Marie Kim (Arc)

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WE ARE VERY SORRY BUT THIS PAGE IS A WORK IN PROGRESS!

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## Chapter Guide

### (1)

We see a 4th grade Marie getting a call from her grandmother about her parents' divorce. Her grandmother tells her that she is a big girl and should take her mother's place in cooking, cleaning, and taking care of her father and brother. The chapter cuts to Haejoon taking out the trash while some boys gossip about him. Haejoon sees that Juwan is waiting for him so they can go home together. They talk about an open spot in the girl's dorm and the chapter cuts to a highschool Marie. She talks to someone who's roommate is leaving soon and is very excited. On the way home, she calls her auntie and tells her that she might be able to get into the dorm once she has her father's permission. Once home she makes dinner and waits at the table for her father and big brother.

### (2)

Marie's brother arrives home and they eat dinner together. Afterwords Marie watches her brother play a game and he asks her to bring some food. He gets upset that she doesn't bring the dish with meat and she tells him he can have it once their father gets home. He questions whether she wants to say something to him and she tells him about the dorm opening. Their father comes home so Marie tells him about the opening and tries to convince him to let her go but he appears unflinching. Marie's brother asks whether she went to the school just for the dorms and Marie tells him that she joined for the Journalism Club but he isn't convinced. Her father comments that she didn't seem to be trying that hard in the club and Marie says that was only because she was a first year. After dinner Marie's brother approaches their father, telling him that he thinks she only wants to go to the dorm to play around with her friends and that she doesn't need to go. Her father agrees and Marie who's been listening in curses her brother internally and is very distraught that her father won't let her go. Marie decides to put out a really good article for her club so it'll seem like she's working hard.

The chapter cuts to Haejoon taking out the trash again where a boy bumps into him. Juwan messages Haejoon asking if he's done and Haejoon replies yes. The boy who bumped into Haejoon is dragged by some bullies to a cove and beaten up, and Haejoon passes by and sees them.

### (3)

Haejoon walks away but comes back and asks to be lent some money to go to karaoke. He corners the bully saying it'll be fun for both of them even though he's the only one paying. The bullies attempt to beat Haejoon up but he completely overpowers them. Haejoon tries to give Dongju, some money but the main bully tells him to not dare take the money. Marie takes a photo of the situation and runs away, thinking to herself that a bully is huge scoop. On the way home Haejoon tells Juwan what happened and he asks if Haejoon saw who took the photo. Haejoon says no and they talk a bit more about the situation. The next day on the Hansol News Board theres a News Letter depicting Haejoon as an offender and Dongju as a victim.

### (4)

Haejoon's homeroom teacher confronts him about the situation and Haejoon asks him to call Dongju but the teacher says he already has, and everyone in the photo on the news letter says Haejoon was the one who stole the money. After returning to the classroom, his classmates gossip and whisper about Haejoon. Juwan calls him out of class to Haejoon's implied joy and Juwan asks again that Haejoon wasn't the perpetrator in that situation. Haejoon is shocked and upset, he asks Juwan if he only came to see whether Haejoon really stole the money. Juwan stutters and Haejoon asks if he thinks Haejoon is going to beat him up too. Juwan apologizes and Haejoon's classmates gossip even more about him.

Haejoon thinks about his mother telling him that everyone faces hurdles in life. Those hurdles are divided between ones you can get over and ones you can't. There will be a lot of ones you can before you come across one that you can't. When Haejoon's mom was in highschool her father got involved in a bad debt garuntee, and after that her life was filled with hurdles. Haejoon wonders if the start of his hurdles was the day his mother passed away.

Haejoon worries about this going on his permanent record and his ability to get into a good college with it. He thinks that with his financial situation an average college won't be enough. Haejoon remarks that he's always tried his hardest to be good but no one believes him.

We then cut to Eunyung playing a game and dying in it.

