episode 5

The classroom felt unusually noisy that morning.

Whispers. Excitement. Curiosity.

Yuna barely paid attention.

She was focused on her notebook, trying to ignore everything around her—

including the presence sitting beside her.

Jinhyuk.

“You’re avoiding me,” he said casually.

“I’m studying,” Yuna replied without looking at him.

He leaned slightly closer. “Same thing?”

Yuna ignored him.

The classroom door opened.

The teacher walked in, followed by another student.

“Class,” the teacher said, “we have another student joining us for a while. He transferred from another branch.”

This time, the reaction was different.

No loud whispers.

Just quiet attention.

“Introduce yourself.”

The boy stepped forward.

Calm posture. Clean uniform. Soft but steady eyes.

“My name is Seojun,” he said politely. “Nice to meet you.”

Simple.

But something about him felt… different.

“Seojun is one of the top students from his previous school,” the teacher added. “I expect all of you to cooperate with him.”

Immediately, Lina leaned toward Yuna.

“Oh wow,” she whispered. “He’s my type.”

Yuna blinked. “You say that about everyone.”

“No, seriously,” Lina said, eyes still on him. “He looks gentle… not like someone.”

She glanced meaningfully at Jinhyuk.

Yuna almost smiled.

Almost.

“Seojun, you can sit next to Yuna,” the teacher said.

For a second, time froze.

Yuna looked up.

“…what?”

But before she could react—

Jinhyuk spoke.

“No.”

The entire class went silent.

The teacher frowned. “Excuse me?”

Jinhyuk didn’t even look at him. His eyes were on Seojun.

“That seat is taken.”

Seojun remained calm. “There’s space.”

“There isn’t,” Jinhyuk replied flatly.

Yuna looked between them, confused—and slightly annoyed.

“It’s fine,” she said quietly. “He can sit—”

“No,” Jinhyuk repeated.

This time, his tone was sharper.

More serious.

Seojun studied him for a moment.

Then… he smiled slightly.

“It’s okay,” he said. “I can sit behind.”

He walked past them and took the empty seat behind Yuna—right beside Lina.

Lina straightened immediately.

“Hi,” she said a little too quickly. “I’m Lina.”

Seojun gave a small, polite smile. “Nice to meet you.”

Lina turned to Yuna, eyes wide, silently screaming.

Yuna looked away, pretending not to notice.

The class continued.

But something had changed.

Yuna could feel it.

A strange tension in the air.

During the lesson, Yuna struggled to focus again.

The numbers blurred slightly.

Her pen slowed.

“Excuse me.”

She turned slightly.

Seojun was leaning forward from behind, placing a notebook gently on her desk.

“These are notes from yesterday’s topic,” he said softly. “They might help.”

Yuna blinked. “I didn’t ask for—”

“I know,” he said. “But you looked confused.”

No pressure.

No arrogance.

Just… understanding.

Yuna hesitated, then nodded slightly. “…thank you.”

From beside her—

silence.

A heavy one.

Jinhyuk leaned back in his chair, eyes fixed on the notebook.

Then on Seojun.

Then on Yuna.

His jaw tightened slightly.

After class—

Lina grabbed Yuna’s arm immediately.

“OH. MY. GOD.”

“Lina—”

“Did you SEE that?!” she whispered loudly. “He gave you notes! He’s so sweet! I think I’m in love!”

Yuna sighed. “You fall in love too fast.”

“No, this is different,” Lina insisted. “He’s perfect.”

From behind, Seojun chuckled softly.

Lina froze.

Then slowly turned around, completely embarrassed.

“I—I didn’t mean—”

“It’s okay,” Seojun said gently. “I didn’t mind.”

Lina covered her face.

This is so embarrassing.

Yuna glanced back slightly.

Seojun met her eyes—and smiled.

Warm.

Comfortable.

For a second…

Yuna didn’t look away.

“Let’s go,” Jinhyuk’s voice cut in suddenly.

Yuna turned. “What?”

He grabbed his bag and stood up.

“I said, let’s go.”

“Where?”

“To fix your phone.”

Yuna frowned. “I told you, I don’t need—”

“I wasn’t asking.”

His tone wasn’t loud.

But it wasn’t soft either.

Seojun spoke calmly from behind.

“If she said no, you should respect that.”

Silence.

The air shifted again.

Jinhyuk slowly turned his head.

Their eyes met.

Calm vs chaos.

Polite vs pride.

Yuna felt her heartbeat quicken.

For no reason.

Or maybe… for too many reasons.

Jinhyuk let out a quiet scoff.

“…you talk too much for someone new.”

Seojun didn’t react. “And you don’t listen enough.”

Lina whispered, “Oh my god… this is getting serious.”

Yuna stood up quickly. “Stop it. Both of you.”

They went silent.

She looked at Jinhyuk. “I said no.”

Then at Seojun. “And thank you… for the notes.”

A small pause.

“…I’ll return them.”

She walked out of the classroom.

Leaving both of them behind.

For the first time—

Jinhyuk wasn’t smiling.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***