(The Meeting, The Rejection, and The Collapse)
The sun was setting in a warm orange hue behind the school building when Ahyun arrived at the back courtyard — a place no one visited, unless they were carrying something in their heart that couldn't be said aloud.
Felix was waiting, standing beside the cherry blossom tree whose leaves had just started to fall.When he saw her, he gave a small smile — in his eyes, there was a hint of hope… and a trace of fear.
She walked up to him, stood silently for a moment, then softly said:
"Felix… thank you for always being there for me.""You're the one who helped me find my confidence again… the one who made me see that I deserve better."
Time seemed to freeze.
But then she continued, her voice trembling:
"But my heart… it doesn't beat for you the way it should.""I care about you deeply… and I hope we can stay friends. Real friends."
Felix's gaze dropped for a moment… then he lifted his head with a warm smile — like his heart had shattered, but he didn't want her to see the pieces.
"Friends?... I'll be your best friend — even if my heart doesn't quite understand what that word means."
At that very moment… in the far corner, between the trees…Hyunjin was watching, hidden, his eyes filled with a mix of relief and surprise.
"She rejected him…" he whispered, feeling something lift from his chest — like a cloud had cleared.He smiled slightly, but his smile quickly turned to sudden concern…
Felix placed a hand on his head, breathing slowly, then sat down on the ground.
"Ahyun… my head hurts… I can't… focus…"
She ran to him instantly, shouting:
"Felix! Are you okay?! Felix!!"
Meanwhile, Hyunjin began moving without thinking —He ran toward the courtyard, his fear outweighing any rivalry.
"What happened to him?!"He asked seriously, kneeling beside Felix and placing a hand on his shoulder.
Hyunjin's look had changed… no longer the look of a rival.It was a look of genuine fear.
"Call the nurse!"He shouted loudly, and a student ran off quickly.
Ahyun was crying… and Hyunjin held Felix's hand tightly, as Felix began to lose consciousness.
And in a faint, nearly whispered voice, Felix murmured:
"I said… I'll be her… best friend…even if I… start to disappear…"
And then… he closed his eyes!
(The Secret, The Shock, and An Unexpected Confession)
Felix was rushed to the nurse's office, unconscious.The nurse spoke calmly:
"He needs some tests… maybe his blood pressure suddenly dropped…But he's been dealing with this for a while, hasn't he?"
Hyunjin stayed silent.But Ahyun looked at the nurse and asked in a trembling voice:
"What do you mean… he's been dealing with this for a while?"
That's when Bang Chan stepped in — he knew the truth.
"Felix… never told anyone.He's been living with a neurological condition that causes dizziness and severe headaches sometimes.He was afraid of being treated differently… or that someone might pity him."
A heavy silence fell over everyone.
After school, Ahyun sat on the back steps, holding her notebook and crying quietly.
What she didn't know… was that Hyunjin had quietly walked up behind her and sat down beside her.
"You know… I felt something strange today,"he said softly."I thought I hated Felix… that I was competing with him…But when he collapsed in front of me, I realized how foolish I was."
Ahyun looked at him, eyes full of tears.
"Why are you telling me this now?"
Hyunjin smiled and replied:
"Because I used to want you to only look at me…But now… I want you to see the full picture.""Ahyun… I like you. Not since yesterday — but since I saw you stand up for that girl who was being bullied…when no one else dared to speak."
Ahyun remained silent… her heart pounding wildly.
At that very moment… the nurse stepped out and said:
"One of you can come in now. He's awake — and asking for his 'friends.'"
Ahyun looked at Hyunjin… and said:
"Come with me… let's go together."
They both entered.Felix was lying down — a bit pale, but smiling as soon as he saw them.
"Good… you're both okay,"he said, as if he had been the one worried about them — not the other way around.
Hyunjin walked up… and for the first time, extended his hand.
"We're fine… and now, we need you to be okay too."
For the first time… Felix and Hyunjin shook hands.
And Ahyun?She watched them — heart pounding — not just with love… but with a new kind of hope.
(The Shock… and the Long-Awaited Explosion!)
Several days had passed since Felix's collapse, and he had finally regained his strength.The relationship between him and Hyunjin had cooled down — shifting from a quiet rivalry to a sincere respect… though a spark still lingered between them.
As for Ahyun, she was caught in a storm of emotions.She still loved… but she didn't know who.Yet, she had started to see the world more clearly than ever before.
But then… something no one expected happened on Thursday morning.
The school broadcast suddenly interrupted class:
"To all students…A mysterious letter was found on one of the school walls containing bullying statements and serious threats.The administration has decided to launch an immediate internal investigation."
BOOM!!!
Shock hit the entire school!
Students began whispering:Who wrote the letter? Why? Could it be someone from Class 3/B?!
Lee Know was the first to speak out — bold as always:
"That's a coward's letter…Whoever wrote it knows who they are — but they won't stay hidden for long."
Roka and Chiquita grew nervous…Some of the phrases resembled the way they used to bully others.
Baram finally gathered the courage to speak — she went straight to Ahyun:
"I'm sorry… I saw what they were doing to you, and I was too afraid to speak up. But not anymore."
Ahyun looked at her and said with a soft smile:
"It's not too late…Silence can sometimes hurt more than words."
Meanwhile, Han and Changbin began investigating the fun way —in disguises, collecting gossip all over school:
"I heard someone from the next class wrote it out of jealousy toward 3/B's popularity.""No no… I think it was one of the students who got expelled last year."
And in the middle of the chaos…Rami appeared with a piece of paper she found in the back courtyard.
It was written in shaky handwriting:
"You think love changes everything?!Let's see if your feelings will save you from what's coming!"
All eyes now turned to Felix, Hyunjin, and Ahyun…The message clearly hinted at their love triangle!
Bang Chan, as always, took charge — gathering the whole class and saying:
"It's time we face the truth.We live in a world full of bullying, appearances, and secrets…But if we don't protect each other… who will?"
Suddenly… the principal announced an Open Day for Reconciliation,a space where those who've been hurt — and those who've hurt others — can finally come together.
But before the event could begin…
A new shock hit the school:
Ahyun disappears.
And the last person who saw her?
Seungmin —He said she was speaking to a stranger near the school gates…