Minjin walked down the quiet hallway, her footsteps softly echoing on the polished floor. The afternoon sun streamed through the large windows, casting long shadows. As she approached classroom section 1, she noticed students engaged in self-study activities. With the classroom doors tightly shut, she peered through the glass window in search of Minjun. She crept closer but couldn't spot him. As she settled by the window, Mun Sara walked down the hallway, narrowing her eyes at the sight of Minjin.
"Minjin-ah?" Mun Sara's voice came as a faint whisper, yet it startled Minjin.
Minjin swiftly turned to Mun Sara.
"What brings you here?"
"I came to find you. How have you been?" Minjin replied.
Mun Sara greeted Minjin with a friendly smile. "I'm happy you came by. I'm feeling better now. Thanks for checking in."
Minjin's face relaxed. "I'm really glad to hear that. I won't hold you up—I'll head home now."
Mun Sara nodded in understanding. "All right, take care, Minjin! I'll catch up with you later." With one last wave, Mun Sara carefully opened the classroom door to avoid disturbing anyone inside.
###
Mun Sara returned home confidently after a long day at school. She found her mother sitting tensely in the living room, legs crossed. Her mother turned to her as she lingered near the doorway. The heaviness of the atmosphere struck her as she noticed the paper in her mother's hand.
"Sara-ah, come here. We need to talk."
Mun Sara swallowed hard and approached cautiously, standing close until her mother angrily tossed the paper to the floor. Fear caused Mun Sara to tremble, so she lowered her gaze and read the letter about her Mensa exam results.
Her mother sighed deeply, her frustration was evident, "Why did you even think of taking the Mensa exam, Sara-ah?"
Mun Sara lowered her head, tears welling up in her eyes. She struggled to respond, a lump forming in her throat. Her gaze remained fixed on the paper displaying her score of 101.
"Did you do this just to humiliate me, huh?!" Her mother's voice grew louder and more furious as she rose from her seat. She then laughed in disbelief. "I can't believe you're this dumb! You've just proven it to me!"
Mun Sara couldn't stop her tears from falling. Her jaw clenched as her body shook. "Go to your room and study until you feel exhausted!" Her mother commanded, pointing towards the stairs.
###
Quickly, Mun Sara bowed her head, took her Mensa results, and moved away from her mother.
###
Kim Aecha came home feeling exhausted. As she reached the entrance, the aroma of dinner wafted through the air. She saw her stepdad absorbed in a variety show in the living room. The coffee table was cluttered with beers and snacks, and he laughed heartily, even with food in his mouth.
Kim Aecha sighed and went over to her mother, who was busy cooking in the kitchen.
"Eomma, I need to talk to you about something."
Her mother turned to her and said, "You're already home," but she fell silent when she noticed the scratches and wounds on Kim Aecha's face.
Her mother quickly wiped her hands on her apron and focused on her daughter's injuries. She briefly glanced at her husband before leading Kim Aecha to her room, where she promptly shut and locked the door.
As her mother held her face, Kim Aecha noticed bruises on her mother's arms, causing her to instinctively pull away.
"What happened, Aecha-ah? Did you get into a fight?" her mother asked with concern.
"Eomma! Did he hit you again? Why do you allow that?" Kim Aecha exclaimed in frustration.
Her mother shook her head, attempting to cup Kim Aecha's face again, but she pulled away. "Don't worry about me. Just tell me what happened to you."
Kim Aecha moved away, placed her backpack on the bed, and turned to face her mother again. "I got into a fight with a classmate. The teacher wants you to come to school tomorrow. I'm sorry, eomma."
Her mother sighed deeply, lifted her head, and placed her hands on her hips. She then turned to her daughter and whispered, "Ya, if your father finds out about this, we're both in trouble!"
Kim Aecha shook her head and sighed. "He's not my father. I will never see him that way."
Her mother let out another sigh, "Stay put. Don't let him see you like this. I'll get your dinner."
With that, she turned away from Kim Aecha and left the room. Tears filled Kim Aecha's eyes as she collapsed onto her bed, burying her face in the pillow.
###
The following day, tension filled the school.
In the teachers' lounge, Choi Eun-hwa's and Kim Aecha's mothers confronted each other. Their voices grew louder with frustration. Each mother was resolute in defending her daughter. The intensity of their emotions conveyed that this was beyond a mere disagreement—it was profoundly personal.
The homeroom teacher, positioned between conflicting parties, sought to mediate the situation peacefully. He spoke calmly, easing the rising tensions and restoring some order to the chaotic environment. Despite his efforts, the loud voices and heated exchanges echoed down the hallway, capturing the attention of curious students.
Minjin walked through the corridors and caught sight of Mun Sara's sorrowful demeanor.
She called out, "Sara-ah!"
Mun Sara looked up, attempting to offer a faint smile. "Minjin-ah," she said.
"What's the matter? You seem a bit off," Minjin observed.
N-nothing," Mun Sara replied, tilting her head slightly.
