Chapter 16
Serin walked a short distance, holding an orange shopping bag that Youngsook had asked her to deliver. Not long ago, it was clearly spring, but now the weather had turned hot. After walking only a short while, beads of sweat formed on her skin.
Still, she was thankful for the bright sky. Taking a walk on a nice day was quite pleasant.
She was carrying a gift for Chaehee, but no one would celebrate her birthday—this lonely thought briefly saddened her. Still, Serin tried to walk on cheerfully.
Her car was at her parents’ house, so she had to take the bus. As she waited at the stop, her phone rang. It was Taeyoon. She hesitated for a moment, then answered.
“Hello?”
— “Where are you?”
His deep voice, blunt yet kind, came through the receiver.
“I’m just outside.”
— “So early? Our appointment isn’t for a while.”
“Oh… It’s not about that. I’m running an errand for Madam.”
— “An errand? Where?”
“It’s simple. Just delivering something. Ah, the bus is here.”
The bus she needed was approaching, and the waiting crowd moved all at once. Serin hurried to get on.
“I need to catch the bus. I’ll hang up.”
— “Wait, Serin—”
She barely heard his low voice again, but there was no time to respond. If she missed this one, the next bus would take too long, and her schedule for the day would be ruined.
Serin ended the call and got on the bus.
She arrived at a luxury five-star hotel in the heart of Seoul.
“Chaehee is here?”
Looking puzzled, Serin entered and soon realized why Chaehee was there. In the lobby, a sign read:
“Seonghyun Arts High School Alumni Reunion.”
Serin stopped breathing. Seonghyun Arts High, the school she once attended. She had spent about two years there before transferring due to an ankle injury from falling down the stairs. She didn’t miss it at all—no friends, no fond memories. The thought of it still made her shiver with disgust.
“What should I do?”
Holding the shopping bag, Serin hesitated. Of all days, it had to be the alumni reunion. She didn’t want to see Chaehee or anyone else from back then.
But she couldn’t turn back—that would mean disobeying Youngsook’s order. As she hesitated, someone approached and spoke cheerfully.
“Serin? Is that really you?”
She turned and saw two women smiling at her. Their faces were familiar—girls from her second-year class. Though they hadn’t met since school, Serin had heard updates about them—one had joined a national theater troupe, another a Russian ballet company.
“What are you doing here? Don’t tell me you came for the reunion?”
Their eyes scanned Serin from head to toe. Dressed in fancy dresses, they stood in contrast to Serin’s casual white pants and peach knit sweater.
Serin felt suffocated. She didn’t want to shrink, but compared to them, she felt small and embarrassed. Still, she straightened her shoulders and looked them in the eye.
“No, I’m just here for an errand. I’ll be leaving soon.”
“Ah, I see.”
Their eyes said Of course. Serin clenched her jaw. Don’t shrink. You have every right to be here.
Just deliver this and leave.
She quickly looked around to find Chaehee and spotted a sign of where she might be. Serin headed toward the hall, determined to complete the errand quickly.
As she entered, she noticed some people glancing at her in surprise. A few whispered among themselves, others stared curiously.
It felt like being watched by hundreds of snakes, but Serin endured it and searched for Chaehee.
Finally, she found her—surrounded by a group, looking more glamorous than ever, adorned in luxury clothing and jewelry.
Serin walked confidently toward her. Chaehee, laughing at something, turned and widened her eyes.
“Oh my, Serin!”
Her surprised expression softened into a charming smile.
“I asked the maid to send it, but I didn’t think you’d actually come. Still, I’m glad you did.”
Chaehee took both of Serin’s hands warmly. Someone nearby whispered loudly enough for Serin to hear:
“Who’s that?”
“You don’t know? That’s Eun Serin. She used to be a rising star in ballet from Seonghyun High, but she quit.”
“Oh… that accident?”
Their words stabbed like knives. Serin pretended not to hear and thrust the shopping bag forward.
“Here. I was told to give this to you.”
“Shopping bag?”
Chaehee peeked in and chuckled.
“Oh, this. Why did you bother bringing it? It’s not a big deal.”
She lifted her shoulders with a troubled look.
“But what should I do? Look at me—I can’t carry that around dressed like this.”
With her dress and clutch bag, she made it clear she wouldn’t carry the bag. Serin lowered her hand. So what do you expect me to do?
“I’ll give it to you later then.”
Serin turned to leave, but Chaehee grabbed her wrist.
“Serin, why rush? It’s been so long, and you’ve met some old friends—”
“Friends?”
Serin scoffed without meaning to.
“You call the people who bullied and isolated me ‘friends’?”
“What do you mean—”
Serin swept her eyes around the room and said coldly,
“You all bullied me in high school. You tore my books, wrote on my desk, and destroyed my art projects. Don’t you remember?”
The people near Chaehee averted their eyes. They’d done it under her lead, but even so, hearing it as adults was embarrassing.
“And now you call me a friend? That’s just funny.”
As Serin turned to leave, she collided with someone. Looking up in surprise, she met Taeyoon’s sharp gaze.
“Who bullied who?”
His icy voice cut through the room. The air turned heavy with tension.
Flustered, Chaehee quickly waved her hands.
“It’s a misunderstanding, oppa. We got along so well back then, right, Serin?”
She tried to link arms with Serin, but Taeyoon blocked her. He stood protectively in front of Serin, glaring at Chaehee.
“Looks like only your friends think that way.”
His sharp eyes swept over the group behind Chaehee. When she turned, they all looked away, clearly guilty.
“Why do you always drag people around like this? You’re exhausting, Yoo Chaehee.”
Annoyed, Taeyoon grabbed Serin’s wrist and pulled her away. As she followed, Serin saw Chaehee’s furious face glaring behind her. She sighed quietly, sensing that this wasn’t the end.
