Dreaming of you

The senior girl moves the Taser X12 towards Su-jin. Su-jin, terrified, closes her eyes. Just then, Se-ra, a few students and a few teachers enter the classroom. The sound of the door opening makes the girl freeze, and everyone turns toward it. Se-ra quickly turns on the camera and records everything. The girls let go of Su-jin. Free at last, Su-jin rushes toward Ha-na. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

The principal was with them as well. He steps forward and takes the Taser X12 from the girl’s hand.

"Do you think this is a toy? If you’re so eager to play with it, why don’t you try using it on yourself?"

Saying this, the principal sets the Taser X12 to it’s lowest level and lightly touches it to the girl’s hand. Instantly, she loses consciousness.

The principal looks at her in surprise and says, "You were playing with this, yet you couldn’t even handle a tiny shock? This is why they say, don’t dish out what you can’t take." Turning to the students, he instructs, "Take her to the nursing room. And call all their parents."

As the principal walks away, he glances at the Taser X12 and mutters, "This thing is actually pretty cool. I think I’ll keep it with me from now on."

After everyone leaves, Se-ra approaches Su-jin and Ha-na, handing Su-jin a bottle of water. Su-jin sprinkles some water on Ha-na’s face. After a few tries, Ha-na slowly regains consciousness.

"Ha-na... Are you okay? Ha-na...."

Ha-na doesn’t respond. Su-jin looks at Se-ra, silently asking for help.

"Can you help me take her to the nursing room? Please..!"

Se-ra nods, and Su-jin lifts Ha-na onto her shoulder.

__

Su-jin and Se-ra stand outside the nursing room, waiting. Su-jin looks extremely worried about Ha-na. Seeing her so anxious, Se-ra says, "Why are you worrying so much? It’s just a minor head injury. She will be fine."

Su-jin lets out a deep sigh. "Ha-na is a really sensitive person. Even a small thing can turn serious for her. So this is why I worry a lot about her."

"Oh... I see. Sorry, I didn’t know."

"It’s okay. And... thanks for today. If you hadn’t come, who knows what would’ve happened to us?"

"No need to thank me. We’re classmates. If we don’t help each other, who will?"

"You... know me?"

"Um, yes and no. I saw you in class today, so I figured we’re classmates."

"Oh, I see. Anyways, I’m Su-jin."

Su-jin extends her hand toward Se-ra.

" And I’m Se-ra, the class president."

Se-ra shakes hands with Su-jin.

"You look terrible. Come on, let’s go to the washroom. I have an extra set of clothes. I think they’ll fit you."

"No, it’s fine. You don’t have to go through all that trouble." Su-jin says sincerely.

" Who said that? I’m doing this out of my responsibility as class president. "

Se-ra smiles. Hearing her words, Su-jin looks towards the nursing room. Se-ra peeks into the nursing room before turning back to Su-jin.

"Are you staying here because you don’t want to leave her?"

Su-jin doesn’t answer. Se-ra understands that her guess is correct.

"Oh, come on. She’s sleeping now. By the time she wakes up, you’ll be freshened up."

Su-jin still doesn’t move. She doesn’t want to leave.

"Alright, wait here."

Se-ra steps away and calls someone on the phone. Then she returns to Su-jin.

"Now let’s go. I told my friend to come and watch over your friend in the nursing room. She will be here any minute. Come on, let’s gooo!"

Se-ra pulls Su-jin along, making her laugh at her antics.

Present time—

After hearing my entire story, everyone sits in shock. Brother Taewon, visibly upset, says, "All this happened five years ago, and none of you told me?"

"Ha-na didn’t want anyone to know. And later, those girls got expelled for bullying, so we didn’t think it was necessary to bring it up."

"But you should have told me."

"Are you two going to fight over something that happened five years ago?" Yeong-ae interrupts.

Brother Taewon falls silent.

"Wait, according to you, Se-ra was a nice person. So what happened that made her turn into such a witch?" Jung-hee asks.

