Chapter 2
Jin Eun-sol and I went to different schools. I was attending an all-girls middle school, and Jin Eun-sol was enrolled in a reputable co-educational private middle school. The landlady ( Eun sol’s mother) tried to get the two of us into the same school, but Jin Eun-sol said he was embarrassed and told her that I should go to a girls’ school. That was a shocking statement—but I agreed with him, so I told them to do as he wanted. Going to the same school with that foul-mouthed guy during elementary school had been more than enough for me.
These days, he rarely runs out of class or falls over, but back in elementary school, Jin Eun-sol used to fall so often that it was beyond my words. Every time it happened, I had no one to rely on but myself, and it was tough.
“Weak Guy’s sister!”
Whenever the back door would open during class and someone called my name, I had no choice but to run to Jin Eun-sol’s class. Whenever he needed me, he’d be hunched over his desk, trembling, his body oddly out of sync with his size. It wasn’t even pitiful. That’s because Jin Eun-sol avoided and was repulsed by the helping hands of others.
“Eun-sol! Your sister is here.”
That guy who never even looked up when others worried about him finally raised his head when he heard that I was there. He looked at me and reached out his hand with a pained expression.
Was that a hand asking for help?
Bam!
No, it wasn’t.
“Why are you so late? I thought I was going to die from the pain!”
At that moment, he started slapping my cheek without mercy, tears streaming down his face. The sound of Jin Eun-sol’s classmates holding their breath surrounded us. The atmosphere grew tense in an instant. I just grabbed his waist—he was about to collapse—and turned my head slightly.
“Sorry.”
“I told you not to turn off your phone. You know better than anyone that I get sick often, don’t you?”
His sorrowful voice, thick with sobs, poured his resentment onto me. But I wasn’t sorry at all. Jin Eun-sol always sent pointless texts before he got sick. There was no way the teacher could understand my situation, which forced me to check on him. And in the end, I was always the one who took all the scoldings.
Still, I didn’t regret turning off my phone. Watching him cry so bitterly in pain… somehow, it made me feel better.
“Sorry… Shall we go to the infirmary?”
“Okay. I’ll leave early. Sister, you leave early too.”
“…Okay.”
I turned around and took Jin Eun-sol with me. The students who had been surrounding us, holding their breath, suddenly stepped aside to make way. I walked down the open path through the back door. I could feel Jin Eun-sol’s hot breath as he panted, struggling with his swollen cheek.
I was annoyed.
I didn’t waste my emotions feeling discriminated in the school that I attended. I was content at just going to school. Learning was fun. When I heard that education would help me gain the knowledge I’d need as an adult to become independent, I naturally began to crave it. The harder I worked, the better my grades became. When I did really well, I ranked 2nd or 3rd in the entire school, and even on my worst days, I was still in the top 10.
Considering I achieved this without attending any private academies or receiving tutoring like other kids, it was an impressive result. If I continued at this pace, I could probably get into a good high school. I couldn’t afford a dormitory, but I was able to attend school completely free thanks to a scholarship.
In contrast, Jin Eun-sol’s grades were always at the bottom of the class. Either he wasn’t interested in studying, or he was just plainly dumb. He said he always slept during class. Every time the landlady—his mother—received his report card, her expression turned somber. That was the only time I ever felt superior to Jin Eun-sol. I’m a lot smarter than that guy. Like that.
“By the way, my little girl will be graduating soon, right?”
I stopped slicing fruit and looked at Jin Eun-sol’s mother, Kim Eun-ah. Her delicate hands, which were now arranging the sliced fruit on a plate, gently tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear.
“Ah… yes.”
My little girl…
I couldn’t hide the corners of my lips as they lifted on their own. Jin Eun-sol, who was watching TV in the living room, glared at me when he noticed—but I didn’t mind.
“Where are you thinking of going for high school? With your grades, I think you could get in anywhere.”
Kim Eun-ah asked me with an expression full of hopeful anticipation. But her interest didn’t feel like a burden—it made my skin tingle, in a good way.
“I want to go to a vocational high school. One where I can get a job right after graduation.”
“Oh… So you’ve already started thinking about becoming independent.”
I wanted to attend a private high school. I’d even dreamed of going to college. But even if I studied hard enough to win a scholarship and cover my tuition fees… life after becoming independent would still be tough. I’d have to maintain my scholarship through high grades and work part-time jobs to survive. Was it really possible to study and work at the same time?
Of course, if I could get away from Jin Eun-sol, I felt like any part-time job would be easy.
But even so, I still wasn’t sure that I wanted to go to college—or even high school, for that matter.
“Yes… I always think that I should become independent as soon as possible and repay your kindness.”
Kim Eun-ah looked at me as if her heart was about to burst from happiness and smiled.
She had once been a famous actress in the broadcasting world, celebrated for both her beauty and her charm. Naturally, Jin Eun-sol’s father couldn’t let someone like her go. Like many actors, she got married just as her popularity began to fade. After reaching the peak of her career, she married a wealthy man. In truth, they had been dating for some time—he had waited patiently for her to shine before proposing.
Jin Eun-sol inherited her looks. His face was the spitting image of Kim Eun-ah’s.
But his personality? It was not even 1% of her. Probably his personality resembled his father.
