Chapter 3 Bruised But Not Broken

The bell rang, shrill and final. The last class of the day was over, but for Ha-rin, it was just the beginning of another humiliation.

The students began to pack their bags and chatter filled the classroom like a broken dam. Sera and her two ever-present minions, Mi-kyung and Da-eun, didn't move from their seats. They waited, eyes fixed on Ha-rin's desk.

Ha-rin returned from the bathroom to find a grotesque scene waiting for her.

Her desk was smeared with ketchup and fish sauce. Rotten kimchi splattered across her textbook. Someone had stuffed pieces of raw cabbage and garlic into her pencil case, which now leaked a sharp, revolting stench.

Gasps echoed around the room.

"Gross!" someone muttered.

Ha-rin stood frozen, clutching her bag tightly. The laughter bubbled up from the back-Sera's laugh, shrill and proud.

Mi-kyung clapped her hands mockingly. "Awww, look! The charity case is about to cry."

Ha-rin said nothing. Her eyes, steady but wide, slowly scanned the mess. She didn't shed a tear. Instead, she exhaled shakily, clenched her fists, and walked toward her desk.

Before she could pick up her spoiled things, Sera strolled over.

"I warned you," Sera whispered, leaning in so close Ha-rin could smell her expensive perfume. "Don't get too comfortable here. This is my school, my territory. You-" she looked Ha-rin up and down with disdain "-you're just passing through."

Ha-rin stared at her, then calmly bent to pick up her textbook.

But Sera wasn't done.

"Mi-kyung, Da-eun-her bag. Bring it."

Before Ha-rin could react, the two girls yanked the bag off her shoulder. Da-eun unzipped it and dumped the contents onto the floor-books, pens, a carefully packed sandwich now smeared across the tile.

"Oh no, your food," Mi-kyung mocked. "Don't you need this to survive, orphan girl?"

That word.

That damn word.

It echoed in Ha-rin's mind like a gunshot.

Sera leaned against the desk, arms crossed. "Next time you look at Jae-min like that, I'll do worse. Much worse."

Ha-rin slowly straightened up, dusted off her uniform, and walked toward them with terrifying calm.

"You think this makes you powerful?" she asked softly. "You're acting like a six-year-old. No, wait. A six-year-old would've had more dignity."

Sera's eyes widened.

"You're pathetic," Ha-rin said, voice firmer now. "And all of this?" She gestured to the mess. "It doesn't scare me. It just proves how weak you really are."

Before Sera could respond, a voice cut through the crowd.

"Ha-rin!"

Jae-min.

The entire class turned.

Jae-min was standing by the door, eyes scanning the scene with quiet fury. He walked over briskly, brushing past students who had made a circle around them like spectators at a match.

He didn't speak to Sera. Not even a glance.

He went straight to Ha-rin and gently picked up her notebook off the floor.

"Let's go," he said to her, his voice calm but commanding.

Ha-rin hesitated.

"Now," he repeated.

She nodded, and the two of them walked out together. Silence followed them until the door closed behind them.

Only then did Sera explode.

"Did you see that?! Did you?!"

Mi-kyung and Da-eun flinched.

"He didn't even look at me!" Sera screamed. "That... that trashy girl-she's ruining everything!"

---

Back at Home The Spoiled Princess

Sera stormed into her family's mansion later that evening, face red and eyes puffy. She didn't even greet the maids.

Her mother, Kang Seo-jin, sat elegantly in the lounge, sipping tea and browsing through a fashion magazine.

"Omma!" Sera cried.

Seo-jin looked up lazily. "What is it now, Sera?"

"It's that girl again-Yoon Ha-rin. She's making my life miserable!"

"Oh dear," her mother sighed. "What did she do this time?"

"She's... she's stealing Jae-min's attention! He walked out of the classroom with her! Like I wasn't even there!"

Seo-jin's eyes sharpened. She closed her magazine and set it down slowly.

"Listen, darling," she said, voice cool. "If you let a girl like that threaten your future, you're not my daughter."

Sera sniffled. "What do I do?"

"Teach her a lesson," her mother said coldly. "Show her what happens when someone tries to take what belongs to a Kang. She's beneath you. Make sure she remembers that."

Just then, her father entered the room, face like thunder.

"Sera."

She turned, startled.

"What the hell is this I'm hearing from the principal?" he barked. "That you've been reported for bullying?"

"I-Dad, I-"

"You stupid girl. If you want to bully someone, do it right. Don't get caught like an amateur."

Seo-jin gasped. "Yeobo!"

"Quiet!" he snapped. "I've already silenced the teachers with donations. If this leaks again, you'll be pulled from school, Sera. You hear me?"

---

Meanwhile The Homeless Incident

Elsewhere, in a dimly lit street, Jae-hyun leaned against his luxury car, sipping from a half-empty bottle of whiskey. His eyes were glassy, lips curled in disgust as he watched an old homeless man shuffle by.

"You stink!" Jae-hyun shouted. "Get away from my car, you filthy beggar!"

The man ignored him and kept walking.

Jae-hyun's rage exploded. He threw the bottle, which shattered near the man's feet. Glass flew everywhere.

"Don't pretend you can't hear me!"

The commotion drew attention. Someone called the police.

Ten minutes later, Jae-hyun was in cuffs, yelling and swearing.

"Do you know who I am?!"

