Episode 1: The Trouble Begins

A group of students stood behind the school gym, secretly smoking cigarettes before the first bell.

"Hey! What do you think you're doing?!" a loud voice thundered from behind.

The students froze.

It was Mr. Kang, the strict P.E. teacher.

"Run!!"

Without a second thought, everyone scattered in different directions.

"Stop right there! You little troublemakers!" Mr. Kang shouted as he chased them across the school courtyard.

After a few minutes, the students disappeared into the building.

Mr. Kang finally stopped, bending over with his hands on his knees, trying to catch his breath.

"Haa... Haa... These kids are going to be the death of me."

A familiar voice spoke from behind.

"Caught them again, Mr. Kang?"

Mr. Kang turned around and sighed.

"Oh, Mr. Lee. Those little troublemakers never listen. First, they show up late, and now they're smoking on school grounds."

Mr. Lee chuckled.

"They certainly know how to keep you busy."

Mr. Kang straightened his tracksuit and checked his watch.

"Anyway, I have to go. The school board members are expected to arrive today, and everything still needs to be prepared."

Mr. Lee nodded.

"Don't worry. I'll head to my classroom too. Good luck dealing with the chaos."

Mr. Kang gave a tired smile.

"Thanks. I have a feeling today is going to be... interesting."

Neither of them knew that today's biggest headache hadn't even arrived at school yet.

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!

Lee Ha-rein's alarm rang for what felt like the hundredth time.

Without opening her eyes, she lazily waved her hand around the bed, trying to find her phone.

"...Five more minutes..."

Instead of finding it, she accidentally pushed it off the bedside table.

THUD!

"My phone!"

Still half asleep, Ha-rein leaned over the edge of the bed, stretching as far as she could.

"Come on... just a little more..."

After struggling for nearly a minute, she finally grabbed it.

She rubbed her eyes and looked at the screen.

8:17 A.M.

"..."

"...WHAT?!"

Ha-rein shot out of bed.

"I'M LATE!!"

Today wasn't just any day.

It was the first day of the new semester.

"And I'm already late?!"

She stormed out of her room and yelled,

"Lee Min-jun!!"

A thirteen-year-old boy peeked out from his room, still holding his game console.

"What?"

"Why didn't you wake me up?!"

"You literally threw a pillow at me when I tried!"

"I did?"

"Twice."

"...Oops."

"Noona, that's not my fault."

Ha-rein ignored him and ran to the bathroom.

---

Ten minutes later...

She rushed downstairs in her half-buttoned school uniform, hurriedly tying her hair into a messy ponytail.

Her mother placed a bowl of kimchi fried rice, a bowl of miyeok-guk (seaweed soup), and a small plate of kimchi on the table.

"Ha-rein! At least eat breakfast!"

"I don't have time, Mom!"

"You'll faint before lunch!"

Ha-rein quickly stuffed two spoonfuls of kimchi fried rice into her mouth, grabbed a carton of banana milk from the fridge, and sprinted toward the front door.

"I'm leaving!"

"Your shoes!"

She rushed back, changed into her sneakers, and dashed outside again.

Three steps later...

"...My phone."

She froze.

"No way..."

With a dramatic groan, she ran back inside, snatched her phone from her bed, and rushed out once more.

---

Panting heavily, Ha-rein finally reached the bus stop.

She looked down the road.

"No... no... no..."

The school bus was already there.

Students climbed inside one by one.

The doors closed.

The bus slowly pulled away.

"WAIT!!"

Ha-rein sprinted after it with all her strength.

"STOP THE BUS!! PLEASE!!"

The driver didn't hear her.

The bus disappeared around the corner.

Ha-rein finally stopped running, bending over with her hands on her knees.

"I... can't... breathe..."

Just then...

Screeeech!

A sleek black van suddenly stopped right beside her.

Ha-rein looked up, confused.

"Huh?"

Before she could react, the side door slid open.

A pair of gloved hands shot out.

"What the—"

They grabbed her wrist and pulled her inside.

"HEY! LET ME GO!"

The door slammed shut.

The van sped away.

Ha-rein struggled desperately, but someone covered her mouth.

Her vision slowly blurred.

Everything around her faded into darkness.

Black.

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