WW | Chapter 14

To be honest, I had guessed as much. Just from the way Jieun couldn’t make eye contact with Choi Seohee, the picture started to come together.

“Well, now you’ll be okay.”

“Yeah, now that you’re here.”

“Oh, right.”

Watching Jieun respond so warmly made Yul feel a bit awkward. She’d only tried to comfort her out of sympathy, but Jieun’s unexpected delight left her feeling shy. There was no need to ask why Jieun had been bullied—it was just her past, and dragging it out would only bring up scars. Jieun probably understood that too, which is why she hadn’t asked much about Yul’s background either.

“Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For being here, Yul. I’m really glad.”

Even though Yul only gave short replies, Jieun seemed happier than expected, as if some invisible wall between them had been instantly knocked down. Yul was glad too, but she couldn’t bring herself to show as much enthusiasm. Partly because of her personality, partly because she’d been alone for so long, this whole situation just felt unfamiliar. Moreover, she’d learned at her last school that when someone got close to her too quickly, there was often an ulterior motive. Maybe that subtle unease inside her was a reminder of that experience. Still, she was happy to have met Jieun.

Yul gave a quiet smile, biting into her sweet potato and glancing around. Her gaze fell on the empty seat across the room—an absence she noticed almost unconsciously, as it kept catching her eye whenever it came into view.

Is he not coming in today?

Kang Yoonjo would sometimes skip school or come in late. When he was in the classroom, he was usually asleep, and sometimes he’d disappear and come back late. The only time he interacted with anyone seemed to be during gym class. You’d think someone with a face and physique like his would be popular, regardless of gender, but aside from the scene she’d witnessed earlier, there wasn’t much to suggest that was true.

It made her curious for no particular reason.

“What about him?”

Why was Kang Yoonjo always alone?

He had an elusive quality, like the fading end of a season. Like a shadow cast against a dark window, his image was hazy and indistinct. Even though she’d seen his face up close, when she tried to picture him, the memory blurred. The only clear image was those eyes—calm yet detached, occasionally flashing with a surprising intensity.

“Who?”

Jieun’s gaze followed Yul’s, landing on Yoonjo’s empty seat. Her expression suddenly grew cold. She turned back to Yul, her face reflecting something like tension, fear, and a hint of disapproval—an expression unfamiliar to Yul.

“Don’t take any interest in Kang Yoonjo.”

Her voice was icily serious, not at all like her usual self.

“I wasn’t interested, just curious.”

“Yoonjo… no one approaches him. He doesn’t like talking to people, and no one tries to talk to him, either.”

“Why? Is there a reason?”

Jieun sighed quietly as she looked around to ensure no one was listening, then leaned in close to Yul’s ear.

“They say… he killed someone.”

“…!”

“He stabbed someone with a knife. In middle school.”

An invisible shock crashed down on Yul, spreading chills throughout her body and making every hair stand on end.

“There’s a reason everyone stays away from him.”

Jieun finished her explanation matter-of-factly, then turned back to her sweet potato, taking a bite.

Three weeks had passed since she’d transferred.

If she stayed quiet and kept to herself all day, classes somehow managed to end without incident. By the time it was over, her shoulders ached as if they’d turned to stone from being so tense. Still, the thought of being able to relax and have some peace once school ended made her feel a bit better.

Yul packed her bag slowly on purpose, waiting for Choi Seohee’s group to leave the classroom first. Since she did this every day, Jieun had started leaving late with her, too. Even when Yul told her she didn’t have to wait, Jieun would just smile and say it was fine. Their shared routine didn’t bother her; on the contrary, Yul was growing comfortable with Jieun’s presence.

“Yul.”

As they left the classroom, Jieun naturally linked her arm with Yul’s. Not being used to physical affection, Yul flinched slightly but didn’t show it. She realized how distant she’d grown from these small, everyday gestures.

“You’re really tall. How tall are you?”

“A bit over 170 cm.”

“That explains it.”

Jieun looked her up and down in admiration.

“You must have been really popular at your last school, right?”

“Not really. Why?”

“Well, you’re tall, you’ve got a great figure, and you’re pretty. You’ve got this cool vibe, too.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. The moment I saw you, I knew you were different from the other kids. There’s just something unique about you.”

“Thanks.”

Not sure how to react to such enthusiastic compliments, Yul just smiled faintly. It was nice, but at the same time, it made her feel a bit self-conscious and uncomfortable.

