“Not every pair of eyes wishes you well.”
Monday morning arrived with bright sunshine.
For once…
Jiwoo reached school before the bell.
She proudly crossed her arms.
“I’m early.”
Jisoo looked at the clock.
“You’ve got three minutes.”
“I call that success.”
“You call everything success.”
“It keeps life interesting.”
Heosok walked into the classroom carrying two bags of snacks.
“I brought breakfast.”
Jisoo raised an eyebrow.
“For everyone?”
“No.”
“For me.”
“…Then why two bags?”
“So people think I’m generous.”
Jiwoo reached into one of the bags.
“Too late.”
She stole a piece of bread and walked away.
“Hey!”
“I paid for that!”
“You paid.”
“I’m eating.”
“That’s teamwork.”
The classroom filled with laughter.
Jeheon entered a few moments later.
He was still getting used to mornings like this.
People actually noticed when he arrived.
Heosok waved.
“Morning!”
Jiwoo smiled.
“You made it.”
Jisoo nodded.
“Good.”
Yongi looked up from his book.
“Good morning.”
It was such an ordinary greeting.
Yet…
Jeheon still wasn’t used to hearing people say it.
He smiled.
“…Morning.”
During lunch…
The group gathered under a tree in the school courtyard.
The cafeteria was too crowded.
Jiwoo opened her lunchbox.
“…My mom packed vegetables again.”
then she suddenly stop and think of something
And smile
A smile nobody notice except Jeheon
Zaizai quietly looked at jiwoo and raised her eyebrow
“You should eat them.”
“I was hoping you’d say something else.”
“I know.”
Jiwoo sighed dramatically.
“Traitor.”
Zaizai smiled softly.
“I’ll eat one if you eat one.”
“…Deal.”
Heosok pointed at them.
“That’s cheating.”
“No.”
Zaizai replied gently.
“That’s teamwork.”
Jisoo smiled.
“I like her already.”
“You should.”
Jiwoo proudly said.
“She’s my sister.”
While everyone talked…
Jeheon looked toward the school gate.
Across the road…
A man wearing a dark cap stood beside a black car.
He wasn’t looking at the school.
He was looking…
At them.
Their eyes met.
Only for a second.
The man quietly got into the car.
It drove away.
Jeheon frowned.
“…Strange.”
“What is?”
Heosok asked with his mouth full.
Jeheon looked back.
“The car.”
Everyone turned.
There was nothing there anymore.
Jiwoo shrugged.
“Maybe someone was waiting for a student.”
“…Maybe.”
Jeheon answered.
But something about it didn’t feel ordinary.
That evening…
Dong was preparing dinner.
Jeheon quietly set the table.
“Dong.”
“Hm?”
“Can I ask you something?”
“Always.”
Jeheon hesitated.
“…Do you know anyone connected to Hanyoung?”
Dong stopped cutting vegetables.
Only for a moment.
Then he smiled.
“Why do you ask?”
“I saw someone outside school.”
“He looked…”
Jeheon searched for the right word.
“…like he was waiting.”
Dong stayed silent for a few seconds.
Then placed the knife down.
“There are many reasons people wait outside schools.”
“Parents.”
“Drivers.”
“Old friends.”
He smiled warmly.
“I wouldn’t worry unless they give you a reason to.”
Jeheon nodded.
“…Okay.”
But as Dong turned back toward the kitchen…
His smile slowly faded.
He looked out the window.
Quietly.
As if remembering something he wished had stayed forgotten.
Outside…
The evening wind rustled the trees.
Somewhere far away…
A black car disappeared around the corner.
Its driver made a phone call.
A calm voice answered.
“Has he settled in?”
“Yes.”
“And the others?”
“They’ve accepted him.”
A brief silence.
Then—
“Good.”
“Keep watching.”
The call ended.
The car drove into the fading sunlight.
Unnoticed.
For now.