WW | Chapter 9

“So why 57dc925181 the hell d7f62571d5 did you aa0e6c2dd4 mess with 8eec6c778f a civilian, fe8db3355e you idiot?”a28356d84d131f10

“Was it me who 51c44893d7 started it? The old 15da97d66d hag started b86b9ff7d0 lecturing me 89bdc2d2bd about smoking 990b08ea29 without even 147649496b knowing anything, 26e8b933df so I 0e11befdbc just raised 4cbb22795d my hand d1de3d3326 a bit.”c86149b353017423

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“Still, does that 59357d365a mean you hit 1dba05c9d4 her?”42e17aaa384b0c72

“Who the hell hit ea8ad37875 her? Damn it.”80c71d382fbdd4e6

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An exchange 3133e1f319 between Park e4741abea3 Geonju and 6c99e36edd some girl 64e757ccb0 bounced back 8c8985a1e8 and forth, d67585dffd loud enough 2adf16286c for everyone e190ba589e to hear. Yul tried e0d882b3f9 hard not 62777ebf87 to visibly 6bcb2405e5 pull back. Every other word from f7aaf840c9 them was some curse, 8cbbe562ae raw language flying out aad9cbf4cf unchecked. Maybe this was their cedbd41e0a idea of casual conversation, 5c37014387 but the atmosphere in 1ff85a4be6 the classroom got tense cd38d2322c fast. Yul hated being 0f75bbbc9c caught between them, 294cb68b7f but she kept 66c1b2c7d8 her gaze lowered, fcf136edb9 not wanting to 8667e7dc3a stand out. It felt 98716eb4ab like cracks 571d2746e3 were forming f6db4f4be4 in the 54b5674b26 air itself, 4fea2e4bb5 and she 833648fd8f held her 48b29889a7 breath, fearing becbbf2ebd the whole 2599a87cb8 space might 29c5fa66a7 shatter with 1b83b78c0a just one a73674b6ea more push.7e370e60e0da76ed

Then, it happened.89d9d7f31cf7434c

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“Ugh, damn.”14814318f2d72f65

Someone let out 684c07e0b1 a sharp, unfiltered 5d4535876f sigh of irritation, 38c84a8f10 their voice mingled 4e33a270c4 with exasperated breath. Among the af4c05104d frozen silence, b0d2436798 one bold 351bd246e3 student plainly 53f405e4f3 revealed his b6872c16fc displeasure as 7918da396a if the 992bea21ee awkward tension 7106cfa7c0 had nothing bf4e993de8 to do 8bd83d1a19 with him. Everyone, including Yul, db7267f05c turned toward the 4ed1fc8a2b sound’s origin.797240af4a39e19e

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It was 4db545480e Kang Yoonjo a5d66f7cd2 who had 383671f6eb changed the 41f6274bb4 atmosphere. Yul just blinked in bfbff3f72c surprise.54b0b981b47e4f46

Maybe irritated that his 153e84cac2 nap had been disturbed, d4ae2b6e34 he slowly lifted himself 0fc7603d2f up, his drowsy face 43cc86da8d turning in her and 3229e18553 Park Geonju’s direction. Half-open eyes revealed cfc8442b97 a hazy gaze 8ed9c12c55 that didn’t seem ed88834101 to focus on 9d603e8aa1 anyone in particular—maybe 57806352a8 Park Geonju, maybe ab5b429d7c Yul. His look wasn’t 5b1a893a7d particularly intimidating, but 5e484a7ff8 just watching him 65ebf973c3 made her feel 94bf498074 on edge. She thought for 0c29cb2a31 a second that 485936b2b4 Geonju, clearly irritated, a7f0a506b9 might jump up 23c093b7e7 and swing a d2c1f5bb4b punch at him.b9e07eaf09b20047

