Chapter 3: The Cold Prince

Seo Minjae hated the first day of school.

Not because he disliked studying.

He actually enjoyed it.

What he hated were people.

The noise.

The introductions.

The forced conversations.

The unnecessary socializing.

Unfortunately, the new school year brought all of those things.

Especially this year.

Because Kang Jiho was coming.

Minjae already knew his life was about to become significantly louder.

The moment he entered the classroom, several students greeted him.

Not because they were friends.

Because they knew who he was.

Seo Minjae.

Top student.

Teacher's favorite.

Perfect grades.

Perfect manners.

Perfect appearance.

Most students either admired him or feared him.

Minjae cared for neither.

He quietly walked toward his usual seat near the window.

As always, nobody sat beside him.

The seat remained empty.

Not because nobody wanted it.

Because nobody dared.

The students had secretly given him a nickname years ago.

'The Cold Prince.'

Minjae found it ridiculous.

But apparently everyone else loved it.

"He looks handsome today."

"Doesn't he always?"

"Do you think he'll talk if I say hi?"

"No."

"He never talks."

"Still handsome though."

Minjae ignored the whispers.

As usual.

Then the classroom door burst open.

"GOOD MORNING!"

The entire class jumped.

Minjae closed his eyes.

Of course.

Jiho.

The boy entered with enough energy for twenty people.

His backpack was hanging from one shoulder.

His tie was crooked.

His smile was enormous.

Within five minutes, he had already introduced himself to half the classroom.

Within ten minutes, everyone knew his name.

Within fifteen minutes, he somehow knew everyone else's.

Minjae watched in disbelief.

How was that even possible?

A girl sitting nearby laughed at something Jiho said.

A boy immediately joined the conversation.

Another student followed.

The circle grew.

Like magic.

Meanwhile Minjae had spent years in this class and barely knew anyone's birthdays.

People were strange.

Especially Jiho.

"Good morning!"

Minjae looked up.

Jiho had appeared beside his desk.

Again.

"Why are you here?"

"We're classmates."

"That doesn't answer the question."

"It answers every question."

Minjae sighed.

Jiho immediately sat down.

In the empty seat beside him.

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"Too late."

Minjae looked around.

Several students were openly staring.

Some looked shocked.

Others looked jealous.

One girl looked like she might faint.

Minjae didn't understand.

Then he overheard someone whisper.

"Kang Jiho sat beside him."

"Voluntarily."

"Is he insane?"

"Definitely."

Minjae almost agreed.

A few minutes later, the teacher entered.

The class settled down.

Attendance began.

Then introductions.

Since Jiho was new, he was asked to introduce himself.

He confidently walked to the front.

"My name is Kang Jiho."

Pause.

"I like soccer, food, sleeping, food again, and avoiding homework."

The class laughed.

The teacher looked concerned.

Jiho continued.

"I also plan to become best friends with Seo Minjae."

The entire classroom turned toward Minjae.

Minjae wished the floor would swallow him.

Immediately.

Right now.

Jiho pointed directly at him.

"He just doesn't know it yet."

Laughter erupted.

Minjae considered transferring schools.

The teacher quickly moved on.

Unfortunately, the damage was done.

By lunch break, everyone knew.

The new student was obsessed with Seo Minjae.

And somehow found that entertaining.

Meanwhile Jiho was already making friends.

Three people in particular seemed drawn toward him.

The first was a tall boy named Lee Hyunwoo.

A troublemaker with a permanent smirk.

If Jiho was chaos, Hyunwoo was chaos with planning.

The second was Yoon Seungmin.

A calm and friendly boy who often acted older than everyone else.

He had already stopped Jiho from doing something stupid twice before lunch.

The third was a girl named Choi Haneul.

Smart.

Funny.

Sharp-tongued.

Completely fearless.

By the end of the day, the four of them were already laughing together.

Minjae watched from afar.

Not intentionally.

They were simply impossible to ignore.

Especially Jiho.

The boy's laugh somehow echoed across entire hallways.

"Minjae!"

There it was again.

Jiho approached carrying two cartons of milk.

He placed one on Minjae's desk.

Minjae stared.

"What is this?"

"Milk."

"I can see that."

"It's for you."

"Why?"

Jiho blinked.

Then answered honestly.

"Because I bought one for myself."

Minjae stared.

What kind of logic was that?

"Take it."

"No."

"Take it."

"No."

Jiho pushed it closer.

Minjae pushed it back.

Jiho pushed it again.

Minjae pushed it again.

Across the room, Hyunwoo was laughing so hard he nearly fell off his chair.

"You're fighting over milk."

"We are not," Minjae replied.

"See?" Jiho said proudly. "He talked."

"That's not a victory."

"It is for me."

The entire group laughed.

Minjae immediately regretted speaking.

Again.

School continued.

Days became weeks.

Weeks became a month.

And Jiho remained exactly the same.

Loud.

Friendly.

Persistent.

Annoyingly impossible to avoid.

The strange thing was that Jiho had plenty of friends now.

Hyunwoo.

Seungmin.

Haneul.

Half the class.

Most of the school.

Yet somehow he still spent most of his time chasing Minjae.

Lunch.

Walks home.

Group projects.

Library visits.

Jiho always appeared.

Sometimes Minjae wondered if the boy secretly possessed tracking abilities.

Because there was no other explanation.

One afternoon, Minjae escaped to the library.

Finally.

Peace.

Silence.

No Jiho.

No noise.

No interruptions.

Perfect.

He opened his book.

Relaxed.

And heard a familiar voice.

"Found you."

Minjae slowly looked up.

Jiho stood there.

Grinning.

Holding two drinks.

Again.

For the first time in his eleven-year-old life, Seo Minjae felt genuine defeat.

How?

How did this keep happening?

Jiho sat down.

Completely uninvited.

Completely comfortable.

As if he belonged there.

As if he belonged everywhere.

Including beside him.

Minjae stared at the open book in front of him.

Then at Jiho.

Then back at the book.

A strange realization settled into his mind.

No matter how hard he tried—

He couldn't seem to avoid Kang Jiho.

And somehow, Kang Jiho didn't seem to want to leave.

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