💌 Chapter 1: Love Was Never the Plan

The moment Jennie Park stepped off the plane, she felt it.

Not the excitement.

Not the nerves.

Something else.

Like she had just walked into a story that had already started without her.

The air in Seoul was different—cooler, sharper, filled with a quiet kind of energy that made her heart race for reasons she couldn’t explain.

“This is it,” she whispered to herself, gripping her suitcase handle tighter. “New country. New life. New love.”

Love.

That was the reason she came all the way to South Korea in the first place.

Ethan.

A soft smile tugged at her lips as she pulled out her phone, checking her messages for the hundredth time.

“I’ll meet you at school. Can’t wait to finally see you.”

That’s what he said.

No airport welcome. No dramatic reunion.

A little disappointing… but Jennie didn’t mind.

Because this?

This was going to be her love story.

The car ride to the school was longer than she expected.

Tall buildings blurred past the window, neon signs flickering to life as the sun dipped lower into the sky. Everything looked like a scene straight out of a drama—too perfect to be real.

Jennie pressed her forehead lightly against the glass, watching strangers pass by.

Mom was here.

The thought came suddenly.

Her chest tightened.

Same city. Same school. Same last name.

Park.

“Miss Park, we’re here,” the driver said, breaking her thoughts.

Jennie blinked, sitting up straight.

And then she saw it.

The school.

It wasn’t just big.

It was… intimidating.

Wide gates. Elegant buildings. Students walking in groups, laughing like they belonged there—as if this place had already decided who was important and who wasn’t.

Jennie swallowed hard.

“Okay,” she muttered. “You wanted this.”

She stepped out.

And just like that—

The world shifted.

At first, it was subtle.

A glance here. A whisper there.

Then it grew.

Students started staring.

Actually staring.

Jennie frowned slightly, adjusting her bag on her shoulder.

Do I look weird or something?

She checked her outfit quickly—everything seemed fine.

So why were they looking at her like that?

A group of girls passed by, their voices low but not low enough.

“Is that her?”

“It has to be… the name—”

“Park, right?”

Jennie’s steps slowed.

Her name?

Before she could think too much about it—

Bump.

She collided into someone.

“Ah—sorry!” she said quickly, looking up.

And froze.

He was… beautiful.

Effortlessly so.

Soft brown hair falling perfectly over his forehead, warm eyes that held just enough mischief to make your heart skip, and a smile that looked like it came naturally—like he didn’t even have to try.

He tilted his head slightly, studying her.

Then he smiled.

“New student?”

Jennie blinked, still caught off guard. “Uh… yeah.”

“Figured,” he said, stepping back just a little but not breaking eye contact. “You’ve got that ‘I’m lost but trying to look confident’ vibe.”

Jennie let out a small laugh. “Wow. Is it that obvious?”

“Only to me,” he said smoothly.

There was something about him.

Easy. Comfortable.

Like she could breathe again.

“I’m Jennie,” she said.

His expression shifted—just for a second.

Barely noticeable.

But it was there.

“Jennie…” he repeated, eyes narrowing slightly in thought. “Jennie what?”

“Park.”

Silence.

It wasn’t long.

But it was enough.

Something changed.

Not in him entirely—but in the air around them.

The noise of the students, the whispers, the feeling…

It all came rushing back.

“Oh,” he said quietly.

This time, his smile didn’t reach his eyes.

“Kim Taehyung.”

Jennie nodded slowly. “Nice to meet you.”

Taehyung studied her again, more carefully now.

Not like before.

Not curious.

More like…

Concerned.

“You just got here?” he asked.

“Yeah.”

He hesitated.

Then sighed softly, running a hand through his hair.

“Then I guess no one’s told you yet.”

“Told me what?”

Before he could answer—

The crowd shifted.

And suddenly, the whispers stopped.

Like someone had pressed pause on the entire school.

Jennie felt it before she saw him.

A presence.

Cold. Heavy. Unavoidable.

She turned.

And there he was.

Standing a few feet away.

Tall. Sharp. Untouchable.

His gaze locked onto hers instantly—dark, unreadable, and intense enough to make her heart stutter.

He looked at her like he already knew her.

Like he had been expecting her.

Like she was a problem.

