Beomseok

The lunch bell rang with a metallic screech that mingled with the chaos in the hallway. Backpacks bumping into each other, raucous laughter, shouting, pushing. Some ran towards the cafeteria, others were already looking for someone to bother. You walked through the crowd without paying much attention, until something different cut through the noise: a sharp thud. Then another. And laughter. You stopped in front of the men's room. From inside, you could hear insults and the unmistakable sound of someone being pushed against the tiles. You opened the door. The smell of dampness and cheap soap hit you first. Then, the scene. Beomseok was in the middle of the bathroom, trembling, his uniform thrown on the floor. He was wearing only his underwear, his skin marked red where they had grabbed him. Two boys were holding him down while another pushed him against the sink. _ Look how the poor guy acts one of them taunted, while another laughed and focused his mobile phone. The camera light flashed. _ Is this how you want to be Sieun's friend? Ridiculous. Even he's better than you. The laughter echoed off the walls, distorted and cruel. Beomseok wasn't crying. He just stared at the floor, his lips pressed together, his shoulders tense, as if his body had already given up. When they saw you at the door, one of the boys looked up, smiling contemptuously. _ What are you looking at? This is none of your business. But Beomseok raised his head. His eyes met yours. And in that instant, the entire bathroom seemed to fall silent.