FRAGILE - Hierarchy

• 011 •

As Ellie walked out, leaving Jae-i alone, she found herself heading towards the staircase that led to the rooftop—a place seldom frequented by others.

The need for solitude and fresh air drove her to seek refuge there. As she ascended the steps, she suddenly stopped in her tracks, her breath catching in her throat.

To her shock, she saw Woojin locked in a passionate kiss with a woman. Her surprise grew when she realized that the woman wasn’t a fellow student but Ms. Han, their teacher. Ellie gasped audibly at the sight.

Ms. Han, hearing the gasp, quickly pushed Woojin away, her face a mixture of startle and guilt. Woojin looked equally stunned, his eyes wide with panic.

“Ellie, this isn’t what it looks like,” Ms. Han stammered, her voice shaky as she tried to regain her composure.

Ellie’s mind raced, trying to process the scene before her. She had never imagined seeing something like this. Her thoughts tumbled over each other, unsure of what to say or do.

Woojin stepped forward, his expression pleading. “Ellie, please, you have to understand—”

“Understand what?” Ellie interrupted, her voice trembling with shock and confusion. “That you’re kissing our teacher?”

Ms. Han took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. “Ellie, please, let’s talk about this. It’s not as simple as it looks.”

Ellie shook her head, taking a step back. “I don’t think there’s anything to talk about. This is wrong, Ms. Han. You know it is.”

Woojin reached out, his voice desperate. “Ellie, please don’t tell anyone. This could ruin everything.”

As Ellie turned to flee, her heart racing with the need to escape the shocking scene she had just witnessed, Ms. Han grabbed her wrist.

Panic surged through Ellie, and she yanked her arm free, bolting down the staircase. The sound of her rapid footsteps echoed in the stairwell, mingling with the urgent shouts of Woojin and Ms. Han.

"Ellie, wait!" Ms. Han called after her, but Ellie didn't slow down. She couldn't.

Woojin began to chase after her, his footsteps heavy and determined. "Ellie, stop!" he yelled, desperation clear in his voice. But Ellie was too fast, her fear fueling her flight.

As she reached the bottom of the stairs, Ellie glanced back briefly, her eyes wide with fear. In that moment, Woojin, realizing he couldn't catch her without drawing even more attention, hesitated. He slowed his pace and quickly ducked into a nearby hallway, deciding to hide and avoid further complicating the situation.

Breathing heavily, Ellie continued her frantic run, her mind a blur of confusion and fear. She rounded a corner and collided with someone, nearly losing her balance.

Strong hands steadied her, and she looked up to see Rian standing before her, his face etched with confusion and concern.

"Ellie? What's going on?" Rian asked, his eyes searching her face for answers.

Ellie tried to catch her breath, her heart pounding in her chest. She glanced back over her shoulder, half-expecting Woojin or Ms. Han to appear at any moment. "Rian, I—" she stammered, her voice trembling. "I saw something... something I shouldn't have."

Rian's brow furrowed, and he gently guided her to a quieter corner of the hallway, away from prying eyes. "What did you see?" he asked softly, his tone reassuring.

Ellie took a deep breath, trying to steady her racing thoughts. "I went up to the rooftop

As Ellie tried to explain to Rian what she had seen, Hera suddenly appeared, her voice cutting through the tension. "Rian, why are you talking to her?" she demanded, irritation evident in her tone.