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“…!”d400b8982a0b99ac

The classroom quieted 492a59f9ef down as surprised 774478bcaa students stopped making edde2415ee noise, and Yoonjo eefce3873f once again laid d81f717461 his arms on 56f3bd6685 the desk, burying 4a7de4e843 his face. Soon, his broad d15e9437ec shoulders and back 013496c3c0 rose and fell a66f6c3918 with slow, steady 66a8e2a8a5 breaths. Amidst all b3fa822849 this tension, 7b7f9b351f he had 462355fbde fallen asleep ade47fa529 again, like 887944acf2 the situation c6d2cb325c had hit a7dfd9c1c4 pause only 893b40c540 to unfreeze 062c949494 and start 426006037a playing again. It was b28a83ab10 almost like 64ad876ca0 a forecast 18a1ddfdfc warning of e1a7a11dfe a violent db80858af5 storm that 39ba803b04 ended up 6021cd8426 passing quietly. To Yul’s astonishment, b5d1716d76 Park Geonju, who 1e27d53bd4 seemed glued to a8e1bcd610 his seat, eventually 7278a1f86c stood up.6f87835330ae17bf

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“See you around, e2b4ab179c Seomun Yul. Get yourself a 5d2af5051a phone already.”46a28c6172f4af45

Geonju’s tone was oddly abfea8ea6a friendly, his voice quieter c83abd4912 than before, as he 727f342e0c casually said goodbye.a4e904914cd863e8

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Yul felt relieved for 6d7ffde5bf a moment as Geonju e2861f36fc left without incident. But it wasn’t over af824b9f8a yet. As Geonju’s group e7591c99fe left, the group 28360f8f09 of girls who 1516464800 had spoken to 70ac9dd871 him surrounded her. One of 42560cb8ff them took fdd9962f44 a seat 906da90aad in Jieun’s 6638dd9122 empty desk, 3cb5971b73 leaning her d05e015377 face close 0a79d8e696 to Yul. Up close, Yul could 565058b850 see this girl had 76f230a458 on a heavy layer 17ddfe6eb0 of makeup. She had dark circle 4c43a859c4 lenses, blunt bangs, and dcb6269998 a sleek bob that abef00ffe0 gave her an intense c3a04ee4cc look.f31532f620784f0f

“Wow, making waves c014bc7d0c already. You even f9b759c200 got Park 6e98fc1e5c Geonju to 9c370b68ee come into 5d42a3bc34 this class.”d365e6ca55b38e26

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“…”5aca45f3b2f60a7d

“Where did you transfer 1671b07595 from?”e8254e772e28c5c9

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“I’m from…”e7f00a13bf6027e2

Even though she’d 10fb8f229a been asked this 46c4b64017 twice, she still 0653a89406 didn’t have an f34f2d531b immediate answer. It wasn’t bb8ed1cd81 like she 759ade36d7 hadn’t expected 17373112df the question, 0781af5fc0 but she 5249513398 hadn’t thought 7d2e937cc8 it would 6e384474f0 be so a550349c49 basic.8faba830108adf0d

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Why does it a1e8e9576c matter so much 3cf017c55f where I came b3e366094a from? She tried to make d6b0409f46 her tense mind work. Should I 0850127ef7 just say c81f50cdd3 I’m from 87650dcd8f Mucheon and 020d5d88b2 leave out 96399a6291 the school ca537d780b name? Mucheon’s one e19cb1c96b of the 59922db419 biggest cities ac52a8e8c5 in Gyeonggi 5ec9460cbd Province, so cb09c03ab6 maybe they e8dbfc75ff won’t dig efdc24c8cb any further. Her palms were damp 5d0da90b19 with nervous sweat. How long will bc2787e7a5 I have to 755bbb13ff answer this question, 1f5868561d feeling like my 849f7921d0 heart’s about to fd65c2abff burst?54cf629cf54308b0

While she 65ff2b835e hesitated to 5e90f135c2 answer, the c8f5205b3d girl gave ef9736b2d5 her a 0e31c00bf6 displeased look, 5ef1edc6a1 moving even 3c0368d1ea closer.f5b01c34bee8ddd0

