The neighborhood is peaceful at this hour, with only the occasional birdcall piercing the stillness. She arrives at the school gates with plenty of time to spare, the large campus still relatively empty as students trickle in.Upon entering the classroom, Seul-ki scans the room for an ideal spot to settle down. Most of the desks are still empty, given the early hour. She makes her way to the front row, choosing a seat near the window. The morning light filters in through the glass, illuminating the desk with a warm glow. She places her bag on the floor next to her and takes out her notebook and pens, arranging them neatly on the desk. As Seul-ki organizes her study materials on the desk, the classroom begins to fill with the soft murmur of students entering and finding their seats. The chatter grows louder as more students file in, the room slowly coming to life with the energy of the new day.The hum of conversation in the classroom continues to rise as the minutes tick by. Students exchange greetings, share stories from the weekend, and discuss the upcoming exams. Some cast curious glances towards Seul-ki in the front row, her focused demeanor a stark contrast to the casual atmosphere.
The classroom clock ticks closer to the start of the school day. Students settle into their seats, the chatter gradually subsiding. A few latecomers hurry in, their rushed apologies barely audible over the shuffling of feet and backpacks. The teacher, Ms. Park, enters the room, her presence immediately commanding attention. She sets her materials on the desk.As the bell rings, signaling the start of the examperiod, Ms. Park walks to the front of the classroom, her hands holding a stack of exam papers. With a calm and assertive demeanor, she begins to distribute the papers, moving from the first row to the last. Each student receives their exam paper with a quiet word of thanks or a nod of acknowledgment.Ms. Park finishes distributing the exam papers and returns to her desk. She looks over the classroom and announces, "You may now begin your exam. Remember to read each question carefully and manage your time wisely." The room falls silent, the only sounds being the occasional shuffle of papers and the soft ticking of the wall clock.With Ms. Park's announcement still hanging in the air, Seul-ki takes a deep breath and picks up her pen. She carefully reads the first question on the exam paper, her mind already sifting through the knowledge she has studied in preparation for this moment. With a sense of determination, she begins to write her answer, her handwriting neat and precise.After diligently working through the exam, Seul-ki reviews her answers one last time. Satisfied with her responses, she stands up, holding her completed exam paper in hand. She walks over to Ms. Park's desk and submits her paper with a polite nod. Ms. Park gives her a small, encouraging smile in return.Seul-ki leaves the classroom, her steps echoing in the now nearly empty hallway. She makes her way to the school library, the large oak doors standing invitingly open. Inside, the library is a sanctuary of quiet and calm, rows upon rows of books lining the shelves, their spines displaying a myriad of titles in various subjects.
Ji-hoon and his friends appeared out of nowhere,hey country bumpkin,Ji hoon said,What do you want answered Seul-ki,I can see you are studying hi hi,Ji hoon said,None of your business said Seul-ki,How dare you country bumpkin talk to me like that,Ji-hoon said angrily,You know something Ji-hoon ssi,i'm fed up with your insults everyday,who do you think you are,because your dad is rich and i work for you,so you think you can treat me like trash,I'm begging you please,stop it,Seul-ki said,She left their sight after spitting her heart out. Ji-hoon and his friends exchange glances, taken aback by Seul-ki's unexpected retort. There's a moment of silence before Ji-hoon breaks into a smirk, his eyes glinting with a mixture of amusement and annoyance. "Feisty, aren't we?" he remarks, crossing his arms over his chest. His friends snicker, their laughter echoing in the library.Ignoring the smirks and snickers, Seul-ki turns her attention back to her studies. She walks away from Ji-hoon and his friends, heading deeper into the library where the silence is more conducive to concentration. She finds an empty table tucked away in a corner, surrounded by shelves filled with academic tomes. Settling down, she opens her textbook and begins to review the next set of exam material.Ji-hoon's smirk fades, replaced by a scowl. His friends, sensing the shift in mood, fall silent. "You're overstepping, Country bumpkin," he retorts, his voice carrying a clear note of warning. Seul-ki's words seem to echo in the library long after she has moved away from Ji-hoon and his friends.Ji-hoon's friends exchange uneasy glances, the tension in the air palpable. One of them, Jun-ho, steps forward, attempting to diffuse the situation. "C'mon, Ji-hoon, let's just go," he suggests, placing a hand on Ji-hoon's shoulder. Ji-hoon shakes him off, his gaze still fixed on Seul-ki's retreating figure.
