Morning air carried chalk dust and heat. The corridor fans spun lazily above rows of students packed around the notice board.
Jisoo didn't push forward.
He waited until the crowd shifted someone else celebrated, someone else sighed, someone else groaned and then he looked.
His name sat alone at the very top.
Rank 1
For years he had imagined this moment.
He thought it would feel like victory.
Instead it felt like reading a stranger's name.
A teacher squeezed his shoulder warmly.
"You worked hard."
Worked....Hard....Yes.
Late nights under a flickering bulb.
Studying while listening for footsteps in case his mother woke from pain again.
Counting coins before buying notebooks.
Memorizing formulas besidewhile clearing table at therestaurant
He smiled politely.
Behind the smiles, his eyes searched the hallway anyway. He knew his mother was not there. Still he looked not for his mother but for Seungminto show him. He is good at something.
Parents gathered around their children fixing collars, wiping sweat, complaining about grades they secretly loved.
Empty space.
The pride in his chest deflated before it could even exist.
Then the sound changed.
A dragging scrape across the stairs.
Not loud.
But wrong.
People turned slowly.
Mr. Choi descended the steps.
And Seungmin was attached to his hand like an object.
His arm twisted behind his back, fingers digging into muscle with practiced precision the kind that hurts without leaving marks.
Seungmin didn't fight.
His feet missed steps.
His shoulders stayed lowered.
His head never lifted.
Jisoo's heart slammed.
He knew that posture.
It wasn't submission.
It was survival.
Students started whispering.
Phones were being raised.
But still not alot of people were paying attention.
Jisoo was definitely scared of Mr Choi but what he was scared of more was if today Seungmin got humiliated infornt of all these people. It's would be very hard for him to survive. Jisoo knew he was already getting through alot and he didn't want him to suffer more.
Mr. Choi's hand lifted.
Jisoo moved before thinking.
He stepped between them.
The hand stopped inches from his face.
Silence swallowed the corridor.
Even the fans sounded loud.
Mr. Choi didn't shout.
Didn't question.
He examined him like calculating profit.
Jisoo's throat dried. But he leaned closer, voice barely air.
"I'll do it."
A pause.
"What you asked."
Recognition flickered in Mr. Choi's eyes.
He released Seungmin instantly.
No anger.
No explanation.
Just decision.
Power didn't argue.
Seungmin staggered slightly forward.
Jisoo removed his jacket with shaking fingers and covered his head. But he jacket fell down. It was hard for him to even bow after what happened still he picked the jacket covered Seungmin face.
Then he held his hand.
Seungmin didn't pull away.
But his fingers didn't respond either.
No acceptance.
No rejection.
Just exhaustion.
Jisoo walked him to the nursing room.
Seungmin lay down, and jisoo sat next to him watching him closely making him uncomfortable so he turned his face toward the wall.
"Go away."
Jisoo nodded once.
He left. Even though he didn't wanted to leave. He wanted to show him. That he will always stay by his side. But it seems like he didn't need anyone.
Evening.
The study smelled sterile leather, polished wood, cold air conditioning. The kind of room where warmth was not allowed.
Jisoo stood straight despite his shaking knees.
Mr. Choi spoke without looking at him.
"You interfered."
"Yes sir. I apologise."
"You volunteered."
Jisoo hesitated.
"For what?"
Mr. Choi finally stood and approached slowly.
""For empathy."
He walked closer.
"When someone suffers because of you, they cling to you. Guilt binds stronger than love."
Jisoo's stomach twisted.
"You will get hurt," Mr. Choi continued.
"He will watch."
"And he will feel responsible."
Jisoo clenched his fists. "That's sick."
Mr. Choi smiled faintly. "It works."
Jisoo didn't appear for three days.
Rumors multiplied faster than facts.
Seungmin ignored them all.
But his eyes kept drifting to the empty seat.
He hated that it bothered him.
On the third day when had enough so he asked Jaehan quietly,
"Is he Alive?"
Jaehan answered after a pause.
"Barely."
Seungmin didn't sleep that night. He felt guilty. He didn't wanted to because jisoo was the one volunteered. No one forced him. Because still he felt bad.
On the Fourth day.
The classroom door opened.
Jisoo walked in. And he looked at Seungmin. There eyes meet. But there was no response. He didn't even blink. Or moved his eyeball. That made jisoo think. Does he even care.?
Bruises dark along his neck.
Lip cut.
Bandages loose and badly wrapped.
Students crowded him instantly. "What happened to you jisoo.?"
He laughed lightly.
"Just unlucky. Got in a fight."
No one believed it.
Their eyes shifted to Seungmin.
The air turned heavy.
Seungmin didn't move.
But guilt unwanted and sharp lodged inside his chest.
After that, people avoided him.
Not openly.
Worse — subtly.
Seats left empty beside him.
Conversations stopping when he approached.
Silence instead of greetings.
He walked through school like a shadow.
Jisoo watched everything.
And waited.
Finally..... one day Seungmin came to his sit. Jisoo was shocked. He never believed that Seungmin can be the one to take the first step.
"Let's talk."
Jisoo followed immediately, hiding relief behind calm.
Flickering light. Running tap water echoing.
"I'm sorry," Seungmin said.
Jisoo shook his head softly.
"Not your fault."
"We're clear."
He turned.
Jisoo grabbed his wrist.
"Let's be friends. I can be very useful."
The words came out faster than planned.
He looked at him carefully.
"You got hurt because of me… and still want to be my friend."
A pause.
Then he pulled away and left.
He leaned against the wall.
His chest hurt but not from injuries.
So this is what it takes.
He exhaled slowly.
"Fine."
"I'll stay."
"Even if I have to lose everything first. I will be shameless. Choi Seungmin."