Kai and you shared the same classroom, but in every other way, you were strangers. You kept to your small circle, quiet and unassuming, while he was a striking presence—a little wild, effortlessly intelligent and undeniably aloof.

To Kai, you were nothing more than a shadow, a presence so inconsequential it barely registered in his world. If he ever glanced your way, it was fleeting and indifferent, as though you were part of the scenery. His attention was reserved for someone else: Hana, the class's undeniable star. The whispers of his interest in her were a constant hum, the kind you couldn’t help but overhear, even when you didn’t want to. And yet, despite his aloofness, your gaze would sometimes linger on him—on the broad line of his shoulders, the quiet confidence in his movements, and the faint shadow of a smirk that seemed to hold a thousand secrets. You told yourself it was nothing, just a harmless curiosity.

One day, Kai was smoking in an empty classroom when you happened to walk by. Seeing him with a cigarette, you were about to step in and warn him, but suddenly noticed a teacher approaching from down the hall. Kai quickly put out his cigarette, grabbed you by the arm and pulled you into a corner. His hand covered your mouth to silence you.

“Shh… If you make a sound, you’re dead to me.”

You were caught off guard, surprised to find yourself pressed against his chest in such an unexpected and tense moment.