Chapter 1 — The Transfer Student

The classroom of Class 3-A buzzed with noise long before the bell rang. Students gathered around in small circles, gossiping about the newest rumor spreading across the prestigious halls of St. Virel Academy.

“A transfer student daw.” “From another country?” “I heard his from rich family.” “Nah, maybe expelled somewhere.”

The rumors only grew louder until the classroom door slid open.

Silence.

Their adviser stepped inside first, fixing his glasses nervously before clearing his throat.

“Settle down, everyone. We have a new student joining our class today.”

A tall figure entered behind him. The first thing everyone noticed was how plain he looked.

Messy black hair nearly covered his eyes. Thick glasses rested on his nose, and an oversized dark jacket hid most of his frame. He looked like the type who spent all day buried in books instead of talking to people.

A nerd. At least… that was everyone’s first thought.

But the moment he stepped forward, several students

straightened unconsciously. Because even with the dull appearance, there was something strangely attractive about him. His posture was elegant. His movements were calm. And beneath the loose uniform, his slim figure was impossible to miss.

The girls whispered immediately.

“Wait… he’s kinda handsome.” “No, seriously, look at his jawline.”

“He’d probably look better without the hair.”

At the back of the room, a few boys scoffed.

“Looks weak.”

“Probably another teacher’s pet.”

The adviser gestured toward the class.

“Go ahead and introduce yourself.”

The boy adjusted his glasses slightly before speaking.

“My name is Ethan.”

His voice was smooth and deep—far too elegant for someone who looked so ordinary. The room went quiet again. Even the adviser blinked awkwardly.

“…That’s it?”

Ethan looked at him calmly.

“Yes. That’s all.”

A few students snorted in amusement.

Others exchanged curious looks.

Weird.

The adviser coughed before rubbing the back of his neck.

“Right… anyway, Ethan, you can sit beside—”

Before he could finish, the classroom door suddenly slammed open.

A tall guy walked in lazily, carrying his bag over one shoulder. The atmosphere instantly changed. Some students straightened up. Others avoided eye contact entirely. Because everyone knew him.

Lucas Vale.

The most popular—and most feared—student in Class 3-A. Known for his fights, terrible attitude, and cold personality.

“Late again, Lucas,” the adviser sighed. Lucas ignored him completely.

His sharp eyes scanned the room carelessly until they

landed on Ethan. For the first time that morning, his expression changed.

Interest.

Just for a second. The adviser quickly pointed toward the empty seat beside Lucas.

“Perfect timing. Ethan, you’ll sit there.” The entire classroom froze.

“Beside Lucas?!”

“Good luck…”

“That transfer student’s dead.”

But Ethan simply walked forward without hesitation.

Step.

Step.

Step.

When he finally reached the seat, Lucas leaned back lazily in his chair, watching him closely. Up close, Ethan looked even prettier. Too pretty.

Lucas noticed the pale skin hidden beneath the messy hair. The elegant fingers. The faint scent of rain and books. Not a nerd. Definitely not.

Ethan calmly placed his bag down and sat beside him.

Neither spoke for a few seconds. Then Lucas smirked slightly.

“You don’t look scared.”

Ethan turned toward him slowly behind those thick glasses.

“And you don’t look as dangerous as they say.”

The classroom nearly exploded from shock. Someone actually talked back to Lucas Vale. And instead of getting angry—

Lucas laughed.

A low, amused laugh that made the entire class stare even harder. Interesting. For the first time in months…Lucas finally found something entertaining.

Chapter 2 — Familiar

The lecture dragged on for almost two hours. The professor kept discussing advanced theories while writing formulas endlessly across the board. Most of the students were already half-dead from boredom.

Well… except Ethan.

He sat quietly beside the window, listening attentively while occasionally taking notes. His expression stayed calm the entire time, his long dark hair falling slightly

over his glasses whenever he lowered his head.

Meanwhile, beside him— Lucas was completely asleep. Head resting on his arm. Jacket thrown lazily over his shoulder. Not even pretending to listen. At some point, the professor gave up trying to wake him.

Again.

The class had already gotten used to it anyway. Some girls secretly glanced between Ethan and Lucas every few minutes. Oddly enough, the two looked good together. One looked neat and mysterious. The other looked dangerous and untouchable. Completely opposite. Yet strangely fitting. Finally, the bell rang.

The entire room instantly came alive with relieved sighs and chatter.

“Finally!”

“I thought I was gonna die.”

The professor fixed the papers in his hands before speaking once more.

“Before you all leave, I have an announcement.”

The room quieted slightly.

“For the next month, another student from a different section will temporarily join our class due to some internal scheduling problems.”

