Eun-Woo didn't wait for anyone.
The moment Mrs. Park dismissed them toward the office, he walked out of the classroom first.
Fast.
Sharp steps.
Like staying there any longer would make his head explode.
Ji-Soo hesitated only a second before following him.
"Eun-Woo—wait," she called softly.
He didn't stop.
She caught up near the end of the corridor.
"Thank you," she said quietly. "For what you said back there. You didn't have to—"
He stopped walking.
Not gently.
Just abruptly.
Then turned to face her.
His expression wasn't warm like before.
It was tired.
Guarded.
And something sharper underneath it.
"I don't care about that," he said flatly.
Ji-Soo blinked.
"…What?"
Eun-Woo's eyes narrowed slightly.
"I said I don't care," he repeated. "About your explanation. About what side is true. About any of it."
Ji-Soo's chest tightened.
She stepped closer.
"I just—"
"You should leave me alone," he cut in.
The words landed hard.
Too clean.
Too final.
Ji-Soo froze.
For a second, she couldn't even respond.
"…Eun-Woo," she whispered.
But he was already turning away again.
"I don't want to be involved in this anymore."
And he walked off.
Leaving her standing there.
Completely still.
Like she had been erased mid-sentence.
Her fingers trembled slightly at her sides.
"…I see," she whispered, barely audible.
And that was when Mi-Sook appeared from the side hallway.
Slow steps.
Smug expression.
She looked at Ji-Soo like she had been waiting for this exact moment.
"Wow," Mi-Sook said lightly. "That looked painful."
Ji-Soo didn't respond.
Mi-Sook tilted her head.
"So even your little supporter gave up?"
Ji-Soo's eyes darkened slightly.
But she still said nothing.
Mi-Sook smiled.
"Pathetic," she murmured, walking past her slowly on purpose.
Shoulder brushing lightly against Ji-Soo as she passed.
Just enough to remind her she was still there.
Just enough to hurt.
Then she continued toward the principal's office.
Ji-Soo stood there for a second longer.
Then followed.
The principal's office was already tense when they entered.
Mrs. Park sat at her desk.
Mr. Yoo-Joon stood near the window, arms crossed.
The atmosphere felt heavier than the classroom.
Ji-Soo stepped in first.
Then Mi-Sook.
Mrs. Park School principle motioned for them to sit.
"Sit," she said firmly.
They obeyed.
Silence stretched.
Then questions began.
One after another.
"What exactly is your claim?"
"Who initiated the identity switch?"
"Where did the DNA report come from?"
Mi-Sook answered calmly.
Precise.
Controlled.
Ji-Soo answered too—but her voice was tighter now.
More emotional.
More human.
And that made people listen differently.
Mr. Yoo-Joon watched carefully the entire time.
Not interrupting.
Just observing.
Finally, after everything was laid out—
The principle, leaned back slightly.
"This is serious," she said.
Silence again.
Then she continued.
"If this is true, then the real Ji-Woo must be located immediately."
Ji-Soo's breath caught.
Mi-Sook's gaze sharpened.
The principle's tone turned firm.
"And if not resolved, we will involve the police."
That word hit the room like a hammer.
Police.
Ji-Soo slowly turned her head toward Mi-Sook.
Mi-Sook met her gaze.
Unbothered.
Almost pleased.
Then Ji-Soo spoke.
"…Fine."
Everyone looked at her.
She stood up slowly.
Her chair scraped slightly.
"I'll bring Ji-Woo back," she said quietly.
A pause.
"Then everything will be settled."
Her eyes shifted to Mi-Sook.
Cold now.
Controlled.
"And you'll see who's lying."
Mi-Sook only smiled.
"Good," she said softly.
Like she was already ahead.
Meanwhile back in Mr. Yoo-Joon's staff office…
Ji-Ho sat slumped slightly in a chair.
Pale.
Too pale.
Mrs. Posh had brought him there after he collapsed earlier.
Mr. Yoo-Joon stood nearby, watching him closely.
Something about his expression had changed.
Less official.
More… personal.
Mrs. Posh frowned.
"There's something wrong with him," she said immediately.
Ji-Ho coughed weakly.
"I'm fine," he muttered.
But the moment he tried to sit up his body gave out again.
Mr. Yoo-Joon moved fast.
He caught him before he fell completely.
"Hey—stay with me," he said sharply.
Mrs. Posh stepped forward.
"He needs a nurse," she said quickly.
They moved him immediately to the nurse's office.
Ji-Ho barely stayed conscious during the transfer.
Everything felt distant.
Muted.
When he finally came to, he was lying on a bed.
White ceiling.
Soft light.
Mr. Yoo-Joon and Mrs. Posh were there.
Watching him.
Ji-Ho blinked slowly.
"…Why do you care so much?" he whispered weakly.
"Just leave me alone like how everyone does.. It's not something new.. it will never be..."
Silence.
Then Mr. Yoo-Joon exhaled.
Tired.
And finally "I can't lie anymore."
Ji-Ho frowned faintly.
"What?"
Mr. Yoo-Joon stepped closer.
His voice lowered.
"There's something you need to know, Ji-Ho"
"What is it?"
"I'm your older brother."
Ji-Ho froze.
Everything stopped.
Even his breathing.
"…What?"
Mrs. Posh turned slightly away, tense.
Mr. Yoo-Joon didn't look away.
"I'm your brother, Your brother Joon." he repeated.
Ji-Ho stared at him.
Confused.
Shocked.
Like the world had just tilted sideways.
For a moment, he couldn't process anything.
Then his vision blurred again.
Not from emotion.
From exhaustion.
From sickness.
His hand loosened.
And his body went limp again.
"Ji-Ho!" Mr. Yoo-Joon said sharply.
Mrs. Park moved immediately.
"Call the hospital," she ordered.
They didn't waste time.
Within minutes, they were in a car.
Ji-Ho lying in the back seat, barely conscious.
Mr. Yoo-Joon sitting beside him, holding his wrist to keep checking his pulse.
Mrs. Posh, in the front, calling ahead.
The city moved past them outside the windows.
But inside the car everything felt like it had shifted permanently.
Because now, it wasn't just about school.
It wasn't just about identity.
It was about a boy who had been bleeding quietly in the background…
while everyone else was busy fighting over the truth.