Chapter 29 - The Promise

“By the way, it was good that you only targeted that one girl. The time you spent at the gym was worth it. Keep living like that. Don’t ever lose,” said Sangsu.

His words quickly put an end to her tears, but one thing still troubled her mind. “I don’t know how to explain this to Dad…”

Luckily, Sangsu quickly came to her rescue. “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of it. I’ll talk to him.”

“…I wish you were really my uncle,” Yiyoung sighed.

“That’s easy,” he grinned, “I’ll just become your uncle. I’ve never worked for an awesome kid like you!”

“Really? You’ll really be my uncle?”

“Yes, so hang in there. Don’t worry about what your dad will say. This wasn’t your fault, okay? Keep your back straight and don’t be timid,” said Sangsu as he left to talk to Yiyoung’s father.

Yiyoung had been hospitalized because of her fractured ribs. Fortunately, her injuries had healed enough for her to be discharged.

Sangsu returned soon. “I took care of all the recorded videos. I discreetly asked your dad about the videos, but it seemed like he didn’t know anything.”

“Really?” Yiyoung exhaled, “I’m relieved now. But what did you tell Dad? We should get our stories straight.”

“I told him you went to Kyungju for four days and three nights for a school trip.”

Yiyoung’s troubled heart was soothed; she really did not want to make her father worry. She was grateful to Sangsu for taking care of it.

***

Despite getting discharged just the day before, Yiyoung went to school. As she threw the bag down on her seat, Muyeol spoke to her, “Look at you. So naive.”

‘Ha? Really?’ Yiyoung barely held herself back before curses slipped from her mouth. It wouldn’t help her situation at all. 

She lifted her head and stared off into the space, noting how every kid kept eyeing her even though she hadn’t done anything wrong. ‘Who cares?’

But then the teachers called her to the office, where they attempted to make her sign an agreement. Every moment, every split second, they put pressure on her, making her miss all the classes.

“Is he really your uncle?” they asked her.

Her Dad was already going through a lot, and Yiyoung didn’t want to add to his burden. It was fortunate that her dad had no clue what had happened. Instead, Sangsu took up the role of her guardian and supported her every step of the way. With a tough, unrelenting attitude, he insisted that the school open a committee to look into this incident of school violence. The atmosphere in the school was not the same anymore; both parties had hired lawyers to defend themselves, and the heated discussion drew everyone’s attention.

Since they were being forced to issue a verdict by the public, the school couldn’t silently settle the issue and forget all about it. Instead, they tried to persuade Yiyoung to let go of the matter.

“Think about it. What will you gain by being so stubborn?” one of the teachers said.

“I’d gain a lot,” Yiyoung boldly replied, “One of them is not being submissive in the face of injustice!”

The teacher scoffed, “We thought you were smart, but it seems you are not.”

“No matter what you say, I’m not going to stop. They need to be punished. They should either transfer to another school or be expelled, so let’s hold the committee.”

“Do you think it’s that easy? You have no idea how it all works!”

“We will hold the committee,” Yiyoung insisted.

The teacher sighed in frustration, “…Look at you. You’re pitiless! They’re your friends, and they’re only 14!”

“Teacher… you know that I’m 14 as well, right?”

“You’re such a difficult child. Your reputation isn’t so great either. Despite the rumors about you, we let you off because of your grades.”

“What do you mean, rumors about me?” asked Yiyoung, “What do you mean?”

The teacher sneered, “Didn’t you force the students to pay you money?”

“They paid me to do their homework!” said Yiyoung, her voice indignant.

“Yes, that’s the same as forcing them to pay you. You could’ve simply helped them with the homework instead of asking for money. I have no idea how you entered this school when you don’t even meet the standards. Why are you making such a mess?”

Yiyoung jutted her chin out with pride, unmoving like a boulder as the teacher kept blabbering. She didn’t do anything wrong, she reassured herself. She didn’t deserve to be treated as an offender when she was the victim in this incident, but she needed to endure. The school might have threatened to take away her scholarship if she didn’t sign the agreement to drop the case, but she wouldn’t give up. She would persevere.

A few days later—a day just like any other—Yiyoung was asked to report to the office again, where she was delivered the same lines as last time. 

Except, this time, one of the teachers poked their head in a few moments later, “Yoon Yiyoung. This matter is over, so go back to your class.”

“What do you mean?” she asked.

“Sunah’s transferring to another school,” the teacher explained.

“How?” Yiyoung stuttered.

“You don’t need to know that. Go back to your class, now. The settlement will be discussed with your uncle. It’s over.”

Bewildered by the sudden turn of events, Yiyoung slowly stood to get back to her class when she heard the teacher mutter, “Didn’t think she had a connection like that.”

“Huh?” Yiyoung turned around.

But the teacher yelled at her, “Go back, now!” 

Although she had just been scolded and kicked out, Yiyoung felt a strange sense of relief, like the sweet freedom a falsely accused criminal gains after being cleared of all charges.

But Yiyoung was still curious about how things had ended up working out in such a manner, and why Sunah transferred to another school. Hadn’t the school administration been trying to convince her to transfer instead? So why did it turn out to be Sunah?