? HARD BOY BABY // SIM JAEYUN ?

as seohyun gathered her things, preparing to head to her next class, she felt a tap on her shoulder. her breath caught in her throat before she turned around, only to be met with the all-too-familiar sneer on miyeon's face.

"well, well, look who's making friends now," miyeon said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "didn't think you'd be the type to have... company."

seohyun tensed, but didn't show it. she straightened her back, trying to remain calm. "what do you want, miyeon?"

miyeon's eyes flicked to the door where joon had just exited, then back to seohyun, a smirk tugging at her lips. "i saw that little exchange," she said, her tone sharp. "you really think someone like her would want to hang out with a loser like you?"

seohyun opened her mouth to reply but stopped herself. she wasn't going to let miyeon get to her today. but the words just kept coming from miyeon, sharp and cutting, like a blade.

"don't get too excited, seohyun," miyeon continued, her eyes narrowing. "she probably only feels sorry for you. probably sees you as some... sad little project to fix. poor thing, thinking you can actually make a friend."

seohyun swallowed hard, her chest tightening. she refused to let herself show any weakness in front of miyeon. instead, she just looked away, not giving her the satisfaction of seeing how much her words affected her.

"you can say whatever you want, miyeon," seohyun said, her voice steady, though she could feel the heat rising to her cheeks. "but you don't get to decide who i hang out with."

miyeon took a step closer, lowering her voice. "oh, but i think i do, seohyun. don't you see? no one really cares about you. you're just... there. invisible." she leaned in, her smile widening. "and you know what? that's how it's always gonna be. no one's gonna notice you, and no one's ever gonna care. you'll always be just... nothing."

seohyun's heart pounded in her chest, but she didn't let it show. she knew it wasn't true. she was more than what miyeon said. still, hearing those words hurt. so much more than she wanted to admit.

"get over yourself, miyeon," seohyun replied, trying to keep her voice cool. "it's your problem, not mine."

miyeon just laughed, shaking her head. "oh, i'm sure. i'm sure."

with one last look, miyeon turned and walked away, her laughter echoing in the hallway, leaving seohyun standing there, alone.

seohyun let out a long breath, trying to steady herself. she didn't want to care. she didn't want to let it affect her. but as she watched miyeon disappear around the corner, a part of her still felt that familiar sting.

she clutched her books a little tighter, trying to push it away. she wouldn't let miyeon win. not today.

seohyun stood in the hallway, still feeling the sting of miyeon's words. the laughter, the jeers—it all echoed in her mind, threatening to unravel the calm she'd tried to build.

as she stood there, her hands gripping her books a little too tightly, she felt a gentle tap on her shoulder.

"hey," a soft voice said, and seohyun turned to see joon standing there, a concerned look on her face. "i saw what happened."

seohyun's heart sank. she didn't want to talk about it, didn't want to show anyone how much it had gotten to her. "it's fine," she said quickly, trying to brush it off.

but joon didn't look convinced. she stepped closer, her gaze steady and kind. "no, it's not," she said quietly. "it's not fine, and it's okay to not be okay."

seohyun looked down at the floor, the words catching in her throat. she wasn't used to people offering her this kind of support, and it made her feel vulnerable.

"miyeon's... she's a jerk," joon continued, her voice soft but firm. "people like her don't get to decide who you are. they don't know you, seohyun."

seohyun bit her lip, looking at joon. her eyes were sincere, her presence comforting in a way seohyun hadn't expected. "i just... don't get it," seohyun admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "why does she always have to be like that? why does she want to make me feel so small?"

joon gave a small, understanding nod. "because people like her are insecure. they try to tear others down to make themselves feel better. but it's not about you, seohyun. it's about her, and how she sees herself. don't let her words define you."

seohyun swallowed, the weight on her chest lightening just a little. joon's words, her calm presence, it was like a small, quiet shelter in the middle of all the chaos.

"you don't have to face this alone," joon added, giving her a small smile. "i'm here. i know it might not mean much, but you've got someone on your side."

seohyun looked at joon, the sincerity in her eyes cutting through the noise. for the first time that day, she felt a little lighter.

"thank you," seohyun whispered, her voice thick with gratitude.

"anytime," joon said with a warm smile. "whenever you need to talk, or just... sit with someone, i'm here. you don't have to carry this alone."

for a moment, there was silence between them. a quiet understanding, a bond starting to form. the hallway around them felt less cold, less isolating.

"come on," joon said, nudging seohyun gently. "let's go grab lunch. my treat today."

seohyun couldn't help but smile, a small, genuine smile, something that hadn't felt like it came from obligation in a long time. "okay."

and for the first time in a while, seohyun didn't feel quite so invisible.