The Bullies Eat Me Up

[Jihyun Noona: lol]

[Jihyun Noona: (Photo)]

[Jihyun Noona: Joonhyung, this you?]

...

Juha, you fucking bitch...

When'd you send it to her?

[Jihyun Noona: You're pretty]

I'm gonna die...

I'm fucking dead...

Stop spreading this shit...

"Ugh..."

Forgot about her, but now it's back.

Wonder how she's doing.

Haven't talked since then... kinda slipped my mind.

Will we ever meet again?

[Jonggyu Sunbae: Cross-dressing's on hold today.]

[Jonggyu Sunbae: Someone complained a lot.]

[Jonggyu Sunbae: Not happening today.]

Hmm...

Figured someone would bitch about it.

Guess they did.

Not just the cross-dressing...

It's more like, "What's the difference if we do it this way?"

Student council's holding a meeting about it.

They meet over every damn thing.

Says it's better to avoid anything controversial, regardless of gender.

Life's fucking complicated...

But whatever.

Kim Myung-jun's already carrying the pub to a goldmine.

We can't even handle the crowds.

Doesn't matter much.

[Jonggyu Sunbae: Joonhyung, take a break.]

[Jonggyu Sunbae: Soccer prelims were an easy win lol.]

Soccer prelims started too.

Main matches are on sports day, so prelims are happening now.

Went with a barebones team and still crushed it.

Nice.

"Ha..."

Thought the festival would be nonstop chaos...

But I got a free day now.

No need to cross-dress and go to class like a lunatic.

"Library time, I guess."

Been ages since I went.

Library's far, kinda a pain...

Clubroom's too hectic right now.

Staying in the engineering building feels weird—too many side-eyes.

Creeps me out, so library it is.

"Fuck..."

PC bang's probably got Park Ye-young...

My life's a mess...

Sighing, I trudge to the library.

Haven't been here in forever.

Festival time's got it empty as fuck. Practically a ghost town.

Some studious types are here—seniors? Nursing majors, maybe?

"Hmm..."

Guess I'll finish that soccer book.

Halfway through, I think.

Third-floor reading room.

Barely anyone here, just a few students.

But are my eyes fucking with me?

"Hmm... nya..."

Why's Yoo In-ha here?

I rub my eyes—still her.

Am I hallucinating? Yoo In-ha in a library? Makes no sense.

"Ugh..."

She's... reading?

Well, sleeping with her face in a book, but still...

Yoo In-ha, voluntarily with books? World ending tomorrow or what?

I creep closer—it's definitely her.

No mistaking it.

Never thought I'd see her in a library...

What's she reading?

Not even exam season, what's she need books for?

[Relationships with Unattractive Men]

[How to Let Go and Live]

...

This a personal attack or what? Fuck...

[Top 100 Japan Travel Spots]

[Understanding Fashion]

Figures...

Thought she was studying—what a dumbass I am.

Still, for someone who never reads, this is... progress?

"Ugh..."

Drooling on the desk...

No point saying hi. No reason to wake her.

I grab my soccer book and head to a couch in the back.

...Happens to face Yoo In-ha. Of course it does.

"Hmm..."

Reading for a bit, I notice her shoulders twitching.

Good thing no one's around—embarrassing to watch.

"Mm... ---..."

Twitch.

Her shoulders jerk, legs trembling.

She's checking for people. Always up to something...

"Sip..."

Confirming no one's around, she wipes her drool and lifts her head.

Funny and kinda pathetic... am I getting attached? Fuck.

She pulls a tissue from her bag, wiping the desk.

Feels like I'm watching a wildlife doc—Yoo In-ha's Daily Life.

"Ahem."

Clearing her throat, she pretends to focus, lifting a book.

*Flip. Flip.*

One page, then her phone. Phone, then a page...

Why can't she focus? It's stressing me out!

"Ugh..."

Why's she stretching?

No wonder she got a 30...

I can see exactly how she "studied."

Study with her, and I'd get a 30 too, fuck...

"?"

She must've felt my stare, 'cause she turns.

Fuck.

I lift my book quick, but too late—library's too empty.

Her perky steps echo closer.

...Stops right in front of me.

I lower the book—her pitiful glare's waiting.

"...What you doing?"

"...Reading."

"Wanna die?"

