chapter 5

Year of 2013

"Ara! Over here!"

The crisp autumn air carried the excited chatter of students as Ara Jeon turned toward the voice calling her name. The school corridors bustled with energy, students rushing between classes, exchanging gossip, and preparing for club activities. The familiar scent of polished wooden floors and freshly printed papers filled the air.

She walked toward a small group of girls standing near the modeling classroom, adjusting the strap of her bag. Her long brown hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her signature warm smile never wavered, effortlessly drawing attention.

"Did I miss something?" she asked, her voice light, her presence naturally commanding respect.

"You missed the results," one of the girls said excitedly, practically bouncing in place. "As expected, you got first place again in the modeling assessment!"

Ara's eyes widened slightly before she let out a small laugh, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "Really? That's a relief. I was nervous about my walk during the evaluation."

"You? Nervous? As if!" another girl chimed in, shaking her head. "You're literally the best in this class. There's no way anyone could beat you."

From the other side of the room, a sharp, deliberate voice cut through the conversation.

"Don't act so surprised, Ara. We all know you were expecting it."

A hush fell over the group as they turned toward the source of the voice. Arianna Park stood near the lockers, her arms crossed, a subtle smirk on her lips. Her uniform was immaculate, her nails perfectly polished—a testament to her wealth and status. As the only daughter of the Park family, one of the richest and most influential families in the country, Arianna was used to getting what she wanted.

Except for this.

Ara turned to meet her gaze, her expression unreadable. She could feel the familiar tension crackling between them, an unspoken battle waged through glances and carefully chosen words.

"Hard work pays off, Arianna. I'm sure you did well too," Ara replied, her voice as smooth as ever.

Arianna let out a soft scoff, stepping away from the lockers. "Of course, I did. But second place doesn't mean much when you're always in first." Her tone was light, but there was an edge beneath it, a frustration that had built up over the years.

They had been rivals since middle school—both exceptionally skilled in modeling visuals, both ambitious, both unwilling to back down. While Ara had a natural, effortless charm that made her stand out, Arianna was sharp, polished, and meticulously trained. Their competition had pushed them to greater heights, but it had also created an unspoken rift.

"Maybe next time, then," Ara said lightly, her smile unwavering.

Arianna's expression didn't change, but her grip on her designer school bag tightened ever so slightly.

Just then, their instructor entered the room, breaking the moment. "Alright, everyone, take your seats. Today, we'll be reviewing your posture analysis and movement scores."

Ara and Arianna exchanged one last glance before moving to their spots. Despite their rivalry, they both knew one thing—this competition wasn't over.

At least, that's what everyone thought.

---

A Few Months Later

The school felt different.

At first, no one knew why. They noticed the absence, but they didn't question it. Ara Jeon, the girl who always walked the halls with a quiet confidence, the girl who was always at the top, had simply disappeared.

Whispers replaced her presence.

"Did you hear? Something happened to her..."

"I think she was forced to drop out."

"No way—she wouldn't just leave."

"I heard she was a victim of something horrible..."

Some students pitied her. Some were genuinely worried. But a few—especially those who had envied Ara's success—felt a cruel sense of satisfaction.

Arianna heard it all.

Sitting in the front row of her class, she remained quiet as the murmurs of her classmates reached her ears. Normally, she wouldn't have cared about school gossip. But this time, it was different.

Ara Jeon was gone.

It should have felt like a victory. She had spent years competing with Ara, working harder and harder to surpass her. She had dreamed of the day she would finally take first place without Ara standing in her way.

But now that it had happened, it didn't feel like a win. It felt empty.

She never wanted to succeed like this.

At lunch, as she walked past the modeling classroom, she found herself glancing inside. The seat where Ara used to sit was empty.

For the first time, Arianna wondered—what had really happened to Ara Jeon?

And why did it bother her so much?