Masked

by K. Jang

For a week, Eun Shin didn’t speak to anyone. She stayed shut in her room, avoiding Yung Ji, Seung Jee, and Jae Vin. When Yung Ji finally asked Lim Rin about it, Lim Rin brushed it off, calling Eun Shin just another emotional teenager. He dismissed her trauma like it was nothing.

But Yung Ji knew better. His daughter didn’t shut out the whole world unless something serious had happened.

Eun Shin sat by the window, eyes vacant, watching the trees sway and birds flutter past.

BING.

Seung Jee: “Are you okay?”

She gulped, guilt and fear tightening her chest. Her eyes stung, but she refused to cry.

BING.

Jae Vin: “Please… respond to me. I promise I’ll listen.”

The guilt twisted into resentment at the sight of his name. Her stomach turned. The memory of what he’d done—what he tried to do—rose like bile. She panted slowly, grounding herself through breath. Then she moved to the desk.

Her hands trembled as she pulled a blank sheet of paper toward her. She paused. Inhaled. Exhaled. Slowly, the trembling faded. Her breath steadied. Her eyes sharpened. She began to write.

I can’t abandon him… he had already sacrificed himself by coming…

Hae Seung Jee ← Don’t bully, bother, or do anything mean and rude. PROTECT

Lee Jae Vin ← Prick, rapist, mother is crazy too…

Need a clean breakup to stop this.

Lee Jae Vin ← cheater, dumbass, loser

She stared at the words for a moment, then allowed herself a bitter smile. For the first time in days, she saw a way out—not just for herself, but for the people she cared about.

Her fingers hovered over her phone. She hesitated, trembling again. A pause. A breath. Her eyes closed for a beat as she gathered her resolve. Then she exhaled—steady and calm.

Jae Vin checked his phone the moment it buzzed.

Eun Shin: “Let’s meet. Just you and me. At the school entrance”

His face lit up. Without wasting a second, he changed out of his clothes and rushed out of the mansion. He ran all the way to the school gates—and froze.

Eun Shin was there, waiting. But she wasn’t alone. Seok Jun stood beside her, worry etched across his face.

“Are you sure you’ll be okay?” Seok Jun asked gently.

Eun Shin offered a faint smile, nodding.

“I’ll be fine… Just don’t tell my dad,” she said, her voice quiet.

With a groan, Seok Jun stepped aside.

Jae Vin approached, a wide smile spreading across his face.

“Eun Shin, does this mean you’ve forgiven me?”

She turned toward him—expression unreadable, eyes cold. She blinked slowly, holding herself together.

“I… I want to make a deal,” she said. “A promise. On my terms.”

Jae Vin nodded eagerly, hope rushing in.

“Anything. Just name it.”

Eun Shin gave a bitter smile, twisting her fingers in front of her. Her jaw clenched.

“If you want to get back together, you have to promise me a few things.”

“Uh huh… What are they?”

“You stop bullying people. And stop acting like a snob—especially toward Seung Jee.”

Jae Vin’s smile faltered. The color drained from his face. “…Okay,” he said, voice tight.

Eun Shin inhaled shakily.

“Break your promise again—or cheat again— I want your mother gone. For good. I want a clean break. If it ends again, it ends for good. No more mess. No more revenge.”

Her lips trembled as she spoke, but she pushed the words out. Jae Vin’s jaw tensed. He understood—she was referring to the assault. The one his mother had set up, because of him.

He nodded slowly.

“Fine… I agree. As long as you’re still mine.”

That last part made her stomach twist. She forced a smirk, uncomfortable. “Okay… I still need time. I’ll see you when school starts again.”

She turned toward Seok Jun.

He smiled at her—gently, protectively. She walked past him, and Seok Jun turned to Jae Vin, meeting his glare head-on.

“See you at school,” Seok Jun said coolly, then followed after her.

Jae Vin stood there, fists clenched, watching them walk off—side by side, too close for comfort.