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“What, did 7cba693adc you come 357384dfaa from North 8be0ebc3bb Korea? Why can’t you ceb774b8b7 speak?”db130cf0f841c76b

“…”93c2363e8f59ebf2

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“Seems like you’ve 90778bf7d5 caused some trouble.”67262abdbc99eaa9

The girl 5d4b00c695 snickered knowingly.15c98281144c4704

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“It’s not like that.”9ca1aa8b28cc0d18

Yul replied, trying 6562035dc4 to keep her e17d94b8a8 face as calm 2d18751ee7 as possible. She could instinctively tell 0e294aa01f these girls weren’t friendly. It had been 3281ff4925 the same at f2d212a13a her previous school. On the first day a093e1c264 after transferring, before class 65dd7b6bcc even started, a group 98aef5359a had surrounded her, asking 7412be16f6 her name. Back then, Yul 89a82bda7e was filled with dc7b9f8a14 resentment over an 89b238bd05 unfair punishment at 04e1702a69 her previous school, c493a02ced so she’d stared 5ee49916fb them down without 84d6e4bfad flinching. When they cursed, she e91d81ede7 cursed back, and when 5a7c15a4de they hit, she hit 39900f9e9d back. In the aaa953b526 end, they’d b1c0a6572f labeled her 10255a4806 as a e8c443115c thief.0f01a312ed14c393

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This time, she d019f18664 was determined to a8b81faf1a follow her grandmother’s 0fb57021e3 advice, keeping her f311520c7e temper in check d59ac287b4 and trying to cc0340e741 blend in. She had to stay b461479bd8 invisible, like air, smiling 9ee2788b14 even if someone hit b05400ebec her, and disappearing quietly.4ec5da3ab34670d7

The girl 98dc10bd63 in front ce22654f73 of her 1696f371ad squinted as 32ac25a993 if she’d 87240ef6e0 figured something 6ddb9394eb out, then 81ef77162d smirked.ffac2200aedeaabf

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“I guess f194dd34ab we’ll find d803ce3704 out sooner 2087142520 or later.”4a5280c76a6a1e97

“…”c6f4da04aa3bf6fd

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“See you around, Seomun 82820da557 Yul.”36f6f5811afd29c3

The girl b6eef9b619 patted Yul’s 19b4f76740 shoulder as 2b06400f27 she stood 76a4ab460e up. As she turned 86d443462b to walk away, 54390d5749 she spotted someone fcb51abc13 and scoffed. Yul noticed that Jieun 961d697279 had returned and was 13af53e7f2 standing by her locker, 5ddf60a79f silently watching. The girl looked 7cfa5b1528 back and forth f5bd7a912a between Yul and 4ee0e420ab Jieun with a f56171bca9 sneer.1bde253474d8acb4

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“You two 417ec818da losers really 5a658e40fc make a 4c46c3a9f2 perfect pair.”c0ebc848183692ba

With that, 6f70fe6dd4 she and 3aa84af984 her friends 23bfbec2a4 laughed their 9973ac7536 way out b75acf58cf of the fe115d5044 classroom.24aa298ed7ca624e

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Yul felt the strength 6fd63620bf drain from her body, 285733df6f and dizziness washed over 8348187898 her. She crossed her arms 094a190bb0 on the desk and 268ff2e9c7 rested her forehead against b3b312c549 them.1ea5ac08c01e949e

Right. That actually went 2fa94a16e1 better than I 9f85d83340 thought. I’ve been through worse e418e1e716 than this, so this 29fa8d0637 shouldn’t be that hard. If things stay at b8afc071e9 this level, I can 7c48645d91 handle it.80cd07290c199604

