INK AND SHADOWS [???]

The weekend was over, and the mundane routine of school life began once more.

As Hara prepared to leave for school, her uncle, Jungkook, called out from the kitchen.

"Hara, wait a second," he said, his tone serious.

"What is it, Uncle?" she asked, slinging her backpack over her shoulder.

"Have you gotten your period yet?" he asked bluntly.

Hara froze. "What?"

"You heard me. You're usually sick as a dog when it starts, and I haven't heard any complaints this month," he said, crossing his arms.

"Don't forget, you've fainted before, and we've been to the emergency room more times than I can count. I keep track because someone has to."

Hara tried to brush it off. "It's probably just late this month, no big deal."

"Late, huh?" Jungkook raised an eyebrow.

"Look, I'm not trying to be nosy, but you've been going out a lot—clubs, smoking, drinking... I just want to make sure you're okay."

"I'm fine, Uncle!" Hara insisted, though her voice betrayed a hint of panic.

But as she walked to school, her mind was spinning.

Late.

She hadn't even realized it until now. Her heart sank as she thought about that one reckless night.

She'd taken the emergency pill... but what if it hadn't worked?

Throughout the day, Hara couldn't shake her anxiety. She replayed everything in her mind, piecing together the timeline, trying to convince herself she was overthinking.

In the crowded corridor between classes, she accidentally bumped into Jay.

"Hey, watch where you're—" he began but stopped when he saw her face.

"What's wrong with you?"

"Nothing," she muttered, avoiding his gaze and hurrying past him.

Jay frowned, watching her retreating figure. She wasn't acting like herself.

By the time their study session rolled around, Hara's nerves were frayed.

Jay, oblivious to her inner turmoil, was unusually cheerful.

"Check this out," he said, pulling back his hair to reveal his new conch piercing.

Hara managed a weak smile. "It looks good on you."

Jay smirked. "Of course it does. You don't look so good, though. You've been acting weird all day."

"I'm fine," she said quickly, though her pale complexion and restless fidgeting said otherwise.

As the minutes ticked by, her anxiety became unbearable.

She abruptly closed her textbook.

"We need to stop," she said.

Jay blinked. "Stop what? Studying?"

"Yes. I have to go... somewhere," she said vaguely, gathering her things.

"Whoa, hold on," he said, grabbing her arm gently.

"What's going on? You've been off since this morning. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," she said again, avoiding his concerned eyes.

"I just... I need to go."

Without waiting for his response, she left the library.

Hara didn't head home. Instead, she took a long bus ride to a clinic far from her school and neighborhood. She didn't want to risk running into anyone she knew.

In the sterile clinic room, the doctor asked her a series of questions.

"When was your last period?"

Hara hesitated. "It's... late."

"Are you sexually active?"

The question made her stomach drop. She hesitated again before nodding.

"Did you use protection?"

Hara swallowed hard. "No... I mean I didn't remember but I took an emergency pill afterward."

The doctor nodded and explained that while emergency contraception is effective, it's not foolproof.

"We'll do a urine test to check for pregnancy and any other potential issues," the doctor said.

Hara sat in the waiting room, her heart pounding as she waited for the results.

What if I'm pregnant?

What am I going to do? How do I tell him?

Her mind raced with scenarios, each one more terrifying than the last.