After Eun Shin returned home with Seok Jun trailing behind, Yung Ji greeted the boy with a respectful nod and a faint smile.

“Home so soon?” he asked gently.

Eun Shin offered a bitter smile.

“I just want to rest a little more…” she replied, lying.

Yung Ji exhaled and nodded.

“Alright. Just don’t sleep too much before heading back to school. You’ll lose the energy to run,” he teased.

Eun Shin gave a weak chuckle.

“Okay.”

She slipped off her shoes and headed upstairs. As she passed Lim Rin, she didn’t look at her. Lim Rin watched closely, her gaze narrowing as Eun Shin closed the door behind her without a word.

An awkward silence lingered before Seok Jun cleared his throat.

“Well, my father’s calling me. I’ll be off now, Ajusshi.”

Yung Ji chuckled lightly.

“Alright. Get home safe, young man.”

Seok Jun glanced once more toward the stairs, but seeing Lim Rin still standing there, he gave a polite nod and walked out. Lim Rin’s gaze sharpened as the door shut behind him, suspicion coiling in her chest.

Why is Seok Jun here?

When Eun Shin reemerged from her room, Lim Rin stepped into her path.

“What were you doing with Seok Jun?” she demanded, voice clipped.

Eun Shin frowned and looked away.

“He just… tagged along. I met with Jae Vin,” she said quietly.

Lim Rin scoffed.

“Why drag him into this? Your relationship problems are your own.”

Eun Shin’s lips parted, but no words came. Her silence only deepened Lim Rin’s irritation.

Upstairs, Yung Ji had heard the rising voices and approached, stopping at the top step.

“What’s going on here?” he asked firmly, his gaze landing on Eun Shin. Her expression was guarded, her body tense.

He walked closer and gently reached for her hand.

“Eunnie… are you alright?”

Eun Shin instinctively pulled back. Her jaw tightened.

“I’m fine, Abeoji. Just tired.”

Without waiting for a response, she turned and disappeared into her room.

The door clicked shut. She slumped against it, gasping for breath. Her body trembled as she slid to the floor, one hand clamped over her mouth to muffle the sob rising in her throat. The sound echoed faintly, but she dared not let it break free—not with her parents so close.

Lim Rin let out an irritated groan and stormed down the stairs. Yung Ji watched her retreat, concern shadowing his face.

“Where are you going?” he called after her, his voice rising.

“To the Mother’s group,” she snapped without turning back.

Yung Ji exhaled sharply and glanced at Eun Shin’s door, his chest tightening.

“Eunnie… if you ever need to talk, I’m here,” he said, voice softening.

There was no reply.

He lingered for a beat, then leaned his head back with a sigh and walked into his office.

Inside, Eun Shin waited until she heard the door click shut. Only then did she lower her hands. She sniffled, her body shivering.

“I’m sorry, Abeoji…” she whispered.

As the scene shifted away from her home, Seung Jee remained in his room, eyes fixed on his phone, waiting for Eun Shin’s reply. Minutes ticked by, and hope began to feel pointless. With a quiet sigh, he pushed himself off the bed and headed downstairs. The streets were quiet as he made his way to the nearby convenience store.

Inside, he stood in front of the drink aisle, barely registering the colors and labels.

“Welcome,” the cashier called out automatically.

Seung Jee grabbed a drink, paid for it, and stepped outside. He sat at a small table near the storefront, staring at his phone once more. Still no response from Eun Shin. His lips pressed together as he bit the inside of his cheek.

“What’s going on with you? You don’t usually ignore me…”

He set the drink down and typed another message.

BING.

Seung Jee: “Is everything okay?”

Across town, Eun Shin stared at her screen. Guilt twisted in her chest. Her thumb hovered over Seung Jee’s name. She didn’t press it.

“Seung-oppa…” she whispered, curling into herself. Her head rested on her knees as quiet sobs shook her shoulders.

