Seung Jee returned home, his thoughts churning. Eun Shin had been assaulted over the summer—he was sure of it. So why was she back with Jae Vin? With the one who'd hurt her? Was she in denial? Did she not understand what had happened to her?
I really thought you were smart. The thought made his stomach twist. He groaned and dropped onto the bed, frustration simmering beneath his skin.
Meanwhile, Eun Shin was still at school, waiting for everyone to leave under the bleachers where she had once stayed with Seung Jee.
He probably hates me now… He got hurt because of me.
As the sun began to set, she sniffled one last time and quietly left the school campus alone. Seok Jun was storming around the school gates, searching for Eun Shin, until he finally saw her. He panted, catching his breath, eyes wide with relief. Her gaze met his. She trembled.
"Jun-oppa…" she whispered. Tears welled in his eyes, sweat still clinging to his brow. He walked up to her and hugged her. She gasped and crumpled in his arms, sobbing. He bit his tongue. Words caught in his throat, useless. He just closed his eyes and held her tight, letting her cry until there was nothing left.
What happened to you? You…
Eun Shin returned home with Seok Jun. Yung Ji was standing outside the door, waiting for her. The moment Eun Shin saw her father, tears spilled over despite her effort to hold them back. Seok Jun stared, silently soothing her, steadying her with his presence. She nodded, her trembling hand reaching for the car door. When she stepped out, Yung Ji ran to the door and looked at her carefully.
"Eunnie… where were you all day?" he asked frantically. Eun Shin's lips trembled.
"Abeoji… I…" she faltered, unable to find the words. He stepped out behind her, meeting her father's gaze.
"She needs some rest," Seok Jun said. Yung Ji gulped and nodded.
"Jim Yae, help her inside," he commanded Jim Yae. Jim Yae, the household aide, gently took Eun Shin's arm.
"Let's head inside, Miss," Jim Yae said softly. Eun Shin followed obediently, looking back once before entering the house. Yung Ji waited until Eun Shin was on the stairs.
"What happened? Where was she?" Yung Ji asked seriously. Seok Jun bowed.
"Ajusshi, she was still at school. She never left…" Seok Jun answered. Yung Ji groaned and angrily sighed.
"What really happened that day? She left for that family's house and has never been the same since…" he asked himself more than to Seok Jun. Seok Jun frowned, confirming that Jae Vin definitely did something to her. Yung Ji had to pull himself together and look at Seok Jun.
"Ajusshi. I'll pick up Eun Shin tomorrow," Seok Jun said suddenly. Yung Ji froze for a second and nodded.
"Okay. You should go home then… Thank you for finding her, Seok Jun-ah," Yung Ji replied. Seok Jun smiled faintly.
"I'll be there for her, even if she won't open up…" Seok Jun solemnly stated. Yung Ji smiled, comforted by the words. Seok Jun returned to his car and left. Yung Ji returned inside and walked to Eun Shin's room. Yung Ji stood there, waiting for Eun Shin to open.
One minute. Ten minutes. Thirty minutes. An hour had gone by. Yung Ji sighed and softly patted the door.
"I love you, my princess. Good night," he whispered. Eun Shin sat down next to the door, muffling her cries once again. Once she heard his door close, she gasped and panted, steadying herself. She curled her head to her knees, sniffling.
"I'm sorry, abeoji… I'm really sorry."
Eun Shin cleaned herself before heading to bed that night, having nightmares of the sexual assault. Because of that, she stayed awake on her bed, numbed to the world, wishing she could disappear. Besides her suffering, she could only think of Seung Jee, wishing he would come to her and tell her that his home would always be there for her.
NEXT DAY
Seung Jee arrived at school, unaware that Eun Shin was absent. Seok Jun decided to drop by their classroom and glanced at Seung Jee. Seung Jee was visibly withdrawn from the world. He sat down and lay his head down, facing the window. The voices of the students descended from him.
As the day went by, Seok Jun and Min Ying approached Seung Jee before he could escape.
"Hi! Long time no see. How was your summer?" Min Ying asked curiously. Seung Jee looked at her, then turned away.
"I'm busy–"
"Running away?" Seok Jun interrupted. Seung Jee halted, his fingers twitched.
"I don't have time to talk," he said. Seok Jun scoffed.
