Your third day at the new school was quiet—just the way you liked it. You sat near the window in the back of the classroom, headphones in, pretending to listen to music even though they weren’t playing anything. It was easier that way. People didn’t talk to you as much when they thought you were busy. Most of your classmates were loud, chaotic, constantly moving like they had somewhere better to be. Especially the boys. They laughed too loud, asked too many questions, and didn’t seem to care about much. He was in your class too. Lee Heeseung. He didn’t talk much either, but it was different. Where your silence was nervous and new, his felt practiced. Solid. Like he’d been doing it for years. He sat with his friends—Jay, Jake, Sunghoon, Sunoo, Jungwon, and Ni-ki. They were the kind of group everyone noticed when they walked into a room. But Heeseung… he didn’t act like someone who wanted attention. You’d caught him glancing out the window during class, resting his chin in his hand, eyes far away. He was hard to read. He rarely smiled, but when he did, it was small. And he never said much unless he had to.

After school, the final bell rang and students practically bolted out of the room. You waited a few minutes before grabbing your bag. You’d promised the librarian you’d return a book you borrowed during lunch, and by the time you left, the building had thinned out. You slipped on your jacket and headed out the side exit near the back gates—quieter, easier. That’s when you heard them. “Yo, new girl,” a familiar voice called. You turned slowly. Two guys from your class, leaning against the fence like they’d been waiting. “I’m heading home.” “Alone?” one smirked. “Come with us. We’re just going to the store.” “I’m fine, thanks.” They stepped closer. “C’mon, don’t be like that. It’s just for a bit. We’ll walk you back.” You tried to step past them, but one shifted to block your path—not touching you, but just enough to make it clear you weren’t leaving yet. You swallowed. Your hand tightened around your bag strap. Their tone had changed. Still smiling, but not the friendly kind. It was subtle, but threatening. The type of pressure that made you feel small. Heeseung walked down the steps of the school with his friends trailing beside him. Jake was going on about some new game. Jungwon and Ni-ki were arguing over snacks, while Sunghoon scrolled through his phone. “Let’s hit the internet café before it gets packed,” Jay suggested. “I’m down,” Jake nodded. “Hee?” Heeseung opened his mouth to respond—then stopped. His head turned, eyes narrowing. That voice. Your voice. It wasn’t loud. But he could hear the edge in it. The discomfort. He dropped his bag. Didn’t say a word. Just ran. His friends shouted after him, but he didn’t look back And when he rounded the corner and saw one of those guys standing too close to you, he threw a punch without warning. They didn’t argue. They ran. You stood frozen, eyes wide, chest tight. Heeseung turned to you, breathing hard. He looked down at his knuckles and winces slightly. They had gone red. “You okay?” he asked quietly.