Rain poured like the sky was crying for her.

Ji-ah stood outside the results board, her eyes frozen on the same word she feared the most.

“FAILED.”

Again.

Her fingers slowly loosened their grip on the paper. It slipped from her hand and landed on the wet ground.

Students around her celebrated, laughed, hugged their parents.

But Ji-ah stood alone.

This was her third attempt.

Her dream of becoming a doctor… felt further than ever.

“Maybe… I’m just not meant for this…”

She whispered it, but deep inside, it hurt more than anything she had ever said before.

Her phone rang.

“Ji-ah… are you coming home?” her mother’s weak voice echoed.

Ji-ah forced a smile, even though no one could see her.

“Yes, mom. I’m on my way.”

When she reached home, the smell of medicine filled the small room. Her mother lay on the bed, pale but still smiling.

“How was it?” she asked gently.

Ji-ah hesitated for a second… then lied.

“I’ll do better next time.”

That night, Ji-ah sat quietly, calculating hospital bills, exam fees, and rent. Numbers didn’t lie.

She needed money.

The next day, she started working at a small café.

“Faster, Ji-ah!” the manager shouted.

She nodded, running from table to table, trying her best.

But no matter how hard she worked, it never felt enough.

One evening, during a rush hour, her hands slipped.

A cup of coffee spilled… right onto an expensive suit.

The café fell silent.

“Do you even know how much this costs?” the man snapped.

Ji-ah bowed deeply.

“I’m really sorry, sir…”

“Sorry won’t fix this!”

Her hands trembled.

She was used to being blamed… but it still hurt.

Suddenly—

“Stop.”

A calm but cold voice cut through the tension.

Everyone turned.

A tall boy stood there, his eyes sharp and unreadable.

“It was an accident,” he said.

The angry customer frowned. “Who are you?”

“Someone who doesn’t like watching others act pathetic.”

Ji-ah looked up in shock.

The boy stepped closer, placing money on the table.

“That should cover it. Now leave.”

The man hesitated… then walked away.

Silence filled the café again.

Ji-ah’s heart was beating fast.

She had never seen someone stand up for her like that.

The boy turned toward her.

“Be more careful next time.”

His voice wasn’t kind… but it wasn’t cruel either.

“Thank you…” Ji-ah whispered.

But he had already walked away.

That night, Ji-ah stood outside the café, staring at the sky.

For the first time in a long time…

Something felt different.

She didn’t know his name.

She didn’t know his story.

But somehow…

That one moment made her feel like maybe—

Her life wasn’t completely broken yet.

Ji-ah kept thinking about him.

That cold voice.

That unexpected help.

“Why would someone like him…” she whispered to herself.

The next day felt heavier than usual.

Her body ached from work, but she still woke up early. Life didn’t pause for pain.

At breakfast, her mother smiled weakly.

“You should rest more, Ji-ah…”

Ji-ah shook her head. “If I stop now, everything will fall apart.”

She didn’t say it out loud, but she was afraid.

Afraid of failing again.

Afraid of losing her mother.

Afraid that no matter how hard she tried… it still wouldn’t be enough.

On her way to the café, she passed a group of students laughing.

“They said the exam was easy this time!”

Ji-ah’s steps slowed.

Easy…?

Then why not for me?

She clenched her fists and kept walking.

At the café, everything felt the same—orders, noise, pressure.

But inside her… something had changed.

That small moment from yesterday kept replaying.

For once, someone didn’t look down on her.

For once… she wasn’t invisible.

As the day ended, Ji-ah stepped outside again.

The sky was clear tonight.

No rain. No storm.

Just silence.

She looked up and took a deep breath.

“Maybe… this isn’t the end,” she whispered.

She didn’t know how.

She didn’t know when.

But for the first time in a long time—

She wanted to try again.

And somewhere in the city…

The boy who helped her stood on a balcony, looking at the same sky.

“…Yoon Ji-ah,” he said softly.

As if her name already meant something.

Their lives had crossed for only a moment.

But neither of them knew—

That moment was the beginning

of something that would change everything.

👉 To be continued…

Ji-ah thought yesterday was just a coincidence.

A one-time encounter with someone from a completely different world.

But she was wrong.

The next morning, while she was wiping tables at the café, her manager suddenly called out—

“Ji-ah! Someone is here for you.”

“For me?” she asked, confused.

She stepped outside…

And froze.

It was him.

The same boy.

Tall. Calm. Untouchable.

Like he didn’t belong anywhere near her small, messy life.

Her heart started beating faster.

“W-why are you here?” she asked nervously.

“Come with me,” he said.

No explanation. No emotion.

Just a command.

Ji-ah frowned. “I have work—”

“I already talked to your manager.”

She blinked.

“What?”

“Five minutes. That’s all I need.”

Something about the way he spoke… made it hard to refuse.

Moments later, Ji-ah found herself sitting inside a luxury car.

Everything felt unreal.

She looked down at her worn-out shoes, feeling out of place.

“Where are we going?” she asked quietly.

“You’ll see.”

Soon, the car stopped in front of a tall glass building.

Inside, everything screamed wealth.

Ji-ah hesitated. “I don’t think I should—”

“Come.”

Again, that same calm voice.

She followed him.

They entered a private office.

He sat down like he owned the world.

“Sit,” he said.

Ji-ah slowly sat across from him.

“My name is Han Seo-jun.”

She nodded nervously. “Yoon Ji-ah…”

“I know.”

Her eyes widened slightly.

“I need your help,” he continued.

Ji-ah blinked. “Help?”

