The morning sky was still gray when Ariana Sen stepped out of the crowded bus with tired eyes and aching legs.

The bus drove away immediately, leaving behind a cloud of dust and the loud sound of honking traffic.

Ariana adjusted the straps of her faded backpack and looked up.

Westbridge Academy stood in front of her like something out of a movie.

Tall black gates.

Huge glass buildings.

Perfect green lawns.

Students wearing expensive uniforms laughed beside luxury cars while drivers carried their bags for them.

Ariana looked down at her own shoes.

Old. Slightly torn. Cleaned carefully last night by hand.

She sighed.

“Fantastic,” she muttered. “I already feel poor.”

Her phone buzzed.

MOM: Did you reach safely?

A small smile appeared on Ariana’s face.

ARIANA: Yeah. Don’t worry.

MOM: Eat your lunch on time. And don’t argue with teachers.

ARIANA: No promises.

Her mother immediately sent an angry emoji.

Ariana laughed softly before locking her phone.

For a moment, her nervousness disappeared.

Then someone bumped into her shoulder.

“Watch it,” a girl snapped before walking away with her group.

Ariana blinked.

“…Nice school.”

She took a deep breath and entered the gates.

The moment she walked inside, she felt eyes on her.

Students glanced at her simple appearance before whispering among themselves.

“Who’s she?”

“New student?”

“She’s probably a scholarship student.”

“She doesn’t even look rich.”

Ariana pretended not to hear anything.

She was used to people judging her.

Back in middle school, everyone knew her as the girl who worked part-time after classes.

The girl with excellent grades but no money.

The girl who never joined school trips because she couldn’t afford them.

But none of that mattered now.

Westbridge Academy was her chance.

If she maintained top grades, she could get into one of the best universities in the country.

That was her goal.

Study hard.

Graduate.

Get a good job.

Help her mother.

Simple.

No distractions.

Especially not romance.

Romance only existed in dramas and novels anyway.

Real life was about surviving.

Ariana checked the schedule paper in her hand.

“Building C… second floor…”

The school was so huge that she got lost within five minutes.

Every hallway looked expensive.

Bright chandeliers.

Digital notice boards.

Air-conditioned classrooms.

Even the students smelled expensive somehow.

Ariana frowned.

“Why does everyone here look like shampoo models?”

Suddenly someone grabbed her arm dramatically.

“You’re new!”

Ariana almost screamed.

A girl with short brown hair grinned at her excitedly.

“I’m Maya! You looked confused, so I adopted you.”

“…Adopted?”

“Yes. Congratulations.”

Ariana stared at her.

Then laughed unexpectedly.

Maya immediately pointed at her.

“AHA! You laughed. Good. You’re officially my friend now.”

“That was fast.”

“I work efficiently.”

For the first time since arriving, Ariana relaxed slightly.

Maya walked beside her while talking nonstop.

“So where are you from?”

“North district.”

“Ohhhh. That’s far. No wonder you look exhausted.”

“I woke up at five.”

“Tragic.”

Ariana smiled faintly.

Maybe this school wouldn’t be completely terrible.

Then Maya suddenly stopped walking.

“Oh no.”

“What?”

Maya grabbed Ariana’s shoulders dramatically.

“There’s one very important rule in this school.”

Ariana raised an eyebrow.

“…Don’t die?”

“Close.”

Maya lowered her voice.

“Never mess with Kian Roy.”

Ariana blinked.

“Who?”

Maya looked horrified.

“You seriously don’t know him?”

“No?”

“You’re either brave or doomed.”

Before Ariana could ask further, students nearby suddenly became quieter.

Whispers spread through the hallway.

“He’s here…”

“Kian Roy…”

Ariana turned curiously.

A tall boy walked through the hallway surrounded by silence.

Not friends.

Silence.

Students moved aside automatically to make space for him.

He wore the school uniform perfectly, sleeves rolled neatly to his elbows.

Black hair.

Sharp jawline.

Cold expression.

And eyes so emotionless they almost looked unreal.

Girls stared openly.

Some students lowered their heads nervously.

But the boy ignored everyone.

Like none of them mattered.

Ariana frowned slightly.

“He looks annoying.”

Maya slapped a hand over Ariana’s mouth.

“DO YOU WANT TO DIE?!”

“What?!”

