Chapter 01

Han Yeori's POV

…

Tears kept rolling from my eyes as my cheeks' still stinging from the pain due to the non-stop slap I endured from them, Hyun Mira, the only daughter of our principal and her minions. They would always drag me to the restroom and beat me up there until they don’t have enough energy to beat me and leave after that like i'm just a piece of a trash that's not worth for their attention.

I force myself to stand up by holding at the sink for support with my other hand clutching on my stomach. Successfully getting on my feet, I see my horrible reflection at the mirror. Full of bruises, cuts, tears that seem won't ever stop from falling.

After staring at my pathetic self in the mirror, I washed my face and let my hair just fall, serving as a curtain to hide the other bruises on my face. Quickly picking up my bag and exiting the restroom, walking with my head down while trying my best to carry my aching body and just as when I'm halfway close to my next period, I bumped into someone. Basically, it’s a guy.

“I’m sorry.” I apologize without even turning to see him but I heard him saying “it’s fine.” I didn’t stop my pace and walked directly to my next class. Fortunately, the teacher is not here yet. I took my seat and open my notes to review. Killing the time until the teacher finally arrives and greet us.

To be honest, I didn’t listen to everything that she says and just focus on my notes not until someone took the empty seat next to me. New student I guess, I took a glance to my side and I could tell that it’s a guy because of his uniform.

He’s staring at me, I can sense it, like waiting for me to turn my head to face him but I didn’t. Must be wondering why I look like this. Ruined. That's the best word I could describe at myself right now.

I’m the top 1 in the class but unlike the other typical top students that you mostly have watched in movies I’m not sociable or friendly one since all of the students in this school are toxic people. Usually, if you're a top student people would be friendly with you and admire you but in my life it tells the opposite.

I don’t have friends, not even one and I guess this one here will be just like the other students who always judge me or bully me. After the class, all of the girls in the room rushes over to him, never forgetting to send me a disgusted look because he’s sitting next to someone like me which I didn’t care.

“Oppa, why did you chose to sit here? You shouldn’t be sitting next to a girl like her.”

“Next time, sit beside me, Oppa.”

“Oppa let’s hang out together. Okay? We can tour you around.”

They say while giggling and almost sitting on his lap but the guy didn’t even respond to them. I put all my notes and book inside my bag and stood up not taking a look at the guy sitting beside me. He's about to leave too but struggling to get away from those girls fangirling over him.

I head straight to the big tree near the school and sat under. It’s my favorite place actually, a kind of healing place where I can see the sunset and have some peaceful mind. I come here often, especially when I’m depressed and crying out whatever thorns of pain I have in my heart.

I look around me, noticing the dead leaves falling from the tree and the other leaves that's already on the ground, lying helplessly and sad.

Right, today is the first day of autumn season, the third season of the year when crops and fruits are gathered and leaves fall.

Too immersed at beautiful sunset infront of me, I didn’t realize my tears falling down from my face until it drops on my hand. I wish all my worries and pain will fall easily just like those dead leaves in the autumn season. I think loudly, sighing before picking up a dead leaf and wrote something before putting it back to the ground and left.

…

Author’s POV

Yeori went on her way home after she let some of her emotion out under the tree and left the dead leaf there. but little did she know, someone’s quietly staring at her from afar while she's silently crying. After she left, he walks to the place where Yeori have just sat on and there he sees the dead leaf she have wrote on. He picks it up and starts to read what's written on it with full of curiosity.

“Even in different season, I’m always falling to the ground like a dead leaves…and no one would care.”

Another day of school and Yeori's at her seat as usual, reading her lectures while putting on her earphone as she listens to a song so she won't hear their stupid comments about her. Since the teacher has not yet arrived to the class, she decides to scribble something on her notes while someone sits on the empty chair next to her, it’s the new guy.

Yeori didn’t even bother to look at him and just focus on the words she's writing on her notes. He’s been looking at her the whole time, she could sense that and it annoys her so she finally turned her face him and there she finally sees him. Eyes met with his own and he's obviously surprised at her sudden turn.

The guy has baby pinked hair, broad shoulders, plump lips, tall and really handsome like an angel. He looked like a manga prince who just came out from the manga world. No wonder all the girls yesterday keep fangirling over him at the first place. But one thing that makes Yeori unique from all of the girls is she doesn't easily get attracted. For her, it’s just seem normal

Han Yeori’s POV

“Why are you looking at me the whole time?” I straightly asks and he's just silent there on his seat, still looking at me so I snap a finger in front of him because he seem like spacing out.

“Oh, I’m sorry.” He apologize as he gave me a shy smile. I get back to my notes and continued what I’m doing.

After a few minutes, someone came and informs us that our teacher will be absent today and with that, all of my classmates cheered up and left the classroom except me…and him. I decide to stay for a while, wanting to be alone to have some peace of mind. This guy beside me didn't left yet. I took a glance on him and he's there leaning his back on the chair while closing his eyes. Is he sleeping? I shrug off my thoughts and look outside from the window, watching those dead leaves from the trees. I sighed, feeling the wind blows from the window hitting my face.

There's just something from the autumn season that brings me comfort. But, it didn't last long when the sound of him purposely clearing his throat gets my attention.

Turning my head to him, "What is it?” I gave him a questioning look and he seem hesitant to say something. I wait for him to speak but only being respond by silence. He just softly stares all over my face, seem like memorizing every details of it and i'm on the verge to feel embarrassed by my pathetic look right now.

“Hi, I’m Kim Haneul, the new student and I just transferred here yesterday.” He shyly introducesas he offers his hand for a handshake. What is he doing? "I thought that I have to introduce myself since we're...you know, seatmates." he added and I looked down on his hand that's still raised infront of me.

