The hallway was quiet.
Too quiet.
Jisoo stood frozen.
In front of her—
Her parents.
Her mother's eyes were sharp.
"So this is where you've been."
Jisoo's heart started racing.
"…Mom… Dad…"
Her father looked around with disappointment.
"Working in cafés… embarrassing us like this?"
Jisoo's hands trembled.
"I was just trying to manage—"
"Manage?" her mother cut her off.
"By lowering our name?"
Students slowly gathered.
Watching.
Whispering.
Jisoo felt her chest tighten.
Not again…
Not here…
From the side—
Tang Lin appeared.
A slow smile on her face.
"Aunty, Uncle…" she greeted politely.
Jisoo's eyes widened.
Tang Lin continued sweetly—
"I tried to help her… but she never listens."
Jisoo looked at her.
Shock. Anger.
Her mother sighed.
"Look at Tang Lin."
"Perfect. Respectful. Successful."
Those words again.
"Why can't you be like her?" her father said.
Jisoo's vision blurred.
"I'm trying…" she whispered.
But no one listened.
"You ran away from home," her mother said.
"Do you know how shameful that is?"
Jisoo's voice broke.
"I ran because no one understood me!"
Gasps around them.
"Don't raise your voice," her father said strictly.
At that moment—
"Enough."
Minji stepped forward.
"You can't talk to her like this," she said.
Jisoo looked at her, shocked.
Her mother frowned.
"And who are you?"
"I'm her friend," Minji said firmly.
Before things could go further—
Kevin arrived.
His eyes immediately went to Jisoo.
"She's not alone," he said calmly.
Jisoo's father looked at him.
"And you are?"
Kevin didn't hesitate.
"Someone who respects her."
Silence.
Tang Lin watched everything.
Enjoying it.
Jisoo's mother shook her head.
"Respect?"
"She doesn't even respect her own family."
That broke something inside Jisoo.
"I respected you!" she cried.
"But you never respected me!"
Tears fell.
"You only compared me… judged me…"
"I was never enough for you!"
The hallway went silent.
Her parents didn't reply.
That silence said everything.
Jisoo wiped her tears.
"…I'm done trying to prove myself."
She turned.
And walked away.
Minji followed her quickly.
Kevin stayed for a second.
Looking at her parents.
"…You lost someone important," he said quietly.
Then he left.
Tang Lin stood there.
Smile gone.
👉 For the first time—
Jisoo didn't run.
She walked away.