“That’s Kian Roy!”

Ariana looked back at him.

“So?”

“So?!” Maya whispered aggressively. “He’s basically the king of this school!”

“He looks more like he hasn’t slept in ten years.”

Maya stared at her like she was insane.

“You really are fearless.”

Kian passed by them without looking.

But for one brief second—

His eyes shifted toward Ariana.

A cold, unreadable glance.

Then he walked away.

Ariana exhaled.

“…Definitely annoying.”

Maya looked ready to faint.

Before she could continue panicking, the first bell rang loudly.

“We’re late!” Maya cried.

The two girls rushed upstairs toward Class 12-A.

Inside the classroom, students immediately noticed Ariana.

Some curious.

Some judgmental.

The teacher adjusted his glasses.

“You must be Ariana Sen.”

“Yes, sir.”

“You’re the scholarship transfer student, correct?”

The entire room became quieter.

Ariana hated that word already.

Scholarship student.

It felt like a label separating her from everyone else.

Still, she nodded politely.

“Yes.”

The teacher smiled slightly.

“You ranked first in the entrance exams. Impressive.”

Murmurs spread across the classroom.

“First?”

“She beat Kian?”

“No way.”

Ariana froze.

Wait.

She beat who?

Before she could ask, the classroom door opened.

And suddenly the room became silent again.

Kian Roy entered calmly with one hand in his pocket.

Without apologizing for being late.

Without even looking guilty.

The teacher didn’t scold him.

Of course he didn’t.

Rich people privilege.

Kian walked toward the back seat lazily.

Then stopped.

His eyes landed on Ariana.

The room held its breath.

For a second, nobody moved.

Then Kian sat down without saying a word.

Ariana frowned.

Weird atmosphere.

The teacher cleared his throat awkwardly.

“Ariana, introduce yourself.”

She looked away from Kian and faced the class.

“My name is Ariana Sen. I like coffee, quiet places, and people who mind their own business.”

Several students laughed quietly.

Even the teacher smiled.

“Alright, you may sit beside Maya for now.”

Ariana walked toward the empty seat near Maya.

As she sat down, Maya immediately leaned closer.

“You beat Kian in the entrance exam.”

“…And?”

“And nobody has beaten him before.”

Ariana glanced toward the back of the classroom.

Kian wasn’t listening.

Or at least he pretended not to.

He stared out the window silently while spinning a pen between his fingers.

Completely uninterested.

Ariana looked away.

Good.

She wasn’t interested either.

Classes continued normally for the next hour.

Mostly.

The girls kept staring at Kian.

The boys acted nervous around him.

And nobody spoke to him directly unless necessary.

It was honestly ridiculous.

At lunch break, Maya dragged Ariana toward the cafeteria.

The cafeteria looked more like a five-star restaurant.

Ariana nearly cried after seeing the prices.

“One sandwich costs THIS much?!”

Maya laughed.

“Relax. Rich kids don’t care.”

“Well, I care. This sandwich costs half my bus fare.”

Maya eventually convinced her to buy something small.

The two girls sat near the corner.

Maya immediately began gossiping.

“So basically every girl in school likes Kian.”

“Why?”

“Because he’s handsome.”

“That’s all?”

“And rich.”

“Ah. There it is.”

Maya giggled.

“But seriously, nobody understands him. He barely talks.”

“Maybe because people worship him like a celebrity.”

“That too.”

Ariana took a bite of her sandwich quietly.

Then suddenly—

The cafeteria became louder.

Students whispered excitedly.

Girls fixed their hair.

Maya sighed dramatically.

“The celebrity has arrived.”

Kian entered the cafeteria with another boy beside him.

Unlike Kian, the other boy smiled easily and greeted people casually.

“That’s Daniel,” Maya explained. “Kian’s best friend.”

Kian looked completely uninterested in the attention around him.

His gaze swept across the cafeteria lazily—

And stopped on Ariana.

She frowned.

Why was he looking at her?

Kian suddenly began walking toward their table.

Maya nearly choked on juice.

“No no no no—why is he coming HERE?!”

Ariana blinked.

A second later, Kian stopped directly beside their table.

The entire cafeteria stared openly now.

Kian looked at Ariana calmly.

“You’re Ariana Sen.”

Not a question.

A statement.

Ariana crossed her arms slightly.

