After class that day, Eun Shin slid into the backseat of the car, silent. She didn’t glance at the driver, nor did she check her phone. Her hands rested stiffly on her lap, nails pressed into her palm.

Seung Jee’s hunched shoulders, painted in shame at the cafeteria, still haunted her. And Jae Vin’s grip, tight and cold as he yanked her away, lingered on her arm like a bruise that hadn’t formed yet.

She stared out the window as the school disappeared behind them.

Seung Jee made it home safely, but Jae Vin lingered at the school gates, a smirk curling at the corners of his mouth.

“Such a joke…” he muttered under his breath. One of his friends clapped a hand on his shoulder.

“Hey, you got more of that stuff?” the friend asked eagerly.

Jae Vin nodded toward his crew.

“Yeah. Let’s head to my place.” The group grinned and followed him without hesitation.

Seok Jun arrived just in time to watch Jae Vin and his pack peel out, loud and smug as always. Shaking his head, Seok Jun started toward his waiting car, but then she appeared. Min Ying stepped into his path with calculated surprise.

“Oh—I’m so sorry,” she said quickly, eyes wide like she hadn’t timed it perfectly. Seok Jun paused, studying her carefully.

“You’re okay,” he replied, stepping aside.

Min Ying flushed, whether genuine or not, she couldn’t tell. She bowed low, then spun away, running off. Seok Jun smiled quietly to himself.

“Interesting,” he muttered, sliding into the backseat of the black car idling nearby. Unlike Jae Vin’s crew, Seok Jun never indulged in their reckless plans.

Meanwhile, at Jae Vin’s house, the side building buzzed with a small party. Jae Vin tossed a bag on the table and slouched onto the couch, eyes fixed anxiously on his phone. The others were high on whatever he’d brought—buzzed, careless, loud.

Gom Taek Il smirked as he joked, “My dad said if I don’t get into a good university like Harvard, he’s cutting my allowance. Sunbae, you better put in a good word at Hex for me.”

The boys laughed, but Jae Vin’s smile never quite reached his eyes. They were here for the perks, not friendship.

A servant knocked on the door. Jae Vin opened it, listening.

“Madam wants you to arrange a meeting with the Park family. She said it needs to be perfect. No mistakes.”

Jae Vin nodded sharply.

“Okay, okay. Just go,” he snapped, slamming the door. He groaned, sinking back onto the couch as the boys carried on laughing in their own worlds.

“Come on, take a hit with us!” Kim Goo Yun called out to him. Jae Vin shrugged him off and pulled out his phone.

“She’s not answering. I need to fix this before tomorrow,” he said.

Goo Yun smirked.

“You haven’t even started? Still playing innocent?” The others giggled.

“She’s all sweet and proper—just pretending. I don’t know why you’re dating her. You should be with someone outgoing, like Rena.”

“Yeah! Rena’s hot too!”

“But I think Eun Shin’s better. She hides it, but underneath…” Taek Il added with a knowing look.

Jae Vin’s glare snapped toward them.

“Didn’t know you cared so much about my girlfriend. Should I be jealous?”

The boys laughed it off.

“Come on! You know that’s not true. Let’s be real—if her dad wasn’t who he is, you’d have ditched her by now,” Taek Il said, patting Jae Vin’s shoulder.

“Fuck off…” Jae Vin moved his shoulder away from Taek Il’s hand.

“Hey, maybe you’ll finally graduate this year, sunbae,” Taek Il snorted.

Jae Vin didn’t even flinch. Let them laugh. As long as Eun Shin was here, he had reason to stay.

Jae Vin’s fingers tapped against his thigh, one knee bouncing nervously. His phone stayed silent. No reply. Eun Shin’s silence unraveled him.

He slapped his phone down, standing abruptly.

“Party’s over at six. Don’t make me say it twice. I’m heading inside.” He stormed out of the side house.

Taek Il smirked and rolled his eyes.

“Typical arrogant asshole,” he muttered as the doors closed.

The boys packed up and left before six. Jae Vin stayed behind, locked in his room, trying again and again to reach Eun Shin.

Frustration boiled over. He slammed his phone against the side table and groaned.

“What the fuck… this is so infuriating.” Raking a hand through his hair, he struggled against the growing unease her silence stirred deep inside him. She’s the only one who sees through me. But sometimes I want to break her just to remind her she’s mine.

Meanwhile, Eun Shin sat through her tutoring session, focused and silent. Her phone lay tucked away in silent mode. Only after class ended, just before ten, did she check it. Multiple messages from Jae Vin blinked on the screen.

Jae Vin: “What was that about?”

Jae Vin: “Why did you leave without saying anything?”

Jae Vin: “Hello?”

Jae Vin: “Hello?”

Jae Vin: “My parents want to have dinner with your family.”

Eun Shin groaned at the last message. She knew his family had been pushing for this meeting for a long time. Choosing silence, she pocketed her phone and headed home.

At the dining table, her father, Yung Ji, was buried in paperwork. He looked up and adjusted his glasses when Eun Shin entered.

“You’re back?” he asked softly.

Eun Shin smiled warmly, slipping off her shoes and placing them neatly on the rack.

“I’m back.”

Yung Ji returned her smile and pulled out a chair for her.

“Come, sit. How’s school?”

Eun Shin settled down and brightened.

“Same as always… nothing new. There’s a transfer student, though. He’s very kind and considerate.”

Her father’s gaze softened with her smile.

“That’s good. Did you become friends?”

She nodded eagerly.

“Yes. He’s sweet—he even knew I liked this matcha drink!” She pressed the bottle to her cheek, grinning.

Yung Ji chuckled.

“Sounds like he has a crush on you, my girl.”

But Eun Shin’s smile faltered.

