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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Sunghoon stepped through the large, luxurious doors of his family's mansion, the sound echoing through the expansive foyer. The high ceilings and lavish decor were a constant reminder of his family's wealth, but the opulence did little to comfort him. He tossed his backpack onto a nearby sofa and wandered into the kitchen, hoping to find some snack.
His maid had told him his parents were going to some business event that evening, so he assumed they weren't at home.
Instead, he found his mother, Park Chanmi, sitting at the dining table, her laptop open, papers strewn around her, and an expression of frustration etched on her face.
"Sunghoon," she said, barely looking up. "You're home late again."
"Yeah, I stayed after school," he replied, shrugging off the fatigue that clung to him like a heavy coat. "I thought you were gonna be at some business event today?"
"Yes, me and your father will be going there in 20 minutes. Sunghoon, I am so disappointed in you," she said sharply, finally raising her eyes to meet his. "You should be studying more and going to skating practice instead wasting your time somewhere, you're just wasting your potential, and you know how much this means to your father and me."
Sunghoon clenched his jaw, feeling irritation rising within him. "I can't be perfect all the time, Mom. I have a life outside of skating and grades."
"A Life?" she scoffed, her voice rising. "You think this is some game? Your father and I have worked hard to give you everything, and you're throwing it away. I'm not asking for perfection, just a little dedication!"
"Dedication? Is that what you call it?" he shot back, his temper flaring. "You're never home, the last time we ate dinner as a family was four years ago! You don't know what I'm dealing with, and you don't care!"
Her expression hardened. "How dare you talk to me like that! I'm sacrificing everything for you, and this is how you repay me? By acting like a spoiled brat?"
Sunghoon's anger boiled over. "A spoiled brat? I'm trying to figure out who I am, and all you do is push me! You don't see me at all! You don't even care what I want!"
"Of course I care!" she yelled, rising from her seat, the chair scraping loudly against the floor. "But your so-called 'wants' are irrelevant if you end up wasting your future. You think you're the only one with struggles? Your father and I have built this life for you, and you're just throwing it away!"
"What about your life, huh?" Sunghoon angrily shot back, taking a step forward. "You're never here! You think that money can replace a parent? I don't even know who you are anymore! All you do is criticize me!"
"Stop being so dramatic!" she snapped, throwing her hands up in exasperation. "I'm here trying to make sure you succeed, and you're here throwing tantrums like a child. You have responsibilities!"
"Responsibilities?" he yelled, feeling his pulse quicken. "You mean the responsibility to be a perfect little puppet? You have no idea what I want or need. You only care about appearances and your super precious social status!"
Her face flushed with anger, and she took a step closer to him. "You have no idea what it takes to run this family! You think it's easy? You think I enjoy working endless hours while you throw your life away?"
"Maybe if you were actually present in my life, you would understand!" he shouted, his voice echoing off the walls.
His mother's face contorted with rage. "You're an ungrateful little brat! You have everything handed to you on a golden platter, and you throw it away like it's nothing. You need to grow up and take this seriously, I am so done with you not doing anything and taking everything for granted!"
Sunghoon felt the sting of her words, the anger shifting to something darker within him. "You know what I'm done with? I'm done with this conversation!" he spat, turning on his heel and storming out of the mansion the tension still hanging heavily in the air.
He needed to get away from the suffocating atmosphere of the house. As he stepped outside, the cool evening air hit him, and he took a deep breath, trying to clear his mind. He started walking, his feet carrying him down the quiet streets of his affluent neighborhood.
The houses around him were just as grand as his own, with perfectly manicured lawns and luxurious cars parked in driveways. But as he walked, the emptiness of it all pressed on him. He was surrounded by wealth, yet he felt utterly alone. His parents were often absent, consumed by their business deals and social events, leaving him to navigate the chaos of his life on his own.
He wandered aimlessly, lost in thought. The argument with his mother replayed in his mind, a cycle of disappointment and frustration that he couldn't escape. Sunghoon kicked a small stone on the pavement, watching it bounce away into the darkness.
"Why can't they understand?" he muttered to himself. "Why can't they see that I'm just trying to figure things out?"
As he strolled through the streets, he found himself thinking about her again.
Sarim.
It was hard to shake the guilt that gnawed at him. She had been the target of his bullying, yet he was beginning to see her differently. There was a complexity to her that he hadn't recognized before, and the more he thought about her, the more confused he became.
Why do I even care? he thought, shaking his head. This is ridiculous.
But deep down, he knew that wasn't true. Sarim was more than just a target for his insecurities; she was a person with her own struggles, and he couldn't ignore that anymore. The guilt clung to him, and he felt an urge to apologize, to make things right, but he had no idea how to begin.
Lost in his thoughts, he continued to walk, the world around him fading into a blur. The streets were quiet, the only sound being the crunch of gravel beneath his shoes. Sunghoon knew he couldn't run away from his problems, but for now, he just needed to escape the expectations that weighed him down.
As he walked, the cold air filled his lungs, and for a moment, he felt a sense of freedom. Away from the pressures of home, he could breathe. Maybe it was time to start confronting the truth about himself and the choices he had made. But that would take time, and tonight, he just wanted to be alone with his thoughts.
Authors note:
heyy guyss!! to be honest, i dont really like how this is turning out.. but we'll see ! also i can't believe i have already updated 11 chapters . i hope yall have an amazing week and i love yall a lot !!! and thanks for every single vote and comment, i appreciate it so much <3
