Where it all begin!

​The excitement was humming in Min-hee’s veins, making every step up the concrete stairs feel lighter than the last. It was her first day at a new school, a fresh start, and she couldn't help the wide smile tugging at her lips. But in her rush to find her classroom, her foot caught the edge of a step.

​In a blur of motion, the world tilted. She hit the stairs with a sharp thud, the sting of the impact jolting through her. For a second, the hallway felt deafeningly silent. Gasping, she quickly pulled herself together, scrambling to her feet and brushing off her uniform before anyone could truly witness the disaster.

​"Are you alright?" a voice asked nearby. It was a teacher, looking at her with concern.

​"Yeah, I’m okay!" Min-hee replied quickly, forcing a polite nod.

​She lied. She wasn't okay—she was drowning in a wave of heat that rushed from her neck to her forehead. Just like that, the bright spark of excitement had been extinguished, replaced by a heavy, crushing embarrassment.

​Somehow, she managed to locate her classroom. Standing at the door, her heart hammered against her ribs—this time out of pure nervousness. She took a shallow breath and knocked softly.

​"Come in," the teacher called.

​Min-hee stepped inside, feeling the weight of dozens of eyes on her. She gripped the straps of her bag and bowed slightly. "Hi... my name is Min-hee. I am eighteen years old."

​After finding her assigned seat, the room remained quiet until the teacher spoke up. "Welcome, Min-hee. Perhaps you could tell the class the reason you've transferred to our school?"

​Min-hee cleared her throat, her voice small as she replied, "It was due to...

It was due to a lack of teachers and resources at my previous school," Min-hee replied, her voice steadying slightly. "I wanted a place with more opportunities to learn."

​The teacher nodded, satisfied, and began calling attendance. As the names blurred past, Min-hee’s gaze drifted around the room, curious about her new peers. That was when her eyes landed on him.

​He was sitting near the window, beside her chair .bathed in the morning light—Sae-jin. He had a focused, intelligent air about him that made him stand out instantly. The moment she saw him, something strange happened; the noise of the classroom faded, and her mind went completely blank. She felt a pull she couldn't explain. Panicked by the intensity of it, she forced herself to look away, staring hard at her desk until her heart stopped racing.

​The lesson began, and things were going smoothly and like that the first class ended. and a different teacher entered the room to assist. Seeing a new face, he smiled warmly. "Ah, you must be our new transfer student. Welcome to the class!"

​It was an exciting welcome, but it was quickly interrupted. The teacher began to ask a few introductory questions about Min-hee's background and interests. Before she could even part her lips to answer, another student’s voice rang out from the back, answering for her with perfect accuracy.

​Min-hee froze. She was stunned—how could a stranger here know so much about her?

​She turned around in her seat to look back where the strange voice come from , her eyes widening as she recognized the boy leaning back in his chair with a smirk. It was Ji-ho. He was a fellow student from her old school, someone she never expected to see again.

​As the realization hit her, her gaze instinctively flickered back toward Sae-jin. She was caught between a past she knew too well and a future she was suddenly desperate to discover.

A cold shiver raced down Min-hee’s spine, her hands beginning to tremble beneath her desk. She was terrified. The primary reason she had fled her old school, leaving everything behind, was to escape him.

​Ji-ho wasn't just a former classmate; he was a shadow she couldn't shake. His obsession had bordered on the edge of madness—the constant unwanted flirting, the predatory way he watched her, and that unsettling, glassy look in his eyes that always made her skin crawl. She had moved schools to find safety, only to find him waiting in the very room she thought was her sanctuary.

​When Ji-ho realized she had recognized him, he didn't look away. Instead, he leaned forward, a slow, dark smirk spreading across his face as he locked eyes with her. He was savoring her fear.

​The heavy silence was shattered by the teacher, who looked at Ji-ho with a sharp, suspicious frown.

​"Ji-ho, did I ask you?" the teacher’s voice snapped. "I directed my question to Min-hee. And how exactly do you know her well enough to answer for her?"

​The eye contact broke. Min-hee felt a suffocating mix of white-hot anger and dizzying confusion. Why was he here? How had he followed her?

