"Second place, again?"

Soo Ah felt a sharp stinging as the hand came across her left cheek. She held in her wimpers as she looked into her mother's scornful face. 

"Don't make such careless mistakes again. You could have been first place."

Soo Ah had heard those words so many times, she could almost recite them. She never really thought much of first place, but her mother had thought otherwise. But no matter how much she wanted to speak, the words would never come out.

"Yes, mother."

Soo Ah hated herself. She hated how she was never smart enough. She was never able to achieve first place, and became a disappointment to her mother. 

"No one ever cares about second place. Everyone only looks at first. If you're not first, no one will notice you."

As she sat in the empty room, Soo Ah was finally able to let out everything. She let the tears fall, silently. Seo Ha Joon had heard the whole conversation between Soo Ah and her mother. He had walked in the room after her mother left. He was now standing next to the crying girl, pitying her. Soo Ah had noticed that Ha Joon had been listening to the whole conversation. Despite knowing that, she let her tears continue to fall. She didn't care anymore. Ha Joon had already seen her like this so many times before, she didn't make much of his presence. 

"Kwon Soo Ah"

When she didn't answer, Ha Joon took out a neatly folded handkerchief and placed it in front of her. He stood there in silence for a couple seconds before speaking again.

"Stop crying, and go rest."

As Ha Joon was heading out of the room, Soo Ah lifted her eyes and gazed at the handkerchief he had placed in front of her. She took it into her trembling fingers, and thought back to what he had said. After a long moment of silence, Soo Ah washed herself up and headed back to the dorms. That night, she felt something that she had not felt in a while. It was almost scary how long it had been since she felt it. But she enjoyed every moment of it. She felt,

comfort.