Jennie’s breath caught.

Taehyung’s voice dropped beside her.

“…That’s Jae-Min.”

But Jennie barely heard him.

Because Jae-Min was already walking toward her.

Slowly. Deliberately.

And when he finally stopped in front of her, the entire world felt like it was holding its breath.

His eyes flicked over her face once.

Then he spoke.

Cold.

Sharp.

Clear enough for everyone to hear.

“Don’t use that name here.”

Jennie’s heart dropped.

“What?”

His gaze hardened.

“Park,” he said. “Stop telling people that’s your name.”

Silence.

Confusion flooded her chest.

“That is my name,” she said, her voice smaller than she wanted it to be.

A humorless laugh escaped him.

“Not here, it’s not.”

Jennie felt her hands tighten at her sides.

“Excuse me?”

For a second, something dangerous flickered in his eyes.

Then it disappeared.

Just like that.

He stepped closer—too close.

And whispered, low enough that only she could hear:

“You shouldn’t have come.”

Her breath hitched.

And just as quickly as he came—

He walked away.

Leaving nothing behind but silence…

And a hundred questions Jennie wasn’t ready to answer.

Taehyung exhaled beside her.

“…Yeah,” he muttered. “This is going to be a mess.”

Jennie didn’t respond.

She couldn’t.

Because one thing was already clear.

She didn’t come to Seoul just for love anymore.

She came for the truth.

And somehow…

It was already chasing her.

💌 Chapter 2: The Boy She Came For

Jennie barely remembered how she got through the rest of the afternoon.

Everything felt… off.

The whispers.

The stares.

Jae-Min’s words echoing in her mind like a warning she couldn’t shake.

You shouldn’t have come.

Her grip tightened around her phone as she stood outside the main building, her heart racing—but not because of him.

Not Jae-Min.

Ethan.

She was finally going to see him.

After months of late-night calls, soft promises, and words that felt so real through a screen… this was it.

The moment everything would finally make sense again.

Right?

Jennie took a deep breath, smoothing down her skirt as she tried to steady herself.

“This is what you came for,” she whispered.

“Talking to yourself already? That was fast.”

She turned.

Of course.

Kim Taehyung leaned casually against the wall, hands tucked into his pockets like he had nowhere else to be. His eyes found hers instantly, amused… but observant.

Jennie frowned slightly. “Do you just appear everywhere?”

He smirked. “Only where I’m needed.”

“I didn’t say I needed you.”

“Didn’t say you didn’t either.”

She rolled her eyes—but couldn’t stop the small smile that slipped through.

“Shouldn’t you be in class?”

“Probably,” he shrugged. “But this seems more interesting.”

His gaze dropped briefly to her phone before returning to her face.

“You’re waiting for someone.”

It wasn’t a question.

Jennie hesitated, then nodded.

“Yeah.”

Taehyung tilted his head slightly. “The boyfriend?”

Her cheeks warmed just a little. “Yeah… the boyfriend.”

Something shifted in his expression.

Quick. Subtle.

Gone before she could fully catch it.

“Oh,” he said quietly.

And then—

“Jennie?”

Her heart stopped.

That voice.

She turned so fast it made her dizzy.

And there he was.

Ethan.

Standing just a few feet away, looking exactly like she imagined—maybe even better.

Same soft eyes. Same familiar smile.

Real.

Finally real.

“Ethan…” she breathed.

For a moment, everything else disappeared.

No whispers. No tension. No Jae-Min.

Just him.

Jennie took a step forward, her heart pounding in her chest.

He smiled—hesitant, but still warm.

And just like that, she thought—

This is it.

But then—

A hand slipped into his.

Jennie froze.

Time didn’t slow down.

It shattered.

Because the girl standing beside him was flawless.

Perfect posture. Perfect hair. Perfect smile.

Soo-Jin.

Jennie’s chest tightened as her eyes dropped to their hands.

Still intertwined.

Still close.

Still real.

“Oh,” she whispered, her voice barely there.

Ethan’s smile faltered. “Jennie, I—”

“You’re… together?” she asked.

A simple question.

But the answer felt like it weighed everything down.

Soo-Jin stepped forward first, her smile calm and composed—too perfect to be real.

