Anyway, I decided to think positively.

After selecting the class committee, the meeting ended.

Looking at the clock, it was almost time for classes to begin.

Yuhui, who had participated in the meeting with so much enthusiasm, returned with a lack of motivation as if saying, “Well, honestly, studying diligently is more surprising.”

Which student in the world would prefer studying over playing? Of course, there were occasionally such students, but that’s mostly an exception.

“Ah, I hate it. I wish the sports festival would come quickly.”

Yuhui sighed deeply and slouched over her desk.

I comforted Yuhui, who looked like that, and made her sit up to attend class.

Time passed, and before I knew it, it was lunchtime.

“But… something feels strange today.”

While eating lunch in the cafeteria, I suddenly thought.

Since becoming a target of interest, people glancing at me has become more common, but today it was particularly intense.

I wondered if it was self-consciousness, but repeatedly making eye contact with passing students, there was no doubt that something was happening.
“Did anything happen while I was not coming to school?”

But no matter how much I pondered, I couldn’t pinpoint anything.

“…It’s probably nothing, right?”

I deliberately shook off the anxiety and laughed and chatted with Yuhui.

It didn’t take long for me to find out the answer.

It was break time. Feeling the need to take care of something, I left the classroom and headed straight to the restroom.

So, I entered one of the stalls in the restroom…

“Hey, did you hear about 3rd class Lee Jueun?”

“What?”

“They say she hasn’t been coming out for the past few days.”

…As soon as I entered, some kids outside started talking about me.

‘What’s going on in this situation?’

I was momentarily confused about how to react.

‘Didn’t they see me coming here earlier?’

Surely, they wouldn’t speak so openly for me to hear, right?

It was the first time dealing with such a situation, and my response was delayed. After becoming a target of interest, I had anticipated that rumors would circulate, but I didn’t expect to eavesdrop on gossip in real-time.

‘No wonder there’s a saying that birds listen to low talk.’

Indeed, our ancestors were right about everything. I learned a lesson. I should be careful with my words in the future.

‘Alright, let’s try to hear what they’re talking about.’

Instead of going out and letting them know of my presence, I chose to secretly eavesdrop.

I pressed my ear to the door and waited for the kids to speak. A high-pitched voice said,

“She’s been absent because she was hospitalized.”

“Hospitalized? Was she sick?”

“No, not really…”

I couldn’t hear the rest. They were probably whispering.

‘Even if they’re talking openly, why are they whispering about this?’

However, in the next moment, I could tell what the kids were talking about.

“What? Kidnapping?”

“Shh! Your voice is too loud!”

Why bother with secretiveness now? I’ve already heard everything.

Anyway, I roughly understood. Apparently, the kidnapping incident at Haeseong High School had spread widely among the kids.

Well, considering how loudly it unfolded, it wasn’t surprising that the news would spread widely.

“But why was she kidnapped?”

Well…

Just thinking about it brought tears to my eyes.

“Darn Snowball.”

I bit my lip in self-blame.

‘If I knew it would escalate like this, I would’ve never lied to Hanyeowon.’

I felt self-reproach creeping in.

“I heard this from a student in another class…”

Heard?

In the next moment, a bomb dropped.

“In fact, Lee Jueun is Ice Boy’s girlfriend!”

What!

I was shocked, and my mouth hung wide open.

‘Has this baseless rumor spread this far?’

Yes, Snowball was still rolling.

“What, really?”

“Yeah! My friend’s boyfriend goes to Haeseong High School, and they all know about it there!”

No way!

I writhed in agony, tearing my hair.

The kids outside, oblivious to my suffering, continued excitedly.

“Oh, they were close, just as I thought.”

“Then, what about Hanyeowon?”

“It’s just over, isn’t it?”

The laughing voice was cruel.

‘Should I leave now?’

The desire to correct the rumor was like a chimney in my heart.
However, right after that, upon hearing the following words, I couldn’t help but freeze.

“But, do you know this?”

What?

“This is something only people in the know would know…”

I swallowed hard.

“Lee Jueun… In reality, she might be ranked 0th in the world!”

By this point, there was no surprise left in me.

‘Me… ranked 0th in the world?’

Amidst my confusion, the voices of the kids reached my bewildered ears.

“What? Then, could it be the person from the rumors?”

“Yeah! There were rumors about someone from our school! It was actually her.”

After a moment of silence, a voice that seemed to have gained insight spoke.

“No wonder…!”

What’s there to wonder about!

I felt like screaming. I internally cursed while grabbing my head.

“Well, we should be careful from now on, right?”

“Yeah, that’s right. We shouldn’t make enemies with someone ranked 0th in the world.”

At that moment, a paper signaling the end of break time rang.

“Ah, the bell rang. Let’s go.”

Thus, the sound of the kids leaving echoed.

As if the restroom had never been so noisy, it was engulfed in silence.

‘I’m doomed… My life is over…’

In that silence, left alone, I felt defeated.