Chapter 4 Beneath the Weight of Power

The sky hung low and grey as Ha-rin walked into school, her steps quiet and cautious. Her clothes were neatly pressed but plain, her face pale and withdrawn. Whispers surged like wind around her as soon as she stepped onto the school grounds. She felt them before she heard them.

"That's the club girl."

"Isn't she the one who tried to seduce Sera's fiancé?"

"My mom says she's living off her aunt's pity."

The words cut deeper than any slap. But Ha-rin walked on, head high, refusing to let her trembling knees give her away. Ji-eun hadn't arrived yet. She felt naked without her by her side.

She stepped into her classroom, and the murmuring intensified. One of Sera's friends giggled and mockingly sniffed the air.

"Ugh, it still smells like sewer in here."

"Someone probably didn't shower after her club shift," another girl sneered.

Ha-rin clenched her jaw but said nothing. She went to her seat, only to freeze. Her desk had been smeared with what looked like ketchup and something that smelled... rotten.

A chunk of spoiled fish lay right on top of her notebooks.

Gasps echoed in the room. Some students turned away, embarrassed. Others laughed.

"This is going too far," a boy near the back mumbled, but no one dared say it louder.

Ha-rin simply pulled a tissue from her bag, wiped what she could, and sat at the edge of her chair, ignoring the stench. Her stomach twisted. But she would not give them the satisfaction.

The teacher entered. Mr. Han, old and serious. His eyes fell on the mess and then on Ha-rin.

"What happened here?" he asked sharply.

Ha-rin stood. "Sir, someone messed with my desk."

"Of course they did," Mr. Han said dryly. "If you behaved like a proper student, maybe you wouldn't attract so much attention."

Laughter rippled through the room.

Ha-rin blinked. "Sir?"

"Enough. Clean that up and don't disrupt my class."

She sat down slowly, face burning.

From the last row, Jae-min sat frozen, fists clenched under the desk. His eyes never left Ha-rin. He saw everything. Her silence. Her strength. Her pain. And the way everyone else, including the teacher, turned a blind eye.

---

The corridor felt colder than ever.

Ha-rin shuffled quietly through the hallway, her soaked shoes making squelching sounds with each step. Her eyes were still glassy, but she was determined not to cry again. Not today. Not where anyone could see her.

"Miss Yoon," a voice called softly.

Ha-rin paused, turning slowly. It was her literature teacher, Miss Ji-hye-one of the few kind-hearted teachers in the school.

"Come with me," Miss Ji-hye said gently, her brows creased with concern. "I heard what happened. Sit down in the office. I'll get you a change of uniform."

Ha-rin blinked rapidly, fighting the tears.

"But... Miss... I didn't do anything... They-"

"You don't have to explain," Miss Ji-hye cut in, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "I know what kind of student you are. And I know who Sera is."

Ha-rin swallowed hard.

"She's got powerful parents," she whispered.

"I know," Miss Ji-hye said again, her voice low. "But power doesn't mean right."

She handed Ha-rin a warm cup of tea. "Stay here and rest for a while. You need a break."

---

Meanwhile, in the girls' locker room, Sera was seated on a vanity bench surrounded by her trio of followers.

"So," Eun-ji said, tossing her freshly brushed hair over her shoulder. "I heard a teacher actually helped Ha-rin."

"Miss Ji-hye," Hye-min added, with a sneer. "She's always acting like some saint."

Sera's eyes narrowed. "That woman needs to be transferred. She dares side with that trash? She'll regret it."

"Honestly, Sera..." Hye-min leaned in, pretending to be concerned, "why don't you just let it go? It's clear Ha-rin isn't interested in stealing Jae-min."

Sera's expression snapped into rage. "Let it go?" she hissed. "She's a walking reminder that I'm not good enough for him!"

Her voice rose.

"She doesn't even belong here! And now she's the reason he's not talking to me anymore-he just ignores me like I don't exist!"

Eun-ji and Hye-min exchanged worried glances but said nothing.

Sera stood up abruptly. "We'll show her. If she wants to act like she's above us, we'll remind her exactly where she stands. Tonight."

---

That night at home, Ha-rin sat at the edge of her mattress. Her friend, Bo-young, was folding their blankets nearby.

"You really have to eat, Ha-rin," Bo-young urged, nudging her. "You didn't touch your lunch."

"I can't. My stomach's in knots."

Bo-young sat beside her. "You're not alone, okay? I'm always here. Even if the world turns against you."

Ha-rin let her head fall onto Bo-young's shoulder.

