TSESHR 08

Chapter : 08

“What I said wasn’t a curse. It was a prophecy. Please start thinking before you act. Some choices haunt you for life.”

Wow. Terrifying.

I’m twenty-nine and I’m still scared of punks like Song Yeoreum. No wonder no one ever stood up to her.

I secretly wiped my sweaty palms on my skirt.

Shake, shake, shake.

“So atmosphere really does crush you.”

They’re not gangsters, not chaebol heirs. Just high-school bullies — basically nobodies. I know that, and yet, stuck in the same tiny school world, I get scared anyway.

I clenched my trembling hands and forced myself to lift my chin.

“You think this time in your life lasts forever, don’t you? Give it just one year—kids’ll be too busy studying to care about you.”

By then no one will be on your side, and you’ll get swept up too, roaming between cram school and study rooms until 2 a.m. to get into college.

But by the time you regret it, it’ll already be too late.

Remember that college guy?
The one who swaggered into graduation swearing he’d take responsibility for everything, cracking eggs on his pregnant teenager girlfriend’s belly and laughing?

He ran off to the army three months after the baby was born.

She’s raising that kid alone.
Didn’t even get to go to the college she worked so hard to get into.

I cut all ties with everyone, and I STILL heard about it.

It kills me that I can’t spoil this for you.

“People say you don’t mess with even a dog while it’s eating. You really want to do this to a girl who just came back from the nurse’s office? Get your head on straight. You’ve got roughly 400 days left before you’re on .”

I shut up right there because Song Yeoreum’s face actually turned murderous.

“Wow….”

Laughing at the ceiling, Yeoreum looked back at me.

“Yeah, you’re done.”

She gave a sly grin and raised her hand to strike—
and that’s when Doyeon stood up.

“Stop.”

As if she’d been waiting, Song Yeoreum shoved Doyeon’s shoulder.

“Stop what? You kept your damn mouth shut all this time and now that this loser’s got one pathetic supporter, you think you’re hot shit?”

Wow. Does she chew on garbage before she talks…

Yeoreum hurled more curses and raised her hand again.

But—

“Hey. Seriously. Stop.”

This time, Seo Jaegyeom stepped in.

He strode over from the window seats where he’d been sitting with friends.
Stuck himself between us and forced Yeoreum’s arm down.
His face was pure annoyance.

“Song Yeoreum. I hate noise while I eat.”

“When did I make noise? Kang Dahye—!”

“Yeah. So keep it down.”

“I said it was Kang Dahye!”

“I said it’s loud.”

“For f— …”

“What.”

He wasn’t defending me, wasn’t protecting Doyeon — just annoyed.

That “I-am-so-tired-of-you” tone totally shut Yeoreum down. She could only mutter curses.

Sighing, Doyeon grabbed her barely-touched tray and stormed off.
I scrambled to follow.

“Hey, where are you—!”

“Song Yeoreum. Keep it down.”

“Seo Jaegyeom, why are you butting in?!”

“You’re loud.”

Boy or girl — nobody crosses Seo Jaegyeom.
Whatever got into him (probably just the noise), I was grateful.

On the way out, I mouthed ‘Sorry!’ to Jisoo, who was staring at us.

I’ll buy you chocolate milk later! Promise!

We headed not to the wisteria bench at the side of the field, but to the bleachers.

Doyeon noticed kids hanging out near the bench, turned away, and sat on the stands instead.

I followed like a nervous duckling and sat beside her.

Without looking at me, she said,

“You know what I hate most about eating alone?”

“What?”

“People watching.”

“Oh.”

“Makes me feel like I’m eating with a sign taped to my forehead—
‘I have no friends. I’m being shunned.’”

“…….”

“Why’d you help me?”

Why risk becoming a target like her — Doyeon looked right at me.

I rolled my eyes.

“…Because it helps me too?”

Because the next 11 years of my life are a disaster.

And I spent them wondering if I’d earned the misery somehow —
if karma was coming for me.

Every time I thought that, your name came first.

I always regretted not taking your side.

So if some god rewound time to make me do better…

“I’m not doing stuff I’ll regret anymore.”

