Baek Ha-rin

Suhyeon had only been at the school for a few days, so she had no idea what was really going on around her. She didn't know what the categories meant, why students were constantly checking their phones, or why certain people were treated differently. After the voting that day, she found out that she had been placed in the F category. At first, she thought it was nothing more than a stupid ranking. She didn't realize that it was the beginning of her worst days at school.

Baek Harin was the exact opposite of what Suhyeon had expected. She was the school's most popular girl, always surrounded by friends and known for her kindness. Teachers praised her grades, students trusted her, and she never seemed to lose that gentle smile. Even with Suhyeon, she had acted helpful from the very beginning. She had shown her around, explained a few things, and offered to help whenever she looked lost. Suhyeon had believed her without questioning it.

Until she became an F.

After that, Harin's kindness slowly revealed itself for what it had always been—a carefully maintained act. She still smiled. She still spoke softly. She still looked like the same sweet girl everyone admired. But whenever they were alone, there was something entirely different behind her eyes.

That afternoon, Harin called Suhyeon to the back of the school. By then, Suhyeon had stopped asking questions whenever Harin told her to follow. She walked behind her until they reached the quiet corner of the courtyard, where Harin calmly took a seat on a chair.

Suhyeon was left kneeling in front of her.

Before she could even ask what was happening, Harin pulled a brand-new red lipstick from her bag. She uncapped it with an almost cheerful expression and leaned closer. The lipstick touched Suhyeon's cheek, leaving behind a single, unmistakable F.

Harin leaned back to admire her work, a small smile still resting on her lips.

"What do you think of the color?" she asked softly. "Are you happy with it?"