“And you’re Kian Roy. Congratulations.”

Daniel burst out laughing beside him.

Kian’s expression didn’t change.

“You beat my exam score.”

“…Okay?”

“You don’t seem proud.”

“Should I throw a party?”

Daniel laughed harder.

Even Kian looked slightly amused for a second.

Maya looked like she was witnessing the end of the world.

Kian studied Ariana quietly.

“You’re different.”

Ariana raised an eyebrow.

“You say that like it’s an insult.”

“Maybe it’s a compliment.”

Before Ariana could respond, a beautiful girl approached their table confidently.

Long shiny hair.

Perfect makeup.

Expensive jewelry.

And a smile that looked fake.

“Kian,” she said softly. “You forgot your notebook.”

Kian barely glanced at her.

“Thanks.”

The girl’s eyes immediately shifted toward Ariana.

And hardened.

Maya leaned closer and whispered:

“That’s Rhea Kapoor.”

Ariana immediately understood.

Ah.

The jealous type.

Rhea smiled politely at Ariana.

But her eyes said something completely different.

“You’re the new student, right?”

“Yes.”

“I’m sure Westbridge feels very different from schools like yours.”

The insult was subtle.

But obvious.

Ariana smiled sweetly.

“Actually, the students here are less mature than my old school.”

Daniel covered his mouth to stop laughing.

Maya looked seconds away from screaming.

Rhea’s smile twitched.

Kian looked directly at Ariana again.

And for the first time—

Something genuinely interested appeared in his eyes.

Rhea noticed.

And instantly hated Ariana.

The tension became awkward quickly.

So Ariana stood up.

“I need to go before rich people energy kills me.”

Daniel laughed loudly again.

Kian watched her leave silently.

While Rhea stared at Ariana with clear irritation.

The rest of the day passed strangely.

Everywhere Ariana went, people whispered about her.

The new girl.

The scholarship student.

The girl who talked back to Kian Roy.

By the final class, Ariana was exhausted.

As students packed their bags, Maya grabbed her hand.

“Come to the rooftop with me.”

“Why?”

“Because I always eat snacks there after school.”

“That’s oddly specific.”

“It’s therapy.”

The rooftop was quieter than the rest of the school.

The evening wind felt cool against Ariana’s skin.

For the first time all day, she relaxed.

“This place is nice,” she admitted.

“Told you.”

The girls sat near the fence while eating chips.

Maya suddenly looked serious.

“Can I ask something?”

“Sure.”

“Why did you come to Westbridge?”

Ariana looked down quietly.

“My mom works too hard,” she said softly. “I want to give her a better life someday.”

Maya’s expression softened.

“That’s kind of cool.”

“It’s mostly stressful.”

“Still cool.”

Ariana smiled faintly.

Maybe transferring here wouldn’t be completely terrible after all.

Then the rooftop door opened.

Maya groaned immediately.

“Never mind. Peace is dead.”

Ariana turned.

Kian walked onto the rooftop.

Alone.

He stopped after seeing them.

For a second, nobody spoke.

Then Maya stood up dramatically.

“I suddenly remembered I have homework. Goodbye.”

Before Ariana could stop her, Maya escaped.

Traitor.

Now Ariana was alone with Kian.

He walked toward the fence silently.

The sunset reflected softly against his dark hair.

For someone so popular, he looked strangely lonely standing there.

Ariana frowned slightly.

“You always scare people away naturally?”

“They leave on their own.”

“What a talent.”

Kian glanced sideways at her.

“You’re not scared of me.”

“Should I be?”

“Most people are.”

Ariana shrugged.

“You’re just a guy.”

For some reason, that answer made him go quiet.

The wind moved gently around them.

Then Kian suddenly asked:

“Why did you transfer here?”

Ariana looked surprised.

“That’s personal.”

“You can ask me something too.”

“I don’t care enough.”

For the first time—

Kian smiled slightly.

Small.

Barely visible.

But real.

And somehow that tiny smile changed his entire face.

Ariana looked away quickly.

Dangerous.

Way too dangerous.

A notification sound interrupted the moment.

Kian checked his phone.

His expression immediately became colder.

The warmth disappeared instantly.

Ariana noticed.

“Bad news?”

“Something like that.”

He turned to leave.

But before opening the door, he paused.

