Chapter 2:
Ji-eun tried to walk quickly through the hallway, keeping her head low. She didn't want anyone to see her puffy eyes from crying last night. She clutched her books tightly to her chest as the sound of laughter echoed behind her.
She stopped for a moment, took a deep breath, and whispered to herself,
"Just one day… let today be peaceful."
As she turned the corner—
thud.
Her books slipped from her arms and scattered across the floor.
"Seriously? You should watch where you're going," a girl's cold voice snapped. Seo-yeon smirked, purposely kicking one of Ji-eun's notebooks farther away.
Ji-eun bent down quickly, her hands trembling, trying not to cry again. Her long hair covered half her face as she reached for her notebook—
A hand reached it first.
She froze.
The hand wasn't Seo-yeon's.
It was Min-jun's.
He knelt quietly, picked up her notebook, and brushed the dust off the cover before handing it to her.
Ji-eun stared, eyes wide.
"Th-thank you…" she whispered, barely audible.
Min-jun didn't answer immediately. He looked straight at her — not with annoyance, not with coldness… but with something softer. Something unfamiliar.
"You should ignore them," he said quietly. "They're not worth your tears."
Ji-eun blinked, stunned.
Did he… notice her crying?
Seo-yeon huffed and crossed her arms.
"Min-jun, why are you helping her? She's just—"
He cut her off with one sharp look.
"Enough."
Seo-yeon fell silent.
Ji-eun watched him, confused. Min-jun had never spoken to her this way before. Never defended her. Never even looked at her for more than two seconds.
"Here," he said, handing the last book to her. Their fingers brushed for a second—warm, gentle. Ji-eun quickly pulled her hand back, her cheeks turning pink.
"Thank you," she whispered again.
He stood up, slinging his bag over his shoulder.
"Just… don't let them make you cry."
Before she could answer, he walked away.
Ji-eun stood there, heart pounding so fast she could feel it in her throat.
For the first time in a long time… someone had stood up for her.
Someone had noticed her.
She held her notebook close to her chest, her lips curling into the tiniest, shyest smile.
It wasn't much.
Just a small moment.
But maybe… maybe her days were starting to change.
From tears… to the first little smile.