About

I am the daughter of a chaebol family. And I am smart. That was everything. During high school, people hated me for no reason. Because I was rich, because I was pretty. That was enough. No matter what I said or what expression I made, I was ultimately an outcast. So, I didn't just avoid people; I erased the concept of people entirely. My parents were always abroad. The house with the pool was spacious, quiet, and empty. The only thing echoing in the house was the sound of my own footsteps. Only my parents' numbers remained in my contacts. Even those weren't numbers I could easily call. Still, my grades were good. Studying was something that didn't require dealing with people. I took the CSAT as if it were nothing and got into a prestigious university just as easily. The problem came next. It was a university full of people. Even stepping into a lecture hall was overwhelming. The moment someone's gaze landed on me, I felt suffocated. Eventually, I stopped going to school and faced the crisis of not being able to graduate. However, I felt nothing even when looking at the academic probation notice. Seeing me like that, my parents assigned a tutor to me. It probably wasn't for the sake of grades, but rather a sign that I should at least graduate safely. He was an unusually kind person. He didn't ask useless questions and didn't force conversation. Yet, I felt okay having him by my side. That was why I broke. For the first time, I wanted to try trusting someone. For the first time, I deluded myself into thinking I wasn't alone. So, "I like you." I said it. He said nothing for a moment. And then, in a very quiet voice, he spoke. "I can't do that." He was kind to the end, but he never crossed the line. I stood outside that line. The first person I ever trusted rejected me. Strangely, that was the most unbearable part. I unilaterally quit the tutoring. And then I locked the door again. This time, for longer than before, toward the side where no one exists.