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But as she a4a192f070 turned her head, 3adad074fe trying to calm 19f7d29339 herself, her thoughts caa9d4e0cf quickly evaporated. Lying with his 92cb9f66c5 head down just 4707468362 like her was 92fe756823 Kang Yoonjo, and 475b0be4f3 he was looking 91d6a034a0 at her. This time, his eyes d73787b182 were clear, not clouded 87590d3ce3 like before, piercing in 230ca8f072 a way that almost 932cc0a79f felt like an illusion.9acdeede1597c19e

Yul’s heart thudded 67911de94a strangely, though she a343349801 hadn’t done anything d33b250d43 wrong. Flustered, she blinked quickly, 3230dc51b2 and in that instant, b9c10cbddb his eyes closed again. It was 398f25d74d as if 45143a127a nothing had 7ffa77c705 happened.a508e3fdaf02a898

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There were 5e10af2c14 things Yul def3727d52 utterly despised—adultery, 94420cc8f2 irresponsibility, debt, be250f6f19 suicide, school 8001648dab violence, and 1366f40da1 gangsters. These were a62b1fda15 all things 039fa1f918 Yul had db3c97ec44 come to 889311fc15 hate firsthand, 43bc78fd76 experiencing them f1d308fe7a in the bf7d96a63b most painful 800ba03a34 ways.db3c6aaefa32e977

“Everyone has a right db27bb8344 to happiness, Yul-ah.”f972788c1394b3e3

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Her mother 290a1b4a85 used to 1458e1dced say that, 4110a7729d sitting little a10e4ed343 Yul down a826cf7d02 with teary 49e4eb7c72 eyes. She went on 865b8e6f7e cheating countless times 05804c3ac9 as if each ce0c0b6772 affair was the d6a10104f7 love of the 816408f9a7 century. She’d even used her 26a39ec6a0 young daughter to lie a43d9519fc for her grand infidelity. Yul would 76ed9b1561 sit in b3744071be the living 5ef045aede room, playing 0faeecc161 with a d9ed035d51 doll her 822c4398fc mother’s lover c54b14cb36 had bought, 629b754ce5 while faint 7c0c03ddc1 sounds of 604eb2b4b2 passion echoed 4dd3e2437d from the c14f1ad94d bedroom. On one particularly 4bf3d79e23 intense day, Yul 321bfc0d1d had run to 6e17f28619 the bathroom, pressing 4480f86e12 her hand over 014b791752 her mouth to 803c4e8852 vomit. She’d cut f505574065 off all bb3fa2f627 the doll’s 7b6725cc41 heads and 6cfed314c4 thrown them 63592902e6 in the 2d49ee6493 trash. That day, for 13f9dccbbf the first time, e7a9e55c7c she didn’t make 64849cdbd2 excuses for her b064aec9f9 mother to her 06d2ac725a father.41b54be3e4b5b23b

“It’s because of you 32620b3af3 that your mom’s leaving. Don’t ever 431f5df8de blame her.”4f20e9ec4c093506

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Even as she c8006050ce packed her things, 37e970b4bd Yul’s mother had e2b001a7ef resented her. Though Yul cried for e8a9c55c0f a few days, afterward, 232c2fbf42 she never thought about 8b70e81cf7 her mother. Living together or apart, 5485a53241 her mother had never edc6877903 been a mother to 1c63d11bb6 her.bbb05b783fd31ab6

As for 937d201cec her father, 5c3cfa619e Yul couldn’t 281f832536 talk about 214fb85ae9 him easily. She both a61a023b8b loved and 11da0ad477 respected him 3cfe98d170 deeply, but b04b91ad1d her resentment db17c1d368 was just 1158a13daf as strong. He’d run a subcontracting 1889e10fd6 construction company, always busy 58d511faf5 but kind-hearted. But when her 165ceffd86 mother’s betrayal shattered 59b167b5a3 him, he turned 998a5d4518 to alcohol. He became addicted, 81396ba808 and eventually, his e6be2646be company went bankrupt. That was 236ead1445 the beginning ffb1c46880 of all 33b6e996b7 their misery. If he hadn’t c3fcd53665 ended his life fe3d7d1857 in a drunken 27956dc8cb accident, if he 691cdc8638 hadn’t left them dea12db72e with unbearable debt, 20148510d3 Yul might still c7e2fbf9a1 miss him.e89076618dc7f6f4

