Sherin's Past

"So, what's it going to be?" Iyuna pressed once more, raising her chin slightly with a piercing gaze.

Sherin remained silent, her fingers crumpling the edge of her clothes until wrinkled. "Huh." She let out a heavy sigh, her shoulders dropping in resignation. "Fine," she answered firmly, straightening her back as if gathering courage.

"For Eid, I'll do anything!" She continued, clenching her fist against her chest, determination radiating from her eyes.

Iyuna only stared blankly, her eyes not moving an inch from Sherin's face. She then exhaled a long breath, her shoulders slowly sinking. "Alright," she said, then gently pushed Sherin toward the door, her palm pressing softly against the girl's back.

"W-wait..." Sherin protested as she was pushed, her feet dragging on the floor, trying to resist Iyuna's force.

"Well then, that's it," said Iyuna, having pushed Sherin to the doorway, her fingers quickly grabbing the doorknob and turning it. "Bam!" Iyuna immediately shut the door with a decisive movement, the gust of wind blowing strands of her hair.

Iyuna then dropped herself onto the bed, the springs creaking as they received her body weight. She stared at the ceiling for a moment, her fingers tapping lightly on her stomach. She then rose with a sudden movement, her legs swinging to the floor, and looked at the wall clock ticking constantly. The clock showed 06:30 PM. "It's already this time, huh...? I'm bored, might as well go out," she muttered, while brushing her hair back.

She went out to get some fresh air, opening the door with one quick motion. Because it was cold, she grabbed the jacket hanging behind the door and put it on, pulling the zipper all the way to her chin with a smooth sound.

She stopped at the same soda vending machine as before, eyes examining the drink options behind the glass. Her fingers pressed the button with a familiar motion, the sound of coins clinking as they entered the machine. She ordered one soda as usual, the cold can falling with a soft 'clang'. "Gulp⁴~" She drank the soda, her head tilting slightly back as the cold liquid flowed down her throat.

Not long after, she spotted the silhouette of a man sitting on a sidewalk bench facing the river. The streetlight illuminated part of his face, creating long shadows on the pavement. She seemed familiar with that silhouette, her eyes narrowing trying to recognize him.

Iyuna then crossed over and approached the silhouette, her steps calm. "You..., what are you doing here?" She asked, standing beside the bench, the soda can gripped tightly in her right hand.

The hunched silhouette was Eid, his head slowly rising at the sound of Iyuna's voice. "Huh? Iyuna? I'm..., I'm just getting some fresh air," he said, his fingers intertwined on his lap.

Iyuna stared at him for a moment, observing his anxious facial expression, then turned toward the river glistening under the moonlight. "Hey, there's something I want to ask you," said Iyuna, her voice calm yet full of pressure.

"Ask me?" Eid inquired curiously, his eyebrow raised and his head tilted slightly.

"Tell me, what was Sherin's mistake in the past?" Asked Iyuna, with a threatening tone, her eyes staring straight without blinking.

"Se-secret? What secret do you mean?" Eid evaded, pretending not to know, his body tensing and backing away slightly from his sitting position.

Iyuna smiled thinly, the corner of her mouth lifting almost imperceptibly. Her gaze was flat yet intimidating, "What else? Sherin has already told me everything. Now I just need to confirm it," said Iyuna, her fingers tapping lightly on the soda can.

Eid flinched, his pupils shrinking in shock. "R-really?" His body trembled and jerked backward, his hand gripping the edge of the bench until his knuckles turned white.

"If you don't tell me, I'll spread it to everyone. You know what would happen if that occurs, don't you?" Threatened Iyuna, her tone cold and intimidating, her eyes narrowing sharply.

Hearing this, Eid immediately stood up with a sudden movement, the bench creaking loudly. He then grabbed Iyuna's collar with a swift motion and lifted her, his fingers gripping the fabric tightly. "Don't you dare! If you dare mess with Sherin! I will kill you!" Threatened Eid, his tone rising and angry, his breathing heavy and his face reddening.

Iyuna relaxed her body to avoid feeling pain, her head still held high even though her body was lifted several inches off the ground. "Just try..., I swear you won't be able to do that," she said, her tone flat, without even a hint of fear in her eyes.

Eid just growled, his teeth gritting to contain his anger. "This girl..., her face and gaze are so cold. As if, I'm staring at a ruthless killer," Eid monologued, his grip loosening slightly.

He then slammed Iyuna's body to the ground with full force, dust flying around them. "Fine, I'll tell you," said Eid, his tone rising in frustration, his breathing ragged.