“I’m Han Yeori.” I replied as I accept his hand, giving him a small smile and he did the same. I don't socialize but it doesn't mean that I'm rude. Only few people I know are nice to me but here in the university I'm studying in, none of them are nice. Except this one.

Just by looking at his eyes and observing how humble he is, I could tell he's a nice guy.

His eyes, it sparks when he smile.

His hand is soft and its veins aren't visible to see, it seems like he doesn’t do something like house chores. I can tell the way he wears his new uniform, he’s accessories, expensive cell phone, and even his face which you can’t see even just a slight dark circles or signs of stress. One exact word that exactly describe him is 'Rich'. He’s rich. While me, totally stress and doesn’t wear any accessories, wearing an old uniform, low class cell phone and the worst is my hands look more manly than his because of the veins popping out due the daily house chores that I’m the only one who does since my grandma is too weak to do that due to her illness. He's the perfect opposite of me. I quickly pull my hand, placing it on my lap due to embarrassment.

“Um, if it’s okay to you, can we maybe eat together and tour me around the school after that? It’s okay if you don’t want to. You tell me.” He carefully asks while rubbing the back of his neck. Isn't there anyone from this university who can do that? I mentally asks and as if the principal have heard my thoughts, a notification sound of my phone just ding up. The principal have just texted a task to do and that is to guide this newbie classmate of mine.

Guess I have to agree then. It's an order from the principal anyway. "Sure, I'll help you around." I nodded yes to him and his smile gets even wider. We picked up our bags and went outside. Since the teachers decided to set an urgent meeting today (which is very rare), afternoon classes are all suspended and with this news all of the students went to the field to have some fun and other businesses while me and Haneul went to the cafeteria and eat there alone just the two of us. How come they skip their lunch just to fool outside?

“Why me?” I asks directly while we are eating and he seem confused at my sudden question so I try to make it clear. “Why of all the students here in the university you chose to approach me?” I cleared it for him and he almost choke on his food. "Didn't think that I'd noticed you ignoring all the students who tried to approach you yesterday?" I added. He drink a glass of water before clearing his throat.

“I-I…I don’t like them.” He shakes his head disapprovingly.

“Why?” I look straight at him in the eyes to see if there’s a hints of lies. But I see none.

“Because you’re different from them, you're the only quiet and humble person I saw in class. So, I think it'll be good if I’ll be friends with you.” he explains, giving me the soft gaze I've ever seen. Hold on, did this guy just compliment me?

“I guess you already heard the rumours about me yesterday and these bruises on my face are clearly obvious. You see, being friends with might just put you into trouble. You obviously came from a family with great images. I don't want to ruin your life.” I blurted out while digging into my food. It's better to be straightforward than beating around the bushes. I mean, it's for his awareness. He became silent after that so I looked up to him, he's looking at me with an undescrivable gaze. Oh no, did I sound harsh? “I’m sorry, I just don’t want you to get involved at my situation here.” I sighed and looked down to my plate.

“You know what? Once I decided something, I won’t change it.” that made me snap my head towards him and I almost get a cramp from it. Those sureness written all over his face. He's not joking.

“You will regret—“he cut me off.

“No I won’t, promise.” He assures while placing his right hand to his left chest. What's with him? why is he persistent to be friends with me?

“Promises are made to be broken.” I lazily roll my eyes away. Sorry, not a fan of promises.

“You’re wrong. Promises are made to be fulfilled, not to be broken.” He murmurs as he pouts at my bitterness while I just replied him with a sigh before continuing to eat. If you say so. Let's just see how far you could take it.

"Okay then. Let's be friends."

…

Touring him around the campus wasn't that awkward and tiring when Haneul started to talk about random interesting things relating to our subjects. His brain seem doesn't run out of ideas. An intelligent one I see.

"Well then. See you tomorrow I guess." I say when we reached the school gate and he give me his lip tight smile as he held on the straps of his bag.

"Yeah." he shyly smile, looking down as he rubs his neck before his eyes travels up to me again. There was a short pause before he finally speak again. "Thanks for today by the way." he added and me not knowing what to respond I just nodded with a little smile and wave my hand a little.

I was just about to turn around when I felt a hand on my wrist and my head instantly snapped back to him. My gaze switching from his hand on my wrist then up to his face. Maybe noticing my discomfort, he lets it go before handing out a folded sticky note and I stare at it confusingly but accepting it anyway.

“Thanks for today, open that when you get home.”

“No problem. See you tomorrow then.” I nodded giving him a genuine smile and waved goodbye again and he did the same before we separate on our way home.

…

“Halmoni, I’m home.” I announced as I put my shoes on the shoe rack before head to my halmoni’s room only to see her there lying on her bed, awake.

“Oh Yeori, how’s school?” she weakly asks between in her coughs, almost in a whisper tone and her being my weakness made me almost cry at the sight of her state. I slightly turn my head away so she won't notice my teary eyes.

“It’s great.” lies. I gave her bright smile to the best that I can. I cleared my throat and rummaged through my bag to get her medicine before getting a glass of water from our small kitchen, bringing it to her.

“Here, drink it.” I put the glass of water and her medicine in front of her and she drinks it. “Get rest, halmoni.” I kissed her on her forehead then head back to my room, changing into my clothes then sat on my study desk and opened my notes to review some lectures. After a few minutes, I went to the kitchen to prepare the food for dinner.

The dinner was not quiet, my halmoni of course, have noticed the new bruises I have on my face and me being secretive of my school life, I lied again and just say that I accidentally tripped myself today at the school field. After the dinner, I put the plates to the sink and washed them before I went back to my room to continue reviewing my lectures.

But in the middle of my study, I don't know why Haneul just suddenly came into my mind. He’s different from the other students in our school. Let's see what will happen tommorow. I hope it won't be a shit day.

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