Episode - 5 " Broken Words"

The match ended, but the real game had just begun.

Yumin was still trying to calm her heartbeat from that almost fall when she noticed whispers spreading like wildfire around the field. A few girls were covering their mouths, giggling, their eyes darting between her and Haejin.

And standing right in the middle of it—arms crossed, lips pressed in a thin line—was Rina.

Rina, the school’s “perfect” girl. Beautiful, confident, the type who never had to try to shine. And the one who had always made Yumin feel… small.

Her eyes burned with jealousy as she saw Haejin lingering near Yumin, asking if she was okay.

By lunchtime, the whispers had grown louder.

“She almost fell into his arms!”

“They looked like a couple!”

“No way… Haejin and Yumin? That’s impossible.”

Yumin’s ears turned hot. She wanted to disappear.

That was when Rina struck.

“Oh, look everyone,” Rina’s voice rang clear across the cafeteria. “The ‘worst-looking girl in school’ finally found herself a hero to save her.”

Laughter erupted around them. Yumin froze, clutching her tray tightly.

Haejin glanced at her, his expression unreadable. Rina, smirking, leaned closer to him.

“Don’t tell me you actually like her, Haejin. I mean—come on. You can do so much better.”

For a moment, it felt like the entire cafeteria was holding its breath, waiting for his reaction.

Yumin’s heart pounded. She wanted him to deny it—no, she needed him to deny it. Because if he didn’t, she didn’t know how she’d face this cruel laughter.

Cafeteria Scene

The room buzzed with cruel laughter. Rina’s smirk widened as if she had won already.

But Haejin… he didn’t say a word.

His face stayed calm, expression unreadable, almost cold. He didn’t deny, he didn’t confirm—he simply picked up his lunch tray and walked past everyone as though none of it mattered.

The silence from him cut deeper than any words could.

Yumin’s throat tightened. Why… why won’t he say anything? She felt heat sting her eyes, not from the laughter, but from the hollow weight of his silence.

Rina leaned close, whispering loud enough for Yumin to hear, “See? Even if he doesn’t care to defend you.”

Yumin forced a bitter smile, clutching her tray until her knuckles turned white. She walked away, pretending she didn’t care, pretending the whole world’s eyes weren’t stabbing her back.

But inside… it hurt.

Later, as she sat in class, she caught herself sneaking a glance at Haejin. He was sitting straight, listening, calm as ever, as if nothing had happened.

Her chest tightened. Who are you really, Park Haejin?

Because if he truly didn’t care, then why did it feel like—behind that cold silence—he was hiding something .

The last bell rang. Students rushed out, their chatter still echoing about the cafeteria incident.

Yumin climbed up to the rooftop, her safe place. The cool wind brushed her hair as she leaned against the railing, hugging her knees. Finally, she let herself breathe—her chest heavy from holding it all in.

“Why does it always have to be me…” she muttered, biting her lip to keep the tears from falling.

She closed her eyes. And why did he stay quiet? Was I just… nothing to him?

A soft sound of the rooftop door creaking open made her freeze.

Footsteps.

She turned quickly, expecting maybe a teacher, but—

Haejin stood there. Calm. His school jacket is slightly loose, hair ruffled by the wind.

Yumin instantly wiped her face and stood. “W-what are you doing here?!”

He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he walked over slowly and leaned against the railing beside her, hands in his pockets. His silence wasn’t cold this time—it was heavy, like he was choosing his words carefully.

“…You shouldn’t let them get to you.” His voice was low, steady.

Yumin blinked. “What?”

Haejin finally looked at her, his gaze sharp but strangely gentle. “People like them… they talk because they have nothing else to do. You don’t need to lower your head for that.”

Her heart skipped. For a second, she forgot how to breathe.

“…Then why didn’t you say anything earlier?” she blurted out.

Haejin’s jaw tightened. His eyes flickered, but he turned away, staring at the city beyond the railing. “…Not everything needs an audience.”

Yumin froze. His words… felt like they carried something deeper.

The wind blew harder, strands of her hair brushing against her face. She quickly turned away to hide her blush, her heart pounding out of control.

Haejin’s silence returned, but this time—it wasn’t empty.

It felt… protective.

Next Morning

Yumin walked into class, she felt it—every pair of eyes turned toward her. Whispers buzzed through the room like bees, hushed but sharp enough to sting.

“Did you hear? Yumin and Haejin were on the rooftop… alone.”

“They must be dating.”

“No way! Does someone like her with him?”

Yumin’s stomach dropped. She clenched her books tighter, forcing herself to walk straight to her seat. Rooftop…? Who saw us?

Before she could even sit, Rina’s voice cut through the whispers like glass.

“Well, well,” Rina said loudly, flipping her glossy hair back. She leaned against her desk, smirking as all eyes followed her. “So this is your new trick, Yumin? Pretending to be some tragic heroine to get Haejin’s attention?”

The class chuckled. Yumin froze, blood rushing to her cheeks.

Rina stood up and walked closer, circling her like a predator. “Don’t tell me you actually believe someone like him would… like someone like you?” She dragged her eyes over Yumin’s plain uniform, her messy hair. “Pathetic.”

Yumin opened her mouth to speak—but no sound came.

The laughter echoed. Rina smirked wider, satisfied, then turned her attention to Haejin, who had just entered the classroom.

“Oppa,” she said sweetly, her tone instantly soft. “Don’t tell me the rumors are true? You and her?” She pointed at Yumin like she was pointing at trash.

The room went silent. Everyone waited.

Haejin’s expression was unreadable as his eyes moved from Rina… to Yumin. Yumin’s heart pounded painfully. Please… don’t say it. Don’t let him…

He shoved his hands into his pockets, his jaw tightening. The silence stretched so long, it hurt.

And then—

“…I don’t answer stupid questions.”

He brushed past Rina and sat at his desk.

The class erupted with gasps and murmurs. Rina’s face burned red, her nails digging into her palm. Yumin’s chest felt like it would explode—half from relief, half from shock.

For the first time, she caught the smallest glimpse of something in Haejin’s eyes when they flicked back to hers. Not warmth, not exactly… but a silent shield.

And it was enough to make her heart stumble.

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To be Continued....

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