checkmate. | pi hanwool

Chapter 09

Gaeun remained silent, watching them interact. She wasn’t as sentimental as her brother, but a part of her understood what this meant to him. This wasn’t just about studying. This was Gamin trying to build something—something stable, something meaningful. And despite her reluctance to fully admit it, she felt it too.

The five of them settled into their seats. Jiwoo sat beside Gamin, while Gaeun, Sehyun, and Heewon sat across from them.

"When did you take that photo?" Sehyun asked, narrowing his eyes.

Gamin just grinned. "Isn’t it cute?"

Sehyun slightly shook his head and changed the subject. "By the way, did you guys hear that Pi Hanwool got escorted by the cops yesterday?"

Gaeun’s brow furrowed. "What?"

Heewon nodded. "Yeah, it’s all over the school. But why?"

"They were interrogating him about the incident with Lee Hyunwoo," Sehyun explained before glancing at Jiwoo, who remained silent, casually listening.

Gaeun still found it hard to believe that Jiwoo was related to Hyunwoo. And even harder to believe that, just like her and Gamin, Jiwoo and Hyunwoo were twins.

She had only found out about it at the hospital yesterday, when they discussed it in Ms. Lee’s room.

Their conversation was abruptly interrupted by a loud crash. The sound of shattering glass echoed through the library, followed by the sharp clatter of a heavy object hitting the floor.

Gaeun instinctively ducked, throwing her arms over her head as shards of glass rained onto the table.

The others did the same.

When the noise settled, they all snapped their heads toward the window. A huge stone lay on the floor amidst the broken glass.

Gaeun’s jaw clenched. "What the hell?"

Gamin was the first to react. He pushed his chair back and strode toward the broken window.

"Yoon Gamin!" a loud voice called from outside. "Come down immediately!"

Gamin leaned over when he opened the now shattered window, looking down.

"Why?"

Gaeun, Jiwoo, Heewon, and Sehyun rushed to the window, peering down. Four guys stood below, looking up at them with menacing expressions.

One of them—the one who had called Gamin’s name, spoke again.

"Why?" he repeated mockingly, muttering something under his breath.

Sehyun let out a sigh. "Shit. I knew it."

Gamin turned to him, his brows knitted. "What do you mean?"

Sehyun clicked his tongue. "You might not be interested, but you’re at the center of attention at Yusung Tech High right now."

Gamin frowned. "And?"

Sehyun continued. "I know that Yusung Tech High is a mess, but different grades don’t fight each other. It’s an unspoken rule. But you broke that rule."

Gaeun, who had been listening, narrowed her eyes. "Who even made that rule?"

Jiwoo was the one who answered. "Pi Hanwool."

Gaeun’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Before she could process that, Gamin pointed down. "So, who is he?"

Sehyun pulled out his phone and opened an unfamiliar app. "Kang Taeoh. The No. 1 of the 11th grade."

Their attention shifted back to the group below when Taeoh shouted again, "Come down, you fucker! Let’s decide who’s above whom!"