly raised, a towel hanging loosely around his neck like he had just discovered an abomination of nature inside his locker.
An idea suddenly flashed through her mind.
Soo-ji immediately crouched and began searching the floor for something that did not exist.
"I'm sure it rolled in here," she said, trying her best to sound sincere.
"What are you doing?" Jae-hyuk asked, his voice calm and cold.
She scrambled to her feet, quickly dusting off her uniform.
"Oh, you're here," she said with an awkward smile. "I didn't even notice."
He didn't respond.
He just stared.
And in that moment, Soo-ji knew she was completely done for.
She dropped her gaze to the floor, unable to meet his eyes. Running wasn't even an option anymore. He had already locked the door.
"You dirty little pervert," he said calmly.
So calmly, it almost didn't sound like an insult—until it sank in.
Soo-ji's head snapped up.
"No! There's a misunderstanding, it's just—"
Her words trailed off as her eyes accidentally drifted toward him again.
She immediately looked away, flustered.
"I was looking for something," she lied weakly.
Jae-hyuk let out a quiet breath, one brow lifting slightly.
"How long were you planning to watch me?" he asked coldly. "Until I took off all my clothes?"
"No!" she screamed instantly, snapping her head up. "I swear it wasn't intentional!"
His expression somehow grew even colder.
Soo-ji froze again.
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
"Get out," he said flatly.
She bowed quickly and turned toward the door, hesitating only for a second before glancing back.
"The door is locked," she said under her breath.
Jae-hyuk didn't move.
"…How did you get in?"
"I'm sorry," she mumbled again, slowly pulling out the key.
Before she could insert it, his voice cut through the room.
"Stop."
Soo-ji flinched so hard the key slipped from her fingers and clattered onto the floor.
Jae-hyuk looked at it, then back at her.
"I could have you arrested," he said calmly. "Trespassing. Stalking. Theft. Harassment."
Harassment?
Soo-ji's brain short-circuited.
Harassment? Me?
Who would even believe that?
She forced a nervous smile. "Thank you… for being generous?"
"I would prefer to chop off your head myself instead," he replied without hesitation.
The calmness in his voice made it worse, like he was discussing the weather.
"Leave before I change my mind," he added.
There was no second invitation.
Soo-ji grabbed the key, unlocked the door, and practically ran out of the room.
---
She burst back into the classroom, gasping for air.
"What happened?" Bo-ram asked immediately.
"Did it work out?" Joon-seok added, leaning in curiously.
"I almost made it to heaven today," Soo-ji said breathlessly. "He said he'd personally chop off my head."
"…Really?" Joon-seok covered his mouth, trying not to laugh. "You must have seriously provoked him."
"Wow. Thanks for the update," Soo-ji said dryly before collapsing onto her desk.
"I'm done for," she sighed.
Bo-ram suddenly stiffened. "He's here."
"No!" Soo-ji buried her head completely into her desk. "He can't see me."
"You're going to have to raise your head eventually," Joon-seok whispered. "Ms. Ga-young's class is next."
With great hesitation, Soo-ji slowly straightened and faced forward, refusing to turn her head even slightly.
She nudged the key toward Bo-ram.
Bo-ram frowned. "What?"
Soo-ji subtly gestured toward Joon-seok only using her eyes
Understanding slowly dawned on Bo-ram.
Casually, she dropped the key onto Joon-seok's desk.
"I think this is yours."
Joon-seok's eyes widened instantly.
Betrayal.
Pure betrayal.
Jae-hyuk glanced at the key.
Then at Joon-seok.
One brow lifted slightly.
Joon-seok straightened immediately. "No! I'm being framed!"
Jae-hyuk said nothing.
He simply looked away and returned to his work.
"I'm serious," Joon-seok insisted. "You don't believe me?"
Soo-ji slowly leaned back in her seat, burying her face slightly as a satisfied thought crossed her mind.
If I go down… we all go down together.
And behind her, Joon-seok was still desperately trying to defend a crime he absolutely committed.