The school bell rang, echoing through the vast campus of Soonhwa High School — a place known for its elite students, strict rules, and the quiet stories that lived behind every wall.
So-yeon stood at the school gate, clutching the strap of her backpack tightly. Her heart raced. A new school meant new people, new beginnings… and new chances to hide the past.
Just as she stepped forward, she collided into someone.
"Oh—sorry!" she said, startled.
A boy with messy hair and a gentle smile rubbed his forehead. "No, that was my fault. Are you new here?"
So-yeon nodded. "Yeah. First day."
"Same here," he replied. "I'm Joon."
"So-yeon."
They smiled at each other and walked through the gate side by side — strangers brought together by timing, and maybe fate.
Inside the classroom, the buzz of students quieted as they entered. A girl with short hair smirked.
"Looks like we've got a new couple," she teased.
So-yeon's eyes widened, but Joon just laughed it off. "Well, that was quick."
Soon, a cheerful student named Jae-hee introduced them around. "This is Joon, and this is So-yeon. Be nice!"
Then, pointing toward the back, she whispered, "That's Seo-Jin. Our top student. Super smart. Super cold. Doesn't talk to anyone."
So-yeon looked over.
A boy sat near the window, staring outside. His sharp features and unreadable expression gave him an icy aura. Mysterious. Distant. Dangerous, even.
"Don't even try talking to him," Jae-hee warned. "The more he ignores people, the more they like him. He's just... different."
So-yeon nodded, but her gaze lingered on him a moment longer. Something about Seo-Jin tugged at her — like a thread from a forgotten memory