Chapter 2
Yiyoung’s mother had to undergo extended medical treatment. She had been diagnosed as terminally ill and was informed that her time was limited. However, displaying immense courage, she continued to fight against cancer. Each day that the family spent together felt like a precious miracle.
Unfortunately, the mounting medical bills had strained their finances significantly. Consequently, they were compelled to sell their house and opt for renting a more affordable one. Their situation took a turn for the worse when Joongho’s company closed down permanently. Once an ordinary office worker, his age made it increasingly challenging to secure a new job.
Left with no alternative, Joongho resorted to working at construction sites. This meant that Yiyoung had to spend most of her time alone; they had no other choice. Joongho had to labor tirelessly to keep the family afloat, and finding a decent job in Seoul proved to be exceedingly difficult. While he considered bringing Yiyoung with him to the construction sites, it was not a viable option.
The people in their lives offered financial support, including their landlord, Joongho’s friends, and Yiyoung’s schoolteacher. However, despite their assistance, Joongho eventually found himself unable to afford the rent. Although their landlord had been compassionate enough to overlook missed payments on a few occasions, they were eventually forced to leave.
Unable to bear the sight of Joongho’s struggles, a friend helped him find an affordable rooftop room. From that point forward, Joongho’s main concern was saving for Yiyoung’s college tuition. But he had no idea where to start, as every penny was crucial.
***
When Joongho had suggested that Yiyoung transfer to another school, he had said, “Consider it a dream for Mom and Dad. Let us be proud of you.”
“It’s not practical. Besides, the school you want me to transfer to is an elite private elementary school. I’m sure I’ll be bullied there,” Yiyoung had responded.
Joongho had looked down, disappointed. Yiyoung was right. Even if he persuaded her to transfer to the school her teacher had recommended, it would have incurred substantial expenses.
Yet, Yiyoung was no ordinary child. She was exceptionally mature for her age, capable of cooking, cleaning, and getting ready for school independently. Despite facing numerous challenges on her own, she managed to maintain outstanding grades. Everyone admired the remarkable child.
Joongho vividly recalled a conversation he had with Yiyoung’s teacher at the time.
“Yiyoung is a brilliant girl. But if she were to transfer to that kind of school, I worry she might feel discouraged,” Joongho had expressed his concerns.
“You’re talking about Yiyoung, right? No way, Mr. Yoon. Whenever she encounters a challenge, that girl only becomes stronger. I’ve been teaching for 25 years, and I’ve never met a girl like her. I’m excited about her future. Mr. Yoon, you can afford to be a little more ambitious.”
In that moment, Joongho had lifted his head, his eyes filled with newfound determination. “Discouraged? Who? Would my daughter ever feel discouraged? Absolutely not. I know my daughter better than anyone.”
“Dad!”
“I’ll take care of your tuition, no matter what it takes. So, why don’t you focus on your studies? Go ahead and show off your grades to everyone, okay? That’s all I need.”
Still, Yiyoung didn’t provide Joongho with an answer until after visiting her mother. When she returned, she finally gave him the response he had been waiting for. “Okay. Maybe it’s possible.”
“Just possible? It’ll be amazing.”
“Really?”
“Yes, absolutely,” her father had reassured, and Yiyoung had nodded in agreement.
A few days earlier, during her visit to the hospital with her father, she had observed him forcing a smile beside her mother’s frail figure and wondered, ‘Is there any hope? How long will this miracle last? Do we have the strength to endure until the end?’
At that moment, a newfound confidence surged within her. They needed to seize any opportunity that came their way. They couldn’t afford to relinquish hope for a brighter future.
“All right. Let’s trust Dad’s plan,” Yiyoung had told herself. No matter the obstacles they encountered, she was determined to overcome them.
“You’re truly my daughter,” Joongho had praised her when she finally agreed.
“Yeah, yeah. I’m your daughter.”
Fortune smiled upon them. An exceptional opportunity arose for Yiyoung: a school that recognized her brilliance and decided to sponsor her as part of the school’s promotional efforts. Finally, Yiyoung was able to transfer to the elite private elementary school.
***
Yiyoung whipped out her phone the moment she crossed the threshold into the house and dialed Joongho’s number. He answered promptly, as if he had been eagerly anticipating her call.
“Dad?”
“Oh, yes, my daughter. How was your day?”
“Listen to this…”
At the tender age of thirteen, Yiyoung encountered Muyeol for the very first time, embarking on a journey into an entirely new world. Little did she know just how profoundly this encounter would shape her future.
***
The class welcomed a new transfer student today. She was a petite girl, with a sun-kissed tan and a lack of fashion sense that stood out. It was as though she had absorbed all the sunlight in the world, yet her appearance exuded a sense of modesty. Despite the teacher’s praise for her intelligence, she didn’t give off that impression; instead, she seemed like a carefree individual, incapable of wiping the smile off her face. Unfortunately, her assigned seat was right next to mine, and it didn’t bode well for the start of the school year. Well, it had never been good to begin with, but it felt like it was about to take a turn for the worse…
Muyeol sighed as he reviewed the first page of his diary, a daily ritual he had grown accustomed to. He turned to a fresh page, intending to document the events of the day.
