DISGRACE ✴ kim rian

05 ── ʸᵘⁿ ᵐⁱⁿʲⁱ

ʰⁱᵉʳᵃʳᶜʰʸ
ʰⁱᵉʳᵃʳᶜʰʸ
ʰⁱᵉʳᵃʳᶜʰʸ

Yun Mi-hee hadn’t returned home the next morning, and while it might have been seen as an act of rebellion, she knew better. She knew that abandoning the carefully curated role of The Yun Mi-hee—the poised, untouchable heiress—would eventually come back to haunt her.

Her father’s eyes were everywhere. Someone was always keeping tabs on her, observing every move she made. But when you held the key to a family’s secrets and access to an unfathomable reservoir of generational wealth, manipulation came easily.

Last night, she’d swiped her card at a seven-star hotel, staying just long enough to create a plausible alibi before retreating to the safety of her apartment. It was one of the many things she had to keep hidden, buried deep beneath layers of appearances.

Now, she sat perched on the armrest of a couch in the student common lounge. The air was thick with whispers, gossip flowing like an electric current through the room. From the corner of her eye, she caught sight of Kang Ha stepping in, his presence igniting a new wave of murmurs.

Audacity. That’s what everyone thought he had to show up here.

But Mi-hee knew better. Kang Ha was dangerous. Every move of his was calculated, his unpredictability his sharpest weapon. He was here for Jae-i, to use him against Kim Rian. That part of his plan didn’t matter to her—it was none of her business.

What did matter was the way Kang Ha’s eyes locked onto hers, his smirk laced with an edge of familiarity. He hadn’t forgiven her. Their shared past was still a weapon in his arsenal.

Her chest tightened as alarms blared in her mind. Kang Ha, instead of retreating as expected, strode straight toward Kim Rian and his entourage, his confidence slicing through the tension like a blade. The whispers grew louder when, without hesitation, he turned and walked toward her.

Standing before her, his figure loomed, shielding her from the prying eyes of the room. The hum of whispers swelled as he leaned in, his voice low and laced with challenge.

“Let’s talk.”

She rose without a word, heading for the door as he followed. He wanted to make a scene, to prove to the onlookers that he wasn’t just another scholarship student.

Her private sanctuary—a room entirely her own—was the one place in this disastrous high school she could escape the weight of expectations. Even her father didn’t dare invade the space, but Mi-hee wasn’t naive. She knew better than to trust that his reach wouldn’t eventually find its way inside.

The room was a reflection of her true self, unguarded and free. Dusty rose hues coated the walls, softened by the glow of fairy lights strung across the ceiling. Polaroids of cherished memories adorned one corner, capturing moments with the few people she genuinely cared about. The centerpiece of the room was her hidden treasure: a cupboard overflowing with novels, her true escape.

Kang Ha, shameless as ever, wandered around the room as if he owned it. He paused in front of a photograph—a snapshot of three younger faces: Kang In-ha, herself, and Kang Ha. A sigh escaped her lips.

“With what right do you keep this?” he sneered, his tone dripping with derision.

She rolled her eyes, leaning against her desk.

“This room,” he continued, his smirk widening, “feels more like Yun Min-ji than Yun Mi-hee. Don’t you think, noona?”

The mention of that name was enough to send her walls crumbling, even if only slightly. His words were deliberate, a weapon sharpened to pierce through her carefully constructed facade.

“So, you’re fine with everyone knowing who you are now? Is that it?” she asked, her voice calm but her unease palpable.

He smirked, folding his arms as he leaned against the wall. “Why not? It’s only fair I make use of the truth if it’s going to take you down with me.”

She drew in a slow breath, forcing herself to stay composed. “Just get to the point, Kang Ha.”

He studied her for a moment, his smirk never faltering. He knew her too well—every crack in her armor, every buried secret.

“Oh, noona,” he said, his voice smooth and laced with amusement, “this is just the beginning.”

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