Thursday
After a long, depressing math class, Soo-ji placed her head on her desk, absentmindedly doodling on her failed classwork sheet. Her mind drifted back to everything that had happened the day before, the way he had looked at her so scornfully, like she was some unworthy offering.
She kept wondering what he thought of her. Not that she really needed to guess; he had already called her a "dirty little pervert," and that was enough information.
She got so lost in her drawing that she didn't notice Bo-ram standing behind her for several minutes.
"Are we having a family meeting without me?" Joon-seok asked as he approached them.
That was when she noticed. She quickly crumpled the paper.
"Why did you hide it?" Bo-ram said, suddenly interested. "Let me see."
"No!" Soo-ji said, standing up and hiding it behind her back.
Bo-ram narrowed her eyes. "Who were you sketching?" she asked with a grin.
"N-no one," Soo-ji replied, stepping backward.
Bo-ram smiled mischievously. "Run," she warned.
Soo-ji immediately bolted toward the door, but Joon-seok blocked her path.
She turned around, Bo-ram was already there.
No way out.
Her eyes darted toward the window. Thinking quickly, she aimed and threw the paper.
It flew, only to somehow bounce off the window frame, change direction, and land perfectly… right on Jae-hyuk's face.
Straight in front of him.
"No! What kind of witchcraft is this?" Soo-ji muttered under her breath.
Jae-hyuk simply stared at the paper before picking it up.
"No, no! You can't open it!" Soo-ji said quietly, panic rising in her voice.
He glanced at her. The fear in her expression was enough of an answer.
For a moment, he looked like he might throw it away. Instead, after a brief pause, he opened it.
And there it was.
A detailed sketch of a shirtless male figure—and somehow, it looked exactly like him.
Soo-ji's eyes widened.
And just like that, she fainted.
"Soo-ji!" Bo-ram screamed, rushing to her unconscious body. "Soo-ji, wake up!" She shook her gently.
"What just happened?" Joon-seok said, crouching beside her and placing a hand on her forehead.
The entire class gathered around, everyone except Jae-hyuk.
"Let's take her to the nurse!" Bo-ram said, lifting her head slightly.
"I'll carry her," Joon-seok offered, turning his back.
Ha-eun rushed back into the room, panting. "I just checked, the nurse isn't around!"
"What do we do?" Bo-ram asked, almost on the verge of tears.
"Give her mouth-to-mouth!" Do-kwon shouted.
"Then what are you waiting for?" Bo-ram yelled.
"I-I need consent first!" he stammered nervously.
"Does she look conscious to you?" Joon-seok snapped.
"Move!" Bo-ram said, pushing Do-kwon aside.
She leaned in, ready to help, when Soo-ji suddenly gasped awake, eyes snapping open.
"Soo-ji!" Bo-ram cried, hugging her tightly. "I'm so sorry, I didn't know you'd get that scared."
Tears filled her eyes.
Soo-ji pulled back slightly. "Why are you crying?" she asked, wiping Bo-ram's tears.
"I thought something bad had happened to you… and it would be my fault."
Soo-ji sighed and hugged her again.
But when she lifted her head—
Her gaze met his.
Jae-hyuk sat, expression unreadable. Unimpressed. Cold. Almost disgusted.
She quickly looked away.
Mr. Moon rushed into the classroom, Eun-ji right behind him.
"Soo-ji! Are you alright?" he asked, crouching beside her.
"Yes, sir," she replied softly.
"Let's take you to the nurse. The rest of you, settle down," he ordered, helping her up.
"I'll come with you," Bo-ram said immediately.
"Me too," Joon-seok added.
Jae-hyuk smirked slightly. "Mr. Moon, I'll come as well," he said, his voice cold as ice.
The entire class froze.
Soo-ji looked at him instantly, then turned to Mr. Moon. "No! Please, sir… please," she begged, hands clasped together.
"I need to see the nurse too," Jae-hyuk said calmly.
Mr. Moon glanced between them… then nodded.
"I'm doomed," Soo-ji muttered under her breath, nearly giving up all over again.
---
Moments later, Soo-ji's arm was interlocked with Bo-ram's as she was being attended to at the school clinic.
She lifted her head slightly.
He was still there.
Standing directly opposite her.
Jae-hyuk's eyes locked onto hers with an intensity that made her chest tighten, eyes burning into her like he would rip her apart if she held eye contact for too long. She immediately dropped her gaze again.
"Your heart rate went up due to stress, lack of sleep, and anxiety," the nurse said, turning to her drawer. "Has anything been making you anxious recently?"
Soo-ji glanced at Jae-hyuk. He was still staring at her.
Is he some kind of vampire? Why is he looking at me like that? she thought, then looked back at the nurse.
"Tests, ma'am," she replied.
"Okay. I've prescribed some medication for you. Take it diligently and work on your sleeping schedule."
"Thank you, ma'am."
"You can go," the nurse said, then turned to Jae-hyuk. "It's been a while," she added, offering him a seat.
Soo-ji, Bo-ram, and Joon-seok bowed simultaneously before walking out of the office.
"I'm really sorry, Soo-ji," Bo-ram said, sulking.
"It's fine. I'm fine," Soo-ji reassured her with a smile.
The real cause of all this is that monster in there, she said in her head.