"Nor does she. She chose not to talk," Seok Jun replied, hinting at Eun Shin. Seung Jee's eye flickered as he tried to laugh it off.
"So what?" he muttered and turned, striding toward the gates before anyone could stop him. Min Ying frowned, slowly understanding the situation.
"I wonder where Eun Shin is…" she worriedly asked. Seok Jun smirked.
"You can go home. I'll wait for her here," he said. She looked at him with a little envy.
"Do you like Eun Shin?" she asked suddenly. Seok Jun froze and looked at her, confused.
"Like?"
"You just seem... really protective of her. That's all. You seem like you like her," Min Ying said, validating her question. Seok Jun chuckled warmly.
"If there were a girl that I like, it would definitely be someone like you," he answered. Min Ying blushed immediately and turned away.
"Bye!" she shouted as she hurried to her car. Seok Jun laughed as he sat down on the stairs, waiting.
As the sun was setting, Eun Shin finally appeared from the pathway like she did yesterday. However, this time, Seok Jun sat there, waiting for her patiently. He stood and walked to her. She saw him and frowned.
"You don't need to say anything if you don't want to… But just know, your father and I really care about you. So don't think you're fighting alone… Okay?" Seok Jun reassured her. Eun Shin cried immediately and nodded.
"Okay…" she responded. Seok Jun sighed and reached his arms for her. She smiled and ran for the hug. "Thank you."
Seok Jun took Eun Shin home that day again. This time, Lim Rin greeted them at the door, looking upset. Eun Shin's hands were not trembling this time. They were sweating from fear and anxiety. Seok Jun noticed this and quickly grabbed her hand.
"I'll stay right here until you're safe inside," he reminded her. Eun Shin gasped and nodded, steadying her breathing.
"Okay…" she said as she breathed easily. She opened the door, and Lim Rin glared at her.
"Why do you come home so late again?" Lim Rin asked, annoyed. Eun Shin drew in a slow breath, bracing herself.
"I'm sorry…" she mumbled. Seok Jun followed her out of the car and bowed to her mother.
"Ajumma. Eun Shin has been helping me with some personal things, so please don't be harsh on her. I asked her to stay," Seok Jun said, chuckling the awkwardness away. Lim Rin groaned.
"Seok Jun-ah, it's only the second day of school. What could be helpful when you're already too smart?" Lim Rin dismissed his statement. Seok Jun scratched his neck awkwardly.
"Well, it's personal. I only want Eun Shin to know, but since you don't trust me, I'll fill you in," he replied. He leaned toward Lim Rin's ear. Eun Shin looked at them, confused. Lim Rin's eyes widened with cheerfulness.
"Daebak! Wow, such a cute young man…" she said. Seok Jun blushed and glanced at Eun Shin. He signaled for her to go in. Eun Shin nodded and glanced at her mother.
"I'll go in first," Eun Shin said. Lim Rin moved out of the way.
"Go ahead," she replied, brushing Eun Shin to go. Eun Shin walked by, surprised. Seok Jun smirked as Eun Shin made her way to her room. He then bowed as a goodbye.
"I have to go now," he said. Lim Rin nodded happily.
"Take care. I hope that girl says yes," Lim Rin replied. Seok Jun chuckled and returned to the car. Eun Shin closed the door behind her and sulked by the door. She went to her phone and messaged Seok Jun.
Eun Shin: "What did you say to my mom?"
Seok Jun: "😉 a secret"
Eun Shin smiled.
"Come on…" she said to herself.
Eun Shin: "Like?"
Seok Jun: "Don't tell anyone…"
Eun Shin: "Okay"
Seok Jun: "I like Min Ying. I want you to help me ask her out"
Eun Shin giggled on the floor. She felt relief.
Eun Shin: "Okay 😊"
Seok Jun stared at his phone happily.
"I hope that made your day despite the darkest days that had happened," he softly said to himself.
Once Seok Jun returned home, Eun Shin lay on her bed, trying to sleep. She stared at the window, gasping her night away.
"Will you forgive me if I said that it was for you?" she asked herself, sobbing. The night was long and silent. Eun Shin stayed awake once again while Seung Jee started to feel restless. He stared at the window, then at the baby photo that Eun Shin wanted to see. He groaned and tried to keep his mind off of her.