"You can share with me. Maybe I can help."
Mun Sara sighed heavily and said, "I took the Mensa test a few weeks ago."
"Mensa? What were the results?" Minjin asked.
"I scored 101," Mun Sara said, her voice laced with sadness.
"That's amazing! You're even smarter than the dolphins!"
Mun Sara shook her head, her look becoming increasingly distressed. "No, that's not enough. I want an IQ higher than Einstein's."
"W-what? Why would you want that?" Minjin asked, confused.
Mun Sara grasped Minjin's hand and urged her forward. They dashed down the corridor, with Mun Sara guiding her to the rooftop.
"What's the matter?" Minjin inquired once they were by themselves.
Mun Sara inhaled deeply. "The guy I like is looking for a girl with an IQ higher than Einstein's."
Minjin fought to suppress laughter but managed to maintain a serious face. "W-what? Who is this guy, and why does he think that?"
Mun Sara gazed at her, "I'll share, but you must promise to keep it a secret."
"I promise," Minjin replied sincerely.
Mun Sara leaned in and whispered, "It's Kang Minjun."
Minjin's eyes went wide with shock, and her jaw dropped. "W-what?"
Mun Sara nodded gravely.
Minjin felt a flutter in her chest as she recalled Minjun confessing his feelings for her. Yet she found his approach absurd. How could he say that? She thought to herself.
"B-but, I find that absurd." She finally said.
"I guess so," Mun Sara said, her voice tinged with sadness.
"Sara-ah, can I share a secret with you?" Minjin asked, leaning in closer.
"What is it?" Mun Sara replied, attempting to whisper.
"I used to be in the same class as Kang Minjun in grade school," Minjin grinned.
Mun Sara's eyes widened in surprise, and she straightened her back. "Really?"
"Yeah! I had no idea he was here too until you mentioned it," Minjin smiled.
"Were you close?" Mun Sara inquired.
Minjin smiled awkwardly. "A little. But I know him well. So, would you like me to help you win his heart?"
Mun Sara looked at Minjin, astonished. "You'd help me?"
"Of course," Minjin assured her with a warm smile.
"How?" Mun Sara asked sincerely.
Minjin gently took Mun Sara's hands. "Just trust me."
###
Kim Aecha felt drained and stressed all day.
As she left the classroom, her phone vibrated in her pocket. Curious about the message, she checked her phone and recognized the name of the senior boy she had a crush on. A smile spread across her face as she read his text, urging her to hurry into the corridor. She moved through the crowd, politely excusing herself as she went to the school grounds.
Upon arriving at the gate, she scanned the crowd of students until her gaze found him, standing with his friends on the right side of the entrance.
"Sunbae!" she called out, prompting him to turn around. His friends exchanged knowing glances until one, grinning, said, "We'll head out," patting his shoulder.
"Aecha-ah, how have you been? Are you okay?" the senior asked.
Kim Aecha attempted a smile and nodded. "I'm fine, Sunbae."
"So, what's the verdict?" the senior asked.
"It was a lengthy agreement, but both parties decided to forgive each other," Kim Aecha replied, her smile forced.
The sunbae returned her smile and nodded. "Would you like me to comfort you?"
Kim Aecha smiled and nodded in agreement. "Yes."
###
Minjin was engrossed in her game at the PC center when her phone suddenly rang. Initially tempted to ignore it, she sighed and answered, "What?"
Kim Aecha's voice broke through, shaky and tearful.
"Aecha-ah? What's wrong?"
"Help me," she managed to cry.
Minjin's heart raced. "Wae? What happened?"
"Sunbae tried, but I got away," Kim Aecha's voice trembled, her sobs growing louder.
Minjin's worry turned to immediate action. "Bo? Where are you? I'm coming!" She quickly got up, leaving her game incomplete, and rushed out of the PC center.
Minjin reached the street, her breathing rapid as she looked around. She traced the sound of crying to an alley, where she found Kim Aecha sitting, shaking severely.
"Aecha-ah!" Minjin exclaimed. She placed a reassuring hand on Kim Aecha's shoulders, noticing she was shivering, and hugged her tightly. "It's okay; I'm here. Let's get out of this place."
With Minjin's assistance, Kim Aecha managed to stand up. They began to walk away from the alley together. Just as they were about to leave the residential area, they noticed their sunbae nearby. Kim Aecha remained frozen in fear.
Minjin felt a surge of frustration building inside her. Her expression became determined as she fixed her gaze on the sunbae. With a strong sense of purpose, Minjin stepped closer; her hands clenched into fists as she delivered a surprising punch to his cheek. The sudden impact made him stagger back.
Before he could regain his footing, she followed up with a powerful kick to his chest, sending him crashing to the ground. Kim Aecha stood nearby, paralyzed by fear and shock, which made it hard for her to move. The bystanders quickly rushed in to assist Minjin, reaching out to gently separate her from the sunbae. It took a while, but the crowd finally held her back.