Just Twilight

Chapter 11

I want to transfer schools.

Junyoung set her pen down and closed her eyes tightly. No, to be honest, she wanted to disappear entirely.

Why, of all times, did she have to be seen like that?

At school, Beomjin acted as if he didn’t know her, just as usual. Of course, that could’ve been because she spotted him from afar and made a point of avoiding him.

But just knowing he sat behind her during class made her wish the ground would swallow her whole.

When Junyoung got home that day, she threw her bag aside and waited for her mother to return. She needed to brace herself for round two, but this time, she wasn’t planning to simply take it lying down. The thought that someone had witnessed her most vulnerable moment left her shaken. The humiliation and shame had her in tears that wouldn’t stop.

But when her mother came back, she didn’t even spare Junyoung a glance before collapsing onto the bed. She yanked the old blanket over herself. Junyoung stared at her in disbelief, listening as the sound of soft snoring soon filled the room.

Junyoung held out for a few hours in a state of nervous anticipation, but nothing happened.

This kind of lull was nothing new. Her mother always swung between explosive tantrums and sudden calm. The only thing gnawing at Junyoung now was her embarrassment over Beomjin.

Now I can’t even go to that house to study. The exams are coming up soon. So where am I supposed to study now? How long do I have to keep avoiding Kwon Beomjin?

Her thoughts wandered as she scratched out the final line of the reflection paper she had been forced to rewrite. The last sentence was so poorly written it seemed almost defiant, despite the otherwise polished content. But she couldn’t summon the energy to redo it.

Letting out a deep sigh, Junyoung stood up, then froze. She had suddenly recalled the sight of Beomjin lying sprawled out.

His jaw and neck, usually unblemished, were now marked with reddish bruises. His lip was split again. At school, the other students whispered about how he must have gotten into another fight.

I can’t exactly tell them it’s because of my mom.

Junyoung clenched her jaw, gripping the reflection paper tightly. The memory of that moment surged back—the way he had rushed over and shielded her like a human shield.

Even amidst the lingering sting of being hit, she vividly remembered the feel of his arms wrapped tightly around her. The warmth of his chest brushing her nose and the faint scent of his body as he moved stayed with her.

“What are you smirking about, looking so creepy? Move aside.”

A sharp voice interrupted her thoughts. Junyoung turned her head to see Hye Soo standing there, glaring at her with narrowed eyes.

Junyoung sighed and leaned closer to Hye Soo, curling her lips into a wide, mocking smile.

“Take a good look. If it’s not enough, let me know. I’ll smile some more.”

“Hey!”

Ignoring Hye Soo’s screech, Junyoung brushed past her and left the classroom, the reflection paper flapping in her hand.

Was I really smiling?

“I must be losing my mind. It’s not like I have anything to smile about. I guess I’m just laughing at random now.”

Muttering to herself, she headed toward the teachers’ office. But she stopped in her tracks when she saw groups of students huddled together, whispering. Something about the atmosphere seemed off.

Unsure whether to go in or not, Junyoung hesitated, only to realize that the students’ gazes had shifted to her.

Moments like this made her feel like she had some sort of supernatural ability. It was as if her presence alone could silence a crowd.

Unable to turn away now that she had their attention, Junyoung approached the office door with a blank expression and knocked. She cracked the door open, only for an unfamiliar voice to reach her ears.

“Oh no, it’s nothing like that.”

The forced laughter that followed sent shivers down her spine.

Stepping cautiously inside, Junyoung froze. The scene in the teachers’ office was bizarre.

The sudden sound of the door bursting open snapped everyone’s attention. The heads of the previously bowing teachers turned toward the entrance.

And there, looking frantic, was none other than the prince.

“Mom!”

Seungwoon’s sharp voice filled the room. However, as soon as his gaze landed on Junyoung, his expression shifted to awkward embarrassment, and he clamped his mouth shut. The woman stood gracefully, a faint smile on her lips.

“I seem to have taken up too much of your time, teachers. Please enjoy dinner without any hesitation—it’s my treat. Think of it as a token of appreciation.”

“Oh, thank you so much! Take care!”

The vice principal was the first to rise, followed by the homeroom teacher and the math teacher, who bowed deeply in unison. Seungwoon hurried after his mother as she left the office.

Still watching the woman’s retreating figure, Junyoung let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. It felt like waking up from a dream. Handing her reflection paper to the math teacher, she spoke.

“Sir.”

“Huh? Oh, just leave it there. My head’s spinning. That woman’s something else.”

“Shh, Mr. Kim,” the vice principal hissed, glaring at him.

Junyoung placed the paper down and walked out of the office, leaving behind the tense atmosphere.

As she made her way down the hall, she spotted two figures standing together. Seungwoon was tugging at his mother’s jacket sleeve as if in protest. When he noticed Junyoung, he immediately stopped.

The woman, too, turned her gaze toward her.

“Is your name Yoon Junyoung?”

Junyoung had been about to bow slightly and walk past, but the question made her stop. She turned around and saw Seungwoon give her an awkward smile.

“Ah, um, Junyoung. This is my mom. She came because she had some business at school.”

“What business could a parent have at school? She’s here because her son caused trouble, of course.”

The woman let out a dry chuckle, crossing her arms. Seungwoon pouted like a child, his lips jutting out. Watching the two, Junyoung found herself speaking in a sarcastic tone without realizing it.

“So it wasn’t about the gymnasium?”

“The gymnasium?”

Seungwoon blinked, glancing at his mother in confusion. The woman’s slender eyes curved upward slowly, her lips forming a faint smile.

“That, too, is ultimately for my son.”

Her voice dropped a tone, her seemingly cheerful expression growing colder. Junyoung clenched the frayed sleeve of her shirt, regretting her words.

“What are you talking about? What’s going on with the gymnasium?”

“I was curious about the girl my son keeps mentioning—Yoon Junyoung this, Yoon Junyoung that. Now that I’ve met you, I see why. You’re pretty. And you seem clever.”

“Mom!”

Seungwoon’s voice rose, his usually gentle eyes narrowing sharply. Seeing Junyoung’s expression shift slightly in surprise, the tips of his ears flushed red.

The woman remained composed, her tone calm as she spoke.

“Do you have time this Saturday? Why don’t you come to our house for a visit?”

“What?”

Junyoung’s lips parted in shock. She stole a glance at Seungwoon, whose face had turned completely red. She felt her own cheeks heating up, her voice faltering.