### (5)

Haejoon arrives home and Eunyung asks why he's back so late and if he's had dinner yet. Haejoon replies that he's not hungry. Eunyung comments that he heard someone was extorting money in school, and whoever was must have been an idiot to do it in school because unless they went overboard or nobody defended them, then the school would let admin take care of it. When he was in middle school, the offender's parents were on their knees apologizing. Haejoon appears very distraught at which point Eunyung looks up and is shocked. Later when Juwan comes home Eunyung regrets what he said and wonders how Haejoon could get caught up in this. Juwan asks Eunyung if he's sure Haejoon didn't do it and Eunyung says that he definitely wouldn't do that. Eunyung tells Juwan that Haejoon was most likely helping the victim and got stabbed in the back. He wants to find the victim because "Who else is going to help him". He brings up that Haejoon doesn't know anyone at school and he's an orphan as well. Juwan tells Eunyung about what he said and Eunyung says "Why don't you call him a delinquent bitch while you're at it?" Juwan replies that he's too scared of Haejoon to do that.

Eunyung visits Haejoon in his room and finds him studying. Eunyung tells Haejoon that they can talk about whatever and Haejoon says that it feels like when he lived in his old neighbourhood.

>
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> "Back then... When someone threw the trash away in the wrong spot or if something smelled bad, they doubted our house first. They doubted me and my mom first. Since my mom never really interacted witht the neighbours, was a little different from the others, stood out a lot, and was seen as a weird person... Whenever our neighbours were mad they doubted our house first. Nobody believed us when we denied their claims. This reminds me of back then."
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> "... This is so depressing..."
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### (6)

Eunyung takes Dongju to a different room and confronts Dongju about he article. He tells Dongju that he saw everything and asks whether he should go to the teachers about it. We cut to Juwan talking with Marie who says that she had no idea Haejoon wasn't the one extorting money and that she wrote the article after interviewing Dongju. She confesses that Dongju didn't want the article written in the first place bu she did it anyways because it was a huge scoop and because she didn't want to ignore school violence. The two argue a bit more and Marie appears distraught because she's already made a big deal of this. Eunyung comes in the room with an audio recording of his conversation with Dongju, where he confessed that Haejoon helped him. Marie listens to the recording some more where Dongju expresses his fear of the bullies.

### (7)

Marie listens more and says she accidentaly deletes the recording. Eunyung gets mad at her and Marie manages to make an excuse and run off. She convinces herself that she's done the right thing and decides to visit Dongju first.

We cut to Eunyung and Juwan talking to Dongju and him begging not to make the situation even bigger, and that he'll take it to the teachers and ask them to cover it up. Marie interupts and says she'll talk to Dongju herself. Marie asks if they really blamed this all on a good person and Dongju has an outburst about he rumors surrounding Haejoon and says that he must also be a bully. Eunyung tells him that Haejoon would never do that. The two have a small argument where Eunyung wins with the reasoning that even if Haejoon was bad somewhere else, he shouldn't be treated like that by Dongju who he helped.

Eunyung tells Dongju that he has one day to talk to the teachers or he'll be the one making Donju's life a living hell. Juwan thinks to himself that Eunyung is acting like a delinquent. Dongju turns to Marie and begins to blame her.

### (8)

Marie calls her aunt on the way walking home and cries telling her that she made a big mistake. After getting home, Marie takes care of the chores and then plays some games with her brother while they get chicken. Marie's brother asks if Marie is pretending to be busy and she lashes out at him but immediately regrets it. She tries diverting the conversation but he keeps poking at her and she lashes out again. Marie's brother gets angry at her but Marie tries to talk back.

The chapter skips to Marie's father getting home where we see Marie crying at the table next to her brother. Their father says that he's tired from work they shouldn't make problems, causing Marie to run to her room and slam the door. Her father gets angry at her and forces her to keep the door open. Her brother walks in and Marie tries to act amicable while internally cursing him.

### (9)

The family is having dinner when Marie's father brings up that her first article should have been published. Marie makes excuses saying that she made a lot of mistakes on it so it's not good enough to show, prompting her father to ask if she's really that busy. Marie lights up at this and goes on a rant about how busy she is with the club.

