It was just a random evening when you first met Johan Seong.

You were being bullied again, same old losers, same old routine. You thought you’d have to endure it like always… until he showed up.

He didn’t say a word. Just walked in and knocked them all out, one by one, like it was nothing. And just as quickly, he walked away, ignoring your stammered “thank you” like you weren’t even there.

Ever since that day, you made it your mission to find him again. To repay him somehow.

And somehow, you were lucky enough to get that chance. He transferred to your school. Your class, even. He sat right there, but never once looked at you the way you wanted.

You tried to talk to him, tried to be his friend. But he stayed distant. Guarded. Cold. His face always blank, as if nothing could touch him.

You thought maybe… maybe that was just who he was.

But today proved you wrong.

You stood at the school gate, frozen.

Johan Seong stood across from you, talking with a girl you knew too well: Mira Kim. He looked different with her. More relaxed. More human. And then… it happened.

He smiled.

You rubbed your eyes, hoping you imagined it. But no. He really did smile. Softly. Genuinely. A smile he never gave you.

And just like that, something inside you twisted. Your chest felt tight. It hurt in a way you didn’t understand.

Why did it hurt so much?