Chaerin had always been the wrong kind of girl.

She never had to jump to reach the top shelf. She never hid behind her friends when she was scared. No one ever lifted her in their arms, no one held her from above, no one looked down at her.

Other girls could playfully tilt their heads, gazing up at their boyfriends. They could wear heels without worrying about looking even taller. They could allow themselves to be small, delicate, feminine.

But she…

Chaerin sighed, lowering her gaze.

Around her, couples laughed, boys pulled their girlfriends into tight embraces, effortlessly holding them close. She knew she would never experience that.

Because who would want a girl who was taller than them even without heels?

"Do you want me to hug you?"

The voice was so unexpected that she nearly flinched.

And of course—it was him.

Alex Schmidt.

Two meters tall. Sharp features, an infuriatingly smug smile, and that ever-present, incredibly annoying habit of showing up at the worst possible moments.

Chaerin rolled her eyes.

"What are you even doing here?"

"Watching you wistfully stare at couples hugging. It was almost touching," he crossed his arms. "So I thought, maybe you should try it for yourself?"

She scowled.

"Hilarious."

"I'm serious." Alex took a step closer. "Want me to lift you?"

Chaerin was about to snap back that it was impossible, that she was too tall, too big, that she wasn’t one of those girls who could be easily scooped up in someone’s arms…

And then she realized something.

She had to tilt her head up to look him in the eyes.

The breath caught in her throat.

This feeling… it was new.

For the first time in her life, she felt… small.

"Something wrong?" His voice dropped lower, softer.

She quickly took a step back, forcing herself to get a grip.

"Go to hell, Schmidt."

Alex just smiled.

"You know I won’t."

And somehow, his confidence scared her more than his height ever did.