Srey-na, overhearing the exchange from a distance, fumes as she watches Seul-ki walk away from Ji-hoon. She had been observing the scene, her interest piqued by the unusual display of defiance from the Seul-ki. Srey-na's eyes narrow, her mind already brewing with plans for retribution.Srey-na, seething from the earlier confrontation, gathers her friends in a secluded corner of the schoolyard during lunch break. She shares her plan with them, ensuring that each of them understands their role in teaching Seul-ki a lesson. They nod in agreement, their expressions a mix of excitement and malice.
The bell rings, signaling the end of the lunch period. Srey-na and her friends disperse from their huddle, each heading to their respective positions around the school. Srey-na makes her way to the library, where she knows Seul-ki will be studying. She enters the quiet space, her eyes scanning the room for her target.Srey-na spots Seul-ki engrossed in her studies at a secluded table in the corner of the library. With a calculated smile, she saunters over to the librarian's desk, borrowing a thick book that she has no intention of reading. She then casually strolls towards Seul-ki, her footsteps muffled by the plush carpet.Srey-na approaches Seul-ki's table, the heavy book in her hands serving as her prop. She stops a few feet away, looking down at Seul-ki with an air of feigned surprise. "Oh, I didn't realize you were here," she says, her voice dripping with insincerity. "Do you mind if I sit here? It's so quiet and peaceful."Srey-na gestures to the empty chair across from Seul-ki without waiting for a response. She pulls out the chair and sits down, placing the large book on the table with a thud that disrupts the silence. As she opens the book, she glances at Seul-ki, her eyes betraying her true intentions.Seul-ki looks up from her textbook, her concentration broken by the sudden presence of Srey-na. She meets Srey-na's gaze for a brief moment, her expression neutral but her eyes reflecting a hint of wariness. Seul-ki then glances at the book Srey-na has placed on the table, noticing its thickness and the unfamiliar title.
Srey-na, with a mischievous glint in her eyes, reaches for her bottle of boba drink, which she had strategically placed on the table before approaching Seul-ki. With a swift motion, she upends the bottle, the sweet, sticky liquid cascading over Seul-ki's textbooks and notes. "Oops, sorry, I didn't see," Srey-na says with feigned innocence.Seul-ki jumps up from her seat, her textbooks and notes now soaked in the boba drink. The library, once a haven of quiet study, fills with the sound of splashing liquid and the gasps of nearby students. Srey-na steps back, a smirk playing on her lips as she watches the chaos she's caused.Seul-ki stands in shock, her eyes wide as she looks down at the mess on the table. The boba drink seeps into her textbooks, the pages warping and the ink running. She can feel the sticky liquid on her hands and clothes, the sweet smell of the drink now tainted with the bitterness of the situation.Seul-ki quickly gathers her damp and sticky belongings, tucking them under her arm. She rises from her chair, her expression a mix of shock and determination. Without a word, she turns and walks briskly out of the library, leaving Srey-na and the onlookers behind.Seul-ki makes her way through the school corridors, the sticky sensation of the boba drink clinging to her clothes and books. Her face is a mask of composure, but her swift steps betray her urgency. She navigates the familiar hallways, heading towards the washroom, a place where she can assess the damage in private.Upon reaching the washroom, Seul-ki enters a vacant stall, closing the door behind her. She carefully places her soaked belongings on the closed toilet lid. The once crisp pages of her textbooks are now bloated with moisture, the ink blurring passages and diagrams essential for her studies. She removes her cardigan, the fabric stained with the dark liquid, and sets it aside.
