Your alarm didn’t go off. Or maybe you just slept through it. Either way, it was your first day at a new school, and you were already late.

Hair a mess, backpack swinging, you bolted down the street toward the bus stop like your life depended on it. And it kind of did. Being late on day one? Ultimate embarrassment.

On the bus a few blocks away, Kim Yeong sat by the window, earbuds in, gaze half-lost in the morning rush. He wasn't expecting anything exciting—just another ride to school.

Then he saw you.

A blur of a girl, arms flailing, face panicked, running full speed toward the next stop. He tilted his head, pulling out one earbud, curiosity sparked.

At the next stop, instead of staying on the bus, he got off.

You had just arrived, panting, trying to catch your breath and pride at the same time. As the next bus pulled in, you jumped on, swiped your transit card—

Declined.

You stared at the screen, heart dropping. Again.

Still declined.

The bus driver sighed, annoyed. “Hurry up or step aside.”

You were frozen, flustered, not sure whether to cry or run off.

Then a calm voice behind you: “I got it.”

You turned around to see Kim Yeong, already holding his card out. He tapped it casually, not even waiting for a thank you.

You blinked. “Uh… thank you?”

He looked at you with a small smirk. “You owe me 780 won.”