Gu Mi sat frozen in her seat, her eyes wide as the name "Kim Hye Ji" echoed in her ears.
Her mother, confused, looked at her daughter.
"Who's Kim Hye Ji?" she asked curiously.
Before she could press further, Gu Mi quickly snapped,
"It's no one, Mom!"
But In Hae's grin only widened.
She stood slowly, brushing off her uniform, her voice calm and cutting.
"Don't worry. You'll meet her soon… isn't that right, Gu Mi?"
She leaned in closer, her lips nearly at Gu Mi's ear.
"I heard your dad's running for election. Congratulations… in advance."
Gu Mi's expression shattered. She dropped to her knees suddenly.
"Please, forgive me…"
Tears welled in her eyes.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have bullied anyone. It was my fault I deserve the punishment…"
The room fell silent.
Her mother scowled, embarrassed.
"What are you doing?! Get up! Stop humiliating yourself!"
But Gu Mi turned, face twisted with frustration and fear.
"Stay out of this, Mom! You don't understand!"
In Hae stood still, arms crossed, eyes glinting.
"This," she said coolly, "is what's ruining your daughter. You."
She turned to the mother.
"At least Gu Mi knows what could've happened if she didn't kneel today. Right, Gu Mi?"
Gu Mi nodded quickly, ashamed.
In Hae began walking toward the door, then stopped to lick the blood from the side of her bruised lip.
Her friend, standing nearby, was speechless.
She had never seen Gu Mi kneel to anyone especially not In Hae.
Before leaving the room, In Hae cast one final smirk toward the girl's mother.
"This is going to be fun," she whispered with wicked delight.
Outside the principal's office, Woo Joon was finishing his conversation with the principal.
The man bowed deeply.
"I'm truly sorry for the incident. I had no idea she was your sister, Mr. Woo."
Woo Joon nodded, barely listening. Just as the principal walked away, In Hae came up beside him.
"What were you two talking about?" she asked, casually slipping her hands into her blazer pockets.
He opened his mouth to respond but his phone rang.
Woo Joon answered, and his face immediately darkened.
"…What?" he said sharply.
"A house was destroyed?"
His pulse quickened. He got a message on his phone it was the picture of the house he was earlier.
The one he'd just left earlier.
He looked at In Hae, troubled.
"I've got to go. I'll explain later."
Without waiting for a response, he dashed off toward the parking lot, jumped into his car, and sped away.
In Hae stood there watching him disappear down the road, the weight of his sudden panic pressing on her.
Then a familiar voice pulled her attention back.
"In Hae."
She turned.
Gu Mi was standing behind her, lips trembling.
Gu Mi stood stiff in the hallway, fists clenched as she watched In Hae casually lean against the lockers, acting as if nothing had happened.
"How do you know about her?" Gu Mi asked through gritted teeth.
In Hae tilted her head, pretending to look confused.
"Know about who?"
"You know who I'm talking about," Gu Mi snapped, stepping closer.
"Stop pretending."
A slow, mischievous smile crept onto In Hae's face.
She leaned in, whispering low so no one could overhear.
"Oh... you mean Hye Ji?"
Gu Mi froze.
In Hae's voice dropped, a mock gasp escaping her lips.
"I think she's about… one month pregnant now?"
Gu Mi's face turned pale.
"I wonder what people will think when they find out your father your precious, respected father is sleeping with a 17-year-old."
She chuckled darkly.
"That's illegal, you know. Disgusting, too. So bizarre."
Gu Mi's hand flew out, grabbing In Hae's collar in desperation.
"Don't say anything to my mother. Please."
In Hae looked down at the trembling hand clutching her blazer, then slowly peeled it away.
"You shouldn't be worried about your mother," she said coldly.
"You should be worried about the public. What happens to your dear daddy's career when this gets out? The election? Gone. Your family's reputation? Gone. He'll rot in prison... and you'll be just another scandal's daughter."
Gu Mi's voice cracked.
"What do you want from me?"
In Hae smirked.
"What do I want?"
She pretended to think.
"Hmm... I don't know."
"Please…" Gu Mi pleaded, her voice trembling.
"Don't tell anyone. I'll do anything. I swear I won't bully anyone again. I promise."
In Hae stepped forward, her face now dead serious.
"Then prove it."
Gu Mi looked up, confused.
"How?"
In Hae crossed her arms.
"Apologize to the girl you bullied. Properly. And every day, you'll buy her a drink. No funny business. No pretending."
She leaned in again, her voice sharp as a blade.
"If you so much as glare at her wrong… I'll eat you alive, Gu Mi."
Gu Mi swallowed hard, then whispered:
"If… if I do all that, will you keep my secret?"
In Hae's lips curled into a cold, confident smile.
"Yes."
And with that, she turned on her heel and walked off, leaving Gu Mi standing alone, suffocating in shame and fear.