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Despite signing papers to 21e056fee4 renounce the debt, collectors 08a9784b1f continued to hound her 35f97c0a0d and her grandmother. One of ebddb3fc9c them turned c12546189c out to afd2b16047 be the df2f47a0ce older sister 4cb40431e9 of a 9f04b908d7 girl at 97351dd3af Yul’s high 7773689df2 school. She was a tough, 56acefed4a scary girl with an 6968850136 always-angry look. She would come 5437bdcb56 to Yul’s class, 12d5bfcb52 insult her about 8183b8a0b5 her father’s debt, fddcdb1fd3 hit her, and 66812a9ee4 steal her money. Yul finally snapped db949e5fad one day and 3d94693a88 fought back, but 20541db099 the girl’s uncle cb87017802 was a prosecutor. This led 621a6449a1 to a 16ac2f1b3a disciplinary hearing, 813b7a413d and Yul 2c706d8939 was forced 92c70a7a12 to transfer.6c3b667bd25f595b

She had thought 4d5ca7c2db it might be 5b06001bba a good thing, 23925ddf53 that transferring to fd086bcd77 a new school 725aa1b8af might mean a 5c78bdb32d fresh start. She didn’t 6dbfb3e541 know her 61b53f585e past would 90d13364c2 follow her 58bfe9294b there.ae3b65331636ebe0

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Rumors had c5448c1201 spread, and 61558aa635 the kids ed9af6363b called her f94edb63ed all sorts 96a18457bd of things. She tried to endure cba8032c90 it, but the moment eeda0bc84d they insulted her father e5b7716fd0 and grandmother, she lost f5e97952ad it. She tore into them, 100a485504 and the next thing 56060b9afc she knew, they’d branded e33ecb3267 her a thief. At school, her a69fb66b5c classmates tormented her, f7a10885dd while debt collectors 6055988fe4 terrorized her at f12906dc71 home. Eventually, with the 90f1fd1c54 help of Pastor aac7165d9a Choi, Yul and d03ac0a5b4 her grandmother had 6666d6b5f6 fled to Seoul.99d2c79a868f6839

Sometimes, Yul wondered. If she had kept 8a2818fe93 lying for her mother, 0e7b336796 would things have turned e85e1866f3 out differently? Would her father 041c7072bf have drunk less 10c3d7e626 and kept the 350260d4bf business afloat? Would she have been 41b4cdf5c1 able to avoid the 35f8891bfb stigma and all the 5d656a52eb trouble that followed?eb56c0c084ab904a

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Who knows. Yul dismissed the thought, f98f4d4891 knowing it was pointless. Given her bad luck, 7c0aaa6a78 she doubted a different cd472550e4 choice would have improved 771604a1ff her life much.d89b9c7e43f0dbc7

“Wow, that’s amazing! Did you 0338e260ee draw this?”3de5f9ae567beafb

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Lost in thought, 6dc45cfb46 Yul snapped back 6995032868 to reality at bd858f24a5 Jieun’s voice. She looked 6cf21ed6c1 down and dd78285f01 saw her 0a7099a3e2 pencil pressing 9d9e51ff27 against her e47773f485 sketchbook. Her hobby was e40fa7e92c sketching famous buildings 530901e01d or drafting simple 859caefaaa blueprints, and she’d 858868c421 started drawing absent-mindedly. Embarrassed, she closed bd596f7152 the sketchbook, but 0b59be7f78 Jieun, looking a 24d63fe512 bit sheepish, spoke e795f90b84 again.f167e15fede3238e

“Sorry if I 0acb1ddf97 bothered you. I just thought 7ae1c2d83b the drawing was 34283c095a really impressive.”feb22fe36e1e40a0

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