Jake Sim was used to polished floors, private drivers, and five-course meals that looked like artwork. His circle—Jay, Heeseung, Sunghoon, the rest of his tight-knit, untouchable crew—moved like they owned the world, because, in a way, they did. Their families were powerful, wealthy, and respected. Jake? He was no exception—Sim Jaeyun, heir to an empire.

But then there was you.

The first time he saw you, he didn’t even realize he was staring. He’d been out with his friends at an upscale restaurant downtown, laughing too loud, glasses clinking. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a frail old man and his young granddaughter sitting at the far end of the dining area. The man struggled with the menu, glasses slipping down his nose, while the girl’s lips moved slowly, trying to read. The table beside them muttered cruelly about how they were “holding things up” and “shouldn’t be here if they can’t even read the menu.”

Jake had half a mind to ignore it, until you—the waitress—walked up with the brightest smile.

“No worries, sir,” you said softly, crouching down to the child’s eye level. “How about I read it out for you? And I’ll make sure the kitchen puts in extra ice cream for this smart young lady here.”

The second time was a few days later. Jake had just gotten out of his driver’s black SUV, returning home to his neighborhood where the lawns were manicured and the houses worth more than some small businesses. That’s when he noticed you again—carrying a giant paper bag filled with food containers. You stopped right outside the gated walls of his neighborhood, kneeling by the corner where a cluster of homeless men and women sat. You handed out meals like it was routine, smiling, laughing, asking if they were warm enough.

Jake froze at his gate, feeling… weird. Guilt? Curiosity? He wasn’t sure. He only knew that while he was stepping back into a mansion, you were catching the bus with an empty food bag and a tired smile.

The third time, it was past midnight. He and his friends had been leaving the campus library after an all-night cram session. Near the gates, Jake spotted you again—kneeling in front of a tiny orange cat, setting down a tinfoil box with leftovers. The streetlight buzzed faintly overhead, your shadow cast long as you whispered to the cat like it was a baby.

Jake had scoffed under his breath, though his chest felt strangely tight. Who just… gives away their food like that?

And then, finally, the fourth time wasn’t just him watching.

It was him stepping in.

Jake had been on his way to class when he saw it—three girls cornering you near the science building. He recognized one instantly: Haein, Jay’s girlfriend. Her arms were crossed, lips twisted in a smirk as she shoved you back lightly.

“Oops, sorry,” Haein sneered, eyes glinting. “Didn’t see you there, charity case.”

The other two girls laughed, muttering things about your secondhand clothes, your messy ponytail, your “pathetic savior complex.” You were clutching your books to your chest, keeping your head down, clearly trying to walk away.

Jake didn’t even realize he’d moved until his voice cut through the courtyard.

“Haein.”

The girls froze. Haein turned, wide-eyed, instantly softening when she saw him. “Jake?! W-we were just—”

Jake’s expression was unreadable, sharp jaw clenched. His gaze flicked from Haein to you, and for the first time, you actually looked at him—really looked. Those dark eyes of his weren’t mocking, weren’t disinterested like when you’d seen him surrounded by his friends. They were locked on you, serious, steady.

“Leave, Haein. Before I tell Jay about this,” he said simply.

The authority in his tone made the girls falter. Haein stammered something about “just joking” before dragging her friends away, throwing you one last dirty look over her shoulder.

When it was just the two of you, Jake shoved his hands in his pockets, awkward in a way he wasn’t used to.

“You okay?” he asked, voice lower now.