DOWNFALL -HIERARCHY

Chapter 26: She's Back

Narrator's POV:

The room was silent as Kang Ha and Nabi find themselves sitting on the couch of the living room. The only sound heard was the soft dripping of the rain outside. Kang Ha have already changed his clothes, he is wearing an oversized hoodie that Nabi had lent him, the fabric baggy and comfortable against his skin. They sat side by side, each lost in their own thoughts.

The silence was comfortable but still holding the echoes of their earlier conversation. Kang Ha glanced at Nabi from the corner of his eye, taking in the tired but slightly less sad look on her face. A few moments later, Nabi shifted in her seat, moving closer to Kang Ha and laying her head on his shoulder. Kang Ha could feel the weight of her head against him, and he could smell the faint scent of her shampoo. He stayed still, not wanting to disturb her, as Nabi slowly close her eyes and settled against him.

As Nabi rested her head on his shoulder, Kang Ha shifted his own position to make her more comfortable. He moves her head gently so that it fit just right on his shoulder. He watched her for a moment, her eyes closed, her breathing slow and steady.

Once they was settled comfortably, Kang Ha spoke his voice low and soft. "School's been... different without you there," he said. "Quieter. Empty, almost. Everyone keeps asking about you, wondering where you are..."

"I can't focus on anything too," he continued, his voice taking on a note of frustration. "Everything feels pointless without you around."

"Ri-an is... acting strange as well," he said, his voice filled with light frustration. "He's been asking about you, too. Constantly. It's like he's obsessed." When Kang Ha mentioned Ri-an's name, Nabi's eyes flew open, her body tensing slightly. Kang Ha noticed her reaction. He paused for a moment, taking in Nabi's reaction before continuing, a hint of bitterness seeping into his voice.

"He keeps asking about you," he said, his voice a mix of frustration and resignation.
"He recently found out about the baby too," he said, his jaw clenching. "He found out about Jae-i's miscarriage. Jae-i told him everything."

"What... What was Ri-an's reaction when he found out? Did he say anything...?" Nabi asked, her voice small and tentative. Her eyes was slightly widened, she was shock to hear the information "He was shocked, obviously,"

"He was upset, to say the least. He keeps trying to talk to Jae-i about it, to get her to open up or something. He keeps on pressuring her, trying to get her to tell him what's going on." Kang Ha let out a deep sigh, his shoulders slumping a little.

"So much has happened while you were gone," he said, his voice tinged with sadness and exhaustion. "Hera has been making moves on Ri-an too. It's not even subtle, she's practically throwing herself at him."

"It's obvious she's trying to win him over while you're gone. She's taking advantage of your absence and Ri-an's messed up situation." He paused for a moment, before speaking again "She thinks that she can just take your place and everything will be fine."

Nabi listened to him silently, her heart heavy with a mix of emotions. She wasn't so sure about what to feel in the situation. "Do you remember the parent's lavish night?" Kang Ha suddenly asked, his voice tinged with frustration. "Our plan was to expose those people who bullied my brother to all of the parents that attend the party, right? It was unsuccessful. Nothing had happened after the incident."

"Yun-seok, that bastard," he hissed. "He used his family's connections to escape his crimes. He got away with everything, like he always does. It's not fair, it's not right." Nabi pulled back, sitting up straight and looking at Kang Ha with concern.