Minwoo sat at his desk, the classroom buzzing with the usual morning energy. Sunlight streamed through the windows, painting golden rectangles on the worn wooden floor. The air smelled faintly of chalk dust and old textbooks, mixed with the sharp tang of marker pens from the previous lesson. Students chatted in small groups, some laughing, others flipping through notebooks, while a few stared out the window, lost in thought.
The teacher hadn't arrived yet, so the room was alive with the sound of rustling pages, whispered jokes, and the occasional burst of laughter. Minwoo kept to himself, his gaze fixed on the distant sky, the clouds drifting slowly, the world outside moving on as if nothing had happened.
He thought about the darkness, the door, the star-like symbol.
It felt like a dream, but the memory was too sharp, too real.
He wondered if anyone else had ever felt this way — trapped between two worlds, one ordinary, one impossible.
At that moment, Minwoo felt a wave of drowsiness wash over him.
After a few moments, he drifted off to sleep.
He woke up when the class was over, and it was time for the break.
Minwoo sat up from his seat, blinking away the last traces of sleep.
He gathered his things and made his way to the cafeteria.
The cafeteria was crowded, filled with the sounds of students laughing, trays clattering, and the smell of food filling the air.
Minwoo walked to a quiet corner, found an empty table, and sat down.
No one approached him, and he didn't approach anyone.
People didn't even look at him.
This was Minwoo's high school life — a loner, always keeping his distance from everyone.
Minwoo picked at his lunch — a plate of dry chicken nuggets, a side of limp fries, and a small cup of pudding. The food wasn't good, but it was eatable. He chewed slowly, not tasting much, just filling the emptiness in his stomach. The cafeteria buzzed around him, students laughing, trays clattering, the smell of fried food and stale milk filling the air.
After finishing, Minwoo stood up and made his way back to class. The hallways were crowded, students chatting in groups, some standing together, others walking in pairs, laughing about something only they understood. He kept his head down, moving through the crowd like a shadow.
After a while, he saw three students approaching him. The one in the middle was a big, muscular kid — the kind of guy who looked like he spent every free moment in the gym. His hair was a strange shade of yellow, almost like a faded highlight, and his face had a certain… toad-like quality. Minwoo couldn't help but think, He looks like a toad that's been left out in the sun too long — all puffy cheeks and squinty eyes, like he's permanently judging the world from a swamp.
The bully stopped in front of Minwoo, his friends flanking him like bodyguards. He smirked, his voice loud and mocking.
"Well, well, look who's here. The ghost of the classroom."
Minwoo didn't respond. He just kept walking, but the bully's words followed him, echoing in the hallway.
Kang Young wasn't the biggest bully in the school, but he made up for it by targeting those he saw as weak—students like Minwoo, who never fought back. He had two followers, always trailing behind him like shadows, never far from his side. One of them stepped forward, blocking Minwoo's path.
"Hey, where are you going?" he sneered. "Did big bro give you permission to leave?"
Minwoo ignored him and tried to walk past, but Kang Young's voice cut through the hallway.
"Hey, Minwoo! Stop!"
Minwoo froze and turned around. Kang Young placed a heavy hand on his shoulder, his smile wide and fake, like a mask stretched too tight over his face.
"Minwoo, you know," he said, his voice dripping with false friendliness, "I forgot my wallet today. You get it, right? Just lend me some money. I promise I'll pay you back."
Minwoo stared at him, his mind racing. What an ugly smile. It's so fake, anyone can see he's lying. And his breath—smells like rotten fish. Why doesn't he stand farther away?
He was tense, nervous. He knew if he refused, Kang Young might make things worse. But he was also frustrated, disgusted by the bully's presence and the stench of his breath.
Minwoo forced a smile, just as fake as Kang Young's. "Uhh… I understand, Kang Young, but my wallet's in my bag right now."
Here is your Chapter 4 continuation, rewritten in the same natural, flowing style as previous chapters, with stronger word choice, correct grammar, and immersive atmosphere — while keeping your original voice and pacing.
Kang Young's grip tightened on Minwoo's shoulder, his voice dropping into something cold and unfriendly.
"No problem, Minwoo. If that's the case, why don't we follow you to class? Then you can lend it to me there."
Minwoo nodded, his jaw clenched. Kang Young's hand finally fell away, and Minwoo headed toward the classroom, the bully and his two followers trailing behind him like a shadow.
What an annoying toad, Minwoo thought, gritting his teeth. Well, no worries. I already knew this toad would come after me again, so I prepared an extra wallet—empty, just in case.
This wasn't the first time Kang Young had demanded money from Minwoo. Every time, he'd promise to return it, but he never did. When Minwoo asked for it back, Kang Young's expression would change instantly, as if he had no idea what Minwoo was talking about.
"Ahh… Minwoo, what money are you talking about?" he'd say, his voice dripping with fake innocence. "Aren't we friends? Don't worry, I'll return it someday. I just don't have it right now."
After a while, they entered the classroom. Minwoo opened his bag and handed the wallet to Kang Young. When Kang Young saw that the wallet was empty, he stared at Minwoo, his eyes narrowing. His voice dropped to a cold, dangerous tone.
"Minwoo, you know I don't like jokes. This wallet is empty."