​Across the room, the atmosphere changed. Sae-jin, who had been quietly observing the class, noticed the sudden shift in Min-hee’s demeanor. He saw the way the color had drained from her face and the subtle tremor in her shoulders. His gaze moved from Min-hee’s pale face to Ji-ho’s arrogant smirk, his intelligent eyes narrowing as he began to piece together that something was very, very wrong.

​Sae-jin watched the tension ripple through the room for a moment longer. His curiosity was piqued—he could tell this wasn't just a coincidence—but he quickly leaned back and turned his eyes toward the front of the room. He acted as if it were none of his business, masking his thoughts with his usual calm expression. Yet, deep down, a question lingered. He couldn't shake the image of Min-hee’s sudden paleness. Why had the mere sight of Ji-ho turned her world upside down?

​Min-hee, meanwhile, felt like the air in the classroom had grown thin. Her heart was still hammering a frantic rhythm against her ribs.

​The girl sitting next to her, Sohyun, noticed her labored breathing. Sohyun was a girl with a naturally warm aura and observant eyes. Sensing Min-hee's distress, she didn't pry or ask uncomfortable questions. Instead, she quietly unscrewed her water bottle and pushed it toward Min-hee.

​"Drink some," Sohyun whispered with a small, reassuring smile. "Just focus on your breathing for a second."

​From the desks behind her, two other students leaned in slightly, their faces full of genuine concern. There was Da-bin, a cheerful girl with a bright energy, and Hana, who had a calm and steady presence.

​"Are you okay? You look like you've seen a ghost," Da-bin murmured softly. Hana simply nodded in support, reaching out to give Min-hee’s hand a quick, comforting squeeze.

​Their kindness was like a life jacket in the middle of a storm. Min-hee took a sip of the water, the cool liquid helping to ground her. She wasn't ready to explain the nightmare that was Ji-ho, and she was grateful that they seemed to understand she just needed time.

​The teacher eventually cleared his throat and began the lesson. The room settled into the rhythmic sound of pens scratching against paper and the steady hum of a lecture. On the surface, everything appeared to be going smoothly, but for Min-hee, the words on the chalkboard were a blur. Her mind was a chaotic loop, replaying the moment she saw Ji-ho’s smirk and wondering how she would survive being in the same room as him again.

As the teacher’s voice droned on about the day's equations, the classroom felt like a pressurized chamber. Min-hee kept her head down, her pen hovering uselessly over her notebook. She could feel a heavy weight on the back of her neck—the unmistakable sensation of Ji-ho’s stare. He wasn't even pretending to look at the chalkboard; he was marking his territory, letting her know that even in this new city, she was still within his reach.

​Suddenly, a small, folded piece of paper landed on her desk, tossed from two rows back.

​Min-hee’s heart stopped. She didn't want to open it, but she couldn't leave it there for the teacher to see. With trembling fingers, she unfolded the scrap.

​“Did you really think you could run away from me,Min-hee? You look even prettier when you're scared."

​A wave of nausea rolled over her. She crumpled the note into a tiny ball, shoving it into the deepest pocket of her bag.

​Just as she did, she looked up and caught Sae-jin’s eyes. He had seen the note land. He had seen her reaction. For a split second, the "shove it off" attitude he usually wore flickered. A shadow of a frown crossed his face, his gaze shifting from Min-hee to the back of the room where Ji-ho sat.

​Sae-jin didn't say a word, and he didn't move to help, but the way he gripped his own pen a little tighter told a different story. He was no longer just curious; he was starting to see the predator in the room.

​The bell finally rang, the loud brrrring signaling the end of the period. But for Min-hee, it wasn't a sound of freedom—it was a signal that she now had to leave the safety of the classroom and face the hallway.

The bell’s chime felt like a physical blow. Min-hee packed her things with shaking hands, her head low, trying to calculate a path out of the room that didn't involve crossing Ji-ho’s line of sight.

​Sohyun leaned in, sensing the shift. "Stay with us," she whispered. "We’re going to the courtyard."