My hunch about Yoon Yiyoung bringing bad luck proved to be accurate. I heard that my step-brother is going to live with us. While I was aware of my step-brother’s existence, I never expected to share a living space with him. It won’t be a dramatic change, but it will certainly complicate things. Dealing with Shitty Yoon was already challenging enough, and now this.
A persistent rustling noise interrupted his thoughts, driving him to the brink of annoyance. He closed his diary abruptly; it was Shitty Yoon, being bothersome again.
Muyeol had always been accustomed to solitude, never having a desk neighbor before. Suddenly, he found himself stuck with a desk-mate, as his seat was the only empty one.
“Hi, I’m Yoon Yiyoung. Nice to meet you.”
They say ignorance emboldens people, and this couldn’t be more evident in Yoon Yiyoung’s case. On her first day at the school, her classmates observed her closely, noting her lack of designer logos on her clothing, and immediately concluded that she wasn’t as affluent as they were. She had stepped into a school filled with children from elite, wealthy families, seemingly unaware of the disparity.
But that wasn’t all. She appeared oblivious to Muyeol’s reputation. Standing at 5.6 feet tall at the age of 13, he already stood out among his peers. Yet, it wasn’t just his height; his eyes were different from his fellow students—sharp as knives, concealing a deep well of sorrow.
Everyone else avoided making eye contact with him due to his menacing glare, but Yiyoung seemed unaffected. It was perhaps understandable on her first day, as she needed time to adjust. However, even after ten days had passed, Yiyoung remained blissfully unaware of the situation.
“Feel free to ask if you need any help.”
She had made this absurd offer on her first day, and she had been consistently loud ever since, trying too hard to fit in. Even this morning, she had brought a shopping bag, which left Muyeol feeling uneasy.
Muyeol shot her an intense glare, the kind that nobody else dared to meet, but Yiyoung didn’t flinch. She appeared entirely at ease.
Yiyoung wrote with fervor, her entire body trembling with the effort she put into it. The desk shook each time her pen hit the paper, causing the shopping bag by her side to rustle even louder. The bag was filled with candies, looking cheap as though she had personally wrapped each piece.
Muyeol’s lips curled into a sneer.
Of all days, it had to be White Day. She might as well be planning to distribute these candies to the entire school.
The irritating sound of the rustling bag continued to grate on Muyeol’s nerves. While it may not have bothered others as much, it drove him to the brink of frustration. He cherished silence, finding solace in it. A quiet environment brought him peace and tranquility, which was precisely why he preferred not to have a desk-mate. But the rustling persisted, and Muyeol couldn’t contain his frustration any longer.
“Oh my gosh!” Yiyoung screamed, her neck twisting to face Muyeol, her eyes wide with shock. He had suddenly encircled her neck with his arms, putting her in a headlock.
The rest of the class stared in disbelief, but Muyeol paid no attention to their curious gazes. He locked eyes with Yiyoung, not blinking once. “Could you please be quiet?” he asked.
Yiyoung swallowed hard as she met Muyeol’s gaze, astonished to finally hear him speak.
How can a 6th grader stay silent all the time? Yiyoung wondered.
Muyeol had always been exceptionally reserved, rarely uttering a word.
“Why aren’t you answering?” Muyeol glared at her, urging her to respond promptly.
“What a relief! I thought you—”
“That shopping bag. Get rid of it,” Muyeol interrupted.
“You must be sensitive to sound,” Yiyoung whispered. Her tone remained composed, but her heart raced. She could sense his anger in the way he breathed. Her heart pounded like a giant drum.
Though her head was still ensnared in his arms, Yiyoung did not avoid his intense gaze.
He could have simply asked, she initially thought. However, the longer she contemplated it, the more incensed she became, and her eyes flickered with anger.
Muyeol scoffed, feeling her heart race as she stared at him. He tightened his hold slightly, causing her to gasp.
“If you want me to get rid of the shopping bag, you have to let me go first,” Yiyoung retorted with a scowl. Muyeol shoved her aside, and Yiyoung promptly placed the bag, hanging from her desk, on the ground.
Muyeol finally found peace, relieved that his direct approach had worked and pleased that she had removed the bag promptly.
Suddenly, Muyeol felt someone’s eyes on him. He turned to see Yiyoung staring at him intensely, unflinching even when their eyes locked. ‘What’s going on?’ Muyeol wondered, a furrow creasing his brow.
Shitty Yoon suddenly burst into mad laughter and defiantly raised her middle finger in the air. Muyeol couldn’t believe his eyes, but he didn’t avert his gaze.
Is she out of her mind?
Muyeol’s assessment was correct. She was undeniably flipping him off, which sent Muyeol into a boiling rage. Fortunately, the lunchtime bell rang just in time, saving her from his wrath.
“Enjoy your lunch, everyone! We have music class for the 5th period, so head straight to the music room after lunch,” the teacher announced.
“Okay, teacher!” the students chorused.
As soon as the teacher finished speaking, Yiyoung grabbed her shopping bag and exited the classroom. Muyeol watched her peculiar actions with disdain.
“There’s no way Shitty Yoon is a normal person. Setting aside the rude gesture she just made at me, she doesn’t even understand what people think of her. Who would want those trashy, cheap candies? The student who transferred in March, Yoon Yiyoung, could never fit in with her unbranded shirt,” Muyeol muttered to himself, left alone in the classroom. “She better not be digging through the trash cans later…”