The bell rang for lunch break, and Minjun was packing his things into his backpack when he noticed Bang Eun-Kyung standing up from his seat. At the same time, he saw Mun Sara walking out the door while she was holding a lunchbox.
"Aren't you going to eat with us?" Bang Eun-kyung called out to Mun Sara.
"Ani, this time I'll eat with Minjin-ah," Mun Sara replied.
Minjun overheard their conversation. She froze when he heard the name "Minjin." A realization hit him like lightning: Only Minjin knows my favorite things.
A few moments later, Bang Eun-kyung approached him. "Let's go, Minjun-ah," he said.
Minjun stood up and stared directly at Bang Eun-kyung. "You... Do you know Park Minjin?"
Bang Eun-kyung blinked. He struggled to find the right words and stuttered, "Um, Park Minjin? Uh... Minjun-ah."
Minjun noticed Bang Eun-Kyung's unusual reaction made his heart race.
"What grade is she in?" he asked, his voice more urgent now.
Bang Eun-kyung sighed deeply in exasperation. "Just like us."
Minjun abruptly walked out of the classroom.
"Minjun-ah, where are you going?" Bang Eun-kyung asked, following closely behind.
Amid the crowds of students, Minjun spotted Mun Sara in the distance. He began to follow her, his heart racing.
Bang Eun-kyung continued to trail along. "What's wrong?"
But Minjun did not respond.
Mun Sara reached the school garden and saw Minjin gazing at the flowers. She approached and sat on a nearby bench while Minjin stood.
"I bought us lunch!" Mun Sara announced cheerfully.
"Gomawo, I don't need to fall in line for now," Minjin replied with a grateful smile.
At the same time, Minjun spotted them from a distance. He slowed down, trying to steady his breath as his heart raced wildly. Bang Eun-kyung kept walking quietly behind. Mun Sara and Minjin continued their conversation, oblivious to the two approaching them.
"Sara-ah," Minjun suddenly called out. Mun Sara turned her head to see who had spoken, her eyes widening in surprise. "Minjun-ah?" she stammered.
The sound of his name startled Minjin. Mun Sara glanced at her, attempting to communicate silently.
"Sara-ah, I'll talk to you later," Minjin said quickly, trying to leave.
"You! Stop," Minjun commanded.
Minjin's body halted, instinctively responding to the familiar authority in his voice.
"You can't hide from me forever," Minjun said, even though he could feel a sudden wave of weakness wash over him.
Minjin wanted to escape but knew he was right—she couldn't hide from him forever. After taking a deep breath, she slowly turned around. Minjun looked at her face, his expression softened, a mix of surprise and relief crossing his features.
The whisper of his heart slipped from his lips, and he spoke in a familiar, gentle voice, "Minjin-ah."
"Do you know each other?" Bang Eun-kyung asked.
Minjin felt a slight chill when she heard Minjun say her name. Her heart raced, and she experienced a flutter of uncertainty. "A-ah, I forgot, I need something from Kim Aecha. I gotta go!" She stammered, then turned and rushed away.
Minjun watched her walk away, a warm feeling swelling in his heart.
###
During the remaining classes, Minjun struggled to concentrate. His thoughts drifted to his encounter with Minjin in the garden and the realization of Mun Sara's involvement. His emotions were in turmoil, yet he forced himself to focus, knowing that he would soon uncover the secrets Bang Eun-Kyung was hiding.
After classes, Bang Eun-Kyung stood up and waved goodbye to Minjun, who responded kindly but subtly followed him from a distance. Bang Eun-kyung headed straight to the soccer field, where he chatted with his teammates and briefly conversed with their coach.
Minjun observed closely, feeling doubtful—perhaps he had misjudged Bang Eun-kyung. But when the conversation ended, Bang Eun-kyung began to move again, heading back toward the school building. Minjun's curiosity was renewed.
He quietly followed Bang Eun-kyung until they reached the floor where the music club room was located. Bang Eun-kyung knocked on the door in a distinctive rhythm—a secret code. The door opened, and he slipped inside.
Minjun quickly hid behind the wall near the staircase. Shortly after, some upperclassmen approached and knocked with the same secret code before being let in, which further convinced Minjun that something was happening in that room.
As the sun began to set, more students knocked in the same rhythm and entered, while others left.
Just as Minjun was about to check out the room, he spotted Mun Sara approaching and quickly ducked back into his hiding spot. Mun Sara knocked with the secret rhythm and was let inside. Minjun's suspicions deepened; even Mun Sara was part of this mysterious gathering.
He waited ten minutes before knocking on the door, imitating the secret code.
Choi Ye-joon opened the door, his eyes widening in shock. "J-Jeoha? What are you doing here?" he stammered.
