Hierarchy
Part 1 : The Beginning
The grand piano stood like a polished ebony throne in the opulent living room. Its keys, under Lee Y/n’s deft fingers, transformed into a symphony of dreams, a melody that seemed to dance on the air. The room, a gilded cage of luxury, was silent except for the music. Y/n was lost in the world he created, a world far removed from the harsh realities outside these gilded walls.
He was a pianist, a musician by passion, but life had other plans. To afford his musical dreams, he found himself here, a ghost in this opulent mansion, playing for the Jang family, one of the pillars of Jooshin High, the most prestigious school in the country.
As the final notes of the Chopin nocturne faded, a soft applause broke the silence. Y/n bowed, his heart pounding with a mix of gratitude and apprehension. He had done it again. He had managed to impress the Jang family.
“Beautiful, as always, Y/n,” Mrs. Jang complimented, her voice a soft purr. Her husband, Mr. Jang, a stern-looking man with an aura of authority, nodded in approval. But it was the youngest Jang, Wonyoung, who captured Y/n’s attention. She was a vision in a short, revealing dress, her long legs and captivating eyes drawing everyone’s gaze.
Y/n had seen her around the neighborhood. She was the talk of the town, the rebellious princess of the Jang family. Yet, there was an underlying sadness in her eyes that intrigued him.
As the evening wore on, the atmosphere shifted. A heated argument erupted between Wonyoung and her father. It started with a casual remark about her dress, which escalated into a full-blown confrontation.
"You know this isn't appropriate!!" Mr. Jang thundered, his face flushed. “You are a Jang. You should dress like one.”
Wonyoung scoffed, her defiance evident. “I don’t want to be a Jang,” she retorted, her voice laced with bitterness. “I never asked for this life.”
The argument reached a boiling point when Wonyoung declared, “And besides she’s not my real mother.”
The room fell silent. A heavy silence that seemed to press down on everyone. Mr. Jang’s face turned ashen. He raised his hand and slapped Wonyoung hard. The sound echoed through the room, followed by a sharp intake of breath from Mrs. Jang.
Wonyoung’s lip was bleeding, but she stood her ground, her eyes filled with defiance and hurt. Mr. Jang, his anger momentarily subsided, wiped the red lipstick from her lips with a handkerchief, his voice cold and venomous. “This shade of lipstick is only for uneducated lowlifes.”
With tears streaming down her face, Wonyoung turned and ran out of the room. Y/n watched in horror as the once vibrant girl transformed into a wounded creature.
A few moments later, he heard the soft click of a door. Cautiously, he peeked outside. Wonyoung was in the backyard, a solitary figure against the backdrop of the opulent mansion. In her hand was a small, sleek device. She took a long drag, exhaling a cloud of vapor.
Y/n’s heart sank. He knew vaping was harmful, especially for a young girl. He hesitated for a moment, then decided to speak up.
“It’s not healthy for you, you know,” he said, his voice barely a whisper.
Wonyoung turned to face him, her eyes filled with a mixture of surprise and defiance. She took another long drag, the vapor swirling around her face like a ghostly halo.
“Mind your own business,” she said, her voice cold and distant.
But then, something unexpected happened. She approached Y/n, her eyes fixed on his white shirt.
“Can I borrow this?” she asked, her voice surprisingly soft.
Y/n was taken aback. He chuckled nervously. “You're joking right?
Wonyoung’s face turned serious. “I’m not joking,” she said, her voice firm.
Reluctantly, Y/n handed her the shirt. As she disappeared into the garage, he stood there, feeling a strange mix of emotions. He was scared, intrigued, and undeniably drawn to the enigmatic girl.
The sound of a powerful engine roared to life, shattering the silence. Y/n watched as Wonyoung emerged from the garage, the Lamborghini Gallardo gleaming under the moonlight. She was wearing his shirt, her long legs bare. She looked wild, dangerous, and undeniably beautiful.