​As the girls surrounded Min-hee, acting as a human shield, they moved toward the door. Just as they reached the threshold, Min-hee tripped slightly—her nerves making her stumble over her own feet for the second time that day.

​She expected to hit the floor, but instead, a firm hand caught her elbow, steadying her instantly.

​She looked up, breathless. It was Sae-jin.

​He didn't look at her with a romantic gaze or a smile. His expression remained unreadable, almost cold in its neutrality. He let go of her arm as soon as she was balanced, his movements efficient and distant.

​"Careful," he said. His voice was low and calm, devoid of any obvious emotion. "The floors are waxed on Mondays."

​To anyone watching—and to Min-hee herself—it looked like a simple act of a polite student helping a classmate. There was no lingering touch, no dramatic music. He simply adjusted his bag and continued walking down the hall without looking back.

​Min-hee stood frozen for a second, the spot where he touched her arm feeling strangely warm. It’s just kindness, she told herself, swallowing hard. He’s just a good person. That’s all.

​Behind her, she felt Ji-ho’s presence approaching. But Sae-jin, whether by accident or some silent design, had stepped into the middle of the hallway, his tall frame creating a natural barrier that forced Ji-ho to stop and wait for him to pass.

​Sae-jin didn't acknowledge Ji-ho. He just kept walking, a silent wall between the predator and his prey.

As they settled onto a stone bench in the sun-drenched courtyard, the group of four began to take shape. To any outsider, they looked like a typical group of students, but beneath the surface, the dynamics were fascinating.

​Min-hee sat quietly, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear. She had always viewed herself as "invisible"—just an ordinary girl lost in the background. She didn't realize that her quietness hid a razor-sharp intellect and a deeply creative soul. She was the kind of person who saw the world in colors others missed, though she was far too introverted to ever brag about it.

​Next to her was Sohyun, whose beauty was matched only by her emotional intelligence. She was the anchor of the group, the one who could read a room without anyone saying a word.

​Then there was Hana. She was effortlessly stunning, coming from a wealthy background that gave her an air of grace, yet she was surprisingly kind-hearted. She wasn't just a "pretty face"; she was a top-tier student. In fact, she was Sae-jin’s cousin. Though they shared a bloodline, they weren't close. Instead, they shared a fierce, silent rivalry—constantly competing for the highest marks in the grade, a secret battle fought through exam papers and silent glares.

​Finally, there was Da-bin. With her infectious laugh and cheerful energy, she kept the mood light. She was undeniably pretty and had a  crush on Sae-jin, often sighing whenever he walked past.

​"You really scared us back there," Da-bin said, leaning toward Min-hee. "But don't worry. You're with us now. Nobody is going to mess with you."

​Hana glanced toward the building where Sae-jin had disappeared. "My cousin can be a bit robotic," she added, her voice tinged with a competitive edge, "but he doesn't tolerate people like Ji-ho. You’re safer than you think."

​Min-hee looked at her three new friends. For the first time since she had seen Ji-ho in the classroom, the ice around her heart began to melt. She was still an introverted, "ordinary" girl, but for the first time, she felt like she wasn't invisible to everyone..

Then they went to cafeteria ​The cafeteria was a roar of voices and clattering trays. Min-hee sat with Sohyun, Hana, and Da-bin, trying her best to look like she belonged. For a few minutes, it worked. Da-bin was busy gushing about a new music video, and Hana was complaining about a difficult math theorem, making Min-hee feel almost normal.

​But then, the air in the room seemed to curdled.

​Ji-ho walked in. He didn't go to the food line. He walked straight toward their table with that signature, mocking tilt of his head. Min-hee’s grip tightened on her chopsticks until her knuckles turned white.

​"Wow, look at you," Ji-ho said, leaning over the table, his shadow falling directly over Min-hee. "Found a group of bodyguards already? You always were good at hiding behind people."

​The table went silent. Da-bin looked confused, but Sohyun’s eyes narrowed instantly.

