Chapter 13: The Rumor Chain
985 Words
By Monday, the story had already mutated.
It started with a single photo — blurry, taken through the glass wall of the mansion’s garden at dawn.
A girl in a gray hoodie sitting too close to someone in uniform.
A boy’s hand resting over hers.
Two cups on the bench.
A slant of morning light that made everything look almost tender.
By second period, the whispers had teeth.
“Did you see it? Mirae and Harim.”
“They were holding hands.”
“No way, she’s living in the Kang house! What is she doing with him?”
“Maybe that’s her way of climbing higher. First Joonseo, now Harim.”
Mirae felt the words before she heard them — the way heads turned when she entered, the sudden hush that followed, the thin laughter that pretended not to be about her.
When she reached her locker, a folded note was stuck between the vents. She pulled it out.
Enjoy your mornings with your next target.
Her hands shook. She crumpled the paper and shoved it deep into her pocket, trying to swallow the lump in her throat.
At lunch, she didn’t make it to the cafeteria. She didn’t need to — the noise spilled into the halls.
“Are you serious? She’s really got them all wrapped around her finger.”
“Even Joonseo defended her once.”
“I heard Taewoo’s furious.”
“Of course he is. He hates losing attention.”
The last voice was low but clear, cutting through the chatter. Mirae’s head snapped up.
Baek Taewoo leaned against the wall, one hand in his pocket, watching her. His smile didn’t reach his eyes.
“So it’s true,” he drawled. “You move fast.”
Her heart dropped. “What are you talking about?”
“The garden. Harim. The hand-holding. Cute, really.” He pushed off the wall, stepping closer. “You really have no idea how this place works, do you?”
Mirae’s voice trembled. “It wasn’t like that. We were just—”
“Talking?” Taewoo cut in, the word almost a laugh. “You think people care about the truth? They only care about the story. And right now, the story’s you.”
“Then stop feeding it!”
He froze. Her voice had cracked through the air like a whip. It wasn’t loud, but it made him blink.
For a moment, he didn’t speak. Then his grin returned, slower this time. “Careful, Hoodie Girl. If you’re going to bite, make sure you know who you’re biting.”
She turned, meaning to walk away, but his hand caught her sleeve again. Not rough, but enough to stop her.
“Why him?” he asked quietly, too quiet for anyone else to hear. “You let him touch you, but when I so much as stand close—”
“Because Harim’s not trying to hurt me.”
That shut him up. His hand loosened. She pulled free and walked down the hall without looking back.
---
By the time classes ended, the air felt poisoned. Harim found her in the courtyard, his smile softer than usual, his eyes tired.
“Mirae-yah,” he said gently, falling into step beside her. “Ignore them.”
“I’m trying.”
“They’ll get bored soon. They always do.”
“Not this time,” she murmured. “Not when people keep watching.”
Harim frowned. “What do you mean?”
Before she could answer, a shadow crossed their path.
Seo Rihan.
He stood in the doorway to the garden corridor, immaculate as always, his expression unreadable. “A word, Harim.”
Harim straightened. “Now?”
Rihan’s tone didn’t leave room for argument. “Now.”
Mirae stepped back automatically. Harim hesitated, glancing at her, but she nodded once. He followed Rihan down the hall until they were out of sight.
---
The meeting was short and sharp.
Rihan closed the classroom door behind them, his voice calm but cool. “You should be more careful.”
Harim frowned. “About what?”
“Your timing. Your company. People are already talking.”
“I don’t care what they say.”
“Then start caring.” Rihan’s eyes met his, steel hidden under ice. “You’re part of the council. Your actions reflect on us.”
Harim laughed dryly. “So that’s what this is about. Not her. Your reputation.”
Rihan didn’t flinch. “You think you’re protecting her. But all you’re doing is giving the rest of them a target.”
“She’s already their target.”
“And she’ll stay that way,” Rihan replied evenly, “until one of you decides to stop drawing attention to her.”
Harim’s jaw tightened. “And what about you? You’ve been watching her too.”
Rihan’s expression didn’t change. “Observation isn’t attachment.”
Harim took a step closer. “Then stop observing.”
For the first time, Rihan’s calm cracked, just slightly — enough for his eyes to narrow. “Be careful, Harim. You have warmth. She has quiet. Together you’ll burn too fast.”
Harim didn’t answer. He turned and left, the door slamming softly behind him.
Rihan stood alone, staring at the empty doorway. His reflection in the glass looked faintly amused — and faintly dangerous.
---
That evening, Mirae walked the garden again, alone. The sky was gray, the koi pond reflecting clouds instead of sunlight. She crouched beside the water, watching the ripples.
Her heart felt heavy with things she didn’t understand — gratitude for Harim, fear of Taewoo, anger at Rihan, confusion about Joonseo.
The wind picked up, scattering petals across the pond.
She whispered to herself, “What are they turning me into?”
From somewhere behind the trees, unseen, someone’s footsteps paused — a soft sound swallowed by the rustle of leaves.
---
- Writer
