Chapter 10
Chapter 10: Scars That Still Bleed
The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the school grounds as Y/N stepped out of her classroom. Her thoughts lingered on the lunch with Namjoon. His unexpected kindness had left her feeling lighter, as if, for a moment, the weight of the world had lessened. But that fleeting happiness was soon shattered.
As she walked through the corridors, she noticed a familiar figure leaning against a wall with a group of girls. It was her former friend, Hannah—the one she had once trusted wholeheartedly, only to discover she had been used and discarded like she was nothing. Hannah's eyes flickered to Y/N, her lips curling into a sneer.
"Oh, look who it is," Hannah said loudly, ensuring everyone nearby could hear. Her voice dripped with mockery. "Miss Lonely, finding new ways to cling to people. I saw you earlier, Y/N. A fancy car? Is that how you're spending your time now? Throwing yourself at men because you have nothing else going for you?"
Y/N froze, her heart sinking as she felt the eyes of Hannah's new friends turn toward her.
"That's right," one of the girls chimed in, laughing cruelly. "Maybe she thinks someone will actually care about her. But honestly, who would? She's so... average."
"Average? That's putting it nicely," Hannah said with a smirk. "No talent, no ambition, nothing special. Do you seriously think anyone important would want someone like you?"
Y/N clenched her fists, trying to steady her breathing. "Just leave me alone, Hannah," she said quietly, her voice trembling despite her efforts to sound strong.
"Oh, did I touch a nerve?" Hannah mocked, stepping closer. "Face it, Y/N, you're useless. No one cares about you, and no one ever will. You're just desperate for attention because you know deep down that you're not worth anything."
The words stung like knives, cutting through Y/N's already fragile defenses. She tried to walk away, but one of the girls blocked her path, forcing her to stand there as they continued their cruel taunts.
"She's pathetic," another girl said with a laugh. "I don't even know why you bother, Hannah. She's not worth the energy."
Y/N felt tears prickling at the corners of her eyes, but she refused to let them see her cry. "I'm done here," she managed to say, her voice breaking as she pushed past them and hurried out of the building.
She barely noticed the journey home, her mind clouded with the echoes of their words. By the time she reached her house, her resolve had crumbled entirely. The moment she closed the door behind her, the tears came in full force, streaming down her face as she sank to the floor.
She hugged her knees tightly, feeling the weight of everything pressing down on her. The betrayal, the cruelty, the loneliness—it was all too much. For years, she had tried to convince herself that survival was enough—that enduring the pain and pushing forward was all she needed to do. But now, in the quiet of her house, the strength she had tried so hard to hold onto felt like it was slipping away.
Y/N buried her face in her hands, her sobs filling the empty space around her. She felt small, broken, and utterly defeated. For the first time in a long while, she allowed herself to be vulnerable, to feel the depth of her hurt without trying to push it away.
In the midst of her tears, a single thought surfaced: Namjoon. She remembered the way he had looked at her, the way he had listened, the way he had made her feel seen and valued, even for just a short time. It wasn't much, but it was enough to spark a faint glimmer of hope—a reminder that maybe, just maybe, she wasn't as alone as she felt.
For now, though, Y/N let herself cry. She needed to let the pain out, to confront the scars of her past before she could find a way to heal.
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Dear Readers,
I want to take a moment to thank each and every one of you for reading my book. Knowing that my story has captured your attention, even for a little while, truly means the world to me. Your time and interest are gifts I deeply appreciate, and they motivate me to keep writing and sharing stories with you.
Now, let's talk about Namjoon—our brilliant, philosophical, occasionally clumsy leader. While we all know about his history with bicycles and furniture collisions, I couldn't resist letting him take the wheel in my book. Yes, Namjoon drives a car in my story! Let's just say I gave him a bit of an upgrade from his bicycle days. Though, if I'm being honest, I was half-expecting him to accidentally reverse into a tree at some point.
To my fellow ARMYs, especially the Namjoon stans: I hope my book brings a smile to your face and maybe even a moment where you feel a little closer to the RM we all admire. Whether it's his deep thoughts, his adorable quirks, or his undeniable charm, Namjoon has inspired so much of the warmth in my writing.
Thank you for giving my story a chance. Your support—just by reading—means everything. Here's to more stories, more laughs, and maybe even a few driving lessons along the way!
Warmest regards,
AUTHOR