Minjun smirked and forced his way into the room. As he surveyed the space, his gaze settled on Minjin, sitting with a notebook and writing furiously. He walked slowly toward her, noticing a money box next to her.
"J-Jeoha? Why are you here?" Lee Deji asked.
"M-Minjun-ah?" Bang Eun-kyung muttered.
Minjin noticed the commotion around her and, spotting Minjun, lifted her head to better view him.
Minjun's voice shattered the tension as he asked, "What's happening?"
Minjin felt somewhat uncertain about how to respond. Minjun noticed the notebooks and his frustration bubbled up.
"Come with me," he said firmly.
However, Minjin stayed still, uncertain about what to do.
"Come with me!" Minjun reiterated, stepping closer and grabbing her arm.
"Ya! What do you think you're doing?!" Lee Deji shouted, stepping forward.
But Minjin stopped her with her hand. "Unnie."
Minjun frowned as he pulled Minjin out of the room and into the hallway. He suddenly stopped and faced her, his expression revealing anger and disbelief.
"What on earth were you doing in there?"
"N-nothing," Minjin stammered as her voice quivered.
"Do you think I'm stupid? You're doing their assignments and taking money for it! Are you out of your mind?"
Minjin's frustration boiled over. "Yeah! I am out of my mind!"
Minjun's eyes narrowed. "You're teaching those dumb students to be even dumber!" he shot back, his voice filled with fury.
Minjin, attempting to stay calm but filled with sarcasm, replied, "Minjun-ah, what I do is none of your business."
"Fine. I'll tell the school about this," Minjun said with a challenging grin.
"Fine! Tell them! I don't care!" Minjin snapped back defiantly.
Minjun smirked and turned away from her. "I will," he mumbled as he left Minjin in the hallway.
###
Mun Sara paced her room, nervously chewing her nails. Her anxious expression mirrored the rapid thumping of her heart. She halted and fixed her gaze on her phone. Taking a deep breath, she dialed Minjun's number.
"Minjun-ah..." Sara Mun said with concern.
"Sara-ah, why didn't you reveal that you knew Minjin and her actions?" Minjun inquired, his tone commanding.
Mun Sara settled on the edge of her bed. "Mianhae, Minjun-ah. Minjin-ah had no idea that you were at the same school. She learned it from me when I met her with Heo Yeong-hwan."
Minjun gave a playful smirk. "Heo Yeong-hwan? Did she ask you to keep it a secret from me?"
Mun Sara let out a sigh. "An-aniya. She didn't, but it felt like she didn't want you to find out."
"Why didn't either of you, Bang Eun-kyung, inform me about her?" Minjun inquired, his voice rising slightly.
"Aniya, Minjun-ah. Bang Eun-Kyung was unaware that you and Minjin had met before," Mun Sara confessed.
"Yet, he is aware of her actions," Minjun remarked with a frustrated laugh.
"Yes, I'm sorry, Minjun-ah."
Minjun let out a deep sigh. "I've spent almost two years with both of you, yet you became loyal to Minjin in just a month. Still, I understand that Minjin knows how to earn someone's trust."
Mun Sara's eyes widened, suddenly feeling a pang of discomfort. She swallowed hard, struggling to find the right words in response to his unexpected recognition of Minjin's character. Then it dawned on her: if Minjin was familiar with Minjun, then Minjun must have known her too.
She lowered her head and sighed. "Yeah, I suppose she does."
"The treats… she mentioned that to you, right?" Minjun inquired, his tone now reflecting uncertainty.
Mun Sara sighed in frustration, masking her hurt. "Yeah..."
###
When Minjin entered the classroom the following morning, she had hardly any time to get comfortable before Mr. Yu, her homeroom teacher, asked her to come with him. A heavy sensation filled her stomach—she already sensed what was coming. As she moved down the hallway, anger surged through her, and her heart raced with each step.
Upon entering the principal's office, she braced herself for the worst. Three teachers, along with Minjun and the principal, were already present. Minjin shot a glare at Minjun before turning to greet the teachers politely.
The principal sighed heavily and began, "Minjin-ah, Minjun mentioned that you've been doing assignments for other students and charging them for it. Is that true?"
Minjin swallowed hard and replied, "Yes."
The principal continued, "How long has this been going on?"
"Since last month," Minjin answered.
Mr. Chun shook his head in disapproval. "You deserve to be expelled! You're a disgrace to this school!"
The principal pressed on, "Who else was involved? Who were your accomplices?"
Minjin, her voice steady, replied, "I'd like to take the punishment alone. I asked those students if they wanted their assignments done, and they paid me. No one else is responsible."