"I'm tired," she whispered. "Tired of fighting. Of pretending I'm not hurt."

Bo-young tightened her grip on Ha-rin's hand. "Then don't pretend. Just lean on me for now."

They sat in silence, comforted by the sound of each other's breathing.

---

At the Kang mansion, chaos was brewing.

Mr. Kang stormed into the sitting room, phone clutched tightly in his hand. "I just got a call from the police!"

"What?" Mrs. Kang asked, startled. "What happened?"

"Jaehyun! That brat-he got into a fight again and harassed a homeless man at the public plaza. In public!" he barked.

Just then, Jaehyun walked in, smirking.

"What's with the shouting?" he slurred. "It wasn't even a big deal."

"You fool!" Mr. Kang threw the phone at the wall. "Do you want to destroy this family's reputation?! You're a disgrace!"

"Maybe if you raised me better," Jaehyun spat back, "I wouldn't be this way. Old bald drunk."

The room froze.

"What did you just say?" Mr. Kang growled.

"I said what I said," Jaehyun shrugged, grabbing a bottle of soju off the side table. "Maybe you should stop pretending we're this perfect family."

Mr. Kang lunged, but Mrs. Kang quickly stepped between them, shielding Jaehyun.

"Stop this!" she cried. "You're scaring Jae-min!"

"Jae-min's the only one worth anything!" Mr. Kang shouted, fuming. "Unlike this rotten bastard!"

Jaehyun sneered and stormed out, slamming the door so hard the chandelier rattled.

---

Back in Sera's lavish home, her father was reading a report over dinner. His face darkened.

"You're still 10th in your class?" he asked sharply. "And that... that orphan girl is number one?"

Sera's fork paused mid-air.

"She cheated, I bet-"

"Don't give me excuses, Sera," her father snapped. "A girl with no name, no background, no money, is beating you?"

Mrs. Yoo stepped in smoothly. "Honey, she's just distracted lately. It's all that stress-"

"Then fix it!" Mr. Yoo shouted. "This is embarrassing for the Yoo family name. How do you think this looks at board meetings?!"

He stood, tossing his napkin down. "And another thing. I heard you've been reported for bullying. Fix your mess. I've paid the school to keep quiet, but this is the last time."

After he left, Sera burst into tears.

"He doesn't understand! Ha-rin is ruining everything!"

Mrs. Yoo sat beside her, petting her head like a child. "Then do what needs to be done. Show her never to cross you again."

Sera's eyes narrowed again. "I will."

---

The next morning, Jae-min was seated alone in his room, looking out the window.

He hadn't said a word to his brother since the fight last night. The house was always loud with conflict-yelling, slamming doors, fake smiles for investors and the press.

But for some reason... only one voice echoed in his mind.

That girl's voice. Ha-rin's.

Her face.

The way she looked shocked when he showed up. The way she stood up to Sera despite everything.

He opened his drawer and pulled out a photo-one he hadn't looked at in years.

A photo of her.

His childhood friend.

His first love.

---

Outside school, Sera's minions were whispering while flipping through clothes in a boutique.

"She's totally insecure," Hye-min said.

"Honestly, I think Ha-rin might not even know Jae-min likes her," Eun-ji added.

Sera entered just then, her eyes wild with anger.

"I have a plan," she said. "A perfect one. We'll humiliate her in front of the entire school."

Hye-min and Eun-ji glanced at each other nervously.

"She'll never rise again."The classroom air felt stifling, not because of heat, but because of the coldness that clung to the walls like mold. Ha-rin sat silently, her back straight, but her hands trembled beneath the desk. Whispers floated behind her, acidic and cruel.

"I heard she was caught with a customer last night. That's why she looked so dirty."

"She probably begged the teacher to pass."

"Look at her, sitting like she's somebody. She has no shame."

Ha-rin swallowed hard. Her throat ached. The words were knives. Invisible ones that left wounds no one could see.

The teacher entered-Mr. Yoo, the strict and easily swayed homeroom instructor. His eyes scanned the room but skipped over Ha-rin entirely.

"Sera, congratulations on topping the English mock test. You've done your family proud." He smiled.

Ha-rin blinked. But I scored the highest.

Sera smiled sweetly, like butter wouldn't melt in her mouth.

Mr. Yoo's tone turned sharp. "As for the rest of you, don't think lowlifes or people with...dubious backgrounds can achieve anything here. Hard work and family background matters."

Ha-rin's nails dug into her palm.

