A week had passed, and Tae-pyung was finally allowed to return to school after receiving medical clearance from his doctor. The morning air felt heavier than usual as he walked through the school gates. His mind was a flurry of thoughts, and his steps were hesitant, but he brushed it off, thinking everything would return to normal soon.
As he entered the classroom, the familiar surroundings offered little comfort. His eyes instinctively darted to Eon-jin's seat, only to find it empty. A pang of unease struck him. He had hoped to see her there, to talk to her, to clear the weight that had been sitting in his chest for days.
The bell rang, signaling the start of class. Mr. Jung, their instructor, began the lecture, but Tae-pyung struggled to focus. His gaze kept wandering back to Eon-jin's seat, hoping she'd walk in late. Yet, the minutes ticked by, and there was still no sign of her.
"You're probably wondering where Eon-jin is," Jin-ah suddenly said in a low voice, breaking the silence between them. Her gaze was fixed on the whiteboard, avoiding his eyes.
Tae-pyung turned to her, his heart pounding. "What do you mean? Where is she?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper, his anxiety growing with every passing second.
"Her mom came here last week with her," Jin-ah explained quietly. "After that visit, she stopped coming to school. No one's sure if she's coming back. It's been a week now."
Her words felt like a punch to the gut. Tae-pyung froze in his seat, staring blankly ahead. The world around him seemed to blur and fade into the background. A week? She's been gone for a week? How could that be? Why didn't anyone tell me?
Without thinking, Tae-pyung shot up from his seat, grabbing his phone. His sudden movement startled the rest of the class, drawing their attention.
"Where are you going, Tae-pyung ssi?" Mr. Jung's stern voice broke through the silence.
"I... I need to go somewhere," Tae-pyung stammered, his voice filled with urgency.
"And where exactly do you think you're going?" Mr. Jung asked, his tone impatient and sharp. "You just returned to school, and now you want to leave in the middle of my class? Sit back down. If you have somewhere to be, you can go after class."
"But—"
"No buts, Mr. Kim Tae-pyung," Mr. Jung interrupted firmly. "Unless you want me to call your parents and inform them of your behavior?"
Tae-pyung clenched his fists, his jaw tightening. He glanced at Jin-ah, who gave him a sympathetic look but said nothing. Left with no other choice, he slowly returned to his seat, feeling helpless and frustrated.
As he sat down, he gripped his phone tightly, his mind racing. Where could she have gone? What happened that made her leave so suddenly? The rest of the lecture became a blur as he tried to piece together the puzzle. His heart was filled with a mixture of guilt, worry, and desperation.
-----
When the class ended, Tae-pyung noticed Min-jung quickly packing her things and hurrying out of the room. His chest tightened with an uneasy feeling, and without a second thought, he grabbed his bag and rushed after her.
"Min-jung! Min-jung, wait!" he called out, his voice echoing down the corridor. She didn't stop, her pace quickening as though trying to escape him. Frustrated and desperate, Tae-pyung quickened his steps and finally caught up to her just outside the building.
"Min-jung!" he said again, grabbing her arm gently but firmly to stop her in her tracks.
"What do you want, Tae-pyung?" she asked, her voice sharp and her eyes avoiding his.