Jin Eun-sol’s father had no choice but to raise me as his adopted daughter, all because of Kim Eun-ah. I know he doesn’t like me—not even a bit. But I’m okay with that. I’m at a point where I’m basically the part of a charity business that he’s set to inherit, and besides, he’s rarely home. Probably because of the chairmanship.
There was a long battle over that title, fueled by the “blood-is-thicker-than-water” mindset, but in the end, the media reported that things were tilting in favor of Jin Eun-sol’s father.
So now, all I had to do was sit back and watch the expression on Jin Eun-sol’s face as he got screwed over.
“What a shame. Just three more years until my little girl becomes independent…”
Clang!
Before Kim Eun-ah could finish her sentence, a sharp, cracking sound tore through the air, making us both turn our heads. It had come from the direction of the large sofa.
From Jin Eun-sol.
“Eun-sol!”
Reflexively, Kim Eun-ah ran toward the sofa.
It was a familiar scene—something I’d witnessed since I was little.
Now, I just stood there, watching her back without a flicker of regret.
“Oh my god, why is this happening?”
Her scream echoed through the spacious living room.
“It’s nothing.”
“What do you mean by nothing? Oh my god, doesn’t it hurt? — Hyunji! Quickly come here!”
What the hell did he do this time?
“Yes!”
I stood there, stunned in the kitchen, then finally set down the knife and rushed into the living room.
The coffee table and sofa was splattered with bright red blood.
Kim Eun-ah was frozen, staring helplessly at the blood pouring from her son’s hand, while Jin Eun-sol’s sharp gaze locked onto me like a dagger.
“Ah…”
I looked around, avoiding his stare that felt like it might pierce me.
The plate of fruit had shattered on the floor—its contents scattered.
The fork that had been laid out for him had vanished.
“Eun sol!”
“I’m calling an ambulance. Hyunji, can you stop the bleeding?”
Kim Eun-ah hesitated, then darted towards the landline, leaving me to deal with her son.
I glanced at her disappearing figure, then knelt in front of Jin Eun-sol, wrapped his bleeding hand with my apron, and pressed it tightly.
He just stared at me, face blank, like he couldn’t even feel the pain.
An eerie silence stretched between us.
His hot, wet blood soaked through the apron and seeped into my palm.
“Doesn’t it… hurt?”
I finally asked, unable to stand the silence.
In response, Jin Eun-sol casually tossed something onto the sofa.
My head turned instinctively.
It was a fork.
My entire body tensed.
I immediately pulled away the apron and checked his palm.
Four deep puncture wounds were gushing blood.
A shuddering breath escaped me.
“Sister.”
His blood-covered hand reached for my face.
Before I could react, he cupped my cheek with his palm.
I felt the sticky warmth smear across my skin.
I froze.
I stared at him, confused and unable to understand his expression.
Still looking at me, he dragged his hand slowly down from my cheek, across my jaw, and to the nape of my neck—then let it drop with a dull thud.
What are you doing…?
My heart pounded. My breath grew shallow.
From cheek to neck, I could still feel the clinging warmth of his blood.
Without realizing it, I raised my hand and wiped my cheek.
His blood stained my fingers.
I sucked in a sharp breath and looked at him.
As if waiting for that exact moment, Jin Eun-sol opened his mouth.
“Go to high school with me.”
“…Huh? What…?”
What was he talking about?
He smirked as he watched me—It felt like he was looking at his blood on my skin.
“After you graduate middle school, let’s go to the same high school.”
“What…”
I blinked, stunned, shaking my head.
“Let’s wait two years and enroll together. Don’t go to vocational school right away. I’ll talk to Mom.”
Jin Eun-sol casually wiped his still-bleeding palm.
A few drops of blood spattered my face again.
Why?
Didn’t you say you were embarrassed of me?
“Understood?”
Jin Eun-sol was unpredictable.
Even the things he liked for a moment, he’d grow tired it the next moment.
He wasn’t even fond of food. He’d lose interest before finishing a plate.
“But…”
Just as I opened my mouth to ask a question, Jin Eun-sol’s gaze dropped, dark and sharp.
“What? Are you worried that your grades won’t be good enough after going into the high school with me?”
That’s not what I meant.
He casually wiped the blood off his clothes.
That smug smile on his face—telling me not to worry—made me want to claw it off.
Me? Going to high school with you?
Why would I? Why the hell should I?
Weren’t you the one trying to push me away?
Jin Eun-sol tilted his chin up, a smirk curling at the corners of his lips.
It was the expression of a predator who had cornered his prey.
“I’ll let you study as much as you want, Sister.”
“I’m stupid, so you can just do the thinking for me.”
What?
“I mean you can do the tutoring work. It’s the least you can do since you are always eating our food.”
Only then did he glance towards the hallway, as if none of what just happened mattered.
I followed his gaze—and there stood Kim Eun-ah, just stepping back into the room after finishing her phone call.
Her eyes landed on my face—and widened in horror.
“Ah!”
She screamed.
I looked down and realized I was still smeared with blood.
Without another word, I bolted to the bathroom.
Behind me, I could hear Jin Eun-sol laughing—his shoulders shaking with amusement.
And I felt like I was going to lose my mind.
