The Strings She Pulls

Chapter 2: The First Thread

This was the part where she was supposed to lower her head and apologize. Pretend it was her own fault. That's what they wanted.

Instead, she met the girl's gaze, voice steady as she said, "You should really watch where you're putting your foot."

The smirk faltered.

A flicker of irritation flashed across the girl's face, like she wasn't used to being challenged.

For a moment, the cafeteria felt too still.

Then, just as the tension was about to snap—

A chair scraped against the floor.

Seulgi wasn't the only one who turned toward the sound.

From the far side of the cafeteria, where the sunlight spilled through the wide glass windows, she stood up.

The girl from this morning.

She moved slowly, deliberately, as if she had all the time in the world. Her uniform was flawless, the school crest pinned neatly against the fabric. Everything about her was polished, effortless, untouchable.

But her eyes—they were sharp.

The space around her seemed to shift the moment she moved, students instinctively glancing her way. Some straightened in their seats. Others quieted mid-conversation.

Even the girl in front of Seulgi hesitated.

Seulgi noticed the shift, but she didn't understand it. She didn't understand her.

She did understand, however, that this girl wasn't just another student.

She was someone important.

Someone powerful.

And she was walking straight toward them.

The group of bullies stepped back instinctively.

Not much, just a slight shift in their posture. But it was enough.

The girl stopped a few feet away, gaze flickering over the mess on the floor before settling—directly, intensely—on Seulgi.

Then she spoke, her voice as calm and collected as ever:

"Are you going to clean that up?"

Her question wasn't meant for Seulgi. It was for the girl who had caused the mess. The girl who had shoved Seulgi in the first place.

Seulgi blinked, not understanding why she was being asked, but before she could even process the question, the girl's gaze shifted.

She turned toward the bully.

"You," she said, her voice clear and cutting, "Pick it up."

The bully's expression twisted between confusion and anger, but then her eyes darted nervously around the room. She hesitated, the entire cafeteria holding its breath.

Jaeyi's gaze didn't waver.

Finally, the bully knelt down with an exaggerated sigh, grumbling as she cleaned up the mess.

Seulgi stood frozen, her heart pounding. She had never seen anything like it. The way this girl had just taken complete control of the room with a few words. The way everyone had fallen in line as though it was second nature to obey her.

Seulgi didn't know what to make of it. Was it kindness? Or just another way to manipulate the situation?

Before she could think any longer, Jaeyi turned back toward her. Their eyes met.

Seulgi was still standing, the weight of the attention pressing in on her. She could feel the curious stares, the silent expectancy from the other students. But she didn't want to linger. Not here. Not with this.

Without another word, Seulgi grabbed her tray and started to walk away, head held high. Her pace quickened as she moved toward the exit. She couldn't shake the feeling that Jaeyi's gaze was following her, but she didn't care. The last thing she needed was to feel like she owed anyone anything—especially someone like her.

Behind her, Jaeyi's gaze lingered—a flicker of something unreadable in her eyes. It was almost like a challenge, a question she wasn't used to having to ask.

Seulgi didn't look back.

She walked out of the cafeteria, the quiet murmur of voices around her growing distant. Her mind raced with thoughts—about the incident, about the girl who had intervened, about why it felt like everything was shifting.

Was it pity? Was it amusement?

Was it a game?

Seulgi didn't know, and part of her didn't want to know.

She didn't need anyone's help.

Not now. Not ever.