---

"You got a voyeur fetish? Creepy fucker..."

"I was just reading..."

"Bullshit, I felt you staring, fucker."

Why would I stare at you?

Okay, her antics were funny, but still...

Caught, I trudge after her. Nothing else to do, and it's time to go anyway.

"What'd the hospital say?"

"Nothing wrong."

...

Her allowance cut really spiked her blood pressure?

She shuffles along, clutching her stomach.

*Growl.*

What's that sound?

...Already blew through her allowance? Spent it all?

"...You eat, Joonhyung?"

"Yeah..."

"Oh."

She trudges on, looking glum.

I'll buy, damn it... just say it.

Acting all pitiful doesn't suit her.

"What you wanna eat?"

"For real?"

Fucking leech, always mooching...

That's a talent, I guess.

"Promise I'll pay you back when I earn something. Keep a tab."

...

Spending every dime on debt? Forgot about your loans already? Lucky you're simple...

"Wanna eat jjimdak."

She glances at me.

Jjimdak... pricey.

Ramen and kimbap's like 7-8 grand.

Jjimdak's at least 15 grand, even split.

"Eat it."

"You not eating?"

"I'm full, but..."

Jjimdak could fit.

At my nod, her face lights up, and she speeds up.

"Hell yeah."

...

Better than marblyang.

Is she acting positive 'cause her mental's shot?

Like, so broken she seems upbeat?

Causing trouble right into adulthood—quite the skill.

"Ha..."

Her face drops again.

Fucking mood swings...

"Maybe just cup ramen..."

"I'll buy, just eat."

"Fuck..."

Begging from Joonhyung, huh...

She slumps, shuffling forward.

Even then, her hair and outfit are perfect—pisses me off. Sell those clothes on Carousell, make some cash.

Should raid her place. Bet there's money to be made.

She'd probably foam at the mouth if I tried... "Kill me!" she'd scream.

"Just jjimdak... cheese jjimdak..."

Her pink nails hover over the menu.

Cheese jjimdak's... 5 grand more.

She glances at me again. Laugh or cry?

"Order it. I'll eat too."

Her face brightens.

Never would've imagined this before.

I was too broke to treat anyone.

Money from hustling with Juha...

Basically, Juha's paying, right?

"Coke too?"

...

"Fine, I'll just have a sip."

Just order it, fucker! How many times you gonna ask?

"Two Cokes, please."

Satisfied, she throws on an apron, grinning.

Then her face drops again.

"Fuck...

How'd it come to this..."

Yeah, how'd it come to this...

"Feels like I fell into hell overnight."

Nah...

Doesn't happen overnight.

More like a fate you've been building forever...

Sighing, I prop my chin.

Reminds me of old times.

Felt like I fell into hell overnight too.

"Why'd it turn out like this..."

She mumbles, leaning back.

Why? 'Cause of people. Don't trust 'em. My family's no different, though...

"Jjimdak's here!"

Steaming cheese jjimdak lands in the middle.

She glances at me, picking up chopsticks.

...For real? Waiting for me to eat first?

Hardship's making her human. 80 million won debt turns even delinquents human... almost crying here.

"Let's eat."

I mutter, grabbing some cheese.

She picks up a piece of chicken, popping it into her small mouth.

"...Sniff..."

Why... why's she crying?

Tears well up in her big eyes.

Why's she crying mid-bite?

"So fucking good..."

...

She sobs, grabbing more chicken.

You'd think she hadn't eaten in days.

Eating like it's her last meal, trembling...

"Eat... slow..."

"Mmm..."

Can't be soft-hearted...

Seeing her cry makes her seem pitiful.

It's a shitty situation, sure...

Still, my heart's wavering.

They say guys always react when a girl cries.

If a guy delinquent cried, I'd just say "dumbass"...

But a girl crying? Hits different, feels bitter.

"Hmm..."

If she posted herself crying on OnlyFans with a "Please donate to help me pay..." caption, guys would probably throw money at her.

Yoo In-ha could pull it off.

She's got a knack for charming people...

"Not eating?"

"I am..."

You eat it all... take the leftovers.

I pick at it, sighing.

A million a month for 7 years... dizzying to think about. What now...

"...Can we add rice cakes?"

...

Fuck.

This vacuum cleaner of a bitch...