“I don’t know… Abeoji, I’m still dating Jae Vin.”

A heavy sigh escaped Yung Ji. He chuckled nervously.

“Why are you dating him? Because of your mother? If so, drop it. He’s not worth it. I’ve heard rumors about his family. They don’t sound good.”

Eun Shin appreciated her father’s concern, but the weight of her mother’s expectations pressed down on her.

Suddenly, Park Lim Rin stormed in, eyes flashing.

“Why didn’t you tell me the Lees want to have dinner with us?” she snapped, her voice sharp and breathless.

Eun Shin flinched, covering her head instinctively. Her father’s gaze flicked to his wife, worry etched in his eyes.

“Dear, I’ve been busy. I haven’t had time for dinners with strangers,” he said, defensive.

Lim Rin shot him a glare.

“You don’t? You’re sitting here chatting with your daughter! They don’t have time either—they run a big company. And strangers? Jae Vin is her boyfriend. She should be grateful that a rich kid even notices her.”

Eun Shin bit her lip, closing her eyes.

“Ma… I’m busy with tutoring—”

“Quit the tutoring! You don’t need it. Reply to them and say yes. We’ll have dinner this Saturday,” Lim Rin interrupted sharply.

Yung Ji slammed his hand on the table. Eun Shin jumped, glancing at him. Lim Rin’s eyes narrowed at him.

“Don’t tell our daughter to forget her studies. If she doesn’t study, how will she get into a good university? Life is already hard for many. Our daughter needs to support herself, but that starts when her parents support her,” Yung Ji said firmly.

Lim Rin’s hands trembled, tears threatening to spill.

“You never cared about me, did you?” she challenged.

Yung Ji sighed heavily, softening.

“Honey, that’s not—”

“Just because you’ve earned status through success and I haven’t, you want to rip that opportunity away from me!” she shouted, then turned and stormed out.

Yung Ji groaned, frustration tightening his jaw. Eun Shin reached out, taking his hand gently.

“Abeoji…”

He nodded softly.

“Eunnie, eat and rest. Jim Yae, serve her dinner.”

The maidservant Jim Yae appeared promptly, holding out her hand. Eun Shin smiled faintly and followed.

After dinner, Eun Shin took a long shower, letting the warm water wash away the tension of the day. She slipped under her covers and pulled out her phone, scrolling through Jae Vin’s messages once more. A heavy sigh escaped her lips as she tapped out a brief reply.

Love 💗: “Saturday. You choose the place…”

She locked her phone and set it gently on the bedside table. Her gaze drifted to the half-empty matcha drink Seung Jee had given her earlier—a small comfort untouched by her mother’s pressure or Jae Vin’s volatile presence. It was a quiet reminder of kindness, something steady in the chaos.

Softly, she whispered to herself, “I’m going to find a way out of this… somehow.”

With that silent vow, she closed her eyes. Almost immediately, her phone lit up again, breaking the stillness.

Jae Vin: “Are you asleep? Can I come over?”

NEXT DAY

Eun Shin woke up early and ate breakfast in silence before heading to school. At the school gates, Jae Vin stood waiting, frustration etched across his face. As she approached, his glare sharpened. Eun Shin met his eyes with clear displeasure and stopped in front of him. He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. Around them, students passed by, whispering and staring — the golden couple under the spotlight.

She sighed heavily, waiting for him to speak.

“Why didn’t you answer me last night?” Jae Vin asked, voice low but edged with accusation.

“I did. I told you Satur—” Eun Shin started, but he cut her off.

“No. I asked if you were asleep,” he interrupted sharply.

Her eyes narrowed, recognizing the control beneath his words.

“I was asleep. Why did you need to ask?” she snapped back, the frustration simmering just beneath the surface. She refused to let him dominate her anymore; she needed to hold on to what little control she had left.

Jae Vin smirked and leaned closer, invading her space.

“You know how important it is for your father to show up this time, don’t you?” His tone was mocking, his eyes gleaming with superiority as if this was a test of his worth to his family.

Eun Shin scoffed, barely suppressing a bitter smile, then stormed inside the school building.

She slumped at her desk, burying her head in her arms.

Seung Jee entered, gym clothes in hand, preparing to change. As he opened his locker—

CLICK. POP!

A loud bang echoed. Heads snapped toward him, laughter erupting instantly. Eun Shin turned quickly and saw Seung Jee, drenched in blue paint—both his school uniform and gym clothes ruined.

Seung Jee trembled, panic rising as the reality sank in: he had no clean clothes left.

Eun Shin rushed to his side gently and steadily.

“Seung Jee… it’s okay.”

But his breathing was rapid, eyes darting wildly. The laughter around them crescendoed, drowning out her words. Through the haze, only one phrase pierced his mind: You’re an embarrassment.

I… N-No… I-I… tried… to b-be strong… He couldn’t break free from the flood of shame and trauma.

Jae Vin strolled past the doorway, laughter cold and mocking. Mouth moving silently, he spat out, “Loser!”

Students gathered outside the classroom, laughing and pointing at Seung Jee.

Seok Jun appeared suddenly, rushing over with a serious look.

“Use my clothes,” he offered without hesitation.

Something inside Seung Jee snapped as he realized Eun Shin hadn’t left. She looked between them both with concern and urgency.

“Take it,” Eun Shin urged softly, pressing the clean clothes into Seung Jee’s trembling hands.

He hesitated but nodded, clutching the clothes tightly.

Seok Jun’s frustration boiled over, eyes narrowing at the thought of Jae Vin. Why does he enjoy making others suffer?

“Class is about to start,” Seok Jun warned.

Eun Shin shook her head, ignoring the approaching teacher, and gently pulled Seung Jee away from the room before the lesson began.