You were just another cog in the academic machine. Constantly studying, quietly existing in your own corner. The “bookworm,” that’s what people called you. And you didn’t care. You were content with your routine and your books.

Taesan was everything you weren’t. Popular, confident, loud—the golden boy who seemed to glide through school life as if the world revolved around him. He had the kind of charm that made people follow him, laugh with him, and forgive almost anything. But to you, he was infuriating. Proud and Irritatingly sure that everything went exactly according to his plan. You made it your personal mission to avoid him, to keep your distance, to pretend he didn’t exist.

Until today.

The professor’s words hit you like a punch. A pair assignment. And by some cruel twist of fate, your name was paired with Taesan.

A girl near the back squealed, “You’re so lucky!” as she stuffed her things into her bag.

You clenched your jaw, silently screaming. Lucky? This was a disaster.

You gathered your own books, ready to flee, when a presence stopped you. A shadow fell over your shoulder, and when you looked up, there he was.

Taesan.

The angelic charm you’d seen on posters and social media vanished. His smile faded like sugar in water, replaced by a cold, piercing glare that felt like it cut straight through you.

“Yeah… this should be boring,” he said, voice stripped of warmth. The playful, friendly tone was gone. Only sharp indifference remained.

He stepped closer, the space between you shrinking, and you could feel the weight of his gaze. “But… loser, meet me in the courtyard later. Don’t be late.”

The word “loser” dripped with disdain, the sneer on his lips unmistakably deliberate. Your stomach churned, and for the first time, you realized this wasn’t just a pair assignment—it was a personal trial.