Meanwhile, Seung Jee continued to watch the screen, waiting for the message status to change. Thirty minutes passed. Still unread. He lowered the phone slowly and frowned.

He took a sip of his drink—now warm and flat. Just like her silence.

“I guess you… won’t tell me anything anymore,” he murmured.

He stood, tossed the drink in the trash, and walked home. Not a word to Kim Soo.

She looked up from the kitchen as he passed. He didn’t even glance her way before disappearing into his room. Her brows drew together in concern.

“I wonder what happened to the young lovebirds…” she muttered, shaking her head as she returned to the stove.

For the rest of the summer, Eun Shin shut herself off from the world. She only left her room to eat, never speaking much. Yung Ji didn’t question her—though worry gnawed at him more each day.

Eventually, Seung Jee stopped texting. His worried messages faded into silence.

And Jae Vin?

He spent the summer with another woman on his arm—waiting for the days to pass.

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL AFTER SUMMER

Eun Shin walked to school, eyes fixed straight ahead. Her expression was distant, unreadable.

Up ahead, Seung Jee walked with his head down until he looked up—and saw her.

She caught his gaze and forced a friendly smile, holding back the tears rising in her throat.

Seung Jee’s smile came naturally, even if something in his chest ached. Despite the silence she had given him all summer, he had already forgiven her. He walked toward her, heart tentatively open.

“Good morning…” he said softly.

“Morning…” she replied, voice low, eyes avoiding his.

He studied her closely, catching the nervous tap of her shoe against the pavement, the gentle sway of her hips—not from ease but from anxiety, like her body was wavering between composure and collapse.

“Is… is everything okay?” he asked gently.

“Yeah…” she said, the word brittle in her mouth.

Seung Jee could see it—her fear, her guilt—so he gave a soft sigh, trying to ease the tension in the air.

“I’m glad… I—”

“Hey, babe! Long time no see!”

Jae Vin’s voice cut through the moment like a blade. He threw an arm around Eun Shin’s shoulders, cupping the side of her neck.

Eun Shin flinched. Her entire body stiffened. She shoved his arm away.

“Not too close yet,” she said flatly, forcing calm over her trauma.

Seung Jee froze. His face fell, unable to process what he was seeing. He looked at Eun Shin, searching her expression for answers. She turned to him, eyes wide and pleading, silently begging him to understand.

He did—but that didn’t stop the disappointment.

He gave a bitter chuckle.

“I see…”

Without another word, he walked off toward the school building, not looking back.

Eun Shin stood there, frozen. Then she shut her eyes. A single tear slipped down her cheek as she bit her lower lip to keep from sobbing.

“I need some time…” she murmured to Jae Vin, not looking at him.

She turned and walked into the school. Jae Vin smirked behind her, satisfied—he’d created exactly the rift he wanted.

When class began, the students filed in and chose their seats. Seung Jee sat far from Eun Shin.

She noticed. Her heart sank.

Before the teacher could enter, she stood up suddenly, grabbed her bag, and stormed out. She never came back.

When school let out, Seung Jee left quickly, hoping to avoid any more painful conversations. But as he walked, something gnawed at him. He hadn’t seen Eun Shin return. He scanned the crowd—nothing.

Elsewhere, Seok Jun craned his neck above the students, searching for both Seung Jee and Eun Shin. He spotted Seung Jee walking away—but no sign of her.

“Hi!” came an excited voice behind him.

He turned. Min Ying.

“Hey,” he said, offering a smile. “Have you seen Eun Shin today?”

Min Ying blinked and glanced around.

“No… Not once. Isn’t today the first day back? She should’ve been here by now…”

Seok Jun groaned.

“I know. Seung Jee’s already leaving. But he’s not waiting for her…”

“Did something happen?” she asked, concerned.

Before he could answer, Jae Vin walked past them with a smug grin.

Seok Jun’s stomach turned.

“I think so… and I bet it has something to do with him,” he muttered, glaring at Jae Vin.

Min Ying followed his gaze.