Jinu and Jia descended from the rooftop.
There was still a bit of time left before the end of the lunch break.
Jia decided to head to the washroom to freshen up,
while Jinu waited for her just outside the corridor leading to the classrooms.
The moment Jia entered the restroom and stood before the mirror,
the heavy door slammed shut behind her.
Sana and her two followers were standing there,
blocking the exit.
Sana, the self-proclaimed 'Queen Bee' of the school, had been fixated on Jinu since his first day as a transfer student.
She had tried multiple times to strike up a conversation with him,
but Jinu had treated her with nothing but cold indifference.
"So... you're the 'special' girl who's been clouding our new student's mind?"
Sana asked,
crossing her arms with a bitter, mocking smile.
Jia's heart began to hammer against her ribs.
"I... I'm just his friend."
"Friend?"
Sana took a predatory step forward.
"Ever since Jinu arrived at this school, he hasn't looked at a single soul.
We all thought he was an 'Ice Prince,' but it turns out he's just obsessed with a girl who's as ordinary and broken as you.
Why? What kind of spell did you cast on him?"
Another girl shoved Jia's shoulder, forcing her back against the cold tiles.
"I heard your father passed away and you're living off Jinu's charity now.
How cheap can you get?
Using your sob story to trap the new guy?"
Tears blurred Jia's vision.
"Is Jinu really just staying with me out of pity?"
The question felt like poison seeping into her mind.
She began to fear that she was dragging Jinu down,
tainting his reputation with her own darkness.
Sana reached out and snatched Jia's sketchbook,
throwing it violently to the floor.
"Don't bring this trash near Jinu again.
He doesn't need a 'broken' girl like you; he needs someone perfect.
If I see you clinging to him again,
this school will become a living hell for you."
Before leaving, Sana turned on the tap and splashed water over Jia's clothes.
The three of them walked out, their cruel laughter echoing off the walls.
Outside, Jinu noticed Sana and her gang emerging from the restroom area, looking entirely too smug.
Sensing something was wrong,
he ignored the 'Girls Only' boundary and rushed toward the door, calling out urgently.
"Jia? Are you in there?"
No verbal answer came, only the sound of muffled, broken sobs.
Jinu's face turned a dangerous shade of red as he pushed the door slightly and peered in.
His heart shattered at the sight—Jia was crumpled on the floor,
her clothes soaked,
clutching her scattered sketchbook to her chest.