He's Beautiful

chapter 4

GO MIRAE'S POV

I woke up fully on my own, yawning as my hand instinctively reached for my phone. Feeling something metallic under the blanket, I pulled it out and checked the time.

6:00 A.M.

There were two more hours before class started, so I had enough time to do laundry and grab breakfast.

I lazily dragged myself out of bed and grabbed my dirty clothes. My eyes then fell on the pail of clothes across the room. Without thinking, I grabbed it too, making my way to the washing machine in the corner of the block.

I preferred to wash early in the morning when no one else was around, so I could take care of my undergarments and other girly items without feeling awkward.

Once I finished with the laundry, I headed to the cafe and grabbed two sandwiches—just in case I was missing something Jimin might like.

Back in the dorm, I saw that he was still asleep. I glanced at the clock—6:55 A.M.—still too early for him to wake up.

It seemed like the perfect time for a shower.

I made my way to the bathroom, took a quick bath, and slipped into my uniform.

I grabbed my bag and headed for the principal's office. I made sure the hallways were empty—this was the perfect time to check something important.

I entered his office quietly, telling myself that I was only there to update my transfer information.

As I sifted through the papers on his desk, my eyes landed on an old-fashioned frame. I picked it up and studied it carefully. My heart skipped a beat when I recognized the old man seated next to the child.

Dad?

I took a closer look at the photo, and my breath caught. The man standing next to my father was unmistakably Mr. Park—the one who had led me here, to this school, to this moment.

I was about to examine other pictures when I noticed a boy standing between my father and Mr. Park. His face seemed so familiar. I studied it more closely, and suddenly, a sharp pain throbbed in my head. I quickly put the photo down and rubbed my temples, trying to shake off the dizziness.

When I felt a little better, I continued looking around. The walls were filled with pictures—of family, events, and moments that seemed so...personal.

I was struck by a realization.

Is he the principal's son?

That meant the boy in the picture—he was him.

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"I'll tell you this one secret: I'm actually a girl. I'm here because I want to help my mom."

"If you were me, what would you do?" I rubbed Buddy's head and let out a heavy sigh. "I never thought Jimin was actually the principal's son. I've been living with him for a week now, and I can see that he's dealing with a lot of problems."

Buddy seemed to understand and barked as if in response, making me smile despite my worry. I continued to pet his soft fur.

"Eat more," I muttered, placing more food into Buddy's bowl.

Suddenly, I heard a voice. "What are you doing here?"

I froze, my heart skipping a beat. I turned to see Jimin standing right behind me. Oh god, did he hear me?

"I... I'm feeding him," I stuttered, trying to sound casual but feeling my nervousness creep in.

Jimin sat down next to me, and I could feel my heart rate pick up. His kindness today was so unexpected. It felt so different from how he usually treats me.