We see a fantasy of what Marie imagines her dorm life will be like before we cut to Eunyung and Juwan asking about Dongju. They decide to make Haejoon stay home somehow. Haejoon gets a call from his uncle, who presumably asks whether Haejoon really did it. Haejoon denies it and talks a bit more before cutting the call.

Haejoon's classmates change for PE while Haejoon sleeps at his desk because he's feeling unwell. He sees a boy putting some money in a locker and comments to himself that he doesn't care about the boy's money. Haejoon dreams about his mother, and asks how she got over her hurdles. His mother says that she just kept enduring and that it got a lot easier after Haejoon was born. Haejoon wakes up to the boy commenting that he can't find his money.

### (10)

His classmates ask him whether Haejoon saw anyone come in, and Haejoon responds that he's been sleeping the whole time. They gossip a bit and Haejoon tells them to say it to his face. The boy asks to see Haejoon's bag and he says that he doesn't care about the boy's money but the boy insists. Haejoon angrily gives them the bag and it's shown that the money isn't there or in his locker. The classmates wonder if the money is in Haejoon's pockets. Although very upset, he stands up and asks them to search him.

Later on, the homeroom teacher asks about the money and after no one comes up, he searches their bags. Finding nothing, the teacher calls Haejoon up to the front of the class and searches him.

We cut to Eunyung chatting with Dongju's bullies, as they confess to everything that's been happening.

### (11)

Haejoon's homeroom teacher confronts Haejoon about the missing money, and insists that Haejoon should admit. We see Haejoon later, looking depressed, he remarks that it's his fault as well because he hit the bullies. After staying at school for a while he thinks to himself that he should go back, but wonders where to while thinking of his mother. Reminding himself about the house, he leaves.

We cut to Marie showing her father a fake article that she spent all night making and him being impressed. They have a short conversation in which Marie's father finally asks when they have to submit the application by, to Marie's joy. She gets very excited but upon thinking of Haejoon, it diminishes.

Marie's aunt congratulates her over a cafe outing but Marie looks glum so her aunt asks what happened. Marie tells her that she made a mistake in her club and caused some problems, and her aunt tells her not to worry and that everyone makes mistakes at the start. Her aunt then diverts the conversation to Marie's brother, asking what he's been up to and whether the two are getting along.

Marie arrives back home and is upset to find that her brother ate Ramyun and didn't even let the dishes soak, but she washes them anyway. While washing she remarks that their father let her go to the dorms, and her brother gets extremely upset, asking what they'll do without her. Marie says that he only wants her there to do housework and that he'll be an adult next year so he should learn to take care of himself.

### (12)

The chapter starts with a flashback of Marie's father telling Marie and her brother that they'll both be punished if they fight, with Marie's brother being punished more even if Marie's the one who does something wrong.

We return to the present where Marie's father comes home to see Marie with a red eye in front of her brother. Their father asks if they were fighting and Marie strongly denies it. We then cut to Marie's aunt asking about her red eye. She tries to play it off as something light but her aunt is seriously worried. She asks about Kiyung hitting Marie and Marie keeps trying to play it off.

"... Is Kiyung still hitting you?"

"Ah~ It's not that serious. You know how pissy he is when he get's mad. Because he's insane~ That annoying piece of shit~ His temper is terrible."

Her aunt asks if she's told their father and Marie freaks out at this, saying that it's really not a big deal and her aunt shouldn't be so worried. But her aunt tells her that it's assault and she should go to the hospital. Marie tells her that she'll be going to the dorms soon and it was partly her fault anyway. Her aunt is still upset but keeps quiet

We cut to Kiyung meeting Marie's aunt and getting extremely upset that Marie "said all that", and he even curces loudly, startling some other customers. His aunt tells her not to misunderstand and that she was the one who asked, Marie didn't tell her anything. She questions him some more, asking wether since she thinks Kiyung is at fault, she can hit him. Kiyung responds asking "Even if I'm stronger than you?"

