Live or Die

CHAPTER 3

The soft hum of the library engulfs Yeji as she immerses herself in the solace of books. Unbeknownst to her, the air carries the tension of the impending encounter. Park Do Jin, torn between guilt and allegiance, approaches her.

Do Jin: (awkwardly) Yeji, we need to talk.

Yeji glances up from her book, her expression betraying a mix of indifference and wariness.

Yeji: (calmly) Do we?

Do Jin: (hesitant) Look, about what happened...

Yeji: (interrupting) I never asked for an apology.

Do Jin struggles to find the right words, his attempt at an apology veering into a defensive stance.

Do Jin: You can't just slap Ga Young and expect no consequences.

Yeji: (raising an eyebrow) So, you're blaming me now?

Do Jin: I'm just saying, you can't act innocent here.

Yeji: (firmly) Innocent? Ga Young is trying to frame me. It's not my fault she got slapped.

Yeji closes her book, her eyes locking onto Do Jin's.

Yeji: I didn't ask for your apology, and I certainly didn't ask for your blame.

With that, Yeji gracefully stands and walks away, leaving Do Jin to grapple with the lingering tension.

Yeji ventures deeper into the aisles of the library, her mind still echoing with the unsettling conversation. Unbeknownst to her, Do Jin shadows her steps, an unresolved tension hanging in the air.

Do Jin: (grabbing her hand) Yeji, wait.

Yeji halts, the sudden grip on her wrist causing her to turn with a flash of irritation.

Yeji: What now?

Do Jin: (accusingly) Slapping Ga Young won't solve anything.

Yeji: (firmly) And pouring milk on me does?

Do Jin: (defensive) That was different.

Yeji: (pointing to her wound) Different? Look at this. Your friends did this.

Yeji recounts the humiliation, her voice carrying the weight of the injustice.

Yeji: Ga Young was about to slap me back then. Did you forget that?

Do Jin, caught in a moment of reflection, struggles to find an adequate response.

Yeji: (assertively) Leave me alone, Do Jin. Your grip hurts, and I won't tolerate this.

With a forceful shove, Yeji breaks free from his grasp, leaving Do Jin to grapple with the realization of his actions. As she walks away, the library aisles seem to echo with the unresolved tensions within the school.

The harsh fluorescent lights of the restroom reveal Yeji's tear-streaked face as she enters with a heavy heart. The tiled walls seem to echo her pain as she seeks refuge in the solace of an empty stall. Alone with her thoughts, she lets the tears flow, each droplet a testament to the silent battles she fights.

Yeji: (whispering to herself) Why is this happening to me? What did I do to deserve all of this?

In the confines of the stall, the weight of the present turmoil intertwines with the echoes of a forgotten past.

Yeji: (reflecting) The accident... I lost everything. My memories, my family.

The pain intensifies as Yeji recalls the fragments of her lost life. The false narrative of her parents' demise and the subsequent journey to an orphanage.

Yeji: (voice trembling) They said my parents died. That I'm alone in this world.

The waves of despair crash over her, and Yeji succumbs to the grief that has been bottled up within her. The restroom becomes a haven for her silent cries, a sanctuary for the girl burdened by the weight of a fabricated past and the relentless torment of the present. In the confined space of the restroom stall, Yeji's cries echo in the emptiness. Her tears fall unrestrained as she confronts the profound loneliness that has become an unwelcome companion.

Yeji: (voice trembling) Why is it always me? Why does nobody see the pain I'm going through?

The weight of isolation presses on her, and she admits to the silent walls the ache of not having anyone to lean on.

Yeji: (whispering) I don't have anyone... No one to support me, to understand.

Each sob resonates with a desperate plea for solace, a yearning for someone who can share the burden she carries.

As the restroom remains witness to her vulnerable moment, Yeji confronts the harsh reality of her solitude, the tears a silent testament to the battles fought alone.
Yeji, with bloodshot eyes and a facade of strength, emerges from the restroom. The harsh reality of her vulnerability is confronted by the mocking presence of Ga Young.

Ga Young: (mocking) Look who's here, the emotional idiot.

Yeji's attempt to avoid further conflict is thwarted as Ga Young initiates an argument, reveling in the turmoil she has caused.

Yeji: (assertive) Ga Young, just leave me alone.

Yeji reaches out, gripping Ga Young's shoulder in an attempt to ward her off. The tension escalates as they lock eyes in a silent battle of wills.

Ga Young: (smirking) You think you can stop me?

In a sudden burst of hostility, the confrontation turns physical. Ga Young, fueled by rage, grabs Yeji's hair, and the two are ensnared in a vicious struggle. The restroom becomes a battleground, the air thick with the sound of their clash.

The violence peaks as Ga Young mercilessly bangs Yeji's head against the unforgiving mirror, the collision echoing the depths of the animosity that has brewed between them.

The echoes of the restroom clash reach the ears of Im Sang Mi and her friends, prompting their swift entry into the tumultuous scene. Ga Young, consumed by fury, is reluctantly restrained by her friends, their efforts aimed at quelling the escalating chaos.

Im Sang Mi: (firmly) Ga Young, stop! This won't solve anything.

Despite their intervention, the aftermath reveals the stark contrast in the extent of the damage inflicted. Ga Young, although hurt, stands relatively composed, while Yeji emerges battered and bleeding.

Yeji, her vision blurred with tears and pain, summons the last vestiges of strength to leave the restroom. Determination fuels each unsteady step as she struggles to make her way toward the school infirmary, her forehead marked by a trail of blood.

With each labored breath, Yeji presses forward, but the physical toll takes its toll. As the world around her blurs into shadows, her legs give way beneath her, and she stumbles, fighting against the impending darkness.

In this fragile moment, the universe orchestrates an unexpected intersection of fates. Before Yeji collapses, her eyes meet Do Jin's concerned gaze. The connection, a fleeting yet profound one, lingers in the air as she succumbs to unconsciousness.