The photo hit Haneul Academy like a scandalized slap.
It was blurry, probably taken from behind the auditorium glass—but the image was unmistakable.
Jin Seo-Won.
Kang Ha-Rin.
Locked in a kiss.
By lunchtime, it had circulated across every class chat, landed in teacher inboxes, and was trending on the school's private forum under the tag:
#DropScandal
Students didn't even bother whispering anymore. They stared. They pointed. Some laughed. Some sneered. And some—the worst kind—just smirked like they were waiting for the final crash.
Ha-Rin stood in the hallway, face blank, eyes forward, pretending she didn't hear them.
"Did she seduce him or blackmail him?"
"Maybe she's being forced. Like... ew."
"Seo-Won would never fall for a girl like that."
But it wasn't the whispers that stung.
It was the silence from Seo-Won.
He hadn't shown up all day.
No messages.
No "follow me."
Not even a glare.
She was alone again.
And it hurt more than it should have.
—
The locker room after gym was worse.
Ha-Rin had just tied her shoes when a full water bottle flew past her head and exploded against the locker behind her.
She turned slowly.
Na-Gyeom stood at the end of the bench, arms folded, expression stone cold.
"Oops," she said. "Butterfingers."
"Careful," Ha-Rin muttered. "You'll crack a nail."
"I warned you," Na-Gyeom said, stepping forward. "You think that kiss makes you special? He's kissed prettier. Better. Richer."
"Then why are you so scared?"
Na-Gyeom's lip twitched.
"Just remember," she hissed, "queens fall harder than pawns. And I don't lose."
She turned on her heel and left.
Ha-Rin exhaled slowly and bent down to pick up the shattered bottle.
That's when a voice behind her said, "Damn. That girl is unhinged."
She blinked.
A girl leaned against the locker beside hers—short hair dyed a coppery burgundy, oversized hoodie over her uniform, lollipop in her mouth.
She wasn't from the elite track.
That was obvious.
She had no gold tag. No designer shoes.
And definitely no fear.
"You're Ha-Rin, right?" the girl asked. "Seo-Won's infamous Drop?"
"...Unfortunately."
The girl grinned. "Name's Choi Ji-Ae. Class C, visual arts major, part-time chaos enthusiast."
"Should I be concerned?"
"Probably. But I'm also the only one not afraid to talk to you right now, sooo..."
Ha-Rin blinked, suspicious. "Why?"
Ji-Ae shrugged. "Because anyone who survives a Na-Gyeom glare and still walks straight deserves a handshake and a coffee. Come on."
"Where are we going?"
"To the real cafeteria. The one the rich kids don't even know exists."
Before Ha-Rin could argue, Ji-Ae grabbed her hand and pulled her out the side door like a whirlwind of mischief.
—
Ten minutes later, they were sitting behind the art building, eating triangle kimbap from a vending machine and drinking canned peach tea.
"Why are you helping me?" Ha-Rin asked, still confused.
Ji-Ae leaned back against the wall. "Because I was you. Well... almost. I was offered the Drop position last year."
Ha-Rin choked on her drink. "You?"
Ji-Ae nodded. "For someone else. Not Seo-Won. A council boy who's now conveniently transferred. I refused. They made my life hell for months."
"What happened?"
Ji-Ae smiled. "They got bored. I got stronger. Na-Gyeom broke a heel and cried in the bathroom. It was a win."
Ha-Rin couldn't help but laugh.
It felt... good. To laugh.
Ji-Ae pointed at her with the lollipop. "See? That's the face they hate. You smiling."
"You're kind of a menace."
"I try."
They sat in silence for a bit.
Then Ji-Ae asked, "Do you... actually like Seo-Won?"
Ha-Rin hesitated.
"I don't know," she said softly. "I shouldn't. He makes me feel like I'm either burning... or freezing. There's no in between."
Ji-Ae gave her a look. "Girl. That's not hate. That's dangerously close to obsession."
"Exactly my concern."
—
When Ha-Rin returned to the dorm later that evening, a familiar figure was waiting at her door.
Black uniform. Hair tousled like he'd been pacing.
Seo-Won.
She stopped a few feet away. "You disappeared."
"So did you," he said.
"Because someone sent our private moment to the whole school."
His jaw clenched. "I'm handling it."
"Are you?"
He took a step closer. "Don't push me right now."
"Why? Because you're afraid of how it looks? Afraid to admit this isn't just a game anymore?"
He stared at her.
Eyes dark. Voice low.
"I'm afraid... of what I'd do to anyone who tries to take you from me."
Her breath hitched.
His hand reached up slowly—fingertips grazing her cheek.
"You kissed me back," he whispered.
"I didn't have a choice," she said.
"Yes. You did."
The silence crackled between them.
She reached up—and pushed his hand away gently.
"You don't get to vanish when things get ugly," she said. "If you want me... show up."
Then she walked past him and closed the door behind her.
—
Inside, she collapsed onto her bed and buried her face in the pillow.
Because every word was true.
And every heartbeat still pulsed with his name.
—
End of Chapter 7.
Author's Note:
And just like that—Ji-Ae enters the game.
Chapter 7 brings a new wave of chaos, scandal, and emotions Ha-Rin didn't ask for. But that kiss? That fallout? That walkaway moment? 😮💨
What do you think about Ji-Ae?
Team Seo-Won, Team Tae-Hwan... or maybe Team Let-Ha-Rin-Breathe?
Comment below—I'm watching 👀
— AKByeol ✨
#ObeyMeDontLoveMe
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