With a final glance at Y/n, she revved the engine and sped away, leaving behind a cloud of dust and a lingering sense of mystery.
Y/n was left alone in the backyard, the night air filled with the echo of the Lamborghini’s roar. He looked down at his bare chest, feeling a strange sense of vulnerability. Something had changed that night, something profound and irrevocable.
The world of Jooshin High, a world he had observed from a distance, had suddenly become much closer. And at the center of it all was Wonyoung, the enigmatic princess with a rebellious spirit.
Y/n knew that their paths were destined to cross again. And when they did, he was certain that nothing would ever be the same.
Meanwhile In Wonyoung's POV
The roar of the engine filled my ears as I sped away from the mansion. The wind whipping through my hair felt like a cold slap of reality, a stark contrast to the suffocating atmosphere within those gilded walls. I glanced at the rearview mirror, the imposing structure of the Jang mansion growing smaller with every passing second.
Pulling over to the side of the road, I grabbed my phone and typed a quick message to my friends. "Meet me at the usual spot, ASAP." I hit send and slipped the phone back into my pocket, my heart pounding with a mix of adrenaline and relief.
The raceway was a world away from the pristine elegance of the Jang mansion. It was raw, gritty, and exhilarating—a place where I could truly be myself. As I pulled into the parking lot, I could already hear the distant roar of engines. A grin spread across my face.
Stepping out of the car, I was greeted by the familiar sight of my friends: Jimin, Minjeong, and Ryujin. They were a force of nature, a trio of fire, ice, and electricity. Jimin, with her infectious laugh and boundless energy, was the heart of the group. Minjeong, the calm and collected one, was the brain. And Ryujin, with her sharp wit and rebellious spirit, was the wild card.
They enveloped me in a group hug, their warmth a comforting shield against the storm I had just escaped.
“You okay, Wonyoung?” Jimin asked, her voice soft.
I forced a smile. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just another one of Dad’s epic meltdowns.”
Ryujin snorted. “Your dad is such a buzzkill.”
Minjeong nodded in agreement. “We should have a party to celebrate your freedom.”
“I’m in,” Jimin chimed in.
We spent the next few minutes catching up, laughing, and planning our next adventure. The tension that had been building up inside me slowly began to dissipate.
Then, Ryujin’s eyes lit up. “Oh, speaking of parties, don’t forget about the Jooshin High opening ceremony tomorrow. We have to plan our outfits.”
Jimin and Minjeong erupted in laughter. “Can’t wait to see the new scholarship students,” Jimin said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “I bet they’re going to be a bunch of losers.”
Minjeong nodded. “We need to find some new victims for our amusement.”
I couldn’t help but smile. As much as I hated to admit it, I enjoyed the thrill of the hunt. It was a way to escape the boredom of our privileged lives.
Just as we were about to dive deeper into our plans, a sleek red Ferrari pulled into the parking lot. The car was a masterpiece of engineering, a symbol of power and wealth. As the door opened, a figure stepped out.
It was Park Sohyun.
A cold shiver ran down my spine. Sohyun was the queen bee of Jooshin High, the undisputed alpha of our social circle. She was beautiful, intelligent, and ruthless. And she hated me.
She walked towards us, her long black hair swaying in the wind. Her eyes, cold and calculating, scanned our faces.
“You’re back,” she said, her voice as smooth as ice.
I met her gaze, refusing to back down. “And you’re still as unpleasant as ever,” I retorted.
Sohyun smirked. “We’ll see about that.”
With that, she turned and walked away, her tall figure disappearing into the setting sun.
As soon as she was out of sight, Jimin, Minjeong, and Ryujin exchanged worried glances.
“What’s her problem?” Jimin asked.
“I don’t know,” Minjeong replied, her voice laced with uncertainty. “But I have a bad feeling about this.”
I tried to shake off the feeling of dread. After all, I had faced Sohyun before and come out on top. But this time, something felt different. There was a darkness lurking beneath her icy exterior, a darkness that scared me.
To Be Continued
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