"Stop thinking about her… Dammit," he muffled himself by sleeping with his face on the pillow.
THIRD DAY OF SCHOOL
Eun Shin entered through the school gates before Seung Jee caught a glimpse of her. Seung Jee couldn't stop watching her walk past the building entrance, reminding himself to stop thinking about her. Seok Jun came by after getting out of his car and saw Seung Jee staring at Eun Shin. He smirked as he walked to Seung Jee.
"Good morning. How was your sleep, runner?" Seok Jun asked, teasing. Seung Jee reluctantly looked at Seok Jun and hurried inside. Seok Jun followed.
"Stop following me!" Seung Jee shouted. Seok Jun smiled.
"I have class this way too," Seok Jun replied. Seung Jee groaned.
"What? What do you want to ask?" he asked. Seok Jun grabbed Seung Jee's shoulder and pulled him away from the building. They stopped behind the school building.
"What happened? Why is Eun Shin like this?" Seok Jun asked seriously. Seung Jee gasped, trembling, hesitating to keep himself composed.
"How the hell should I know? Go ask–"
"It seems like you know nothing about Eun Shin," Seok Jun interrupted. Seung Jee's jaw tightened.
"What–"
"If I'm asking you, that means she hasn't said a single word to me about what happened. And that scares me because if something happened, she always came to me first. Always," Seok Jun said, pointing at Seung Jee. Seung Jee froze.
"What do you mean?"
"I grew up with Eun Shin… She might seem naive until you realize she's just used to surviving. People see what they want, but no one really looks. However, I'm not that person because I know her. I met her family and her since we were in kindergarten. If something horrible happened to her, she would never be the first person to talk about it. Especially if it involves many people that she cares about," Seok Jun explained. Seung Jee swallowed the lump in his throat, feeling slightly guilty.
"So what?" he dismissed. Seok Jun smirked.
"That attitude? That's exactly what made her shut down in the first place. Don't brush off what she's been through. She's survived more than you know," Seok Jun stated. Seung Jee sensed an overly protection from Seok Jun and felt angry.
"Then why didn't she go to you when she needed help?" Seung Jee asked, deflecting his guilt. Seok Jun shook his head in disbelief.
"Maybe because she knew I'd stop her before she could act. Or maybe… she didn't want me to get hurt trying," Seok Jun answered. Seung Jee clenched his fists so tightly his nails bit into his palms.
"So she would rather have me get hurt–"
"She would never! She cares about you, too. Otherwise, Jae Vin wouldn't be up in your face today," Seok Jun cut in. Seung Jee's hands trembled because it was true. He just had a fight with Jae Vin during the summer. Why wasn't Jae Vin bullying him? Seok Jun saw how speechless Seung Jee was and groaned.
"Look, I get it. You probably felt upset or even betrayed by her. But Eun Shin isn't that kind of person. I know her. Her family situation is complicated, messy even. So don't judge her by the facade she puts on. If you want to understand her, you need to watch carefully, listen with more than just your ears…" Seok Jun said, pausing. Seung Jee gulped, releasing his clenched fists slowly.
"I… I don't really know how to explain how I feel about all this," Seung Jee finally admitted. Seok Jun bitterly chuckled.
"Her mother… she's a crazy one. When I first visited their home, I saw how different it was. Eun Shin had drawn a family photo and showed it to her mother. Her mother tore it apart right in front of her and me. She was only six years old," Seok Jun continued. He paused, recalling how traumatized he was to witness such action from a mother. "Do you know what happened to that paper? Eun Shin taped it back together… while crying. That's the kind of strength she has."
Seung Jee gasped because this child version of her said a lot. He couldn't refute anything because Seok Jun had always been there for her. Seok Jun smiled, breaking the silence.
"She just wanted a place to stand when the world turned dark. Her father took that torn family drawing and carefully placed it in his office. A silent promise that, no matter how her mother acted, he loved her," Seok Jun said, finishing his explanation. Seung Jee gasped, steeling himself.
Was her mother really like that? Seung Jee shut his eyes.
"She doesn't ask for help because she learned it never came. So don't you dare call her clueless. Her mother will do anything to control her in every way. If you call yourself her friend, don't insult her by thinking she's clueless. That's not just wrong… it's cruel," Seok Jun stated. Seung Jee panted, trying to recollect the information that Seok Jun gave him.