lim sarim is abused by her father, and when sunghoon, her coldhearted and bold classmate, witnesses it, he starts bullying her. but as he gets to know her pain, he realizes he has feelings for her that he can't ignore.
"𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐮𝐩 𝐭𝐡𝐞...
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The next morning, Sarim moved through the halls of school like a ghost, keeping her head down and her steps quick. The pain from last night clung to her like an invisible chain, pulling her down with every movement. She had spent hours staring at her reflection in the mirror before leaving the apartment, her fingers tracing the dark bruise that bloomed under her chin—an ugly reminder of her father's rage. No amount of makeup could hide it completely, but she had tried.
She always tried.
The first few classes passed in a blur. Sarim sat at the back, scribbling notes without really paying attention. The bruise throbbed whenever she moved her jaw, but it wasn't the physical pain that bothered her the most, it was the way she could feel eyes on her, the way some students whispered behind her back, probably noticing the awkward way she kept her face tilted downward.
By the time lunch break came, the anxiety gnawed at her, making it hard to breathe. She needed to hide the bruise better. The makeup she had applied earlier was starting to fade, and the last thing she wanted was to draw any more attention. The bathroom was her safest bet, a place where she could disappear, even for a few minutes.
Sarim slipped inside the bathroom, checking quickly to make sure no one was around. She exhaled in relief at the empty stalls and mirrors, then reached into her bag to pull out her concealer. Her hands trembled as she unscrewed the cap, staring at the reflection of her bruised skin. The concealer felt thick and heavy as she dabbed it onto her chin, trying to mask the deep purple stain.
But no matter how hard she tried, the bruise wouldn't disappear. She applied another layer, blending it in as best she could. She hated this—the daily routine of hiding, of covering up the marks of her home life. She hated how worthless it made her feel, how powerless she was to change any of it.
As she leaned closer to the mirror, focused on smoothing the last bit of concealer, the door to the bathroom creaked open. Sarim's heart nearly stopped.
She froze, her hand still pressed to her face, hoping whoever it was wouldn't notice her. But the footsteps weren't light or hurried like the other girls. These were heavier, deliberate. And then she saw him.
Park Sunghoon.
He paused in the doorway, his eyes widening in surprise as he realized he had entered the wrong bathroom. For a split second, they both stared at each other, the silence hanging heavy between them. Sarim's hand dropped from her face, but it was too late—he had already seen it.
The concealer smeared across her chin did little to hide the bruise beneath, and she could see the way his gaze flickered, his usual coldness faltering. Sarim's stomach twisted, embarrassment and fear crashing over her like a wave. She tried to turn away, to shield herself from his stare, but he stepped forward, his expression unreadable.
"What... are you doing?" His voice wasn't sharp like it usually was, but softer. Almost confused.
Sarim's mouth went dry. She didn't know what to say, didn't know how to explain. The truth was something she kept locked away, hidden behind walls she'd built for years. And now, standing in front of Sunghoon, those walls felt like they were crumbling.
"N-Nothing," she stuttered out, turning her back to him, hurriedly trying to shove the concealer back into her bag.
But Sunghoon wasn't fooled. He took another step closer, his eyes narrowing as he looked at her reflection in the mirror. "That doesn't look like nothing."
Sarim flinched at his words, her fingers trembling as she zipped her bag. She kept her gaze fixed on the floor, refusing to meet his eyes. "Just don't mind me" she muttered, her voice tight with frustration, but mostly with fear.
Sunghoon didn't move. His eyes lingered on her chin, where the bruise peeked through the makeup. "Did someone do that to you?" His tone had changed now. It wasn't mocking or cruel, just quiet. Serious. Almost caring.
Sarim's heart pounded in her chest. She could feel the walls inside her threatening to crack under the weight of his question. She wanted to lie, to brush him off like she always did, but the words wouldn't come. Instead, she shook her head quickly, her hair falling into her face, hiding the bruise—and the shame.
"J-Just leave me alone please," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
For a long moment, Sunghoon didn't say anything. Sarim could feel his eyes on her, studying her, maybe even realizing for the first time that there was more to her than the shy, silent girl he had been tormenting for weeks. But whatever was going through his mind, he kept it to himself.
Without another word, Sunghoon turned and left, the door closing softly behind him.
Sarim stood there for a long time after he was gone, staring at her reflection in the mirror. She didn't know what had just happened, didn't know what to make of Sunghoon's sudden shift in behavior. But one thing was certain—he had seen more of her than she ever wanted anyone to see.
