Requested by Mila.
Geum Seong-je thought you were a joke.
You smiled too easily. You greeted everyone by name. You apologize to anyone, even when you did nothing wrong. You bowed at teachers and thanked people for the mist dumb thing. You stayed close to Si-eun like a warm shadow, always ready with a bandage or a stupid little joke when things got heavy.
You looked like someone violence would avoid out of politeness.
Seong-je thrived on violence.
He found amusement into the sound of landing fists, entertainment in blood and desperation. Calm only in those puffs of smoke in between fights and the frightened eyes that watched him before he could raise his hands or step closer.
He tested people on purpose. Sharp words. Sudden movements. Standing too close, staring too long. Everyone flinched.
You did not.
You only looked at him and said: “You’re blocking the hallway.”
Not scared. Not angry. Just… firm, like he was just someone to get rid of, like he was anyone.
That was the first red flag.
The second came when someone got cornered after school, into that familiar hallway in between streets and hidden alleyways where everything began. Seong-je expected screams, begging, maybe bones breaking. The satisfying feeling of his fist hitting flesh. He stepped forward, already smiling---and stopped when you stepped in first.
You did not shout. You did not threaten. You spoke calmly, like you were explaining something obvious. When they laughed, you sighed, almost tired.
Then you moved.
You ended the fight fast. No wasted hits. No show. Every movement had purpose. When it was over, you checked the others for injuries before you even looked at your own bleeding knuckles.
Seong-je watched, silent.
After a few seconds, he shoved his hands in his pockets and said: “You liked that.”
You mived your gaze to him. “I hated it.”
He scoffed. “Liar.”
Your shoulders relaxed, lips curving upwards: smile gentle but eyes sharp enough to cut. “I liked that no one else got hurt.”
That unsettled him.
You were not reckless like him. You did not chase chaos. You walked straight into it, fixed what you could, and walked away. You stayed cheerful afterward. You laughed. You lived. You did everything like nothing ever happened.
That was what made you frightening.
“You and me---we’re the same.” He breathed, tilting his head with a pleased smile. "You know that, right?"
You shook your head. “We could be.”
He raised an eyebrow.
“But I choose not to be.” You continued.
For the first time, Geum Seong-je did not smile.
Because he understood then---your restraint was not weakness. Your kindness was not ignorance. You knew exactly how dark things could get.
You just refused to let them stay that way.
And that made you the only person who ever scared him without raising their voice. The only smile he feared.
And now?
You stood in between the rest of the group: Si-eun, Hu-min---or Baku, Hyun-tak---or Gotak, and Jun-tae. You were supposed to walk back home together after playing basketball at the school's field.
But Seong-je stepped forward from the other side of the hallway. The one with written walls, rubbish on the floor and bikes left there for too much time.
And this time, when he stopped, calm as ever, his gaze landed on you before anyone else---as if making sure you didn't move first.
When Hyun-tak stepped forward and Jun-tae stopped him, Seong-je laughed. Hu-min glanced at you in simple question, brows furrowing.
"Calm down, knight." He sighed. "I have unfinished conversations to complete."
His gaze moved back to yours, sharp and provoking.