“Yes,” she said smoothly. “We are.”

Jennie blinked.

Once.

Twice.

As if the scene in front of her might change.

It didn’t.

Ethan stepped closer, guilt written all over his face.

“I was going to tell you—”

“When?” Jennie cut in, her voice shaking now. “After I moved countries for you?”

Silence.

Heavy. Suffocating.

“I didn’t think you’d actually come,” he admitted quietly.

That hurt more than anything else.

Jennie let out a small, broken laugh.

“You didn’t think I’d come?” she repeated. “After everything you said to me?”

“I didn’t mean for it to happen like this—”

“But it did.”

Her voice came out sharper than she expected.

Soo-Jin’s expression cooled slightly.

“Maybe don’t cause a scene on your first day,” she said.

Jennie turned to her slowly.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” she replied, her tone edged now. “Am I interrupting something?”

Soo-Jin didn’t flinch.

“If you’re done, then yes.”

Something inside Jennie snapped.

Not loudly.

Not dramatically.

Just enough.

“Wow,” she said softly. “You’re really something.”

Soo-Jin smiled. “I get that a lot.”

Jennie let out a quiet laugh, but there was no humor in it.

“Yeah. I can tell.”

She turned back to Ethan one last time.

Her chest ached.

But her voice?

Steady.

“Don’t text me again.”

And just like that—

She walked away.

---

She didn’t know where she was going.

She just needed to leave.

Fast.

Before she cried.

Before she broke.

Before anyone saw how much this hurt.

Her vision blurred as she pushed through the crowd, her breathing uneven.

He didn’t think I’d come.

That was the part that hurt the most.

Not the girl.

Not the relationship.

That.

“Hey.”

She stopped.

Of course.

Taehyung.

She hadn’t even realized he followed her.

“I’m fine,” she said quickly, not turning around.

“Yeah,” he replied softly. “You don’t look fine.”

Jennie turned, frustration flashing in her eyes.

“Why do you care?” she snapped. “You don’t even know me.”

Taehyung didn’t react.

He just looked at her.

Really looked at her.

“Maybe I want to,” he said quietly.

Jennie’s breath caught.

The anger faded, just a little.

“You saw that,” she muttered.

“Hard not to.”

She let out a bitter laugh. “Embarrassing.”

“No,” he said immediately.

Jennie blinked.

“That wasn’t embarrassing,” he continued. “That was him being an idiot.”

She stared at him.

For a moment, she didn’t know what to say.

Then—

A small, real laugh escaped her.

“Wow,” she said. “You’re kind of intense.”

He smirked slightly.

“You have no idea.”

💌 Chapter 3: The Name They Fear

Jennie didn’t expect things to get worse.

But by the next morning…

They did.

The moment she stepped through the school gates, the whispers started again.

Quieter this time.

More controlled.

But sharper.

Like everyone knew something she didn’t.

Jennie kept her head up, pretending not to notice, even as her chest tightened with every stare.

Ignore it, she told herself. You’re not weak.

“Wow.”

She didn’t have to turn to know who it was.

“You’ve officially become the main topic overnight,” Taehyung said, falling into step beside her.

Jennie glanced at him. “Do you ever go to class?”

“Sometimes,” he shrugged. “But this? This is way more entertaining.”

She rolled her eyes, but it didn’t fully land this time.

Because he wasn’t wrong.

“Why are they all looking at me like that?” she asked quietly.

Taehyung didn’t answer immediately.

And that alone told her everything.

Jennie stopped walking.

“Taehyung.”

He sighed, running a hand through his hair.

“It’s because of your name.”

Her stomach dropped.

“Park?” she asked.

He nodded slightly.

Jennie let out a breath. “Okay… and?”

“And it’s not just a name here,” he said. “It’s… history.”

“What kind of history?”

Before he could answer—

“Kim Taehyung.”

The voice was cold.

Sharp enough to cut through everything.

Jennie didn’t need to turn this time.

She already knew.

Jae-Min.

Taehyung clicked his tongue under his breath. “Speak of the devil.”

Jae-Min approached slowly, his gaze fixed on Jennie like she was the only thing in his line of sight.

It made her pulse spike.

Annoying.

Confusing.

Unfair.