"I don’t know either. After that incident, we actually became really close. Me, Ha-na, Min-ho, and Se-ra, we were always together. Everyone at school knew us as best friends. Our friendship was like an example for others. But before we could even complete a year, Se-ra started distancing herself from us. She barely talked to us, wouldn’t sit with us during lunch... She completely drifted away. Min-ho also started talking less to me and Ha-na. Me and Ha-na tried to fix things so many times, but nothing worked. Eventually, we moved here in ninth grade. A few months later, Se-ra and Min-ho transferred here too."

I let out a deep sigh. When ever I remember the past, I became a little bit emotional.

"Wait... did they follow you guys here? To bully you? That’s how it happens in dramas, right?" Yeong-ae asks.

All of us bursts out laughing. I flicks Yeong-ae’s forehead and says, "Do you think real life is like your dramas? Reality is a lot different, dummy!"

"Oww..."

Yeong-ae rubs her forehead.

"But why did Se-ra and Min-ho come to this school? Do you know about that?"

" As long as I now, after we left, they apparently caused trouble for others. Se-ra started failing all her exams. Min-ho’s grades had also dropped significantly. Because of all this, the principal called they’re mothers to school. After that, they’re mom decided to transferred them here."

"And then, after coming here, they started bullying you guys?"

I nod at his question.

"Hah, messing with others just because your own life is falling apart, does that even make sense?" Yeong-ae scoffs in frustration.

Jung-hee glances at the clock and sees that lunch period is almost over.

"Lunch is about to end. Let’s go back to class."

__

The sun was beginning to set, casting a reddish glow over everything. I was cleaning the classroom and enjoying the moment through the window. Today I had the duty of cleaning the class. So even though the rest of the students left, I couldn’t go home.

My work is done. I was preparing to go home when I heard someone crying. I looked out the window and sees a girl sitting on the ground below. I quickly took my bag and left.

I walk slowly towards the back of the school. Perhaps I saw the girl here. I walk a little further and see the girl. The girl is sitting silently on the ground. Her whole body is soaked in water. Her clothes and hair are all silent in the water. Two other people are standing in front of her.

After I stare for a while, I realized that these two are none other than Se-ra and Min-ho. They are bullying someone new again.

"Did you think that you would do whatever you want because I treated you well, smiled and talked? Now you do have the courage to put your hands on Min-ho. Just because I let it slide back then, did you think you got away with it?""

Se-ra slaps the girl. The girl’s lips were cut. The girl said in a low voice, "Believe me, I didn’t do anything to Min-ho. It was her... Who-ah..."

Min-ho doesn’t let the girl say anything more. Min-ho started rubbing the girl’s hand on the ground with the heel of her shoe. The girl started screaming in pain. She was enjoying it. A twisted, sadistic pleasure gleamed in his eyes.

Seeing the girl cry like this, I can’t hold back anymore. Goes forward to help the girl.

"Min-ho, stop."

Min-ho looks back and sees me. Se-ra feels irritated seeing me.

"Why do you always have to interfere, Su-jin?" She snapped.

" Se-ra, do you even realize what you’re doing? You pretend to be nice in front of everyone, but behind the scenes, you torment people like this? You can’t keep doing this!"

"Su-jin you’re the topper of the class, a good student, I know that. But no one told you to use your brain so much all the time. Especially things that don’t concern you? Just leave. Go focus on your studies or something," Se-ra said, clearly annoyed.

"Su-jin... please... save me..." The girl, barely able to speak, pleaded with her.

"Se-ra, please let her go. Don’t you have any sense of humanity? You were so kind before. So why are you doing this now? Please let her go."

"I used to be kind. But not anymore. Because of people like you. Because of you."

Se-ra walked over to the girl and grabbed a fistful of her hair.

"Stay away from Min-ho. I better not see you anywhere near her again. Got it?"

With that, she shoved the girl away and turned to leave. But before going, she looked at me. Then, without a word, she spat on the ground right next to my feet.

Min-ho smirked and followed Se-ra, leaving me and the girl behind.

As Se-ra walked away, I stared after her, clenching her fists.

"Thank you, Su-jin. For helping me." The girl whispered.

"It’s okay." I replied softly.

When I watches Se-ra leave and vows to myself.

"You will pay for all this, Se-ra.... For everything...."