“What?”

Totally confused, Doyeon frowned.

“Nothing. I dunno, it just felt like the right thing to do.”

I looked at the face of a girl who would be dead in two months.

All sorts of things happened, and I still lived to see twenty-nine —
but your clock froze at eighteen.

Because none of us found the courage.

Maybe if one person had acted differently, everything might’ve changed.

“Sorry I took this long to take your side.”

I knew exactly what was right and wrong, but fear made me look away.

I ignored your pain.
So I offered an apology that came a decade too late.

Doyeon stared right at me.

“Why are you crying?”

“Just… sniff. Because I’m sorry.”

“You didn’t bully me. Why are you sorry?”

“Everyone’s sorry, deep down.”

“Nope. Doubt it.”

She handed me a tissue from her pocket.
I took it with a pathetic, nasal snort.

So much for dignity.
Crying in front of someone eleven years younger.

“Not everyone thinks like you. Some kids who have nothing to do with me make sure to slam their shoulder into mine in the hall. Ever since I became one of the ‘it’s-okay-to-bully’ kids.”

“Snff… What? Are they insane?”

“They’ve been waiting for a chance. They never liked me, so now that it’s open season—bam.”

“Did you ever think of reporting them? I mean… Yeoreum and her lot.”

I vaguely remembered — wasn’t her mom a prosecutor? Or a judge? Something in law.

I only learned for sure when the police came after she died.

But Doyeon shook her head.

“I don’t want to disappoint my parents.”

“They wouldn’t be disappointed.”

“I know. I just don’t want to say it.
‘Your proud daughter can’t fit in at school. Everyone else is fine but she got pushed out.’
How do I tell them that?”

“I get it.”

I’d felt something like that too.

Everyone passes the exam but your mom’s daughter fails again.

Everyone else manages the bare minimum but you can’t.
Your mouth just seals up.

“But Doyeon, it’s not your fault.”

“…….”

“You did nothing wrong. Not one thing. You’re just the kid they targeted.”

“…….”

“You don’t owe me thanks for today either. I just did the obvious right thing. Don’t tiptoe around me or force yourself to do stuff for me.”

“Like what?”

“Uh… like if I asked to borrow your shoes and you really didn’t want to lend them, but you forced yourself because you’re scared I won’t be your friend?”

“So you heard about that.”

The time she got cursed out for refusing to lend shoes.
Doyeon laughed, and I laughed through my tears.

“I mean, ask if you want! But if they say no, accept it and move on! What the hell was that.”

“My point exactly. Total trash move.”

“Even I, a certified broke kid, sit quietly — what’s her excuse?”

I don’t borrow stuff much anyway — can’t afford to replace it if I lose it.
We giggled, and sunlight poured down on us.

Cold for now — but you could tell warmth was coming.

“I hate people watching me eat alone.”

“But you still come eat every day. You’ve already won.”

“Why would I starve? For who’s benefit?”

“True!”

“And I’m not dating the teacher.”

“God, of course you’re not! Are you crazy? Why’d you settle for some old dude!”

“I have plenty of clothes. If you want to borrow later, ask.”

“I’m fine. I’ve got a uniform.”

“You wear your uniform when you hang out after school?”

“Yep. My uniform’s basically glued to me.”

“Our uniforms are ugly though.”

“Still cost money and we only get to wear them three years. Gotta get my money’s worth.”

“Isn’t three years plenty?”

“I still carry my elementary school backpack.”

“…When’s your birthday? I’ll buy you a new bag.”

“I’ll buy you two.”

She declared.

That was U Doyeon’s way of saying thank you.

“Math next, right?”

“Yeah. Since we’re both in Class A, let’s grab our books together.”

“Okay.”

“By the way, I might drop to Class C next semester…”

“What are you talking about? You’re ranked first in the school.”

“Right now I am.”

Chattering comfortably, we walked down the hall —
under a rain of stares.

We ignored it and smiled even brighter as we opened the door to Class 1, where Math A Block was held.

Clatter.

And I locked eyes with Seo Jaegyeom — sitting casually on Jisoo’s desk as she did homework.