“You’re late,” Jae-Min said flatly.

Taehyung smirked. “Didn’t realize you were tracking my schedule.”

“I’m not,” Jae-Min replied. “I just don’t like seeing unnecessary people around.”

Jennie frowned slightly.

“Unnecessary?”

Taehyung let out a soft laugh. “Relax. You’ll hurt my feelings.”

But his tone didn’t quite match his eyes.

There was tension there.

Old tension.

Jennie looked between them.

“You two clearly have issues,” she muttered.

Jae-Min ignored that completely.

His attention shifted back to her.

Heavy. Unwavering.

“Didn’t I tell you something yesterday?” he asked.

Jennie’s jaw tightened.

“You told me a lot of things,” she replied. “None of them made sense.”

His expression darkened slightly.

“I told you not to use that name.”

Jennie felt the frustration rise instantly.

“Well, that’s a problem,” she shot back, “because it’s my name.”

Silence fell.

Students nearby slowed down.

Watching.

Listening.

Jae-Min stepped closer.

Too close.

“You think this is a joke?” he said quietly.

Jennie didn’t move.

Didn’t back down.

“No,” she said. “I think you’re the one making it one.”

For a second—

Something flickered in his eyes.

Not anger.

Something deeper.

Then it vanished.

“You don’t know what you’re walking into,” he said.

“Then tell me,” Jennie challenged. “Instead of acting like I’m the problem.”

Taehyung shifted beside her, like he was ready to step in.

But he didn’t.

Jae-Min exhaled slowly.

Like he was holding something back.

“Your mother,” he said.

Jennie froze.

That—

She didn’t expect.

“What about her?” she asked, her voice quieter now.

Jae-Min studied her face carefully.

As if searching for something.

“You really don’t know,” he murmured.

Jennie’s heart started racing.

“Know what?”

Another pause.

Then—

“Stay away from me,” he said instead.

Jennie blinked.

“What?”

“And stay away from anything that has to do with my family.”

The words hit harder than she expected.

Confusion twisted with anger.

“You don’t get to tell me that,” she snapped. “You don’t even know me.”

Jae-Min let out a humorless laugh.

“That’s where you’re wrong.”

Her breath caught.

“What is that supposed to mean?”

But he didn’t answer.

He stepped back, his expression closing off again.

Cold. Distant. Untouchable.

Like none of this mattered.

Like she didn’t matter.

“Just stay out of it,” he said.

And then—

He walked away.

Again.

Jennie stood there, her thoughts spinning.

Her chest tight.

Her heart racing for reasons she didn’t understand.

“He’s hiding something,” she whispered.

Taehyung let out a quiet breath beside her.

“Yeah,” he said. “That’s kind of his thing.”

Jennie turned to him.

“You know what this is about, don’t you?”

He hesitated.

Just for a second.

That was enough.

“Taehyung.”

He looked at her, something conflicted in his eyes now.

“I know parts of it,” he admitted.

“Then tell me.”

“It’s not that simple.”

Jennie let out a frustrated laugh. “Nothing here is simple!”

A few students nearby quickly looked away.

Pretending not to listen.

“I came here for answers,” she continued, her voice lower now but more intense. “And everyone keeps acting like I shouldn’t even exist.”

Taehyung’s expression softened slightly.

“You do exist,” he said quietly.

Jennie shook her head. “Not like this. Not when everyone reacts to my name like it’s some kind of warning.”

Silence stretched between them.

Heavy.

Uncomfortable.

Then—

Taehyung stepped closer.

Close enough that his voice dropped, just for her.

“If you really want the truth…” he said.

Jennie’s heart pounded.

“I do.”

He held her gaze for a moment longer.

Then—

“You’re going to wish you didn’t.”

Her breath caught.

But she didn’t look away.

“Too late,” she said softly.

Taehyung studied her face.

And for the first time—

He smiled without teasing.

Without hiding.

“Yeah,” he murmured. “I figured you’d say that.”

Jennie turned toward the school building again.

The whispers hadn’t stopped.

If anything…

They felt louder now.

Heavier.

Like the walls themselves were watching her.

Waiting.

Whatever her mother had left behind here—

It wasn’t gone.

It was buried.

And Jennie Park had just started digging.