Guilt Trip

Eun Shin avoided places where Jae Vin might show up. Seung Jee had noticed her change. Though she claimed relief over the breakup, something still weighed on her. Was it Jae Vin she mourned—or the fallout with her mother? Whatever it was, she carried it alone, tightly coiled inside.

After school, Jae Vin waited by the gates. Eun Shin walked silently beside Seung Jee, her steps measured—until she saw that familiar face. Without a word, she grabbed Seung Jee’s arm and yanked him down with her.

“Let’s walk faster,” she whispered.

Startled, Seung Jee nodded, falling in step. A crowd of students surged between them and Jae Vin, shielding her from his view.

“Eun Shin!” Jae Vin called out, but she didn’t look back. Her grip on Seung Jee tightened, and she kept walking until his voice faded into background noise. This time, she didn’t head home. Instead, she stuck close to him, almost clinging.

“E-Eun Shin… your house is the other way,” he stammered.

She smiled at him, almost too brightly.

“Let’s study together! You’re smart. You can help me pass.”

He scratched the back of his neck, flustered.

“B-but… you’re smart too…”

“Then we’ll both make it to the top,” she laughed, tugging his sleeve as if to seal the deal. Before he could argue, she led him to a nearby café.

The place was calm and quiet, sunlight slanting through the tall windows. Seung Jee began unpacking his books, lining them neatly on the table. Eun Shin watched him with quiet fascination, a small smile forming.

“Wow. You’re so organized,” she said softly.

He froze mid-movement, then glanced up.

“I-I… thank you.”

She leaned forward and placed her hand lightly over his, anchoring him.

“No need to be nervous,” she said, her smile soft. “Let’s study.”

Seung Jee nodded, though his thoughts swirled. He focused on her voice, trying to drown out the memories pressing against the edge of his mind.

Eun Shin studied like nothing was wrong. When she didn’t understand something, she’d scoot closer to listen, her shoulder brushing his. At first, Seung Jee blushed at the closeness. Now, it felt natural. Comforting.

In the corner of the cafe, a woman sat with her tea untouched—eyes narrowed, watching Eun Shin’s every move. Silent. Unblinking.

When night fell, the cafe was still lit, its warm glow casting long shadows across the table. Eun Shin glanced out the window, suddenly stiffening.

“I have to go! I almost forgot,” she said, panicking as she gathered her things. A book slipped from her hands and tumbled to the floor. Both she and Seung Jee reached for it at once. Their hands brushed, pausing in that fleeting contact. They looked up at each other and smiled.

“Here you go,” Seung Jee murmured, handing her the book.

“Thank you. You really helped today,” she said, her smile lingering. He blushed and dipped his head.

“You helped too…” he added quietly, barely above a whisper.

She stood, stuffing her things into her backpack, then paused. From a small pouch, she pulled out a sticky note and scribbled something down. Without meeting his gaze, she slid it across the table. Then, flashing a peace sign, she leaned forward.

“See you tomorrow!” she said brightly, then turned and walked away.

Seung Jee watched her leave, stunned and silent. He picked up the sticky note and stared.

| Believe in yourself! Fighting! –Eunnie Shin |

A small laugh escaped him as he imagined her saying it out loud. He carefully tucked the note between the pages of his notebook, then packed up and left the cafe.

In the corner, the woman who had been watching the entire time sighed quietly.

“You seem to really like this school…” she murmured to herself, her eyes still on the door where Eun Shin had disappeared.

Seung Jee arrived home before Eun Shin. But she wasn’t walking alone. The woman had sent someone to follow her—no child should be out that late unguarded. When Eun Shin reached her house safely, the silent escort returned to report.

Inside, Eun Shin slipped off her shoes and stepped lightly toward the living room. Her father sat at the table, smiling knowingly.

“Abeoji! I’m back!” she chirped.

Yung Ji nodded.

“You’re home safe. It’s late. Studying with a friend?”

She bounced to his side and hugged his arm.

“I did! Midterms are coming up—I need to focus!”

He chuckled, patting her head.

“Okay, okay. But don’t forget to eat.”

“I won’t!” she promised, releasing him and heading up the stairs.

She had barely entered her room when heavy footsteps thudded through the hall. Her mother’s voice rang out, sharp and cold.

“Yeobo, when are you going to stop making my life miserable?!”

Eun Shin pressed her ear to the door, heart thudding.

“What are you talking about?” her father asked, weariness creeping into his tone.

Lim Rin let out a bitter sigh.

“What are you going to do if the Lee family sees us as enemies? We won’t survive!”

Yung Ji’s voice turned grave.

“Why should I care about the Lee family? Is this about that boyfriend of hers again?”

“She needs to stop being defiant!” Lim Rin snapped. “She needs discipline!”

A loud slam echoed through the house as Yung Ji struck the table.

“My daughter is disciplined! Her tests are days away, and you’re trying to sabotage her with this nonsense?” he shouted. “I don’t care about the Lee family—I care that she has a mother who supports her!”

Upstairs, Eun Shin went still. What if her parents divorced because of her? What if the rift in their marriage deepened every time she defied her mother? The guilt crept in like fog, thick and choking. Family was supposed to come first—but it felt like she was pulling hers apart.

Downstairs, Lim Rin grabbed her purse and keys and stormed out of the house. The door slammed behind her.

She wouldn’t return until morning.

Yung Ji didn’t follow. He didn’t even glance toward the door. He just sat there, shoulders heavy with quiet anger.

Eun Shin tried to look away too. Tried to focus. Midterms were almost here.

