Kai felt a strange sense of calm as he walked alongside Minseo. His thoughts were still tangled, and the weight of the Ledger’s presence in his bag hadn’t completely lifted, but for the first time, he felt like he wasn’t being swallowed by the darkness.

Minseo walked in silence for a moment, glancing at him occasionally, as if she wanted to say something but didn’t know how to start. Finally, she spoke, her voice soft and cautious. “You know… if you ever need someone to talk to, about anything, I’m serious. You don’t have to deal with it all by yourself.”

Kai nodded, appreciating her concern, but he wasn’t sure how much he wanted to share. “I appreciate that. I just… don’t want to be a burden.”

Minseo stopped in her tracks and looked at him, her eyes narrowing slightly in disbelief. “A burden? Kai, you’re not a burden. Why would you even think that?”

Kai shifted uncomfortably, not meeting her gaze. “I don’t know… I just don’t want to drag anyone else into my mess. It’s not fair.”

Minseo let out a quiet laugh, though there was no humor in it. “You think everyone’s life is neat and tidy? Everyone’s dealing with something. But just because we’re all struggling doesn’t mean we can’t be there for each other. That’s how it works, Kai.”

Kai rubbed the back of his neck, feeling a bit awkward. “I guess… I’m not used to people caring. Or even noticing.”

Minseo’s expression softened, and she took a step closer to him, lowering her voice. “I notice, Kai. I see the way you keep to yourself, the way you try to disappear into the background. And I’ve seen the way Jin and his friends treat you. It’s not right.”

Kai looked up at her, surprised by the intensity in her words. “You’ve been paying attention to me?”

Minseo shrugged, her cheeks flushing slightly. “I’m not as invisible as you think. People notice things, even if they don’t always say anything. And I don’t know, Kai, I just feel like… like you don’t deserve what’s happening to you. You didn’t do anything to deserve it.”

Kai swallowed, feeling a lump form in his throat. The sincerity in Minseo’s words hit him harder than he expected. “It doesn’t matter what I deserve. Life doesn’t work like that.”

She frowned, shaking her head. “Maybe not. But that doesn’t mean you just accept it. You don’t have to keep letting people like Jin treat you like dirt.”

Kai’s heart tightened, and he could feel the familiar bitterness rising again. “I’ve tried to stand up to him before. It only makes things worse.”

Minseo’s eyes flashed with something like frustration. “I’m not saying you have to fight him alone. There are other ways to deal with people like Jin. Have you talked to anyone about it? Like a teacher or a counselor?”

Kai let out a short, bitter laugh. “And what’s that going to do? They’ll talk to him, he’ll pretend to be sorry, and then he’ll come after me even harder. I’ve seen it happen before.”

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Minseo crossed her arms, clearly not satisfied with his answer. “So you’re just going to keep letting him win? You’re just going to let him walk all over you for the rest of high school?”

Kai’s jaw tightened, his frustration mixing with guilt. “It’s not that simple. You don’t understand what it’s like.”

“I don’t understand?” Minseo’s voice rose slightly, her calm demeanor cracking. “You think you’re the only one who’s been bullied? You think you’re the only one who’s felt powerless? I know exactly what it’s like, Kai. I’ve been where you are.”

Kai blinked, taken aback by her sudden intensity. “What are you talking about?”

Minseo sighed, running a hand through her hair as she looked away for a moment, gathering her thoughts. When she spoke again, her voice was softer, more vulnerable. “When I was younger, in middle school, there was this group of girls who used to torment me. They made fun of the way I looked, the way I talked, everything. It got so bad that I stopped eating lunch at school. I’d hide in the bathroom just so I wouldn’t have to deal with them.”

Kai stared at her, surprised. He had never imagined Minseo going through something like that. She always seemed so put together, so… untouchable.

“What happened?” he asked quietly.

Minseo shrugged, though the pain in her eyes was still evident. “One day, I just couldn’t take it anymore. I told my mom, and she made me go to the school counselor. At first, I didn’t want to—like you, I thought it would just make things worse. But the counselor didn’t just talk to the girls. She made sure I had support. She helped me get through it, and eventually, those girls moved on.”

Kai was quiet for a moment, absorbing her story. He hadn’t expected her to open up like this, and he could tell it wasn’t easy for her to talk about. “So… you think I should talk to someone? Like a counselor?”

Minseo nodded. “Yeah, I do. I know it feels hopeless right now, but there are people who can help you. You don’t have to face Jin on your own. And you shouldn’t have to.”

Kai looked down at his shoes, his mind racing. The idea of telling someone, of opening up about everything he was going through, felt terrifying. But Minseo’s words carried a weight that was hard to ignore. Maybe she was right. Maybe he didn’t have to do this alone.

“I’ll… think about it,” he said finally, his voice hesitant.

Minseo smiled, her eyes softening again. “That’s all I’m asking. Just think about it.”

They walked in silence for a few more minutes, the noise of the school fading into the background as Kai’s thoughts churned. He wasn’t sure what to do. Part of him still wanted to use the Ledger, to take matters into his own hands. But Minseo’s story had made him realize that maybe there was another way, a way that didn’t involve crossing a line he couldn’t come back from.

“Do you ever… regret standing up to those girls?” Kai asked suddenly, his voice quiet.

Minseo glanced at him, her expression thoughtful. “Sometimes, yeah. It wasn’t easy, and it didn’t fix everything overnight. But I don’t regret getting help. I don’t regret not letting them ruin my life. It was hard, but it was worth it.”

Kai nodded, though he still wasn’t sure if he was ready to follow her advice. He was scared—scared of what Jin might do, scared of what could happen if he didn’t use the Ledger’s power. But he was also scared of what he might become if he did use it.

They reached the front of the school, where the crowds of students were thinning out. Minseo stopped and turned to face him, her expression serious but kind.

“Kai, no matter what you decide to do, just know that you don’t have to face this alone. I’m here, okay?”

Kai looked at her, the sincerity in her voice wrapping around him like a lifeline. For the first time in a long time, he felt like someone saw him, really saw him, and cared about what happened to him.

“Thanks, Minseo,” he said quietly, his chest tight with emotion. “I mean it.”

Minseo smiled, and for a moment, the weight on Kai’s shoulders didn’t feel quite as heavy. He still didn’t know what he was going to do, but he knew he wasn’t as alone as he had always believed.

As they parted ways, Kai’s thoughts drifted back to the Ledger, still tucked away in his bag. He hadn’t made a decision yet, but for now, he wasn’t ready to write anyone’s name. Not yet.

And maybe, just maybe, that was enough for today.