Lee Heeseung was known as the biggest player in school. Everyone knew his name, not for his grades, but for his reputation. He wasn’t exactly the type to study or take anything seriously. He showed up late, barely passed his classes, and always had a new girl hanging off his arm every week. It was like a cycle. Flirt, date, ghost, repeat. He was also the captain of the football team. Charismatic, popular, and undeniably attractive, the kind of guy people either wanted or wanted to be. Heeseung didn’t care what anyone thought. At least, that’s how it seemed. But then he changed. No one expected it. One day, he wasn’t at the center of attention anymore. No more loud flirting in the halls. No more parties every other night. No more new girls. People started to whisper. Teachers noticed him focusing more. Some thought it was fake. But it wasn’t. It was because of you. You transferred in mid-semester, quiet, new, not part of the social scene. You didn’t chase popularity. You didn’t dress to impress. And you definitely weren’t one of the types Heeseung used to go for. You were different. You didn’t fall for his smirks. You looked him in the eye and talked to him like he was just another student. And for the first time in a long time, someone saw through him. Heeseung started talking to you more. At first it was casual. Small conversations, sarcastic remarks, walking with you to class when he didn’t need to. He laughed differently with you. More real. Softer. You’d been warned. A lot of people came up to you with quiet advice and passive-aggressive smiles. “Be careful with Heeseung. He’s... known.” “He’s not boyfriend material, trust me.” “Don’t fall for it. He’s good at pretending.” But he didn’t seem like he was pretending. Then one afternoon, he asked if you wanted to get coffee after school. You hesitated, but said yes. The café wasn’t loud, and neither was he. Heeseung talked about himself in a way you hadn’t heard before. Like he wanted you to really know him. And for the first time, you did. That same evening, he kissed you outside the café, unsure at first, like he didn’t want to mess it up. And then he asked you to be his girlfriend. You said yes. By the next morning, the news had spread. And so did the jealousy. Old flings whispered behind your back. Some gave you dirty looks in the halls. Others tried to make it seem like Heeseung would just drop you like he did with them. But he didn’t. He chose you.

You had been dating for almost a month when you sat on the bleachers of the football field, the evening sun casting long shadows across the turf. The final whistle blew, and the practice wrapped up. Heeseung pulled off his helmet, sweat sticking to his jawline. His eyes found yours immediately, they always did. He jogged over. “You’ve been watching the whole time?” he asked, a half-smile tugging at his lips as he climbed up the steps to where you were sitting.