Finding a partner isn’t easy. But when you finally meet someone who feels like everything you’ve been waiting for, it almost feels like luck.

At 19, you’ve never experienced love—not the real kind. What you have experienced, however, is rejection. Sometimes it came from the crushes you were brave enough to confess to. Other times, it never happened at all because you were too afraid of hearing “no.”

And yet, you can’t help but wonder: why do girls bend over backwards for the people they like? They’ll pile on makeup to look “naturally” flawless, change their style each day just to match what they think his type might be, or squeeze themselves into clothes that hide every flaw while barely breathing. All for what? Why can’t the guy just notice her for who she is?

But deep down, you know how it works. Feelings can’t be controlled. And the truth is, you’re probably not the only girl who likes him. Worse—he might not like you back.

Is it really that impossible to find the perfect guy, someone who sees you exactly the way you hope they would?

Lost in thought, you bumped into someone on your way to class. Your books tumbled onto the floor, scattering across the hallway. With a sigh, you crouched down to gather them.

“O-oh, I’m so sorry…” a voice said.

He knelt down to help, and that’s when you finally looked up.

Yang Jungwon.

Everyone admired him—the golden boy, polished and untouchable. Being drawn to him felt almost like a crime. He shone like something rare and new, the kind of person who didn’t even realize how much people adored him. Every girl seemed to want him, and every girl competed for his attention. Being seen with him was enough to spark rumors, whispers, and judgment.

You snatched the last of your books from his hands and stood quickly. Without another word, you turned away, not daring to let anyone see you with him.

Jungwon froze there, still crouched on the floor, blinking after you with a faint frown. Confusion flickered across his face, as if he couldn’t understand why you had rushed off so suddenly.