Seul-ki turns on the tap, letting the water run until it's cold. She takes a deep breath, steadying herself as she prepares to tackle the mess. With careful hands, she rinses her textbooks, one by one, under the stream of water, doing her best to salvage the information within. The pages make a soft, papery sound as they absorb the water, the ink still running but gradually becoming legible once more.Seul-ki, having done her best to clean the boba drink from her belongings, steps out of the washroom. Her clothes are damp, and the faint smell of the drink lingers, but she carries herself with a quiet resolve. She makes her way to the classroom where her next exam paper will be administered.Seul-ki enters the classroom, her presence immediately drawing the attention of her classmates. The whispers begin to ripple through the room, but she ignores them, focusing instead on finding her seat. Her desk, located near the front of the classroom, still bears the wet marks from her earlier cleaning efforts. She sets her damp textbooks on the table, careful to keep them open to pages that are still legible.The classroom hums with the quiet anticipation of students preparing for their exam. Seul-ki takes her seat, her damp textbooks and clothes a stark contrast to the pristine condition of her surroundings. She arranges her pens and pencils neatly on her desk, ensuring everything is in place for the exam.As Seul-ki settles into her seat, the classroom continues to buzz with the low murmur of students conversing in hushed tones. Ms. Park, the teacher in charge of the exam, enters the room carrying a stack of exam papers. She sets them down on her desk at the front of the classroom, surveying the room to ensure all students are present and seated.Ms. Park nods in satisfaction as she scans the room, confirming that all the students, including Seul-ki, are in their places. She walks over to her desk, picking up the stack of exam papers with a firm grip. Clearing her throat to capture the attention of the class, she begins to distribute the papers, starting with the first row.Ms. Park moves systematically through the classroom, her steps measured and purposeful. She places an exam paper face down on each student's desk, the rustle of paper the only sound breaking the silence that has now enveloped the room. As she approaches Seul-ki's row, she pauses momentarily, acknowledging Seul-ki with a brief nod before placing the exam paper on her desk.Ms. Park, having distributed all the exam papers, returns to her desk. She glances at the clock on the wall, noting the time before addressing the class. "You may now begin your exam," she announces in a clear voice. The room remains silent, the only sound being the rustling of papers as students turn over their exam booklets to reveal the questions.Seul-ki takes a deep breath, her hands poised over the exam paper. She reads through the first question carefully, her mind already sifting through the information she has studied. With a confident stroke, she begins to write her answer, her handwriting neat and precise despite the dampness of her clothes and the lingering smell of the boba drink.Upon submitting her exam paper, Seul-ki gathers her belongings, the dampness of her textbooks a stark reminder of the incident in the library. She exits the classroom, her footsteps echoing in the now-quiet hallway. As she walks towards the school gates, her mind replays the events of the day, the taste of humiliation still fresh.Seul-ki turns on the tap, letting the water run until it's cold. She takes a deep breath, steadying herself as she prepares to tackle the mess. With careful hands, she rinses her textbooks, one by one, under the stream of water, doing her best to salvage the information within. The pages make a soft, papery sound as they absorb the water, the ink still running but gradually becoming legible once more.
She walks briskly towards the bus stop, the dampness of her clothes a constant reminder of the day's events. As she waits for the bus, she stands a little apart from the other students, her gaze focused on the road ahead.The bus arrives with a hiss of air brakes, and Seul-ki steps on board, finding a seat near the back. The ride home is uneventful, the familiar landscape passing by in a blur of colors. Upon reaching her stop, she disembarks and walks the short distance to the Han family residence.As Seul-ki approaches the Han family residence, the grandeur of the estate stands in stark contrast to the day's unpleasant events. She enters through the side door used by the staff, immediately greeted by the comforting aromas of the kitchen.