Lee Deji, Choi Ye-joon, and Bang Eun-kyung headed to the cafeteria and approached the table where Kim Aecha and Minjin were sitting. Lee Deji simmered with anger, her fists tightly clenched at her sides.
"I can't stand Kang Minjun!" she exclaimed, her voice brimming with exasperation.
Bang Eun-kyung leaned in, concern visible on his face. "What do you plan to do now, Minjin-ah?" he inquired gently.
Minjin let out a sigh, attempting to hide her concern. "The expulsion doesn't bother me. What frightens me more is how I'll explain this to Oppa."
Heo Yeong-hwan approached the table, balancing his lunch tray as she spoke. He took a seat and immediately felt the tension surrounding them. It became clear that only Kim Aecha and Minjin were eating, while Lee Deji looked visibly angry.
"What's going on, Sunbae?" he inquired carefully.
Lee Deji sighed heavily. "That f*cking Kang Minjun reported Minjin's deeds to the principal, and now she's facing expulsion."
"Bo?!" Heo Yeong-hwan exclaimed, shocked by the news. His face turned red with anger. "I'll kill that mtherfcker!" he shouted, pushing himself up from his seat, but Lee Deji quickly grabbed his shoulder, pulling him back down.
"I've already confronted him," Lee Deji said, frustration evident in her voice.
Kim Aecha looked at Minjin, concern clear in her eyes. "Minjin-ah, are you alright?" she inquired softly.
Minjin continued eating, her expression calm and almost indifferent. "Yes," she replied plainly, as if the threat of expulsion were just another inconvenience.
Heo Yeong-hwan spotted Bang Eun-kyung at their table and shot him a suspicious glance. "What are you doing here? Aren't you friends with Kang Minjun?" he questioned directly.
Bang Eun-kyung folded his arms, attempting to justify his presence. "I'm also friends with Minjin, aren't I?" he retorted.
Kim Aecha raised an eyebrow, visibly doubtful. "Since when did you become friends with Minjin-ah?" she inquired, her tone confrontational.
"Today! I'm backing her up," Bang Eun-kyung asserted, attempting to sound self-assured.
Choi Ye-joon chuckled softly. "And you'll cut ties with Minjun?" he teased.
Bang Eun-kyung paused. "Not yet, A-aniya," he confessed, a hint of embarrassment on his face.
Kim Aecha scoffed. "You remain loyal to Kang Minjun," she remarked, obviously unimpressed.
The group lapsed into a moment of silence, each absorbed in their own thoughts. The tension at the table was thick, yet Minjin appeared to be mentally miles away, preoccupied with the challenging conversation she would soon have with her older brother.
###
When Minjin got home, the house was silent. Tae-sung hadn't arrived yet, and the only one to welcome her was their Sphynx cat, Cleopatra. The cat came up to her and rubbed against her leg, its bare skin sending goosebumps up her leg. It always felt odd to her to touch skin rather than fur on a cat.
She walked to its feeding area, filled its bowl with food, and refreshed the water. Afterwards, she went to her room, tossed her backpack onto the study table, and collapsed onto her bed with a heavy sigh.
"Oppa is going to kill me. I've never let my family down before," she whispered anxiously.
Feeling a surge of frustration, she abruptly sat up on the edge of her bed. "Minjun is such a jerk!" she shouted.
Seizing a pillow, she pressed it against her face and let out a loud, muffled scream. Shortly after, she heard the front door open.
"Minjin-ah, are you back home?" Tae-sung called from outside her room.
"Yeah, oppa!" she replied, attempting to calm her voice.
"Have you eaten already?" he asked.
"Not yet," she replied.
"Then come out; let's eat," he said.
Minjin took a deep breath, feeling her heart pounding in her chest. She left her room and saw Tae-sung setting the table. "Come on, let's eat. Sit down," he said.
She took a seat across from him, nervously grasping her chopsticks. Though she wasn't hungry, she attempted to eat, looking for the perfect moment to discuss her issue at school with Tae-sung. She observed him while he ate.
"Are you eating at work?" Minjin asked, trying to make small talk.
"I just had a sandwich this afternoon," Tae-sung replied.
"Oppa, you should eat on time. Take care of your health," she said softly.
"I will," he nodded. "How was school?"
Minjin sighed and put down her chopsticks. "Oppa..."
"Hmm? What's wrong, Minjin-ah?" Tae-sung looked at her with concern.
She swallowed hard. "You are called to the school tomorrow."
"What? Why?" Tae-sung asked, his tone serious.
Minjin hesitated, gathering her courage. "I... I did the students' calculus assignments, and I asked them to pay me."
Tae-sung frozen mid-bite. "What?"
Minjin kept her head down. "I did everyone's assignment in calculus and asked for money," she repeated, her voice barely a whisper.
Tae-sung put down his chopsticks forcefully, covering his face with his hand. He took a deep breath before looking back at her. "What's happening to you, Minjin-ah? Tell me."
Minjin's tears began to fall as she kept her head lowered.
"I accepted the fact that you aren't in Section 1 in the 12th grade because I didn't want you to feel pressured. I know how hard it is to be a student here," Tae-sung began, his voice trying to remain calm though anger seeped through.
"I tried to understand your feelings, knowing how much you've been hurting since Appa died. I've tried to understand you all this time," he continued.
Minjin kept crying, feeling the weight of his words.
"You have an IQ higher than Einstein! You have a bright future ahead of you! But look at what you're doing. You're ruining it! If the school decides to expel you, I'll send you to the countryside to live with our grandparents. They'll make you live in a traditional Korean household. Is that what you want, Minjin-ah?" Tae-sung's voice rose.
"I'm sorry, oppa," Minjin managed to say between sobs.
"Go to your room. Sleep early. We'll go to your school first thing in the morning," he ordered.
Minjin complied and went to her room. Inside, she leaned against the door, sank to the floor, and buried her face in her hands, tears streaming down her cheeks as she wept softly.