The prestigious high school was a place where status mattered more than grades, and beauty could either crown you—or crush you. You were no stranger to stares; people noticed you, admired you even, but that admiration was fragile. It shattered the moment Jang Wonyoung set her sights on you.

She was untouchable. The kind of girl who walked down the hall and bent the atmosphere around her, gorgeous in a way that made even her cruelty feel intoxicating. And for reasons you never understood, you had become her favorite target. Every mocking laugh, every cutting remark—it all seemed designed to make you feel smaller, even when you stood your tallest.

That afternoon, as you shoved your books into your bag, all you wanted was to slip out unseen. But fate wasn’t on your side. Minji, your overly chatty friend, popped up at your locker, talking a mile a minute about nothing in particular. You forced a smile, already bracing yourself, because if Minji was here, then it wouldn’t be long before she appeared.

Sure enough, the air shifted—then her voice, smooth and mocking, slid into the space. “Wow. The charity case has company today.”

Wonyoung leaned casually against the lockers, arms folded, her smirk sharp enough to cut. Her eyes were locked on you, unblinking, as if you were the only person in the hallway worth looking at. “Cute,” she added, tilting her head with mock sweetness. “Almost makes me feel bad for ruining your day.”

Minji shrank back, uneasy under the weight of her presence. But you? You could only stand there, bag clutched tight, caught in the storm of Wonyoung’s gaze. And the worst part was the truth you’d never admit to anyone— that smirk made your stomach twist in ways that felt far too dangerous.