​From two tables away, Sae-jin was sitting alone, a book propped up against a water bottle. He didn't look up, but he stopped turning the page. Just as Ji-ho reached out to flick a stray hair off Min-hee’s shoulder, Sae-jin "accidentally" knocked his heavy metal water bottle off the table.

​Clang!

​The echoing ring was so loud that half the cafeteria turned to look. Ji-ho flinched, his hand freezing mid-air. The moment was broken. Sae-jin calmly leaned down to pick up his bottle, his face a mask of perfect indifference. He didn't apologize; he just went back to his book. But the distraction gave Min-hee enough time to stand up and walk away, her friends following close behind.

Later that day, Min-hee retreated to the furthest corner of the school library. She opened her sketchbook, her charcoal pencil flying across the page as she vented her frustration into a drawing of a bird trapped in a storm.

​She thought she was alone until she heard the soft thud of a book being placed on the desk behind her. She peered through the gap in the bookshelves and saw Sae-jin.

​They sat in total silence for an hour. No "hello," no "are you okay." But as Sae-jin stood up to leave, he took a path that led him right past her shoulder. He paused for a single heartbeat, his eyes dropping to her sketch.

​"The wings," he murmured, so softly she almost missed it. "They’re too small for the storm. You should make them wider."

​Before she could even look up, he was gone. It wasn't a romantic compliment—it was a critique. But he had looked. He had noticed.

A week later, the results for the Mid-Term Mock Exam were posted on the bulletin board. A crowd gathered, but Hana and Sae-jin were already at the front, eyes locked on the top of the list to see who had won their silent war.

​Sae-jin – 987.5%

​Hana – 97%

​Hana sighed, a mix of frustration and respect. But then her eyes drifted to the first spot, and her jaw dropped.

​Min-hee – 98%

​The "ordinary" girl had tied with the top student in the school. The hallway erupted in whispers. "Who is Min-hee?" "The transfer student?"

​Sae-jin stood still, staring at the name next to the score. For the first time, he didn't just shove it off. He turned his head and found Min-hee standing at the back of the crowd. Their eyes met across the sea of students.

​There were no words, but the look in Sae-jin’s eyes had changed. It wasn't just "kindness" anymore. It was the look of someone who had finally realized that the girl in the background was the most interesting person

The hallway was a sea of students, but for Min-hee, the world had narrowed down to the cold, hard wall against her back and the terrifying presence of Ji-ho.

​He leaned in, his smirk widening as he saw the flicker of fear in her eyes. He didn't reach for her; he didn't need to. His words were enough to pin her in place.

​"You really think a new uniform and a high test score makes you someone else?" he whispered, his voice dripping with venom. "I know your secret, Min-hee. I know exactly why you really had to leave your old life behind. Do you think your new 'besties' will still look at you the same way once they find out?"

​Min-hee’s breath hitched. The pride she felt from her exam score vanished, replaced by a cold, numbing dread. Her past was catching up, and it had a face she couldn't escape.

​Then, the crowd shifted.

​Sae-jin approached, his pace steady and his expression as unreadable as stone. The hallway fell into an expectant silence. He didn't look at Min-hee. He didn't even acknowledge the tension. He simply stepped between them, his shoulder brushing Ji-ho’s, forcing the space between them to break.

​"The teacher is looking for you, Ji-ho," Sae-jin said. His voice was flat, devoid of any heroics, yet it carried an undeniable weight. "Something about a discrepancy in your exam answers. I’d go now if I were you."

​Ji-ho’s jaw tightened. He glanced at Sae-jin, then back at Min-hee, letting out a short, jagged laugh. "This isn't over," he mouthed, before disappearing into the crowd.

​Min-hee slumped against the wall, her heart hammering against her ribs. She looked at Sae-jin’s back, waiting for him to turn around—waiting for the "Are you okay?" that never came.

​Sae-jin began to walk away, but as he reached the corner, he stopped. Without turning his head, he spoke just loud enough for her to hear.

​"Don't be so relieved, The teacher is waiting. And after he's done with Ji-ho... he's going to call for you next."

​He rounded the corner, leaving Min-hee standing alone in a hallway that suddenly felt like a trap.

                         End of Episode 1

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