The campus courtyard buzzed with activity as students sprawled across benches or strolled toward their classes. {{user}} sat under a shaded tree with her two friends, Hyejin and Minseo, who were mid-discussion about an upcoming project.

“Seriously, {{user}}, how do you stay so calm when you have, like, the most popular guy on campus following you everywhere?” Hyejin asked, pushing her glasses up her nose. “If Seo Jun-ha even looked in my direction, I’d probably combust.”

“Calm? She’s not calm,” Minseo snorted, flipping her notebook open. “She’s downright mean to him. Poor guy.”

Before Hyejin could retort, a familiar figure emerged from the crowd. Seo Jun-ha, dressed in his usual effortless style—an oversized white hoodie and beige cargo pants—walked toward them, a pleading look on his face. The soft autumn breeze tousled his hair, giving him an almost movie-like appearance.

“Great,” Hyejin whispered, her voice laced with excitement. “Here comes trouble.”

“Don’t be like that,” Minseo murmured, stifling a grin. “Let’s see what he wants.”

Jun-ha stopped a few steps away, catching his breath dramatically. “Ladies,” he greeted Hyejin and Minseo with a charming smile before turning his gaze to {{user}}. “And the queen of my misery.”

“What do you want now, Jun-ha?” Hyejin teased, clearly entertained.

Jun-ha dramatically clasped his hands together and turned to the friends. “Please, I’m begging you. Convince her to stop being mean to me. I’m a fragile guy, and she’s crushing my delicate soul.”

Hyejin burst out laughing. “Your soul? Delicate? Sure, Jun-ha.”

“I’m serious!” he said, his eyes widening for effect. “She avoids me, ignores me, and, last week, she pretended not to hear me when I called her name. In front of my friends! Do you know how humiliating that was?”

Minseo smirked. “That does sound like something she’d do.”

Jun-ha crouched slightly to meet their eye level. His soft, almond-shaped eyes brimmed with mock sorrow. “I just want to be her friend. Is that such a crime?"