I never wanted to live in fear.
Yet, as I sat in class watching the students around me dressed in their black uniforms, fear clung to my chest like a second skin. Who would ever imagine that half of these people—laughing, chatting, pretending to be normal—wanted my life so badly?
Was I really that much of a threat?
I hadn't even begun anything yet.
They were terrified of dying, yet they had no fear of killing innocent people. That irony alone made my stomach twist.
I scanned the class slowly, my eyes moving from one face to another. Everywhere was noisy—laughter, gossip, the scrape of chairs—but strangely, no teacher came in all morning.
"Jina."
I looked up to see Minho standing beside me. He touched my back lightly before sinking into the empty chair next to mine.
"Oh, Jina," Minho said warmly, pulling me into a hug.you never ask of me
Minho said looking at me
At first, I didn't hug him back. The sudden affection caught me off guard.
"Ask after you?" I said, confused. "You traveled?"
Minho sighed softly.
"Now I know you didn't even notice my absence," he said, pretending to look hurt. "I traveled home. I just came back yesterday. How have you been?"
I breathed in slowly.
"I'm fine, Minho."
He studied my face carefully.
"Are you sure you are?"
Before I could answer, he reached into his bag and pulled out a small package.
"I shared some with others in class," he said. "This one is yours."
I stared at the tiny box in my hands and opened it.
"Oh… a dancing ballerina," I said, smiling despite myself. "You know I love ballerinas."
Then I looked up at him and laughed softly.
"But Minho… isn't this for kids?" I teased. "I love pink, yes, but this—"
I shook my head. "Thank you though. I'll accept it."
Minho smiled, his eyes lingering on my face.
"Are you really an adult?" he asked jokingly.
I lightly hit his shoulder and laughed.
"Jina," he said suddenly, his voice softer now. "This gift is from my heart. Keep it close to you. If possible, take it everywhere you go—so my heart will always be with you."
I raised an eyebrow.
"Your heart? With me? As what?" I asked, laughing.
Minho tapped my shoulder as he stood up.
"You'll know soon," he said, walking away with a smile.
I watched him leave, my fingers still wrapped around the box.
Suddenly, someone grabbed the gift from my hands.
I looked up sharply.
Raven.
He sat down in front of me without asking.
"I want to take a look," he said, staring straight into my eyes.
I hesitated, then allowed him to take it.
Raven examined the music box closely, his expression unreadable.
After a moment, he handed it back.
"It's fine," he said flatly.
"Raven… are you okay?" I asked. His cold eyes locked onto mine.
"Jina, you are stressing me," he said, a hint of anger in his voice.
Before I could respond, he stood up and walked out of the class.
I watched him leave, confused.
Stressing him?
What did I do wrong?
I gently placed the gift back into its box and looked around the class. Everything seemed normal again, almost too normal.
Jan didn't come to class that day.
Later, I decided to return to my room.
As I walked through the corridor leading there, someone suddenly hugged me from behind.
"Jan!" I exclaimed. "I was just coming to look for you."
"Good," she said cheerfully. "Let's go."
Inside my room, I sat on the bed and picked up the box again.
"Minho gave me this," I said.
"Oh," Jan said, grabbing it excitedly. "It's pretty."
She opened it, watching the ballerina spin gently.
"The color is perfect," she said, placing it on the locker facing my bed.
I smiled.
"I guess this is the perfect place for it."
"Yes," Jan agreed, laughing. "So it can watch you closely."
We laughed together, holding onto each other for a moment longer than usual.
Then I grew serious.
"Jan… that woman we met—the one who said she was Eunwoo's mother. Had you ever seen her before that day?"
Jan shook her head.
"No. That was the first time. Why?"
"Nothing," I lied calmly. "I just thought we should visit her again. If you don't mind."
Jan studied me.
"Why do you want to go back?"
"She risked her life to tell us everything," I said carefully. "What if Raven attacked her?"
The lie tasted bitter in my mouth.
Jan went quiet, then nodded.
"Okay. When?"
"Tomorrow morning," I replied. "We can skip classes."
"Perfect," she said with a smile.
Her eyes drifted to the ballerina again.
"It was thoughtful of Minho," she said.
"Yes," I replied. "He even said I should take it everywhere. He's such a joker."
Jan picked up the music box and examined it.
"It can fit into any bag," she said, opening my purse. "See?"
"Jan," I protested. "What am I supposed to be doing with this everywhere?"
I gently took it from her and placed it back on the desk.
She laughed.
"Okay, okay. I'm going to my room now. Tomorrow, we visit the woman, right?"
"Yes."
After Jan left, silence filled the room.
I didn't tell her what I had seen.
I didn't tell her I had already gone there again.
I didn't want her to think I didn't trust her.
I wanted her to see it herself—to know that Raven wasn't guilty.
I walked to the window.
Raven wasn't there.
The way he left the class after seeing the gift replayed in my mind.
Why did he react that way?
I stood there for a long time, then finally turned and entered the bathroom, my thoughts heavier than ever.