The classroom door creaked open with a dramatic groan, as if even the old hinges were tired of the day. A sudden gust of wind shot down the hallway, tossing papers into the air and making the windows rattle like bones. Heads turned. Some students sighed in annoyance, others looked toward the door—but not him.
Seo-Jin didn't flinch. Sitting in the first row by the window, his posture was stiff, his jawline tight, eyes locked on the pages of his notebook. He was the kind who hated noise. The kind who only looked up when something truly forced him to.
And that's when he did.
He looked up.
She stood there.
Not glowing, not trying to impress—just still. Her figure framed by the sunlight pouring in from behind her, like a shadow slipping into the room. Her expression was unreadable, carved out of stone, but her eyes... they were searching.
Wind pulled at her blazer, tossed strands of her hair into her face, but she didn't move. She stood rooted—like she belonged, but didn't want to.
Their eyes met.
For a heartbeat, the world went quiet. No words. No recognition. Just a strange pull in the air—like gravity had paused, watching them.
Seo-Jin's gaze narrowed slightly. Then, with no change in expression, he looked away.
Dismissive. Cold. Untouchable.
So-yeon arched an eyebrow. How rude, she thought.
She stepped into the classroom with Joon beside her, ignoring the whispers that followed. They walked to the only empty seats left—two desks beside each other in the middle row.
As soon as they sat, the teacher entered, fixing his glasses with one hand while balancing a large attendance register in the other.
"Settle down, everyone," he said sternly. "Let's begin."
Names started rolling off his tongue. One by one, sleepy responses echoed through the room. So-yeon, though sitting upright, was still staring at Seo-Jin.
He didn't blink. Didn't twitch. Just sat there, scribbling something in his notebook like the world outside didn't exist.
Her mind wandered. How can someone be that still... and yet so intense?
"Lee So-yeon," the teacher called.
No response.
"Lee So-yeon," he repeated, louder.
Still nothing.
Joon nudged her. "Yah. He's calling you."
She blinked. Snapped out of the trance. "Yes, sir!"
The entire class turned to look at her. Some snickered. The teacher frowned.
"Where's your focus, miss? This isn't your bedroom."
So-yeon stood up quickly. "I'm sorry, sir. I got distracted."
"Sit down. Stay present."
She nodded and sat. Joon whispered, "Wow. First day and already a legend."
She rolled her eyes, though a smile tugged at the edge of her lips.
When the period ended, chatter filled the air. Chairs screeched as students turned to talk to their friends.
So-yeon flipped open her notebook, pretending to write. But her thoughts weren't on the lesson—they were on the boy who hadn't spared her another glance.
Then came the voice.
"Well, well… looks like someone's already fallen into Seo-Jin land," the girl from the couple leaned on her desk, grinning.
So-yeon looked up, surprised. "What?"
"You were staring at him the whole class. Don't act innocent."
So-yeon blushed. "I wasn't. He was just... sitting weirdly."
The boy from the couple chuckled. "That's how it starts. You think he's weird. Then he ignores you. Then boom—you're doodling hearts around his name."
Joon smirked. "Come on, guys. She doesn't even like the guy."
So-yeon nodded quickly. "Exactly."
But inside, something didn't sit right. It wasn't love. It wasn't a crush. It was curiosity... the kind that pulls you toward something dangerous.
And she hated that she couldn't explain it.
Two long, boring classes later, So-yeon and Joon sat under a tree near the school garden. Students laughed and shouted around them, but they just wanted peace.
"This school is seriously weird," Joon muttered while chewing. "Even the blackboard looks sad."
So-yeon laughed softly. "I don't even know which subject we just had."
After a while, she stood up. "Restroom. Be right back."
"Don't get lost," Joon teased.
She walked back slowly, mind drifting back to that strange moment with Seo-Jin. The way he looked at her—or didn't. The way he shut out the world.
Then—
"HEADS UP!"
A loud voice.
Her eyes widened just in time to see a basketball hurtling toward her face.
Too fast to dodge.
But then—someone stepped in.
With one hand, the ball was caught. Inches from her face.
She gasped and stumbled backward.
"You okay?" a calm, deep voice asked.
She looked up.
Tall. Confident. Messy hair falling into warm eyes. His grip on the ball was relaxed, like it was nothing.
"I hope you're not hurt," he added. "It'd be a shame to bruise such a pretty face."
Her brain glitched. Did he just flirt...?
Behind him, a group of girls from the cheer squad stood glaring. Whispering.
"Tch. New girl already stealing attention?"
"She doesn't even know who that is…"
So-yeon glanced at the boy again.
He smiled and tossed the ball in the air, catching it effortlessly. "I'm Ryu. Captain of the basketball team. And maybe… your guardian angel today."
He winked.
Then walked away like nothing happened.
Girls stared. Gossips flew.
So-yeon stood there, confused.
And a little breathless.
Ryu… Seo-Jin… Who are these boys?
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