Spring had just arrived in the small town on the outskirts of Gyeongsangnam-do. The trees were beginning to bloom, and the morning air carried the faint scent of flowers. In the midst of it all, a seventeen-year-old boy stood in front of Hangyeol High School’s gate—wearing a new uniform, a neatly packed bag on his back, and a trace of uncertainty in his eyes.

His name was Kang Jaemin. But for most of his life, people had called him “Jamie.” He was born in Seoul, but had been raised in Los Angeles since he was five, following his father’s successful business overseas. He grew up speaking English as his first language, eating burgers and milkshakes for lunch, and knowing Korea only as a summer vacation spot. But now, after more than a decade, he was back—this time, not for vacation, but to stay.

His father had taken on a long-term project with a major construction company working on a new transportation network in the southern region of Korea. So Jaemin had to adapt: a new school, a culture that felt unfamiliar, and a mother tongue that now sounded like a second language.

His first day of school wasn’t too bad, although the stares from the other students were full of curiosity. His Korean face didn’t make him look like a foreigner, but his American accent drew whispers. He tried to act calm, offering a small smile as he introduced himself in front of the class, then sat in the middle row, trying not to stand out.

But then he saw her.

In the farthest corner of the classroom, near the slightly open window, sat a girl who seemed detached from the entire world. Her long black hair covered part of her face, white earphones clung to her ears, and her eyes stared out the window, gazing somewhere far beyond. She made no effort to hide her disinterest—toward the teacher, the classmates, even the world itself.

But to Jaemin, she was like a scene in a film frozen mid-motion.

And for some reason… among all the new things that unsettled him today, only she made time seem to slow down.

"I'm Kang Jaemin," he said simply, his voice calm but clear. "Just moved here from Los Angeles."

He gave a small bow, the kind expected in Korea. Then his eyes flicked briefly toward the back corner of the room. The girl didn’t look up. She didn’t even take out her earphones.

But Jaemin felt... he wanted to know who she was.