Famous Girl?

As Hana walked down the corridor, she noticed that the way people were looking at her had changed. They were still looking at her, but this time, their gazes were not filled with gossip, but with curiosity.

At the end of the hallway, she saw Eunbi and Sera. Eunbi had a slight smile on her face.

"Good morning, famous girl."

Hana furrowed her brows.

"What?"

Sera giggled.

"News travels fast. Yesterday, everyone found out about Hyejin's lies. Aerin completely cut ties with her."

Hana was surprised.

"How do you know this?"

Eunbi shrugged.

"You know how news spreads at school... Someone saw Hyejin arguing with Aerin. And suddenly, everyone knew. But the most important thing is... Minji found out too."

Hana paused for a moment.

"Minji... what did she do?"

Sera rolled her eyes.

"There wasn't a big scene, but she said she didn't want to see Hyejin around anymore. Hyejin's social circle collapsed overnight."

Hana took a deep breath. The situation had finally come to an end.

However, without realizing it, Hana had become much more well-known at school. People now saw her not as "just the quiet girl," but as "the one who was wronged but eventually proved right."

After these events, while Hana was sitting alone in the school yard, Aerin suddenly approached her. Slowly and carefully, Aerin walked over, looking at Hana's uneasy face, and took a deep breath.

"Aerin," she said, her voice shy but sincere. "I need to tell you something. What I said the other day... it was all wrong. I'm really sorry. There was no reason for Hyejin to target you. I said it knowing you didn't deserve it."

Hana noticed the sincerity in Aerin's eyes. She stayed silent for a long time, feeling the awkwardness between them. But Aerin's posture, the regret in her voice, spoke louder than everything else.

"As much as I didn't want to hear it, I needed to," Hana said. "But let me tell you from the start... you shouldn't judge people like this."

Aerin lowered her head and shook it from side to side. "You're right. I just, under Hyejin's influence, acted like that towards you. You had no fault, but I... misunderstood you."

Hana took a deep breath and nodded. "It's not too late to apologize. But you need to be more careful from now on."

Just then, Hyunwoo came over to them. He quietly sat down next to Hana, watching Aerin being so close to her for a moment but saying nothing. Instead, he opened his water bottle and began drinking comfortably.

"Were you waiting for me?" he asked.

Aerin glanced at Hyunwoo lightly but then smiled. "You came just in time, Hyunwoo. Otherwise, Hana would have been a little more embarrassed."

Hyunwoo turned to Hana and looked into her eyes with a meaningful smile that wasn't mocking. "Embarrassing Hana? Doesn't sound like a good idea."

Aerin tilted her head slightly. "Oh really? Should we ask you?"

It was clear Hyunwoo wasn't taking her comment seriously, but the way he sat next to Hana so naturally and diffused the situation made Hana feel a little safer.

At that moment, Hana inwardly realized that when Hyunwoo was around, everything felt much clearer. The sense of security right beside her eased her tension. Aerin's behavior had confused her, but Hyunwoo's presence balanced everything out.