─── chapter one.
❛ BLACK ROSES ❜

SUMMER OF 2004

Eun-Ji sat on the bathroom counter, her eyes downcast as the person responsible for her bruises gently applied ointment. "Eun-Ji, I'm sorry. Please forgive me; I was just angry." Yeon-Jin's voice wavered with false sincerity. Eun-Ji lifted her gaze, meeting her friend's eyes, while Sa-Ra and Hye-Jeong stood behind Yeon-Jin, more interested in their phones than the damage inflicted on their friend.

"It's okay," Eun-Ji mumbled softly. "But I only did it because you can't treat Dong-Eun like that." Then, with a weak smile, she added, "I forgive you."

Yeon-Jin's face brightened at the words she had grown to expect. "I'm glad. I promise I'll leave Dong-Eun alone from now on." The reassurance eased Eun-Ji, but unbeknownst to her, the words were pure lies.

"You should get to class before you're late," Yeon-Jin urged.

Eun-Ji nodded, hopping off the counter and heading to her class. As the door closed behind her, Yeon-Jin turned to her friends with a smirk. "One of you text the group chat and tell Jae-Jun to distract her."

"What if she doesn't listen to him and finds us? She won't forgive us then," Hye-Jeong worried, her voice anxious.

"Yah! Don't be stupid. Eun-Ji will always forgive us. Why? Because she's naive. She's got so much forgiveness, it'll never run out," Yeon-Jin laughed. "Besides, Jae-Jun's got her wrapped around his finger. He'd run to her even if he was bored to death. And if she gets in the way again, we'll punish her, but not too much—we don't want to ruin her pretty skin."

Hye-Jeong hesitated, but ultimately turned a blind eye to the cruelty, knowing Eun-Ji's kindness would shield them once again.

Meanwhile, in class, Eun-Ji rested her head in her hand, lost in thought. A soft nudge at her foot made her turn around, finding Dong-Eun, her eyes filled with tears.

"I... I'm sorry, Eun-Ji. I didn't mean for you to get hurt," Dong-Eun stammered, guilt weighing heavy in her voice.

"Don't worry about it. They shouldn't be doing this to you in the first place," Eun-Ji said softly, her heart aching as she looked at the bruises marring her friend's face. "Now look at you, your cute chubby cheeks all bruised."

Dong-Eun blushed at Eun-Ji's words, hiding behind her bangs. "You can turn around now," she whispered shyly.

Eun-Ji smiled warmly at her friend's reaction before turning her attention back to the teacher, while Dong-Eun silently questioned why Eun-Ji put herself at risk for her. She wondered why Eun-Ji allowed herself to be hurt over and over again, forgiving them every time. The thoughts swirled in her mind so much that she barely noticed the bell signaling the end of class.

As they packed up, Dong-Eun noticed Jae-Jun standing at the door, smirking. "Eun-Ji, let's go to the library. I need help studying."

"But... I was going to hang out with Dong-Eun," Eun-Ji hesitated.

Jae-Jun sighed dramatically. "I'm sure Dong-Eun won't mind. Besides, I really need help with English."

Eun-Ji turned to Dong-Eun, seeking permission with a pleading look, like a child asking to go play at a friend's house. "Go ahead," Dong-Eun said quietly.

Eun-Ji hugged her quickly and grabbed her things. Before she left with Jae-Jun, she pulled out a small black rose keychain and handed it to Dong-Eun. Dong-Eun stared at it in confusion while Jae-Jun impatiently waited.

"Remember when I went to the States with my parents over winter break? I saw this and thought it suited you. Sorry if it's not your favorite color, but I thought it was cute," Eun-Ji explained with a hopeful smile.

A faint smile touched Dong-Eun's lips despite her busted lip. "Thank you, Eun-Ji. I'll put it on my bag when I get home."

Eun-Ji beamed, jumping happily at her words. "Okay! Bye, Dong-Eun!"

As Eun-Ji left with Jae-Jun, Dong-Eun stared at the keychain in her hand, a single black rose. I feel like you're trying to tell me something, she thought.

She recalled a conversation they'd had before, when she first saw a black rose in a vase in Eun-Ji's room. "Why do you like black roses so much?" Dong-Eun had asked curiously.

Eun-Ji had paused, thinking carefully before answering, "There are different meanings. One of them is that black roses represent death, danger, sorrow, and revenge. Sometimes, in a relationship, they can even mean obsession or unhappiness."

"That sounds sad... and a little scary," Dong-Eun had pouted, making Eun-Ji laugh at her reaction.

"Yeah, it kind of is. But some people just like the way they look."

Dong-Eun stared at the keychain again, the memory still fresh. Revenge... that was one of the meanings.

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