We see Kiyung coming home and seeing Marie, before we cut to her crying to her aunt that she shouldn't have talked to Kiyung and that her life is a mess now. Marie's aunt apologizes and says she should've gone to their dad instead, and Marie freaks out at that even more, saying "Then I really won't be able to go to the dorms! He'll make me stay at home to get along with Kiyung!" Marie cries some more and tells her aunt that it's all her fault and Marie hates her.

Right at the end, we see Haejoon studying in his room. He remembers the events of the day before getting interupted by someone asking what he's doing.

### (13)

We see that the person who interupted Haejoon is Eunyung. He asks what Haejoon is doing and Haejoon responds saying that he's studying.

"Wow~ You can study at a time like this?"

"Not really, but... I'm just doing it."

"Why?"

"Well... If I can't even do this, then..."

"Then? Then what?"

Haejoon stays silent for a moment before commenting that Eunyung is coming to his room a lot these days, and asking whether he's worried or something. They both stay silent and stare at each other for a few moments before Haejoon begins feeling awkward and responds to Eunyung's earlier question, telling him that if he can't even get good grades then the teachers and other students will treat him even worse, so studying is the only this he really can do right now. To this answer, Eunyung jumps on the bed and says that he gets it now. Haejoon asks what Eunyung is doing and he responds saying that he's playing games. Haejoon tells him to play in his own room but Eunyung says that he won't be loud. However after a little while Haejoon shouts that it's very loud and Eunyung tells him to just take it easy.

The next morning we see that Eunyung has placed furniture in front of Haejoon's door so that he can't go to school. Juwan says that he thought Eunyung was joking, and comments that he's "oddly hard working in the most random things". Eunyung says that Dongju will probably be taking the day off school as well but he is interupted by Haejoon shouting.

"I SAID, OPEN THE DOOR! CLASSES ARE GOING TO START SOON AND I CAN'T AFFORD TO MISS IT"

"Hey, how can you study in a situation like this?"

"OPEN THE DOOR! I'M GONNA BE LATE!"

"Hey, Haejoon, calm down. The door's gonna break!"

"It's fine. This place has a lot of rooms."

"Hey... Let's just open the door."

"Hey, Haejoon! Would it kill you to miss one day? Just stay in your room until this is all over. Juwan said he's going to fix everything."

"Huh? What? I will? ...Yeah! I'll do it!"

"...You guys. Do you think I'm extremely depressed and shocked or something? Eunyung, I told you this sort of thing happened to me a lot since I was little. People looking down on me because I'm weak and alone. I've met plenty of people like that both in and out of school. I'm used to it by now. I've done everyhing I could. I've told the truh to the teacher, and haven't gone anywhere near Donju. Now I just have to wait for the results. I'm just going to do what I've always been doing. I've done this my whole life. I don't mind anymore. It's just a passing event."

After this Haejoon becomes quite distressed, providing that he wouldn't have anything left over if he were to fail his tests. To this, Juwan feels very bad and lets him go.

We then cut to Marie messaging Dongju with no reply. She complains to Juwan about it and Juwan seems mad at her, so she asks why. Juwan tells her that she's only worried about Dongju, and she should go see what Haejoon is like right now. Marie goes, and sees several people gossiping about him. Marie flashbacks to Juwan commenting that Haejoon doesn't have any friends and doesn't have anyone to stand up for him. He says that while it might have only been a few days for Marie and Dongju, every second must be a living hell for Haejoon. She looks incredibly distraught as Juwan's words, "Right now, both you and Dongju are offenders", plays in her head. Marie walks away, very upset.

Walking home, Marie sees her aunt and father talking. She becomes worried that her aunt will be complaining and that'll mess up the home atmosphere. Marie's aunt asks whether Marie's father knows that Kiyung is still hitting her. Marie is upset at this, thinking to herself that her aunt promised not to tell and now the whole house is going to suffer. The chapter ends with Marie's father saying "...Well, what do you expect me to do? I'm at work all day.

