Fallen Crown

Chapter 2

Eun Sang had found it difficult to explain to her worried mother why her chin and lip were bruised even though she had cleaned up at work. The story she had come up with about tripping as she was getting off the bus hadn't convinced her mother either. It didn't help that her cheeks went aflame each time she thought back. Her mother even checked to see if she had a fever; if only she knew.

When the wound throbbed painfully she remembered Young Do. She remembered the way his lips melted hers with blazing warmth in a way no other kiss had ever compared. Her heart galloped wildly against all logical reason which told her that he shouldn't make her feel so delirious. She couldn't possibly like him. Eun Sang wasn't the type of girl to be shaken by boys, especially bad ones. Young Do was a jerk; a bully who enjoyed manipulating her into having a strange sort friendship with him. She forced him out of her mind, but he returned to the forefront of her thoughts easily. He had even managed to invade her dreams, turning them into nightmares that no amount of dream catchers could filter out.

The next morning she woke feeling exhaustion deep in every muscle. She had hardly managed to sleep. More than usual she wanted to avoid being spotted by Tan as his chauffeur took him to school.

He always looked at her with a lingering gaze that made her feel sad. It was like he blamed her for his unhappiness, for the way he'd been swallowed up by his family's political mess without anyone to salvage his sanity. Eun Sang couldn't afford to be his salvation nor did she desire to be. Life had already been hard enough after being known as "the other woman" between Kim Tan and Yoo Rachel. Her classmates shunned her for having been shameless and aspiring to someone too above her "new money" status. They would have probably attempted to ridicule her for being caught in a romance with Tan had Young Do not claimed her as a toy that only he could play with.

When she arrived at school her peers took note of her bandaged bruises. They gossiped assumptions behind her back. Eun Sang held herself with dignity as she walked toward class. It was when she crossed the threshold that she was thankful her hair covered enough of her face that she could pass by Tan without him noticing anything. She glanced over at Young Do who casually sat back into his chair staring right at her with a small smirk. He dug his cellphone out and punched a few keys. He raised a brow toward her.

Seconds later her phone vibrated. She pulled it out hesitantly and read his text.

[Should we have gotten matching bandages?]

Eun Sang quickly glanced at him. His smile widened.

He reminded her of a predator — one who liked to play with its prey before going for the kill. He seemed happy, as if sharing bruises was endearing.

She looked away. People were watching
them. It seemed that everyone had their own reasons to be curious about Young Do's strange courtship. She knew Tan had probably noticed their exchange. He was always on the look out, like a hawk. Taking a deep breath, Eun Sang pulled out her notebook and pencil. The teacher went on and on about fictional characters in literary works, jotting key points on the board.

Her cell phone vibrated again. She ignored it.
It vibrated again.

Eun Sang gripped her pencil tightly. She couldn't give in. She knew that it was Young Do, that he was pushing her to do what he wanted. She didn't want to give him the satisfaction of teasing her through text in the middle of class. She wanted to have control of at least that much. Eun Sang needed to show him that school was sacred to her and that nothing he threatened her with would ever change that. Exams were around the corner and she had to improve her average if she even dreamed of getting a scholarship abroad. The only thought that kept her going was having the chance to study overseas — away from everyone and everything that caused her so much anxiety.