Dying flower - study group

1. The beginning

It was too bright.

The sun beat down on the cracked pavement of Yusung Techincal High, making the dull gray walls almost glow. Seo Nari stood at the school gate, one foot inside and one foot out, backpack hanging loosely from one shoulder.
Students laughing, shouting across the courtyard, joking with each other like it was any other day.

It wasn't for her.

Not when this was her first step into yet another unfamiliar battlefield.

"Dont make trouble, Nari. Just graduate."

Her aunt's voice echoed in her head, soft but tired. It had been the same plea every time they moved.
This was school number four in three years. And the last school that accepted her.

She adjusted her grip on her bag and walked in.

Inside the teachers office, she sat with her shoulders stiff, waiting as papers were shuffled.

"You've been...all over," her homeroom teacher said, flipping through her transfer documents.

Nari didn't respond.

The woman gave a small smile. "Yusung's not like your old schools.. keep to yourself and you'll be fine. Cause problems, and, well.. we won't hold your hand."

"I won't," Nari said quietly. "I don't need anyone to."

Class 2-3 was already halfway to chaos by the time she walked in. Someone was throwing crumpled paper at the ceiling. Two boys were arm-wrestling over a desk. A girl near the window was asleep with headphones in.

The teacher clapped loudly to break the noise.
"Eyes front, we have a new student joining us today."

Dozens of eyes turned to her, sizing her up. Some curious. Some hostile.

"She's a transfer, her name's Seo Nari. Dont get any ideas."

No applause no welcome.

Nari bowed stiffly, gave no introduction, and quietly took the only empty seat at the back - three desks from the window, no one beside her. Perfect.

For the rest of the period, she said nothing, watched everything.

She didn't miss the glances, she didn't miss the whispers.

"She's the one from Daehan High, right?"

"Didn't she get into a fight with her classmates?"

"I heard someone ended up in the hospital."

Rumours never got it right. Not that she cared anymore.

She stared out of the window , the city buzzing just beyond the fence.

"You went too far."
"You should've just walked away."
"You ruined your future."

She blinked once, slow and controlled.

No more mistakes, no more messes, just finish school and disappear.

When the lunch bell rang, Nari waited until the most of the class had left before moving. She wasn't hungry, she just needed a space.

Outside the courtyard, a fight had broken out between two upperclassmen. No teachers in sight, no one stepping in, everyone just watched, cheered, or recorded.

Nari stood at distance, arms crossed.
Unreadable.

Violence. Always the same. Always circling.

She turned away before the winner landed the last punch.