Then without looking back, he said quietly:

“You really are different, Ariana Sen.”

And left.

Ariana stared at the closed door afterward.

Her heartbeat felt weirdly fast.

“…Annoying,” she muttered.

But for some reason—

She couldn’t stop thinking about him.

Downstairs, students still whispered about Kian Roy.

The cold prince.

The untouchable king of Westbridge Academy.

The boy everyone feared.

But none of them noticed something important.

For the first time in a very long time—

Kian Roy had smiled twice in one day.

And both times…

Because of Ariana Sen.

✨ NEW STORY ALERT ✨

🏫💖 The Ice Prince Fell for Me 💖🏫

A cold-hearted school prince.

A fearless scholarship girl.

One accidental meeting that changes everything…

When Ariana Sen transfers to the elite Westbridge Academy, she only wants to focus on her studies and build a better future.

But after accidentally spilling coffee on the school’s untouchable king, Kian Roy, her peaceful life turns into complete chaos.

Rumors.

Jealous rivals.

Fake dating scandals.

Hidden secrets.

And a boy who slowly starts smiling only because of her…

Will Ariana survive this school full of drama and heartbreak?

Or will she fall for the boy everyone fears?

✨ Rich Boy × Poor Girl

✨ School Romance

✨ Slow Burn

✨ Jealousy & Drama

✨ Funny Moments

✨ Emotional Secrets

Episode 2 is coming soon!! 🖤

Please support, vote, comment, and add it to your library~ ✨

Ariana Sen officially decided that Westbridge Academy was cursed.

Not haunted.

Not unlucky.

Cursed.

Because no normal school could create this much drama within twenty-four hours.

The next morning, Ariana stood inside a crowded train with half-closed eyes and a coffee cup in her hand while mentally preparing herself for another exhausting day.

Outside the window, the city slowly woke up beneath the pale morning sky.

Meanwhile, Ariana wanted to disappear permanently.

Her phone buzzed aggressively.

MAYA: ARE YOU ALIVE?!

ARIANA: Unfortunately.

MAYA: The school group chat is going insane.

ARIANA: Why?

Three dots appeared instantly.

Then—

MAYA: Because Kian Roy smiled at you yesterday.

Ariana nearly dropped her coffee.

An old woman beside her gave her a judgmental look.

“Sorry,” Ariana muttered awkwardly.

She quickly typed back.

ARIANA: People need hobbies.

MAYA: NO YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND.

MAYA: HE NEVER SMILES.

ARIANA: Maybe his face glitched.

MAYA: I’m serious!!

ARIANA: And I’m sleepy.

She locked her phone before Maya could send another dramatic message.

Honestly, Ariana still didn’t understand why everyone treated Kian like some mythical creature.

Yes, he was handsome.

Yes, he was rich.

Yes, he had intense “I hate humanity” energy.

But people acted like he was royalty.

It was ridiculous.

By the time Ariana reached Westbridge Academy, the campus was already buzzing with energy.

Students gathered near the fountain while expensive cars lined up outside the gates.

Ariana walked past them quietly, hoping for at least one peaceful day.

That hope died immediately.

Because the moment she entered the hallway—

People started staring.

Again.

Some girls whispered while looking directly at her.

Others openly glared.

Ariana stopped walking.

“…Why are they looking at me like I committed a crime?”

Then she heard someone whisper:

“That’s the girl.”

“The one Kian smiled at.”

“Ohhh…”

Ariana closed her eyes slowly.

Wonderful.

Absolutely wonderful.

Maya suddenly appeared out of nowhere and grabbed her arm dramatically.

“You’re famous now.”

“I hate this school.”

“I told you yesterday that your life was over.”

Ariana sighed deeply.

“You’re enjoying this too much.”

“Obviously.”

The girls walked toward class together while Maya updated Ariana on the latest gossip.

“Apparently Rhea was furious yesterday.”

“Who?”

“The girl who brought Kian’s notebook.”

“Oh. Miss Rich Princess.”

Maya snorted.

“She’s liked Kian for years.”

“And?”

“And he ignores her existence.”

Ariana almost laughed.

“That’s honestly kind of funny.”

“It’s tragic for her and entertaining for everyone else.”

As they entered Class 12-A, conversations immediately quieted.

Ariana felt several eyes following her again.

