FRAGILE - Hierarchy

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"Ask your little friends," she said, pointing to two students, and then looked at Ellie once more before leaving the room. Ellie clicked her tongue and resumed reading her book.

That afternoon, Ellie stayed in the room engrossed in her book when a girl approached her.

"Can we talk to you?" she asked, making Ellie look up and close her book. A commotion ensued as some boys pushed In-ha and forced him to sit in the middle, catching Ellie's attention.

"A little birdie told me you're having a hard time learning your place here," one of the boys said, making Ellie frown.

"I am?" In-ha asked.

"You stood up before Ri-an left the student assembly, and you've been snooping around other classrooms, including Special A, sitting wherever you please," the boy explained, looking back at Ellie.

"Why are you telling me this?" In-ha said sarcastically. "What did I do wrong?"

"This girl and this idiot are clueless, Chang-min," a girl interjected. "For a kid who came here on a scholarship, she isn't very smart."

Ellie looked at the girl, a smile forming on her lips.

"Alright, newbies, listen carefully. This school isn't like any other you've been to. Jooshin's rules are different," Chang-min said, slowly circling In-ha. "The rule is: never piss off the wrong people," he said, looking at Ellie seriously.

"Who are they?" Ellie asked innocently.

"Jae-i, He-ra, Woojin, and especially Ri-an," he added, making Ellie frown. "Why, are they royalty?" Ellie asked.

Another student chimed in, "Why do you think that? They're not like us. We're scholarship kids. They give us different colored ties based on our status to set us apart," she said, making Ellie look at her tie.

"Scholarship kids wear navy ties, the others get maroon. Ri-an's great-grandfather founded this school. His family has attended this school for generations, so it's a given. We only study here because of their generosity, so it's only right to treat him with respect, don't you think?" she said, making Ellie sigh and click her tongue.

"Respect," Ellie scoffed, making Chang-min glare at her. "Look, it's not that hard to follow the rules. Just get it through yours skull, and yours too," he said, making Ellie look at him nonchalantly.

"No, it's just—respect, I get that. But putting them on a pedestal and treating them like royalty?" Ellie said, scoffing lightly. "It's a bit extreme," she said, looking at them one by one, making Chang-min scoff.

"Call it whatever you want. Think I'm overreacting? Do you?" he said, pointing his finger at her. "You should be as well," he said, pausing for a moment.

"Do you know why you and In-ha are here?" he asked, walking toward her. "There was an opening for a scholarship student. Do you know why the spot was open?" he asked, his expression darkening.

"Here's why! The kid ignored my warnings, stepped out of line, and was expelled by Ri-an," he said. In-ha couldn't help but grit his teeth and clench his fists.

Suddenly, In-ha started to chuckle and stood up, making Chang-min back away.

"I think I understand what you're saying," he said. "I should try to get along with them if I want my time at this school to be a lot better," he added, tapping Chang-min's shoulder.