---

Back at the Lee Mansion

Mr. Lee's phone rang. He picked it up. A pause. Then-

"What?!"

He turned pale.

His wife rushed in. "What happened?"

"Jae-hyun," he hissed. "He's been arrested. For assaulting a homeless man. The media-if this leaks, it's over. It's over!"

He sank into the couch, clutching his chest.

Mrs. Lee covered her mouth in horror.

"You raised that devil," he roared. "This is all your fault!"

---

At Ha-rin's Place

Later that night, Ha-rin sat on the floor, knees pulled to her chest. Her aunt's voice rang in her ears:

"You should pack out soon, Ha-rin. You're almost an adult. I've done enough for you."

Tears welled in her eyes, but she didn't let them fall.

Then the door creaked open.

"Ha-rin?" a soft voice called.

It was Yumi-her best friend. She ran in, wide-eyed.

"I heard what happened. Are you okay?!"

"I'm fine," Ha-rin whispered.

"No, you're not. You're lying." Yumi sat beside her and pulled her into a tight hug.

They lay on the mattress later that night, under a thin blanket.

"You're not alone, Ha-rin," Yumi whispered. "Not anymore."

THE KANG RESIDENCE LATER THAT NIGHT

Jae-hyun kicked open the front door and stormed inside, reeking of alcohol. His tie hung loose around his neck, and his phone slipped from his grip and clattered to the floor.

"You won't believe this," he muttered. "A filthy homeless guy sat in front of my car like he owns the sidewalk. I told him to get lost, but he just stared at me. So I shoved him!"

Their mother rushed in from the kitchen, horrified. "Jae-hyun! What have you done now?"

The sound of a knock thundered through the mansion. Three police officers stood on the doorstep.

"We're here for Kang Jae-hyun," one of them said sharply. "He's under arrest for assaulting a civilian."

"Assault?!" their mother gasped. "This must be a mistake!"

The officers stepped in as Jae-hyun laughed bitterly. "Oh, please. Do you know who I am?"

"You have the right to remain silent," one officer began, cuffing him.

Their father entered just in time to witness the scene. "What the hell is going on here?!"

"He assaulted a homeless man," the officer informed.

Mr. Kang's face turned beet red. "You idiot! What have you done now?!"

"Relax, old man!" Jae-hyun snarled, throwing his bottle to the floor where it shattered. "It's your money that gets me out every time anyway."

"You ungrateful brat!" Mr. Kang exploded, nearly collapsing from the shock, clutching his chest. "I told your mother to watch you! This is what happens when she spoils you rotten!"

Mrs. Kang tried to help him, but he shoved her hand away.

"I'm not bailing him out this time," Mr. Kang spat. "Let him rot! I'm calling the lawyers."

---

Ha-rin's clothes were still damp when she returned home. Her aunt took one glance and scowled.

"You again? What happened this time?" she demanded.

Ha-rin didn't answer.

"Whatever. Since you're grown now, start acting like it. This isn't a hotel. Pack your things soon. I won't keep feeding a girl with no future."

After slamming the bedroom door behind her, Ha-rin collapsed onto the thin mattress. Her best friend, Ji-eun, was already there, folding the blanket.

"You okay?" Ji-eun asked softly, wrapping an arm around her.

Ha-rin burst into tears. "Why me? What did I ever do to deserve this?"

Ji-eun held her tighter. "You did nothing wrong. Sera and her crew? They're scared of you, that's why they act like that."

Ha-rin sniffled. "They said I work at a club... they threw rotten food on me..."

Ji-eun sat up. "We'll get through this together. Just a little longer. Then we're out of here, Ha-rin."

The two girls lay down, curled up like sisters under the single blanket.

--

SEOUL MALL – NEXT EVENING

Sera's friends - Minji and Ae-sook - flipped through clothes and gossip.

"Did you see Sera's face when she got dragged to the principal's office?" Minji giggled.

"I know, right? All that drama over a poor girl? Seriously, I think Sera's just jealous."

Sera entered, sunglasses perched on her head. "Talking about me?"

They straightened, laughing nervously. "No, just the situation!"

Sera smiled tightly. "I've decided. I'm going to destroy Ha-rin."

Ae-sook blinked. "Uh... destroy?"

Sera leaned in. "She thinks she can win people over with that tragic orphan story? I'm going to make sure she learns who's boss around here."

-

SERA'S HOUSE – SAME NIGHT

Her father stood beside the dining table, holding her school report. "Your grades are dropping, Sera."

She rolled her eyes. "It's just temporary."

He slammed the paper down. "I heard some orphan girl is top of the class. An orphan, Sera. How disgraceful is that for a girl of your status?!"

Mrs. Song entered and gave her daughter a reassuring nod.

Later that night, in Sera's room, Sera pouted beside her mother.

"That girl is ruining everything. Jae-min doesn't even notice me anymore!"

Mrs. Song patted her hand. "Then you need to remind him who you are. Don't let a girl with no name and no status take what belongs to you."

Sera grinned slowly. "You're right, Mom. She's about to learn a lesson."

Just then, her father burst into the room, face thunderous. "Sera! Your name came up in a school bullying report!"

"I-it wasn't-" she stammered.

"I don't care. If you want to bully, don't get caught! I already paid off the teachers, but I won't keep cleaning up your messes."

He stormed off while Sera and her mother exchanged worried glances.