Mr. Chun scoffed, "And now you're trying to cover for them!"
Mr. Yu looked at her with concern. "Minjin-ah, why did you do it?"
"I was bored," Minjin said.
Mr. Chun raised an eyebrow and said, "That's a foolish reason, but how did you solve those calculus assignments? They're not easy."
"I just know how to answer them," Minjin said.
The principal's expression remained stern. "Bring your parents tomorrow. We will finalize your punishment then."
Minjin spoke softly yet distinctly, "I have no parents. It's only my older brother and me."
Minjun's expression revealed a moment of surprise.
The principal nodded. "Then bring your brother. And I will tell you in advance that expulsion is the option we're considering."
"Yes, I understand," Minjin replied.
The bell rang, marking the beginning of morning class.
"You two may return to your classes," the principal said dismissively.
Minjun and Minjin bowed respectfully while Mr. Yu chose to stay behind.
After they left, the calculus teacher remarked, "That girl is smart. I reviewed those assignments, and all of them were impressively completed. The senior students struggled with these problems, but she solved them effortlessly."
Mr. Chun frowned. "So what if she's smart? What she did was still wrong!"
Mr. Yu said, "Mr. Principal, let's consider this carefully. Minjin might not be the most diligent student, but she is one of the most well-behaved in my class. She has potential."
The principal shook his head. "She solicited money from students, money given to them by their parents. It's a serious matter, and I see it as wrongdoing."
As Minjun and Minjin stepped out of the principal's office, Minjin paused and shot Minjun an intense glare.
In a surprising move, she raised her middle finger at him—a bold gesture that caught Minjun off guard. He hadn't expected that. Just as he was about to respond, Minjin quickly turned and walked away, leaving him in the hallway, confused and wondering why she had chosen to act so rebelliously.
###
During lunch break, the hallway outside Section 1 of the 11th grade erupted with shouting. A furious Lee Deji rushed in, her face flushed with anger.
Although Choi Ye-joon tried to hold her back, she pushed past him forcefully, her voice echoing in the corridor, "Kang Minjun! Get out here!"
Bang Eun-kyung and Mun Sara exchanged worried glances in the classroom as they watched Minjun calmly pack his belongings into his backpack, appearing unaffected by the chaos surrounding him.
"Get out here, Kang Minjun! You idiot!" Lee Deji shouted angrily, attracting the attention of nearby students.
A crowd gathered in the hallway, intrigued and puzzled by the spectacle.
Bang Eun-kyung leaned closer to Minjun, whispering, "What did you do? Why is she angry?"
Lee Deji shouted again, "Do you think everyone fears you because of your family?!"
"Stop it, Deji! You're causing a scene!" Choi Ye-joon urged.
Mun Sara rushed to the doorway. "Unnie, what's wrong? Why are you mad at Minjun-ah?"
Lee Deji pointed at Minjun angrily, her voice trembling. "That jerk told the teachers about Minjin! She's going to be expelled!"
Bang Eun-kyung and Mun Sara both froze in shock.
"You did what?" Bang Eun-kyung turned to Minjun, disbelief in his voice.
"Yah, Bang Eun-kyung-ah, help me with her!" Choi Ye-joon shouted as he tried to restrain Lee Deji.
Bang Eun-kyung quickly moved to assist, wrapping his arms around Lee Deji to keep her from charging further into the classroom. When she continued to struggle, he finally covered her mouth. Together, he and Choi Ye-joon pulled her away from the doorway.
Mun Sara looked at Minjun in shock. She had not expected Minjun to report Minjin to the teachers. She thought there was still a connection between them and believed Minjun cared for her, but she realized she was wrong.
Another realization struck her: last night, it was her first time seeing him with an angry expression and a sharp glare. Minjun usually didn't care what others were up to, as long as he stayed out of it. He knew getting involved would only make things worse if his father found out.
"Minjun-ah, what made you do that?" she asked him.
Minjun smirked, "She told me to," he responded tersely.
Seeing him behave this way deepened her shock, as she knew that Minjun had always stayed calm around everyone. Mun Sara frowned, searching his face for regret. "Minjun-ah, I thought you and Minjin-ah were friends since childhood."
Minjun paused; the words hurt more than he had expected.
"I'm your friend as well, but what you've done… it could destroy Minjin's future," Mun Sara added gently.
Minjun's expression hardened. "Not my problem," he said coldly.
"Minjun-ah," Mun Sara pleaded.
He turned away, stating, "I don't want to talk. Leave me alone."
Mun Sara stood frozen upon seeing the unusual Minjun she had known since freshman year. She had never thought Minjun possessed a cold personality, contrasting his approachable prince image.