Tales of the Nightshade

The study room was filled with worried whispers and panicked voices as everyone tried to make sense of what was happening. Su Won, however, had stepped out, retreating to the washroom to calm her frantic breathing.

As she stepped out of the washroom, a hand suddenly grabbed her wrist. Before she could react, she was being dragged toward the small storeroom beside the study room. Startled, she turned to see Hanbin.

"Let go of me!" She tried to free her hand, but his grip was unrelenting, too strong for her to break away.

The storeroom smelled faintly of rubber and chalk, with shelves stacked with balls and sports equipment. Hanbin slammed the door shut behind them and, in a single, forceful move, pushed her against the wall.

"Why did you lock the door when I was in the corridor?" His voice was low, dangerous. His eyes, which once seemed warm and friendly, now glinted with a cold sharpness that sent a shiver down her spine.

She stared at him, her chest rising and falling rapidly as she tried to steady herself. "Do you have any proof?" she retorted, her voice trembling but trying to hold firm. She forced herself to appear calm, despite the fear coiling in her stomach.

His cold gaze didn't waver, as if he could see through her every defense.

Suwon locked her gaze with his, refusing to back down. But then, a smirk curved on Hanbin's icy face - a smirk that carried an unsettling devilish charm. It made the coldness in his eyes seem even more sinister.

In an instant, his eyes flickered to a deep, bloody red. Her breath hitched as his right hand suddenly clamped around her throat, his grip firm yet eerily calm. His thumb traced along her jawline, the touch sending chills down her spine. Slowly, he pulled her closer, forcing her to tilt her head back to meet his piercing gaze.

"Hmmm…. Do you think I'm just blabbing without knowing anything?" His voice was low, almost taunting, each word dripping with a quiet menace.

His left hand rose to her face, brushing lightly against her head as he caught a tear that rolled down her cheek. " I thought you were brave Suwon. Why are you crying?"

"I'm not crying", she managed to choke out, her voice trembling but defiant.

"Really?" His smirk deepened, dark amusement dancing in his blood red eyes.

Without warning, he tightened his grip on her throat. The air caught in her lungs, and her hands instinctively grasped at his wrist, her strength paling in comparison to his. Her vision began to blur as the pressure grew, her chest heaving in desperation.

Su Won jolted awake, her chest heaving as she gasped for air. Her eyes darted around, adjusting to the familiar warmth of the early morning light streaming into her room.

The clock read 6:00 AM.

Her hand brushed against her damp face, beads of sweat trickling down her temple. 'Another nightmare'... she thought, her heart still racing.

After a moment, she dragged herself out of bed and headed to the bathroom. Splashing cold water on her face, she stared at her reflection, her fingers trembling slightly. 'Why won't they stop?'

Determined to shake off the lingering unease, she got dressed for school. As she descended the stairs, the faint aroma of breakfast greeted her.

Her mother stood in the kitchen, making breakfast. She drank a glass of water, watching her, her mother told her to sit..

"How's your studying going? You didn't tell me you got your test result, yesterday."

Su Won sat at the dining table, her fingers tightening around the cool glass of water as she took a sip. Her mother turned to glance at her, her sharp eyes filled with suspicion.

"How's your studying going?" her mother asked, her tone devoid of warmth. "You didn't mention getting your test results yesterday."

Su Won froze for a moment, then carefully placed the empty glass on the table. Her mother's voice wasn't sweet—it carried an edge that felt more like a warning than a question.

"Yes..." Su Won replied cautiously, avoiding her gaze. "I got 95% in all subjects."

Her mother's movements paused as she stirred the pot on the stove. Slowly, she turned her head. "What did I tell you?"

The words came out calm, but they carried a weight that pressed down on Su Won's chest.

"Didn't I tell you that you must get a perfect score in every subject? Like your brother." Her tone sharpened with every word, the irritation in her voice now evident. "Or do you want to upset your father?"

Su Won's stomach twisted into a knot. She kept her head down, silently bracing for what was coming.

"You know what happens when he gets pissed off, don't you?" her mother continued, her words slicing through the room like a knife.

"I don't understand," her mother's voice rang sharply, each word piercing Su Won like needles. "Why are you placing second every time since entering high school? Why have you become so bad at studying?"

Her mother turned fully toward her now, her gaze cold and unforgiving. "Don't you care about our family's image? You know what's expected of you. You have to become a lawyer, and eventually, our company's legal advisor. Why don't you understand such a simple thing?"

Each word weighed heavily on Su Won, tightening the knot in her chest. She lowered her gaze, unable to respond. Fear coursed through her veins—not just fear of her mother's disappointment, but fear of what it meant for her future.

She had always been afraid of her parents—afraid of their expectations, afraid of not being able to live up to their impossible standards. The weight of their reputation crushed her daily, leaving her feeling hollow and insignificant.

Her mother, a respected judge, had been their company's legal advisor for 20 years. Her father, a renowned businessman, was at the top of his field. Together, they cast a shadow so large, it often felt suffocating. And here she was, falling short, struggling to even hold her place in the light.

As Su Won entered the school gates, her steps faltered for a moment. A tall boy stood ahead of her, his broad shoulders cutting an imposing figure. Her heart skipped a beat as recognition dawned on her.

That back... it's him.

Hanbin. The boy from her dream.

Su Won's grip tightened on her bag strap as she quickened her pace, brushing past the bustling students in the hallway. She couldn't shake off the feeling of unease creeping up her spine.

Inside the classroom, Su Won's desk was two seats away from Hanbin's. From where she sat, she could see him chatting casually with their classmates. His polished demeanor and sharp features made him the center of attention as usual. Hanbin was the class president—charismatic, intelligent, and effortlessly admired by everyone.

But to Su Won, he was a constant thorn in her side. Ever since he transferred to their school in their first year, her reign as the top student had been over. Despite her hard work, she had never managed to reclaim the first place rank.

Now, with only a month left before they became high school seniors, the frustration in her heart only grew stronger.

Sitting at her desk, Su Won absentmindedly bit her nails, her gaze fixed on Hanbin. Her thoughts swirled like a storm, refusing to settle. Across the room, Hanbin was leaning over someone's desk, helping them with their studies. His warm smile and calm demeanor radiated a friendliness that seemed almost impossible to dislike.

'Is he really that friendly?' Su Won wondered, her brow furrowing. The boy in front of her now felt like a completely different person compared to the cold, menacing figure from her dream.

"Hanbin!" A female classmate approached him, her voice filled with awe. "How do you manage to get perfect scores in everything? You ranked first again! What's your secret?"

The girl's words were laced with admiration, and Su Won could see the other students turning their heads to catch a glimpse of the class star.

Hanbin straightened up, his expression modest as he replied, "There's no secret. I just study a little every day and stay consistent. It's nothing extraordinary."

Su Won's grip on her pen tightened as she watched him, her thoughts growing darker. 'It's always so easy for him, isn't it?'

Without hesitation, Su Won stood up and walked straight to Hanbin, her steps confident and unwavering.

"Hanbin, let's talk," she said firmly, her tone leaving no room for argument.

Before he could respond, she turned and strode out of the classroom, not bothering to look back.

Hanbin blinked, his eyes widening in surprise. He looked almost like a startled puppy, his usual composed demeanor momentarily slipping.

What was that about?

The room fell silent for a moment before whispers began spreading like wildfire among the students.

"Are they... dating?" one girl whispered, leaning toward her friend.

"No way! Su Won never even looks at him," another replied, her voice tinged with disbelief.

"But why else would she talk to him like that?"

Hanbin sighed, scratching the back of his head before following Su Won out of the classroom.