The Hidden Scar

envelope of past

It had been a week since the cab incident, and though Shi Ho had returned to her usual routine, something had changed. She had always been a bit reserved, keeping to herself, but now there was a visible tension in her posture, a nervousness lingered in her eyes. It didn't go unnoticed, especially by JK, who had grown increasingly protective of her since the night he had rescued her from the dark alley.

BTS had gotten busier with their respective clubs, leaving JK less time to hang out with Shi Ho. His boxing practice was getting more intense, and every evening, after school, he found himself drenched in sweat and exhaustion, barely having time to catch his breath. Yet, despite all that, his thoughts kept drifting back to her. There was something about Shi Ho that pulled at him—a sense of vulnerability she hid behind her quiet, artistic demeanor.

JK often spotted her in the school corridors, clutching her sketchbook close, always looking lost in thought. Sometimes, she would sit by the window in the practice room, watching the world outside with a distant gaze, as if her mind was somewhere far away. He couldn't help but notice how beautiful she looked in those moments, her soft brown hair catching the sunlight, her delicate fingers tracing invisible patterns on her sketchbook. But there was a sadness about her, a loneliness he couldn't quite understand.

After practice one day, JK decided he couldn't stay silent any longer. He had been building up the courage for days, rehearsing what he would say in his head, but now that the moment had arrived, his heart pounded in his chest, and his palms grew sweaty. He found Shi Ho sitting in her usual spot by the window, her sketchbook open on her lap. She hadn't noticed him yet, too absorbed in her drawing.

"Shi Ho," JK called softly, his voice barely above a whisper. He half-expected her not to hear him, but to his surprise, she looked up, her eyes widening in surprise.

"Oh, JK... I didn't see you there," she said, closing her sketchbook quickly, almost as if she didn't want him to see what she had been drawing. There was a hint of a smile on her lips, but it didn't quite reach her eyes.

"Sorry if I startled you," JK said, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly. "I just... I've been meaning to talk to you."

Shi Ho raised an eyebrow, clearly curious but also a little wary. "About what?"

JK shifted his weight from one foot to the other, struggling to find the right words. "Well, it's just... you've seemed kind of... different lately. Is everything okay?"

There it was—the question he had been holding in for days, finally out in the open. JK waited for her response, feeling a mix of relief and anxiety. He knew Shi Ho wasn't the type to open up easily, and part of him feared that she would brush him off, say she was fine, and end the conversation right there.

For a moment, Shi Ho just stared at him, her expression unreadable. Then, slowly, she looked away, her gaze falling to the floor. "I'm fine," she said, her voice quiet and almost unconvincing. "I've just had a lot on my mind lately."

JK frowned. He knew there was more to it than that. "Is it about what happened the other night? With the cab driver?"

Shi Ho flinched slightly at the mention of the incident, her fingers tightening around the edge of her sketchbook. "That... that was just a one-time thing," she said quickly. "I'm okay now. Really."

But JK wasn't convinced. He could see the fear in her eyes, the way her body tensed at the memory. "Shi Ho, you don't have to pretend with me. If something's bothering you, you can talk to me. I'm here."

Shi Ho bit her lip, clearly torn between wanting to keep her guard up and the desire to let someone in. For a long moment, she said nothing, the silence stretching between them like a fragile thread. Finally, she sighed, her shoulders slumping in defeat.

"It's not just about the cab," she admitted, her voice barely audible. "There's... there's something else."

JK's heart skipped a beat. He had been right—there was more to this than she had been letting on. He took a step closer, lowering his voice. "What is it? You can trust me."

Shi Ho hesitated, her eyes flickering with uncertainty. Then, as if making a decision, she reached into her bag and pulled out a small, worn envelope. It looked old, the paper yellowed with age, and there was something about it that immediately made JK feel uneasy.

"This," she said, holding the envelope out to him. "I got this a few days ago."

JK took the envelope from her hands, turning it over in his fingers. There was no address, no name, just a plain, unmarked envelope. "What's inside?" he asked, his voice low.

Shi Ho swallowed hard, her hands trembling slightly. "I haven't opened it yet. I'm too scared to."

JK frowned, his concern growing by the second. "Who gave it to you?"

"I don't know," Shi Ho said, her voice shaking. "I was walking home from the art club, and this man... he stopped me. I didn't recognize him, but he knew me. He gave me the envelope and said it was from someone from my past."

JK's blood ran cold. "Your past?"

Shi Ho nodded, her eyes filling with fear. "I don't know who it could be, JK. I don't have a family. I grew up in an orphanage. But... but there are people from back then who... who might be looking for me."

JK stared at her, his mind racing. He had always known that Shi Ho's past was a mystery, but he had never imagined it would be something this serious. "Shi Ho," he said softly, placing a hand on her shoulder. "You don't have to go through this alone. Whatever's in this envelope, we'll face it together."

Shi Ho looked up at him, her eyes shining with unshed tears. "I don't want to drag you into this, JK. You've already done so much for me."

JK shook his head, his expression determined. "You're my friend, Shi Ho. I'm not going anywhere. We'll figure this out."

For the first time in days, Shi Ho allowed herself to relax just a little. She nodded, taking a deep breath. "Okay," she whispered. "But... can we not open it here? I'm not ready."

JK smiled gently. "Of course. Whenever you're ready."

As they stood there together, the late afternoon sun casting long shadows across the room, JK knew one thing for sure—whatever danger lay ahead, he wasn't going to let Shi Ho face it alone.