Seo-jun leaned back, his expression unreadable.

“Be my girlfriend.”

Silence filled the room.

Ji-ah stared at him, completely frozen.

“…Excuse me?”

“It’s fake,” he added. “A contract relationship.”

Her brain struggled to process it.

“Why… me?”

“You’re ordinary,” he said simply.

“No connections. No complications.”

That stung.

But she stayed quiet.

“My father wants me to marry someone for business,” he continued. “I need time. If I already have a girlfriend, he’ll stop forcing it.”

Ji-ah shook her head slightly. “This is crazy…”

“I’ll pay you.”

She paused.

“All your mother’s hospital bills,” he said calmly.

Her breath stopped.

“How… do you know about that?”

Seo-jun’s eyes met hers.

“I know everything I need to.”

Ji-ah looked down, her thoughts racing.

Her mother’s condition…

The unpaid bills…

Her failed exams…

Her helplessness…

Everything hit her at once.

“This isn’t right…” she whispered.

“Neither is your situation,” he replied.

His words were harsh

—but true.

She hated that.

“I’m not asking you to love me,” he added. “Just act.”

Act…

Pretend…

Lie…

Ji-ah closed her eyes for a moment.

Was this wrong?

Yes.

But was it her only chance?

Maybe.

She slowly opened her eyes.

“…What do I have to do?”

Seo-jun leaned forward slightly.

“Stay by my side. Appear in public. Convince everyone.”

“And after that?”

“We go our separate ways.”

Simple.

Cold.

Clear.

Ji-ah felt her chest tighten.

Why did that sound… painful?

After a long silence—

“…Okay,” she said softly.

Seo-jun nodded.

“Good.”

But Ji-ah didn’t feel good.

She felt like she had just stepped into something she couldn’t control.

Something dangerous.

Something that might change her life forever.

And deep inside—

Her heart whispered something she didn’t want to hear.

What if this fake story… becomes real?

Ji-ah stood in front of the mirror, barely recognizing herself.

The simple girl who worked in a café… was now wearing an elegant dress, her hair softly styled, her appearance completely transformed.

“Is this really me…?” she whispered.

“Stop staring. We’re getting late.”

Seo-jun’s voice came from behind.

Ji-ah turned around, slightly startled.

He looked the same as always—perfect, calm, distant.

But standing next to him like this…

made her feel like she didn’t belong.

They arrived at a grand hotel.

Bright lights. Expensive cars. People dressed like they lived in another world.

Ji-ah hesitated.

“I… don’t think I can do this.”

Seo-jun looked at her.

“You already agreed.”

“I know, but—”

Before she could finish—

He gently held her hand.

Ji-ah froze.

“Stay close,” he said quietly.

Her heart skipped a beat.

That one touch felt… too real.

Inside, whispers surrounded them.

“Who is she?”

“Is that Seo-jun’s girlfriend?”

“She’s not from our circle…”

Ji-ah could hear everything.

Her grip tightened slightly.

Seo-jun noticed.

“Don’t listen,” he murmured.

For the first time… his voice sounded soft.

The night continued with forced smiles and fake introductions.

Ji-ah tried her best to act natural.

But inside—

She felt small.

Out of place.

Like she was pretending to be someone she wasn’t.

Suddenly, a woman approached them.

Elegant. Confident.

Perfect.

“Seo-jun,” she smiled. “You didn’t tell me you had a girlfriend.”

Ji-ah felt the tension.

“This is Yoon Ji-ah,” Seo-jun said calmly.

The woman’s eyes scanned Ji-ah from head to toe.

“Oh… I see.”

That smile didn’t feel kind.

After she left, Ji-ah lowered her gaze.

“You don’t have to do this,” she said quietly.

Seo-jun frowned. “Do what?”

“Pretend like I belong here.”

For a moment, he said nothing.

Then—

“You’re doing fine.”

Ji-ah looked up, surprised.

It wasn’t much.

But those words…

felt warm.

Later that night, after the event ended, Ji-ah finally exhaled.

“That was exhausting…” she sighed.

Seo-jun watched her silently.

“You didn’t run away,” he said.

Ji-ah smiled slightly. “I wanted to.”

“…But I didn’t.”

For a brief moment—

They both smiled.

Something between them shifted.

Something small…

but real.

But just as Ji-ah started to feel comfortable—

Her vision blurred.

Her body felt weak.

“Ji-ah?”

The world spun.

And everything went dark.

When she opened her eyes—

She was in a hospital.

The beeping sound of machines filled the room.

Seo-jun stood nearby, his expression tense.

“You collapsed,” he said.

Ji-ah tried to sit up. “I’m fine—”

“Don’t.”

His voice was sharp.

But his eyes…

were filled with worry.

That scared her more.

“Why do you look like that?” she asked softly.

Seo-jun didn’t answer.

At that moment, a doctor walked in.

“Are you her guardian?” he asked Seo-jun.

“…Yes.”

Ji-ah’s heart skipped.

The doctor sighed.

“We need to talk.”

Something in his tone felt heavy.

Serious.

Dangerous.

Ji-ah’s fingers tightened on the bedsheet.

“What is it…?” she whispered.

The doctor looked at her gently.

“You’ve been ignoring your health for too long.”

A pause.

Then—

“There’s a serious condition we need to address immediately.”

Silence.

Ji-ah felt her world crack again.

Not now…

Not when things were just starting to change…

She slowly looked at Seo-jun.

His face was pale.

For the first time—

The cold, untouchable boy looked… afraid.