### (14)

Continuing from his previous statement, Marie's dad says that kids fight and adults shouldn't get involved. Marie's aunt says she knew it, that Marie's dad was aware of the beatings and pretended not to be. He continues to make excuses, bringing up how Marie's aunt and dad would fight as children. Marie's aunt says "You call that fighting? It was just you beating me up one sidedly." Marie recalls times when her aunt told her to talk about it if she got beaten. Marie's dad makes even more excuses, saying that he never beat her up and that she fought back as well. He then asks how long she's going to act like this, and how their family is sick of her. Marie's aunt responds by basically saying 'good' and begins bringing up Marie's going to the dorm. Marie's dad says that he doesn't really want to let her go and Marie is confused at this since he already gave his permission. Marie's aunt becomes very angry and Marie's dad tries to use Kiyung as a reason but Marie's aunt gets angry, saying that she shouldn't have to take care of someone else as she was a child. Marie's dad says that 'siblings should help each other out' and that Marie is an adult to which Marie appears to feel complimented.

"Stop telling a kid that they're all grown up. You think that's a good thing to say? That's just what irresponsible adults say to kids to make their own lives easier! Oppa, you don't even talk to Marie, do you? Do you know how childish your thoughts are?"

Marie seems shocked and a bit ashamed by her aunt's words. Marie's dad tells her aunt that she should stop caring so much, and that Marie is a mannered and mindful kid who'll do well, to which Marie's aunt replies that it's because she's beaten regularly. Marie's aunt and dad get into a sub-argument about Marie's mother. Marie's dad then says "And you think Marie is never at fault? She picks fights all the time, gets upset for no reason, she's just like her mother!" Marie is very shocked and upset by this statement and begins to cry while her aunt and dad continue to argue, getting louder and louder. Eventually Marie runs off to her aunt screaming "Do you realize what someone like her goes through!?"

We cut to Dongju receiving a message from his bullies that they're outside his house. He walks out only to find Eunyung with them. Apparently he was entertaining to them and he wanted to meet Dongju so they let him. Dongju senses something is off and tries to get out of hanging out with them, to which they dont respond kindly. They begin walking until the head bully says to Eunyung that this doesn't seem like the right path. Eunyung screams "Stop acting all friendly with me!" before slapping him.

### (15)

The bullies all curse at Eunyung while we are implied to that he is beating them up. The head bully calls Eunyung a psychopath but Eunyung responds by adressing Dongju instead. He points out how Dongju ignored everyone else but came out for the bullies. He asks why Dongju is so afraid of them even after they got beat up by both him and Haejoon. The head bully appears to get angry but Eunyung describes his hate for people who gang up on those who cant fend for themselves.

After beating the bullies up some more, Eunyung tries to approach Dongju but is interrupted by his shouting that he'll tell the truth and help Haejoon. Eunyung starts talking about how quick Dongju is at calculations. Dongju is very confused so Eunyung explains.

"When you saw Haejoon fighting... you must have realized it too. That Haejoon is really fucking good at fighting. He wouldn't have gotten beaten up like me. You knew that Haejoon was way stronger than both me and those fuckers. But the fact that you're ignoring Haejoon and listening to me and those fuckers... You knew right away didn't you? That even though Haejoon is better at fighting, he has a soft personality. You calculated that even if you backstabbed Haejoon the way you did, he wouldn't do anything to you."

Dongju tries denying the claims feebly but Eunyung says he must've done it subconsciously to make it easier for himself. He gets mad and tells Dongju that he better not dare skip school the next day.

We cut to Marie's aunt worriedly finding Marie on a bridge, and asking her different things. Marie says that she saw her aunt and father fighting. She says she knows that she won't be able to make it into the dorms and says that she doesn't deserve them because she got an innocent person in trouble for it. But Marie's aunt grabs her by the cheeks and tells her she can go anywhere she want and live with whoever she likes when she's older, and that she was just unlucky this time. Marie is very touched by this and begins crying.