Before everything went wrong at her last school, she had indeed been popular. But in the end, that didn’t save her from trouble. In fact, it became the topic of gossip and an easy target for debt collectors. Now, she had no time or desire to worry about her appearance, and if anything, she wished people would just see her as part of the background.

“You’re lucky to be born like that. Anyway, are you working again today?”

“Yeah.”

“Can I come by and watch?”

“Watch?”

“I mean, can I just hang out nearby while you work? Or maybe even help out?”

“Are you serious?”

“Of course! I’ve always wanted a part-time job, but since I can’t, I thought I could at least live vicariously through you.”

Yul couldn’t help but chuckle at Jieun’s earnestness. At first, she thought she was joking, but Jieun’s eager eyes showed she meant it. What was there to see by hanging around a job, watching someone work? Even if her intentions were innocent, Yul couldn’t accept.

“I don’t think that’ll work. It’d distract me, and the manager wouldn’t like it.”

“Oh, sorry. I was being thoughtless.”

Realizing she’d gone too far, Jieun’s expression drooped, her gaze dropping to the ground. Yul felt a bit guilty for shutting her down, but she didn’t want to go out of her way to soothe her either. It wasn’t a big deal, and she was too tired.

“It’s fine. See you tomorrow.”

Afraid Jieun might follow her all the way to the bus stop, Yul gently pulled her arm free. Jieun responded with a reluctant, “Yeah, okay,” then waved as Yul turned and walked away without looking back. Luckily, they were headed in opposite directions, so Yul’s arm felt unusually light as she walked away.

When Yul reached the bus stop, she stopped in her tracks, noticing a familiar scene unfolding before her. It was as if time had replayed itself: Yoonjo was sitting inside the booth, dozing off under the late afternoon light. His figure looked like a faded photograph from an old film camera, like he belonged to another world.

Did he really do that?

Any other time, she would’ve just walked by quietly and stood next to him without a second thought. But now, her feet wouldn’t move.

“They said it was self-defense, but still… It’s terrifying. A killer is still a killer.”

Jieun’s words came back to her, and it felt like there was an invisible wall between them. Yoonjo, who had once been just an enigmatic figure, now seemed like someone to fear. He didn’t know her, and she didn’t know him well either, yet she felt herself drawing back in fear. The power of prejudice was indeed terrifying. She didn’t know how much of Jieun’s story was true or what circumstances led him to do such a thing. But knowing he’d killed someone made her instinctively wary.

“When he first joined, Park Geonju picked a fight with him after hearing the rumors. Geonju ended up hospitalized for over a month, and that’s why he hasn’t been coming to class. They said he was seriously hurt.”

Curiosity tugged at her as well. What kind of life had Yoonjo led to end up in such a situation? Did his habit of sleeping all the time have something to do with it?

“They say his dad’s either the president of a big company or some notorious gang boss. Either way, he’s rich. Even Park Geonju’s loan-sharking parents had to back off without a word.”

The image of Yoonjo stepping out of the luxury sedan on her first day flashed through her mind. Normally, she wouldn’t be so interested in other people’s lives, but she couldn’t help but wonder. Was his father really a gangster? Or just a wealthy man?

In the end, Yul stood a distance away, unable to approach the booth as she usually would. Just then, the bus arrived, and Yoonjo stood up and boarded first. After two or three more students got on, she finally stepped onto the bus.

Yoonjo was sitting alone in a single seat at the front. Feeling oddly relieved, Yul made her way further back, finding a two-seater and settling into the inner seat. She hugged her bag close and only then realized it was the same spot she’d sat with Yoonjo last time. Luckily, it wasn’t turning into a déjà vu moment.

As the bus rumbled along, Yul focused on the view outside, trying not to glance at him. It wasn’t attraction or anything like that; it was just that Jieun’s words kept echoing in her mind.

After two or three stops, the bus pulled over, and the seat next to her suddenly felt occupied. Startled, she turned her head to find Yoonjo lifting his bag from his shoulder onto his lap. Her whole body tensed up in shock. Last time, she’d felt awkward, but now she was downright nervous.

The seat he’d been in was now occupied by an elderly man with snow-white hair. She’d thought he was oblivious like a bear hibernating, but somehow, he’d noticed the old man standing beside him and given up his seat.