This school seriously needed therapy.

Maya froze suddenly beside her.

“…Oh no.”

Ariana looked up.

And immediately understood the problem.

The classroom seating arrangement had changed.

A new chart was taped beside the board.

Students crowded around it while whispering excitedly.

Ariana frowned.

“What’s happening?”

Maya looked at her with pity.

“You should prepare yourself emotionally.”

“That sentence never leads to good things.”

Slowly, Ariana walked closer to the chart.

Her eyes scanned the names.

Then stopped.

Seat Number 18: Ariana Sen

Seat Number 19: Kian Roy

Silence.

Absolute silence inside Ariana’s soul.

“…No.”

Maya grabbed her shoulders.

“Stay strong.”

“No.”

“You can survive this.”

“No.”

“This is your villain origin story.”

Ariana turned dramatically.

“I’m transferring schools.”

Before Maya could continue being useless, the classroom door opened.

And suddenly everyone became quieter.

Kian entered lazily with one hand in his pocket.

Several girls immediately straightened their posture.

One almost dropped her pen.

Kian ignored everyone as usual.

Then his gaze landed on Ariana.

And shifted toward the seating chart.

A small pause.

Then—

A tiny smirk appeared on his face.

Ariana narrowed her eyes immediately.

“You look suspicious.”

Kian walked past her calmly.

“You look stressed.”

“I was happy before this.”

“Life is disappointing sometimes.”

Maya looked between them like she was watching a live drama series.

The teacher entered before Ariana could argue further.

“Everyone, take your seats.”

Ariana walked toward the back row like she was approaching her execution.

Kian already sat beside the window with his usual unreadable expression.

Ariana dropped into the chair beside him dramatically.

“I hate this.”

“You’ve mentioned.”

“You’re ruining my academic environment.”

“You talk too much.”

“And you stare too much.”

Kian leaned back lazily.

“You noticed?”

Ariana opened her notebook aggressively.

“This is why nobody likes you.”

The class froze again.

Daniel, sitting nearby, nearly started choking from laughter.

Meanwhile Kian simply rested his chin against one hand while looking at Ariana calmly.

“You’re interesting.”

“And you’re annoying.”

For some reason—

That only amused him more.

The teacher began the lesson, but Ariana quickly realized something horrifying.

Kian was smart.

Like genuinely terrifyingly smart.

Every question the teacher asked—

He answered effortlessly.

Mathematics. Literature. Science.

It was honestly irritating.

At one point, the teacher wrote a difficult equation on the board.

“Can anyone solve this?”

The classroom became silent.

Then—

Ariana raised her hand.

At the same time as Kian.

The class immediately became interested.

The teacher looked surprised.

“Both of you come solve it.”

Ariana stood confidently and walked toward the board.

Beside her, Kian picked up another marker calmly.

The two began solving the equation simultaneously.

The classroom watched silently.

Even the teacher looked impressed.

Within minutes—

Both answers were correct.

Exactly correct.

Ariana glanced sideways at Kian.

He looked back at her calmly.

Competitive energy filled the air instantly.

The teacher laughed awkwardly.

“Well… it seems Class 12-A now has two geniuses.”

Students murmured excitedly.

Meanwhile Ariana sat back down beside Kian.

“You did that on purpose.”

“So did you.”

“You’re irritating.”

“You already said that.”

Ariana groaned quietly.

This boy was impossible.

During break time, several students suddenly surrounded Ariana.

“What’s it like sitting beside Kian?”

“Are you guys friends?”

“Did he really smile yesterday?”

Ariana looked horrified.

“We literally sat together for ten minutes.”

“But he talks to you!”

“That’s because he enjoys causing me emotional damage.”

The students laughed.

But before the conversation could continue—

Rhea Kapoor entered the classroom.

The atmosphere changed immediately.

Rhea walked elegantly toward Ariana’s desk.

Every step looked calculated.

She smiled politely.

“Ariana, right?”

Ariana looked up calmly.

“Yes?”

“I heard you’re adjusting well here.”

“I’m surviving.”

Some students snorted quietly.

Rhea’s smile tightened slightly.

“That’s good. Westbridge can be difficult for… certain students.”

There it was again.

That subtle rich-girl superiority.

Ariana leaned back in her chair.

“You should try saying what you actually mean someday. It saves time.”

