* * *

Emerging from the room, dressed and ready, Jungin rejoined his brothers, who teased and worried over his delay.

Putting on a brave front, he swung his bag over his shoulder.

‘Please… let it not be true. Let it not be that I hurt Lee Jungin….’

With his heart weighed down by unease, Jungin headed for school, trying to bury his fears.

As he climbed the stairs, someone called out to him.

“Jungin, are you feeling better?”

“Ah…”

Startled, he blinked at the unfamiliar face, tightening his grip on his bag strap.

The woman smiled warmly.

“Sorry for the late introduction. I’m Kim Songhwa, your new homeroom teacher for Class 3-5.”

“Oh, hello, teacher.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Jungin. I’ve heard about what you’ve been through—it must’ve been tough.”

Jungin thought that the look in Teacher Kim’s eyes resembled the gaze of his older brothers.

It was the kind of look that couldn’t be faked.

Fortunately, the homeroom teacher this time didn’t seem like an odd person.

“Thank you…”

Jungin answered softly, and Teacher Kim smiled warmly as he handed over the class materials Jungin had missed during his absence.

“I’ll help you with anything I can from now on. So, if you’re ever struggling, please come and talk to me. I’ll keep an eye on things to make sure nothing like before happens again.”

“I will.”

“Good. Your friends must be waiting. Go on up.”

Jungin bowed slightly and started climbing the stairs, but then he paused, hesitating.

After a moment’s deliberation, he turned back to approach the teacher, asking the question that had been on his mind since he arrived at school.

“Excuse me, sir…”

“Yes, Jungin? Was there something else you wanted to say?”

“By any chance… has Ki Beomhyeon been coming to school?”

“Of course. He should be in class right now.”

So, he has… A wave of disappointment washed over him as Jungin thought about Beomhyeon, who hadn’t contacted him even once during that time.

Forcing a smile, Jungin suppressed the ache in his chest and headed toward his classroom, his steps heavy.

The school he returned to after so long hadn’t changed.

Many still whispered about him as he passed, and no one approached to speak.

‘At least those guys aren’t here anymore.’

He’d heard that Park Hyuntae and the other bullies who had tormented him were all expelled.

Not only that, but civil and criminal lawsuits were also being pursued against them.

Though he thought it might be excessive punishment for third-year students on the cusp of adulthood, he felt it was only right.

He decided to follow his brothers’ lead and let them handle it.

Ignoring the whispering around him, Jungin stopped in front of Class 3-5.

His heart began to race as he took a deep breath.

Entering the room, he immediately noticed how many seats were empty compared to his first day there. He bit his lip lightly.

‘No. I’m the victim here. I didn’t do anything wrong.’

Though he tried to convince himself there was no need to feel guilty, the thought of ruining someone’s life weighed heavily on his mind.

With his head hanging low, he moved toward his seat but frowned when he noticed the empty desk beside him.

‘Where’s Beomhyeon?’

He was nowhere in sight. Jungin hesitantly took out his phone and stared at the unsent message lingering in the text box.

‘Beomhyeon, I miss you.’

It was only seven characters, yet they weighed heavily on him.

If Beomhyeon had grown tired of him, if he had stopped liking him—perhaps it would be better this way.

Jungin thought it might be easier to part ways cleanly and move on.

That way, no one would get hurt. Or so he had convinced himself.

But…

‘I don’t want that.’

The mere thought of Beomhyeon being with someone else made his chest ache.

His stomach burned as if he’d swallowed fire.

‘I don’t want it. I can’t stand the idea of Beomhyeon being with someone else, of him liking someone else.’

His tears, hot and unrelenting, streaked down his face, melting away his resolve.

Jungin hurriedly wiped them away and stood up, intending to reach out to Beomhyeon.

Just then, a large hand landed gently on his shoulder.

His eyes widened in surprise, and for a moment, his face brightened as he quickly turned around.

But his expression fell just as quickly.

“Ah…”

“Jungin, are you okay? You looked like you weren’t feeling well…”

Seeing Woohyun instead of Beomhyeon, Jungin buried his disappointment deep inside, masking it with a faint smile as he shook his head.

“No, it’s nothing. Just got something in my eye.”

“…”

Perhaps because his crying had been so obvious, Woohyun didn’t seem convinced by his explanation.

“Here, this is for you.”

“What’s this?”

“These are my notes from class. If you need them… you can have them.”

Woohyun’s hand trembled slightly as he held out the notebook.

“Are you sure I can take this?”

“Of course! I worked hard on these, just so I could give them to you when you came back.”

The kindness in Woohyun’s gesture lifted Jungin’s spirits a little.

He had always been someone who helped him, even while cautiously avoiding Park Hyuntae’s notice.

Looking back, Jungin realized he had never properly thanked him.

Jungin looked at Woohyun with reddened eyes.

“Jungin…?”

Woohyun’s bewildered expression made Jungin smile slightly as he finally spoke.

“Thank you. For everything you’ve done for me.”

Among his scattered memories, Woohyun’s presence stood out.

He was the one who lent Jungin his clothes when his gym uniform was ruined.

He was the one who secretly passed him notes when others ignored him.

“We were in the same class in second year, weren’t we?”

“You remember that…?”

“No, I only realized recently. But I remember everything you did to help me.”

Woohyun’s face flushed red like a ripe strawberry, and he nervously fidgeted with his lips and ears.

“Somehow, I’ll repay you for everything.”

“No, it’s fine. I should’ve helped you more… I’m sorry I couldn’t do enough.”

They were both full of gratitude and guilt toward each other.

To break the awkward atmosphere, Jungin grabbed Woohyun’s hand and said brightly,

“We’re really friends now, right?”

Woohyun’s eyes widened at Jungin’s words, but he nodded vigorously.

---

Woohyun’s notes helped Jungin catch up with his missed lessons.

After class, Jungin approached Woohyun, who was holding a mop.

“I’m heading out first! I’ve got somewhere to be.”

“Alright. See you tomorrow!”

“See you!”

Jungin quickly grabbed his bag and stepped out of the classroom.

His eyes caught sight of Beomhyeon’s locker.

Staring at the name “Ki Beomhyeon,” pain gripped his heart as if someone were squeezing it.

Forcing himself to look away, he held his breath and left the school building.

“Jungin, young master, shall we head to the Happiness Orphanage?”

“Yes, that’s right. And about the things I requested…”

“Everything has been prepared as you asked. No need to worry.”

Hearing the reassuring response, Jungin’s face brightened, his cheeks lifting slightly.

The driver glanced at him through the rearview mirror and smiled as well.

“Then, let’s be on our way.”

“Alright.”

* * *