SCARLET STRINGS

PART 8

One Week Later

Aria hadn’t been to school for a week, and her absence was beginning to draw attention. During a lecture, the teacher glanced at the empty seat and frowned.

“Where is Aria?” the teacher asked, looking around the room.

The students exchanged knowing looks, some giggling under their breath. A boy whispered slyly, “She’s probably too busy being mysterious.”

The teacher, irritated by the vague answers, pressed further. “If anyone knows her or is her friend, tell her to come back. Otherwise, we’ll have to inform her father.”

The class quickly fell silent, unwilling to get involved.

Later that evening, Aria was at a trendy café, sipping her drink and sitting across from a boy. She looked breathtaking in a cream-colored off-shoulder bodycon dress that accentuated her elegance. The boy leaned forward, saying something that made her laugh—a rare sight for anyone who knew her.

At another table, three girls who had once bullied Jinwoo’s sister noticed her.

“Isn’t that the girl who defended Jinwoo’s sister?” one of them asked.

“Yeah. She’s something else,” another said, eyeing her luxurious car parked outside.

The third girl smirked. “Let’s see what she’s up to. Maybe she’s avoiding school for a reason.”

When Aria got up to leave, the girls decided to follow her. They trailed her car all the way to her grand mansion.

Before they could turn away, Aria caught sight of them and stepped out of her car, her sharp eyes locking onto theirs.

“Following me?” she asked coolly, her voice cutting through the evening air.

The girls exchanged nervous glances. “We… uh, we were sent by Sir. He’s asking you to come back to school.”

Aria raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. “Is that so?"

To their surprise, Aria didn’t send them away. Instead, she opened the massive front door of her home and invited them in. The girls hesitated but were too curious to decline.

Inside, they were struck by the grandeur of the house. Aria motioned for them to sit on an ornate sofa, and soon, trays of gourmet food and drinks were brought out by the staff.

“You must be tired from chasing me,” Aria said, her tone dripping with mock politeness. “Have something to eat.”

The girls glanced at each other, unsure of what to say.

Aria leaned forward, her commanding presence filling the room. “Since you’ve come all this way, I’ll ask a favor in return. Tell your teacher I’m unwell and can’t return to school for another week.”

The girls nodded quickly, feeling a mix of admiration and intimidation.

Meanwhile, at his home, Jinwoo couldn’t stop thinking about Aria. His mind kept drifting to her—her sharp tongue, her beauty, and the vulnerability she’d shown that one night.

Unable to shake his restlessness, he decided to check on her.

When he reached her mansion, he saw the three girls leaving. They were giggling, chatting, and acting far too friendly for anyone who had just been scolded.

Jinwoo stepped in front of them, blocking their path.

“What are you three doing at Aria’s house?” he demanded.

The girls froze. One of them tried to deflect. “Uh… nothing much. Just delivering a message from Sir.”

Jinwoo’s eyes narrowed. “Then why are you so cheerful? And since when does Aria invite classmates into her house?”

The girls stammered, unable to come up with a convincing excuse. One of them finally blurted, “We saw her with a boy at the café, okay? Maybe that’s why she’s being so nice. She doesn’t want us spreading rumors.”

Jinwoo’s expression darkened. “A boy?”

They nodded, sensing his interest. “Yeah, she was laughing with him. Looked... cozy.”

Jinwoo’s jaw clenched, but he quickly masked his frustration with a smirk. “I see.”

As they left, Jinwoo stayed behind, his mind racing. Who was the boy? And why did it bother him so much to imagine her with someone else?