The classroom became quiet instantly.

Rhea’s eyes hardened.

Before she could respond—

A voice interrupted calmly.

“She’s busy.”

Everyone turned.

Kian looked up from his phone with cold eyes.

But he wasn’t looking at Ariana.

He was looking at Rhea.

The atmosphere suddenly felt tense.

Rhea forced another smile.

“I was just talking.”

“You’re interrupting my silence.”

Daniel immediately covered his face to hide laughter.

Rhea looked embarrassed for half a second.

Then angry.

Without another word, she walked away.

The classroom exploded into whispers immediately.

“Oh my god…”

“He defended her.”

“Rhea looks furious.”

Ariana turned toward Kian slowly.

“…Did you just rescue me?”

Kian didn’t look up from his phone.

“You were handling it badly.”

“I was doing great.”

“You looked violent.”

“I WAS becoming violent.”

For the first time that day—

Kian laughed quietly.

A real laugh.

Not loud.

Not dramatic.

But genuine.

And once again, the entire classroom stared like they had witnessed a supernatural event.

Ariana blinked.

“…Okay that’s actually creepy.”

“What is?”

“Everyone reacting every time you smile.”

Kian’s expression returned to normal instantly.

“They exaggerate things.”

“No. You just act like a depressed vampire.”

Daniel burst out laughing so hard he nearly fell off his chair.

Even nearby students started laughing nervously.

Kian stared at Ariana silently for a moment.

Then shook his head slightly.

“You really don’t care who I am.”

Ariana frowned.

“Should I?”

Most people would’ve answered differently.

Most people treated him carefully.

Politely.

Like they were afraid of upsetting him.

But Ariana spoke to him normally.

Argued normally.

Looked directly into his eyes without fear.

And somehow—

That felt new.

The rest of the morning passed strangely fast.

Somehow Ariana and Kian kept arguing over everything.

Class answers.

Books.

Music.

Even coffee flavors.

“You drink bitter coffee on purpose?” Ariana asked in horror.

Kian looked calm.

“It tastes better.”

“It tastes like sadness.”

“You’re dramatic.”

“And you have no personality.”

Daniel whispered to another student nearby:

“This is the funniest thing I’ve seen all year.”

At lunch break, Ariana escaped toward the cafeteria before more social disasters could happen.

Unfortunately—

Kian followed.

Ariana noticed immediately.

“You know stalking is illegal, right?”

“I’m going to lunch.”

“You could go literally anywhere else.”

“And yet here I am.”

Several students stared openly as Kian sat across from Ariana and Maya.

Maya looked ready to sell her soul for gossip.

Daniel joined them casually.

“This feels historic.”

Ariana pointed at him.

“You encourage him too much.”

Daniel grinned.

“Seeing Kian act human is entertaining.”

“I was always human.”

“That’s debatable,” Ariana muttered.

Kian heard her anyway.

His eyes narrowed slightly.

“You enjoy insulting me.”

“You make it easy.”

Maya suddenly leaned toward Ariana dramatically.

“Please marry him someday. I need this entertainment forever.”

Ariana nearly inhaled juice wrong.

Kian looked oddly amused.

Meanwhile half the cafeteria watched them shamelessly.

Near the entrance, Rhea stood frozen beside her friends.

Her expression darkened while watching Ariana laugh at something Daniel said.

Then—

Kian looked at Ariana again.

Softly.

Not cold.

Not distant.

And Rhea noticed.

That was enough.

After lunch, rumors spread through the school faster than wildfire.

“The Ice Prince likes the scholarship girl.”

“They’re always together.”

“He smiled again today.”

“Rhea is definitely going to start a war.”

By final period, Ariana wanted peace desperately.

Instead, she received chaos.

The literature teacher assigned a partner project.

“Your partners will be based on seating arrangements.”

Ariana already knew.

She just knew.

“Kian Roy and Ariana Sen.”

The classroom erupted immediately.

Daniel looked delighted.

Maya looked spiritually exhausted.

And Ariana slowly placed her head against the desk.

“I’m dropping out.”

Beside her, Kian looked completely relaxed.

“Don’t be dramatic.”

“You are literally academic suffering in human form.”

“Interesting description.”

“I have many.”

After school, students slowly left campus while Ariana organized her notes angrily.