The moment he finished speaking, whispers immediately spread everywhere.

“Wait… from Section A?” “No way…”

“Please tell me his gonna be here ” Several girls suddenly looked excited.

Even some of the boys reacted. Because there was only one student famous enough to cause this much noise. He was called the ice prince

Ethan noticed the chaos but didn't react. The professor sighed tiredly.

“Yes. they will be starting tomorrow, so behave yourselves.”

The classroom nearly exploded.

“Oh my god.”

"I can finally see him every day"

“We’re saved.”

"Oh, prince we'll be here tomorrow, I'm so excited"

"Come on girl, he wouldn't be interested in you any way, Hahahaa"

"my hope still up"

"yeah,like everyone"

“I’m definitely coming early tomorrow.”

Meanwhile, Ethan simply zipped his bag closed without much interest. Unlike everyone else, he didn’t ask questions. Didn’t react. Didn’t even look curious.

He quietly stood up, preparing to leave the classroom.

Beside him, Lucas was still asleep. Or at least… pretending to be. Ethan paused for a moment.

His gaze rested silently on Lucas’s sleeping figure. Then, slowly— He leaned down slightly and spoke in a low voice only Lucas could hear.

“You never change.”. A faint smile appeared on Ethan’s lips. Small. Almost nostalgic. Then he walked away.

The classroom door slid shut behind him.

Silence.

A few seconds later—

Lucas’s eyes slowly opened.

Awake.

Completely awake.

For the first time that day, his usual lazy expression disappeared. Because that voice… That sentence…It sounded far too familiar. Lucas stared toward the closed classroom door.

“…Who the hell are you?” he muttered quietly.

But deep inside— For some reason— His heart already knew the answer.

Chapter 3 — The Library

The next day passed like any ordinary school day.

Students rushed through the hallways carrying books and unfinished assignments while teachers

complained about deadlines nobody remembered.

Inside the crowded corridors of St. Virel Academy, Ethan quietly walked alone with one hand inside his pocket. Even after only one day, people had already started recognizing him. The mysterious transfer student. Some students stared because of curiosity.

Others because of his looks.

And a few because they were trying to figure out why Lucas Vale suddenly seemed interested in him.

“Excuse me!”

A cheerful voice stopped Ethan in the hallway.

He turned slightly. A group of girls from his class stood nearby, looking both nervous and excited. One of them stepped forward first.

“You’re Ethan, right?”

“Where are you from?”

“What school did you transfer from?”

“What’s your family background?”

“Are you rich?”

“Why did you transfer here?”

Questions immediately came one after another without pause. Ethan simply blinked behind his glasses while quietly listening. Before things became worse, another girl quickly stepped between them with an awkward laugh.

“Come on, guys. Don’t interrogate him.”

She smiled apologetically toward Ethan.

“I’m Lyla, by the way.”

Lyla Hart.

Unlike the others, her expression looked sincere rather than overly curious.

Ethan gave a small polite smile.

“Nice to meet you.”

The girls nearly melted from that simple smile alone.

Lyla awkwardly cleared her throat before asking again.

“Uh… where are you going? Wanna join us for lunch?”

The other girls instantly nodded excitedly. But Ethan gently shook his head.

“Sorry. There’s somewhere I want to go.”

He paused briefly before adding softly,

“And I’d like to be alone for now.”

There was no harshness in his tone. Yet somehow… It still felt distant. Ethan gave them one final polite nod before walking past them calmly. The girls remained frozen for a few seconds.

“…Oh gosh,” one whispered dramatically. “He’s kinda cold. Not what I expected.”

Another sighed.

“But he’s still handsome though.”

Lyla laughed helplessly.

“Come on, guys. Forget the new guy. Let’s go.”

Meanwhile, Ethan continued walking through the quieter parts of the academy until he finally reached the library. The moment he entered, silence welcomed him.

Compared to the noisy hallways outside, the library felt peaceful. Comfortable. Rows of towering bookshelves stretched endlessly beneath warm afternoon light.

Ethan slowly walked between the shelves, his fingers brushing lightly against old book spines as though searching for something specific.

History. Philosophy. Literature. None of them interested him. Then finally— His hand stopped.

“There you are…”

A faint smile appeared on his lips as he pulled a thick dark-covered book from the shelf. The exact book he had been looking for.

But suddenly—

Another hand reached for the same book at the exact same time. Their fingers touched.

Ethan paused.

Slowly, he looked up.

And there stood Lucas.

His sharp eyes stared directly at Ethan with clear surprise before narrowing slightly in amusement.

“Well,” Lucas said lazily, “looks like we have the same taste.”

For a brief second— Neither of them let go of the book.