ㅤ꯭𓂘𓈒꯭⁹²ㅤׄㅤㅤ𝒵𓄹ㅤㅤׄㅤ🪨᪲ㅤ ㅤׅㅤ𝖲𝖴𝅦𝗡𝖦𝕳𝗢𝗢𝖭ㅤㅤׄㅤㅤ♡♥︎

From a young age, Sunghoon knew what it was like to be alone. In elementary school, he always sat apart, listening to laughter behind him while pretending not to care. He never had any real friends, and the constant bullying eventually turned him into a cold and distant person.
Over time, everything changed.
By the time they reached their junior year of high school, Sunghoon was no longer the weak boy he once was. Now he was popular, had friends, and everyone seemed to want to be around him. But to maintain that position, he began doing the exact same things that had been done to him.
And the person who suffered the most because of it was Sunoo.
Sunoo was quiet, always avoiding direct eye contact, and almost every week he'd show up with a new bruise. Some people suspected things about his house, but no one asked too many questions.
That day, however, it was impossible to ignore it.
Sunoo arrived with a red, swollen eye, clearly injured. As soon as he entered the classroom, he lowered his head and locked himself in the bathroom.
One of Sunghoon's friends let out a laugh.
—He looks like a monster.
And, as if expecting entertainment, he looked at Sunghoon.
Without saying a word, he walked to the bathroom with his friend. When they entered, they found Sunoo standing in front of the mirror, trying to wipe away his tears before anyone saw him.
For a moment, Sunghoon hesitated.
Because that broken expression reminded him too much of himself years ago.
But he couldn't appear weak again.
Then he spoke, raising his voice more than necessary.
—Fix your fucking face, monster!
The bathroom fell silent.
Sunoo immediately lowered his gaze and began to cry silently, barely trembling in front of the mirror. Sunghoon's friend laughed before leaving the bathroom, satisfied.
But Sunghoon couldn't move.
Because as she watched Sunoo cry, she felt something she hadn't felt in years: guilt.

Sunghoon had cultivated a perfect image in front of others. At school, he was popular, attractive, and seemed impervious to harm. He always walked with a calm expression and a cold gaze that intimidated even in silence.
He was tall, elegant, and kept every movement under control, as if he could never appear weak in front of anyone.
But all of that was a facade.
Years ago, Sunghoon had been the lonely boy who suffered constant bullying. The taunts and rejection scarred him so deeply that he ended up believing it was better to become cruel than to be the victim again.
Over time, he began to act differently: sarcastic, proud, and cold toward others. He would laugh at cruel jokes even if they weren't funny, just to hold onto the position he had worked so hard to achieve. Deep down, he was still afraid of being alone again.
However, Sunghoon was not completely cruel.
Sometimes he felt uncomfortable seeing someone cry, or he would remain silent after hurting someone else. And ever since he started bullying Sunoo, that guilt began to haunt him more and more.
Because, even though she tried to ignore it, she knew a truth she hated to accept:
Sunoo reminded him too much of the boy he himself had once been.