Iyuna tried to get up, her hands patting her clothes dirty with street dust. "If your story doesn't match what Sherin said, I will spread it. In fact, I'll exaggerate it," threatened Iyuna, fixing her disheveled hair with slender fingers.

"Tch," Eid just clicked his tongue, turning away with a rough movement.

He then sat back down, looking down, his shoulders slumping, his eyes gazing far as if recalling that incident... "It started when we were in middle school," said Eid, his voice trembling softly.

"Sherin and I had been friends since elementary school. I liked her, and I was sure she felt the same. However, during middle school she became a popular girl so it was difficult for me to approach her—"

"—until one day..." said Eid, telling the story, his hand clenched at his side.

In that story (Flashback On):

"Take this!" Said a boy, kicking middle school Eid. His foot struck Eid's ribs hard. There were two boys bullying Eid at that time, standing around him with clenched fists.

"Hey! Stop it!" Shouted middle school Sherin. She came from a distance with quick steps, her skirt fluttering in the wind, saving Eid.

One of the boys kicked Eid's body until he was thrown, his body sliding across the corridor floor. The other approached Sherin with casual yet threatening steps.

"Hey Sherin," teased that boy, his voice low and dangerous. He then touched Sherin's leg, his finger tracing from her calf upward.

"Hey, let go!" Sherin shouted, brushing away the boy's hand with a strong movement, her cheeks reddening.

"Hey..., do you want to come with us?" Said one of the boys, holding Sherin's shoulder with a grip that was too strong.

"Where to?" Asked Sherin, her eyes narrowing suspiciously, her body tensing vigilantly.

"W-wait," replied Eid who was lying on the floor, his hand weakly reaching out toward Sherin.

"Shut up!" Barked one of the boys, while kicking Eid's body lying limply, his black shoe striking Eid's stomach.

"Stop it!" Screamed Sherin, her voice broken by panic, her eyes welling up.

"If you want us to stop, then come with us first," teased one of the other boys, his hand gripping Sherin's arm and pulling her.

"Fine, fine, but you have to promise not to bully Eid anymore!" Threatened Sherin, her chin raised trying to look brave even though her body was trembling.

"Fine, fine," said both boys.

After that, the three of them left Eid who was still lying on the floor, their footsteps echoing in the empty corridor. "W-wait," he said, but it wasn't heard, his voice too weak, his hand helplessly limp.

Back to Eid & Iyuna (Flashback Off):

"After that, the teacher found Sherin lying in the storage room naked and in disarray," said Eid looking down, his voice barely a whisper, his eyes tearing up telling it, his fingers gripping his pants tightly.

"Sh-she was trying to protect me. But, why did it end up like this—"

"—it's all because I'm a coward!" Said Eid, hitting his own thigh hard, tears beginning to pool in the corners of his eyes.

"Then, what happened to Sherin and the two boys?" Asked Iyuna, sitting down while casually drinking her soda. Appearing to enjoy the story about Sherin, her sharp eyes analyzing Eid's every movement.

"The two boys were expelled from school and never seen again. Meanwhile Sherin got her grades reduced and was suspended for a month," said Eid, his voice monotonous as if he had repeated that sentence countless times in his mind.

"I see," murmured Iyuna, nodding slowly, her fingers tapping the soda can with a regular rhythm.

"So please! Don't tell this to anyone else!" Said Eid looking down, his hands clenched on his knees until they trembled, sweat dripping from his forehead.

"I can't imagine her crying in front of me like back then," he continued, his voice breaking at the end of the sentence.

"I can't guarantee that," replied Iyuna, sipping the last of her soda and crushing the empty can with one decisive movement.

Hearing this, Eid flinched, his body immediately tensing. "Wait, what!?" He said, becoming anxious, standing up from his seat with a sudden movement.

"I never said that if you told me the story, I would never spread it," replied Iyuna, throwing the empty can into the nearest trash bin with an accurate toss.

"Y-you!" Said Eid, starting to get angry and upset, his hands tightly clenched at his sides until his fingernails turned white.

"As long as you obey all my words from now on, I won't spread it," threatened Iyuna, her eyes staring sharply without blinking, her gaze flat and menacing.

"Tch!" Eid clicked his tongue, his teeth gritting in frustration. But he knew there was nothing he could do. So, he just looked down, his shoulders slumping in resignation. "Fine! As long as you don't spread it to others!" Said Eid, growing anxious, wiping his face with his trembling palm.

"Alright, this is enough for now," Iyuna monologued, smiling in satisfaction internally, her eyes gleaming with victory under the moonlight.