The private lounge of Seoul International Academy was dimly lit, its glass panels catching the golden reflections of the city's nightscape. A leftover hush from the gala clung to the air. Seo Yuna and Jang Minjun stood near the far end of the room, a velvet curtain drawn closed behind them. They hadn't spoken in minutes.
The silence wasn't uncomfortable—just heavy. Tense. Loaded.
Minjun finally stepped forward. "Still mad at me?"
Yuna's arms were crossed, but her gaze softened. "Still sorting through it."
He reached for her slowly, gently lifting her chin. She didn't stop him.
"Then let me help."
The kiss that followed was hesitant at first, barely more than a brush of warmth. Then deeper. Urgent. Their silhouettes melted into the room's shadows as Yuna's fingers tangled in Minjun's hair, his hand resting at her waist. The tension snapped in the heat between them.
He pressed her gently back against the wall, his breath mixing with hers—
The door creaked.
Olivia stood frozen in the doorway.
"Oh— I… didn't see anything."
She backed out as quickly as she'd entered. A moment of silence passed before Yuna and Minjun both burst out laughing, breathless.
The Next Morning in Seoul Café, Bukchon District Over cappuccinos and mochi, Yuna sat curled in a window seat beside Min-Ji and Olivia. The light was soft, but the mood? Blazing.
Min-Ji stirred her coffee slowly. "So, you and the storm prince, huh?"
Yuna winced. "It's complicated."
"No," Olivia said, sipping her espresso. "That was hot."
Min-Ji smirked. "Careful. Fire burns when it flares up too fast."
Yuna chuckled but her gaze drifted to the window. The city was alive, but so was the war waiting in the shadows.
Back at Ainsworth in Rajarshree's Dorm She slit the parcel open with her silver penknife. Inside: a sleek USB, glossy stills of Yuna and Minjun kissing in Seoul, and a tribunal form already half-filled.
"Perfect," Rajarshree murmured.
She slid the form into a folder labeled: URGENT INTEGRITY REVIEW: SEOUL REPRESENTATIVE VIOLATION.
That Night — Seoul Academy, Secret Study Room
The room was lit only by fairy lights looped along the shelves. Yuna and Minjun were seated on the floor, giggling as they traded embarrassing childhood stories. He looped a scarf around her neck, then pulled her close.
"If this is a dream," she whispered, "don't wake me."
"If this is war," he said, "I'll fight for you every time."
They kissed. Longer this time. He lifted her gently onto the desk, her legs wrapping around his waist as his mouth moved to her neck.
But she stopped him.
"I want this. But I want to be sure it's real—not just a reaction."
Minjun nodded, brushing hair from her face. "Then let me show you it is. Slowly. As many days as you'll give me." Then he started to kiss her neck again slowly sucking and biting on her neck going lower and lower towards her collarbone, marking her arch her back and but down on her lip suppressing a moan, but it still managed to escape. That sound turned something on in him and he attacked her lips while she held on to his by his sleeves, then slowly started unbuttoning his shirt, and her hands explored his build. While his one hand cupped her face and the other moved up her thigh and under her skirt. his hand kept rising up and hers wandered more, he tugged at the hem of her underwear, and she bit his lip and winked at him while kissing, making him chuckle into the kiss. She then slowly, painfully slow, trails her hand down his abdomen, until she gets passed the navel and holds it in her hand over his pants and starts squeezing, applying small amounts of pressure. Minjun bites his lip and looks up trying to suppress a moan. Yuna then start kissing his up from the navel to his stomach, chest , neck then finally lips. He then pulls her closer while she is on the table and starts rubbing her through her underwear, pressing slightly pressing down on all the right spots. Just as it got more heated they heard a creak and broke away incase someone saw them. Minjun then chuckled and kissed Yuna on the forehead and said
"I think that's enough for now"
she agreed and pecked his cheek
Seoul — Olivia's Dorm
She stared at the screen. An alert had triggered.
INTEGRITY HEARING TRIBUNAL: CASE SEO YUNA — INITIATED
The leaked footage played in a corner thumbnail—grainy but damning. Someone wanted Yuna disqualified. Olivia grabbed her jacket.
"This isn't sabotage. This is war."
Seoul Academy — School Board Hearing Room
The long table stretched across the front of the room. Yuna stood before it, shoulders square, Minjun watching from the back, fists clenched.
A screen displayed the video. Her kiss with Minjun, luckily in that angle you could on see she the kissing and the video stopped before it could get more damning . Frozen.
The lead judge lifted a brow. "Ms. Seo. Your defense?"
Yuna's voice was clear. Calm.
"If human connection invalidates merit, then none of us belong here. And if you think a kiss undoes my work, then you never respected it to begin with."
Murmurs from the audience.
After a brief deliberation, the judge returned.
"We find no breach in academic integrity. Case closed."
Relief hit her like summer rain. Minjun exhaled loudly. Olivia beamed.
Balcony – That Night
Under a sky streaked with citylight, Yuna and Minjun sat close on the dorm balcony. Her head rested on his shoulder, his hand covering hers.
"So we survived again," she said.
"Not just survived," he replied. "We ruled."
She smiled. "Then let's keep ruling—together."
Their pinkies linked softly, sealing something unspoken.
Winning Ceremony – Seoul International Hall
Flags from every continent flanked the stage. Cameras flashed. Reporters gathered near the podium.
Yuna stood in a navy uniform embroidered with her academy crest. Olivia stood at her side.
Challenge One: History Relay — Real vs Revised?
Question: In the Treaty of Versailles, which clause laid the foundation for WWII resentment in Germany?Answer: Article 231 – the War Guilt Clause.
Challenge Two: Science in Culture
Question: Which traditional Korean fermentation process is now being researched for microbiome health?Answer: Kimjang — the making of kimchi.
Challenge Three: Ethical Dilemma Debate
Prompt: Should educational merit override personal misconduct in determining academic opportunities?
Yuna took the mic.
"Merit isn't just about grades. It's about how we handle pressure, failure, and power. A mistake doesn't erase brilliance—but brilliance doesn't excuse harm. We need a standard that measures both."
Thunderous applause followed.
Final Results: Team Seo Yuna and Olivia Holt: 98/100 — Global Winners.
Reporters swarmed.
"How did you keep your composure after the scandal?"
Yuna smiled. "Because they tried to make me small. And I chose not to listen."
Click. Flash. Recorders everywhere.
Rajarshree screamed and threw her envelope into her dorm's fireplace.Min-Ji deleted old encrypted messages from Lee Dohyun and walked into Olivia's dorm, armed with a backup plan.In a quiet café in London, Lee Dohyun watched the award stream. He tossed his phone aside. "The Seoul arc isn't over yet."
Seo Yuna (V.O.):
Power, love, danger — they don't cancel each other out.
They make each other matter.