When the Clock Strikes|Pi Han Ul x Reader|

Chapter 13

I stepped outside the classroom, the door shutting behind me with a quiet click.

The hallway was empty-silent except for the faint echoes of students murmuring in other rooms.

And standing there, hands clasped behind his back, was him.

Vice Principal Kang.

Neatly pressed suit. Wire-rimmed glasses. A gaze so sharp it could slice through glass.

He didn't look pleased.

"Beak Cheonga." His voice was clipped, professional. "Walk with me."

I didn't argue. Didn't question. Just fell into step beside him as he led me down the hall.

Silence stretched between us, thick and heavy.

With every step, I could feel the stares of students peeking through classroom windows, whispering behind closed doors.

They are watching.

Of course, they are.

Everyone had seen what happened in the cafeteria. And now?

Now, they are waiting for the aftermath.

Finally, after what felt like forever, Vice Principal Kang stopped.

We stood near the stairwell, far from prying ears.

Then, he turned to me.

"I saw what happened earlier." His gaze didn't waver. "In the cafeteria."

I remained silent.

He exhaled through his nose, tilting his head slightly. "Would you like to explain?"

Explain?

What was there to explain?

Mi-Hui threw food at me. I retaliated. Seok Jeongan got involved. I handled it.

That was the entire story.

So I said nothing.

Vice Principal Kang studied me for a moment. Then-

"I won't ask if you regret it," he said. "I assume you don't."

I lifted a brow at that.

"However," he continued, "I would like to remind you that this school has rules."

Rules?

That was funny.

Because I was pretty sure those rules had never done anything to stop people like Mi-Hui and Seok Jeongan before.

Still, I kept my mouth shut.

Vice Principal Kang sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose.

"I should be writing you up for this," he muttered. "But..."

He glanced at me again.

Then-something unexpected.

A small, almost imperceptible smirk.

"Seok Jeongan had it coming."

I blinked.

Had I... just imagined that?

He straightened his posture, clearing his throat. "Regardless. If I see something like that again, I will take disciplinary action. Understood?"

I nodded once.

He studied me for another moment before turning on his heel.

"Get back to class," he ordered, already walking away.

I watched him go, mind still turning.

Vice Principal Kang was a mystery.

Not exactly an ally. Not exactly an enemy.

But something told me-

He wasn't as against me as I'd thought.

And that?

That was interesting.

I exhaled, shaking my head, before heading back to class.

When I stepped inside, the tension returned instantly.

All eyes flicked to me.

The whispers-soft, sharp-picked up again.

I ignored them, sliding into my seat.

The teacher barely glanced up.

"Alright," she announced, flipping a page in her textbook. "Let's continue."

And just like that-

The moment passed.

Or at least-

That's what I thought.

Because just as I picked up my pen-

A paper slipped onto my desk.

I looked up.

The girl sitting in front of me-a quiet one, never involved in gossip-was staring straight ahead.

Not looking at me.

Not acknowledging anything.

But the paper?

The moment I unfolded it, my breath stilled.

Because scribbled in small, nervous handwriting-

"They're planning something."