Jae-min sat at the back, his arms folded, eyes narrowed. His gaze flickered between the teacher and Ha-rin. There it was again-that tightening in his chest.

Why is everyone acting like this is okay?

At break time, Ha-rin sat beneath the stairwell to eat. A piece of cold bread, and water. Her stomach rumbled. Her eyes stung, but she refused to cry. Crying meant they won.

Footsteps approached.

"Ha-rin."

She looked up. It was the young art teacher-Miss Ji-hye. She knelt beside her and handed her a wrapped sandwich.

"I thought you might need this. You're not invisible to everyone. Just know that."

Ha-rin's lips quivered. "Why...why are they like this?"

Miss Ji-hye sighed. "Because they're scared of what you represent. Strength, despite circumstances. Keep going, Ha-rin. Don't let them define you."

Ha-rin could only nod, her fingers gripping the sandwich like a lifeline.

---

Meanwhile, in the empty girls' locker room, Sera and her friends huddled, lipstick and compact mirrors in hand.

"She didn't even cry," Min-ah complained. "What kind of robot is she?"

"Or maybe she's used to it," Yuri added, laughing.

Sera tossed her hair. "She's pretending. That orphan act won't work forever. I want to plan something... permanent."

"Permanent?"

Sera smirked. "We'll see if she can handle a public humiliation. Maybe in front of the entire school."

---

Back in the classroom, the final bell rang. Ha-rin slowly packed her books. Her hands were still shaking.

Then a shadow fell across her desk.

"You shouldn't let them do that."

She looked up. Jae-min.

"Excuse me?"

"I said, you shouldn't let them do that to you."

She stood, defensive. "And what would you know about it, rich boy? Everyone likes you. You wouldn't understand."

He raised an eyebrow. "You think I have it easy because I have money?"

She opened her mouth, then closed it. "Why are you talking to me? Won't your girlfriend get jealous?"

He snorted. "She's not my girlfriend. Not anymore."

They stared at each other.

Jae-min sighed. "I saw what they did to your desk. And the bathroom. I didn't stop it. I'm sorry."

Ha-rin turned her face away. "You don't have to feel sorry. Just... don't talk to me. I'm used to being alone."

He reached out but hesitated. Then pulled back. "Well, maybe you shouldn't be."

---

That night, Ha-rin returned home to another blow.

"You're still here?" her aunt barked. "I thought I told you to start looking for another place. You're practically an adult now. What am I supposed to do with you? Feed you forever?"

Ha-rin clenched her teeth. "I'm graduating soon. I'll leave. Just give me time."

Her aunt scoffed. "Time? You think time puts food on the table? The house wasn't even supposed to be yours. You think I don't know how your parents wrote everything in your name? I'm the one who kept this roof over your head!"

She stormed off, and Ha-rin collapsed into a chair. Her best friend, Ji-soo, appeared minutes later, holding snacks.

"Heard what happened today," Ji-soo said softly.

Ha-rin managed a tired smile. "Gossip travels fast."

"You okay?"

"I'm alive. That's something."

"That's not good enough. You deserve more than just survival."

The two girls sat side by side on the thin mattress. As the light faded from the room, Ji-soo reached for her hand.

"I've got you, Ha-rin. No matter what."

Ha-rin's eyes welled up.

"And one more thing," Ji-soo added. "Jae-min? He's not like the others. I've seen the way he looks at you."

Ha-rin shook her head. "That doesn't matter. Even if he is different, his world isn't made for someone like me."

"Maybe his world is breaking apart too. Just like yours."

---

At the Kang residence, it was chaos.

"You IDIOT!" Mr. Kang screamed, flinging a bottle across the room.

Jae-hyun stood at the center, lip bleeding, hands in cuffs.

"How dare you bring this disgrace to my name?! Assaulting a homeless man in public? Are you sick in the head?!"

Their mother cried, trying to reach Jae-hyun.

"They had cameras! Reporters! I had to PAY them off! And the police-do you know how much it costs to erase a scandal?"

Jae-hyun scoffed, blood still dripping. "You care about your name. Not your sons. You never did."

Their father stepped forward, fist raised, but Jae-min blocked the blow.

"Enough!"

"YOU-"

"Stop it! What is this family even worth if all we do is hurt each other?"

Silence. The storm had hit.

---

Outside, under the dim moonlight, Ha-rin walked alone.

But she didn't feel entirely alone anymore.

In the distance, a black car sat parked at the end of the street.

Jae-min sat inside, staring quietly.

It's not over yet, he thought.

I'll protect her.