[Han Sara]

How Lira and those other two stupid bitches think I'm a fool bewilders me. They think they can waltz around and destroy reputations for fun without caring for consequences a single bit. They only look out for themselves.

I can't stay quiet anymore. Not after they lied on Saeyi. Not after they made fun of Byeonghee. Their empire of shit and giggles has to stop. They have to understand people aren't puppets they can use for their own good.

When I pass by their table, she snorts at me. "What the fuck do you want, Han? Haven't you got stuff to do? Like, mind your business." Her defensive attitude makes me think she has deeper fish to fry. Her words are pure hypocrisy.

"Cut the crap, Lira. I know what you're up to. Dragging Saeyi to Hell and back wasn't enough, huh?" I cross my arms, but Lira is anything but intimidated. When she's with some minions, she feels stronger, almost unbeatable. She doesn't even have the courage to show up on her own.

"Who's your next target? Byeonghee? Saehyeon? Stop playing your games and be honest for once." I don't let her rebut me. She has to be quiet and listen for once. Same goes for her stupid friends, well, if they truly are.

Jiyeon and Jinhee, the two minions who are with her, don't say a word. They know that, when Lira argues with someone outside of her circle, they can barely sit still, stand pretty and nod. She hates the idea that any of them can outsmart her.

The point is, she herself is an idiot. Her attempt of dragging Saeyi to the pitfalls of Hell might have worked on the short to middle term. But who guarantees that Saeyi won't rise again to the top? She's a tough type and won't let herself be defined by a defeat, no matter how bad it is.

"Pay attention to your new little friend, Sara. He has something to hide." Lira snaps me back to reality in the worst way possible, by smearing Byeonghee. If she thinks it works, she's wrong.

"How do you know him? Stop making baseless assumptions. This is what turns others, including Saeyi, into outcasts." Despite my warning, Lira's anger rises to the highest possible level. She doesn't like the idea of me giving her what could be useful advice. It's her way or the highway.

"Excuse me? Who do you think you are? Do you think you can get bold like that simply because you're butthurt that I exposed another midge like you?" Her obsession with Saeyi is unhealthy at this point. If she keeps up with this shit, she'll never be at peace with herself.

"Another 'midge?' Do you hear yourself when you talk? Just because she isn't in your circle... Anyway, I heard everything. You'd better come clean and apologize properly to Saeyi." Even though I'm tempted to punch Lira's nose until it breaks, I keep my composure. I won't throw a tantrum. She'll be the one in trouble this way, not I.

Lira's voice is now louder than the roar of an engine. "Apologize for what? For telling the truth? For showing that idiot's true colors to the world? She'll never get out of the hole she dug herself into, Sara. Keep that in mind or you'll be next."

Fed up with her attitude, I snap at her. "Next at what? Be forced to hide because you decide you don't want me around again? You have other options, Lira, like moving schools if you truly don't like me or Saeyi."

"Why should I be the one leaving when the rest of the student body is grateful for what I did?" Jiyeon tries to intervene, but Lira shoots a poisonous glare at her to keep her quiet. Yeah. If anyone dares to question her toxic narrative, they'll be silenced with no mercy.

I won't let that happen to me, not after years of walking on eggshells because she wants to be a champion of so-called "justice" so badly.

"Grateful? For starting a hate bandwagon? Aren't you ashamed of yourself, Lira? Why are you lying so brazenly?" This exchange of opinions is slowly turning into a screaming match. Why neither of us has been kicked out yet may be a mystery to anyone who doesn't know this place.

Lira's aunt owns it and she won't even call her niece out when she goes overboard. So, no surprise. I hope that shrieking banshee stops and leaves me alone. Meanwhile, I have a dozen of phone cameras on me.

I expect Lira to have those people hand her their phone so that she can take the videos and twist them against me when they end up on social media. This is the same shit she pulled with Saeyi. If I let this happen again, the consequences will be even worse and she'll destroy anyone who gets on her path of "restoring justice."

"You'd better stay on your lane and not challenge me, Sara, or you'll end up worse than Saeyi, okay? Trust me, no-one will want you, not even your family."

Fed up with her hateful words, I slap her face twice. "Don't you dare bring my family up in your shit again!"

She retaliates, slapping me harder. "I told you to stay in your place!" My right cheek hurts so much that I start crying in pain. Jinhee and Jiyeon are too shocked to even think of mocking me. Instead, they back down until they're at a safe distance from Lira.

Several other customers start laughing. One of them even whispers under their breath. "That poor girl bit more than she could chew." I swear this is the last time I come to this bar. I thought I'd just have some time for myself, but now I'm swept in the drama.

When I'm about to hit rock bottom, here comes a helping hand in the moment I'd expect the least. Byeonghee, who is passing by, probably just to have a coffee, notices the commotion and asks me, "Are you okay, Sara? You look uncomfortable."

I try to dissimulate. "No, no, it's nothing serious." He, however, catches my lie and gives me a worried glance. He notices Lira in front of me, standing taller in her arrogance and cockiness, with her arms crossed.

She notices Byeonghee and tries to soften her glare and let her arms loose to fool him. She wears the fakest smile possible so that she can serve him some bullshit about disagreements between her and me. Fortunately, he see through her façade.

"If you have got any problems with Sara, then sort it out in a different manner. There's no need to be so loud." He doesn't need to raise his voice to let Lira know her attitude has to change.

She stomps her left feet. "You! Why don't you mind your business, New Guy?"

"I thought you'd learned my name. It's not like I moved yesterday. Jeong Byeonghee. Try remembering next time." Furious at being humbled by the transfer student, Lira calls the security on him and me.

Before the assigned agent comes and ushers us out, I raise my hands. "No, no, sir, we're already leaving. Right, Byeonghee?" He nods, but is distracted by Lira coming close to him and hissing at him. "Oh... Jeong Byeonghee. This name is familiar to me. Pay attention, dude. I'll watch you closely."

Byeonghee and I leave the bar without hesitation, promising we'll find a better place where to have coffee and sweet treats soon. Lira's latest threat, however, doesn't leave my mind. Does she already know him? Has she got some dirt on him?

No. I can't let her ruin everything. He's one of the truest friends I've ever had. If all she has is merely loyal lapdogs instead of actual friends, she only has herself to blame for it.