But as she flipped through the pages of her notes, her mother’s absence echoed louder than any textbook.

TESTS DAYS

Midterms had arrived. The school buzzed with quiet tension, every student hunched over their desks, deep in focus.

Eun Shin tried to concentrate, pushing away thoughts of the chaos at home. Every time she started to panic over a question, her eyes drifted to Seung Jee. His calm, focused expression—the quiet way he tackled each problem—helped her breathe again. If he could stay grounded, so could she.

Eventually, the final bell rang. The tests were over. Summer vacation was around the corner. All that was left was to walk off campus and reclaim freedom.

Seok Jun wove through the crowd, standing on tiptoes to scan the sea of students. His eyes lit up when he spotted Eun Shin walking with Min Ying and Seung Jee. A grin spread across his face, and he jogged toward them.

“Eunnie!” he called out.

Eun Shin turned, smiling as she waved. They stopped, laughing as Seok Jun finally reached them, panting and flushed from pushing through the crowd.

“Jun-oppa! How’d you do?” she asked brightly.

Seok Jun beamed.

“Obviously amazing. This time, I’m beating your score for sure!”

They all laughed. Eun Shin glanced at Seung Jee, her smile lingering.

“I don’t know about that. Seung-oppa helped me study,” she said, nudging Seung Jee lightly into the spotlight. Her eyes stayed on him just a little longer.

Seung Jee looked at her, startled, but a small smile tugged at his lips.

Seok Jun blinked.

“Wait, what? You had a study partner? Why didn’t you help me instead, Seung Jee?”

He nudged Seung Jee’s shoulder. Seung Jee flushed, eyes darting between the two of them.

“I—I…” he started, but words failed him. Eun Shin laughed and reached for his arm without hesitation.

“Let’s go. That cafe’s calling our name,” she said with a bright grin, tugging him along. Seok Jun and Min Ying exchanged amused looks before following.

They returned to the cafe where Eun Shin and Seung Jee had studied before. Drinks were ordered, seats claimed, and the table filled with laughter.

Then, out of nowhere, Seok Jun leaned forward, smirking.

“So… you two…” he said, wiggling his brows as he pointed between Eun Shin and Seung Jee.

Eun Shin’s cheeks flared.

“What?” she snapped, nearly choking on her drink.

“Are you dating?” he asked, full grin on display.

Seung Jee looked like someone had unplugged his brain.

“N-no. W-we…” he stammered, eyes wide.

Eun Shin shot Seok Jun a warning glare.

“Stop teasing him, or I’ll drop your milkshake.”

Seok Jun laughed, hands raised in surrender. Min Ying watched the exchange with a soft smile.

“You two seem really close,” she said gently.

Eun Shin almost choked again.

“What? No. We just grew up together. He’s like… a brother. A really annoying one.”

Min Ying chuckled. Seok Jun gasped dramatically.

“Hey! I’m the good older brother around here!”

Eun Shin grinned.

“You mean older by a whole month? Don’t get cocky.”

“A month is enough to demand your respect,” he declared, lifting his chin in mock pride.

She raised her cup.

“Okay, old man,” she said, sipping like it was a mic drop.

Min Ying giggled. Seung Jee laughed quietly. Across the table, Seok Jun dropped his face into his hands before slowly peeking up at her with a half-smile.

“I can’t believe you,” he muttered, grinning despite himself.

After finishing their drinks, they stepped out of the cafe and into the soft hush of early evening. The city lights flickered awake around them. Seok Jun and Min Ying were whisked away by their drivers, leaving only Eun Shin and Seung Jee standing at the curb.

Seung Jee lingered, shifting awkwardly on his feet. His eyes flicked toward her, then away, as if caught between goodbye and something more. Eun Shin tilted her head, watching him with quiet amusement.

“Can I come over to your place?” she asked suddenly.

Seung Jee stiffened. His expression blanked, caught off guard.

“Huh?”

She laughed softly, unbothered by his shock.

“Can I visit your place?”

His blush came quick and deep.

“M-My place? It’s… kind of small,” he mumbled, eyes darting anywhere but her.

She bent forward slightly to meet his eyes, her tone light but gently insistent.

“I don’t mind at all.”

The silence stretched. She didn’t press—just waited, watching as he struggled to compose himself.

“…Okay,” he said at last, almost too quietly.

Her smile bloomed. With a playful sweep of her arm, she gestured toward the sidewalk.

“After you, leader.”

He chuckled despite himself and started walking ahead, but then hesitated. Turning back slowly, he held out his hand to her.

She stared at it. For a moment, she didn’t move. Then something in her gaze softened. Her fingers slid into his with quiet grace, and he held her hand like it was something fragile, rare.

When they reached his building, she stood outside the door while he fumbled for the keys. He opened it, then stepped back.

“You can come in,” he said, voice low, uncertain.

She stepped inside and slipped off her shoes, scanning the small apartment.

“This home…” she began.

“It’s a bit small,” he said quickly, rubbing the back of his neck.

But she shook her head.

“It’s warm,” she said softly. “It feels like… like a good family lives here.”

He paused at her words. There was something delicate in the way she said it—half dream, half ache. The longing curled at the edges of her voice, and for a moment, neither of them moved.

She set her backpack down gently by the table near the sofa, then looked back at him. Her eyes shimmered faintly, a bright glisten beneath the ceiling light.

“Come. Sit,” she said, patting the seat beside her.

He gave a sheepish laugh and walked over, the air between them suddenly quiet and close.