She planned to leave quickly before additional disasters appeared.

Unfortunately—

Kian stood beside her desk.

“We should discuss the project.”

Ariana stared.

“You’re serious?”

“Yes.”

“…Now?”

“You’ll complain later if we delay it.”

Annoyingly logical.

Ariana sighed dramatically.

“Fine.”

The library was nearly empty during evening hours.

Golden sunlight filtered softly through the tall windows while silence filled the room.

Ariana sat across from Kian with books spread around them.

For a while, neither spoke much.

Surprisingly—

Working with him felt easy.

Too easy.

Kian understood everything quickly.

And unlike most students, he actually listened when Ariana spoke.

At one point, Ariana looked up from her notes.

“You’re smarter than I expected.”

Kian raised an eyebrow.

“That sounds insulting.”

“It is.”

“You’re rude.”

“You survive somehow.”

A small smile appeared on his lips again.

Ariana looked away immediately afterward.

Dangerous.

That smile was genuinely dangerous.

Silence settled comfortably between them for a moment.

Then suddenly—

A girl approached their table nervously.

“K-Kian…”

Ariana recognized her immediately.

One of the girls from their class.

The girl held out a small pink envelope with trembling hands.

Several students nearby secretly watched.

A confession letter.

Classic.

“I really like you,” the girl whispered.

The library became painfully quiet.

Ariana awkwardly looked down at her book.

Well.

This was uncomfortable.

Kian looked at the letter calmly.

Then at the girl.

And said only:

“No.”

Direct. Cold. Simple.

The girl’s face turned red instantly.

“O-Oh…”

She quickly ran away in embarrassment.

Ariana stared at him.

“…You could’ve been nicer.”

Kian returned to reading calmly.

“Being unclear creates false hope.”

“That was emotionally brutal.”

“It’s honest.”

Ariana frowned slightly.

Maybe that was true.

Still—

There was something lonely about the way he said it.

Like he had already disconnected himself from everyone else long ago.

As the sun slowly set outside, Ariana packed her books quietly.

“We should leave.”

Kian nodded once.

The two walked through the empty hallway together.

For once, nobody stared.

Nobody whispered.

It was strangely peaceful.

Then suddenly—

The lights flickered briefly.

Ariana stopped walking.

“…Tell me this school isn’t haunted.”

Kian looked amused.

“You scare easily for someone who argues constantly.”

“I don’t argue constantly.”

“You argued with me six times today.”

“Because you exist incorrectly.”

That actually made him laugh again.

Ariana blinked.

There it was again.

That rare genuine smile.

And somehow—

Seeing it felt strangely rewarding.

When they finally reached the school entrance, the evening sky had already darkened.

Luxury cars waited outside for students.

A black car stopped near Kian immediately.

A driver stepped out respectfully.

“Young Master.”

The warmth disappeared from Kian’s face instantly.

Like someone flipped a switch.

His expression became cold again.

Distant.

Ariana noticed the change immediately.

For a second—

He looked exhausted.

Not physically.

Emotionally.

“Kian,” the driver said carefully. “Your father is waiting.”

A shadow crossed Kian’s eyes.

Then he looked toward Ariana briefly.

“See you tomorrow.”

Before she could answer, he entered the car.

And left.

Ariana stood there quietly afterward.

Something about that interaction felt wrong.

The driver looked nervous around Kian.

And Kian himself…

Looked trapped.

Maya suddenly appeared beside Ariana carrying snacks.

“You look confused.”

Ariana looked toward the road where the black car disappeared.

“…What’s his deal?”

Maya’s playful expression softened slightly.

“Kian?”

“Yeah.”

Maya hesitated.

Then sighed.

“People think he has a perfect life because he’s rich.”

“But?”

“But nobody really knows what happens in the Roy family.”

Ariana stayed quiet.

The cold expression on Kian’s face replayed in her mind again.

For the first time—

She wondered if the boy everyone feared…

Might actually be lonely instead.

And somewhere else in the city—

Kian Roy sat silently inside the backseat of the black car.

His phone screen still displayed Ariana’s contact name.

The corners of his lips lifted slightly.

A tiny smile.

One he didn’t even realize was there.

Because for the first time in years—

School no longer felt boring.

And somehow…

That girl with sarcastic eyes and messy hair was becoming impossible to ignore.