Outside, thunder roared.
The storm was just beginning
The next morning felt… different.
Not because the sky was clear after yesterday's storm.
Not because the air felt lighter.
But because Han Soo-min couldn't stop thinking about him.
She stood in front of the mirror in her tiny apartment.
The room was small, almost empty—just a thin mattress, a cracked mirror, and a small table filled with books.
Her uniform hung loosely on her body, slightly wrinkled despite her effort to iron it.
But today…
Her hands paused.
Her eyes slowly moved toward the chair.
There it was.
Kang Jae-hyun's blazer.
Still neatly folded.
Still carrying a faint scent she didn't recognize—clean, expensive… distant.
Her fingers gently touched the fabric.
Soft.
Warm.
Why would someone like him… help someone like me?
Her heart tightened.
No answer came.
"Focus," she whispered to herself.
She quickly grabbed her bag.
"I need to return it."
Seorin High.
The moment Soo-min entered—
Whispers began.
But today… they were different.
"Did you hear? Jae-hyun helped her yesterday."
"No way… that poor girl?"
"Is she trying to get close to him?"
Soo-min's grip tightened on the blazer in her bag.
Her head lowered.
This is bad…
She quickly walked to her classroom, trying to ignore everything.
But fate…
Was never kind to her.
"Look who's here."
That voice.
Cold.
Sharp.
Choi Ara.
Soo-min froze.
Ara leaned against the wall, arms crossed, her group behind her.
Her eyes were no longer mocking.
They were angry.
Dangerous.
"You've got some nerve," Ara said slowly.
"I didn't—"
"Shut up."
Soo-min flinched.
Ara stepped closer.
"You think just because Jae-hyun talked to you… you're special?"
"I don't—"
"Then why are people talking?"
Silence.
Heavy.
Crushing.
Soo-min couldn't answer.
Because she didn't know either.
Suddenly—
A shadow fell over them.
And instantly…
Everything changed.
"Move."
That voice.
Deep.
Cold.
Commanding.
Kang Jae-hyun.
Ara stepped back immediately.
Her expression softened unnaturally.
"Jae-hyun… we were just talking."
He didn't even look at her.
Not even once.
His eyes were on Soo-min.
Only her.
"Come here."
Soo-min blinked.
"…M-me?"
"Yes."
Her feet moved before her mind could think.
She walked toward him slowly.
Her heart beating loudly.
Jae-hyun glanced at her bag.
"…You have something to return."
She froze.
He already knew.
Of course he did.
She quickly took out the blazer.
"I… I washed it," she said softly.
"…Thank you."
He took it.
Their fingers brushed slightly.
Soo-min felt it.
That small contact.
Like electricity.
She pulled her hand back quickly.
Jae-hyun wore the blazer again without another word.
Then—
He turned.
And started walking away.
Soo-min stood there.
Confused.
Relieved.
And… strangely disappointed.
"Follow me."
She froze.
"…What?"
He didn't stop walking.
"I don't repeat myself."
Her eyes widened.
"What…?"
Ara's face darkened instantly.
"What do you think you're doing?" she snapped.
But Jae-hyun stopped.
Slowly turned his head.
His eyes met Ara's.
And for a moment—
Fear flashed across her face.
"She's with me."
Four words.
Simple.
But powerful.
And just like that—
Everything changed.
Soo-min followed him silently through the hallway.
Students moved aside.
Whispers grew louder.
"Is that real…?"
"He actually chose her?"
"No way…"
Soo-min felt like she was walking into another world.
A world she didn't belong to.
They reached the back of the school building.
A quiet place.
Empty.
Jae-hyun stopped.
Soo-min almost bumped into him.
"S-sorry…"
He turned to face her.
Up close…
He felt even more intimidating.
His eyes…
Were too sharp.
Too deep.
Like they could see everything.
"From today," he said calmly,
"You stay near me."
Soo-min blinked.
"…Why?"
"Because they won't touch you."
"That's not what I asked."
Silence.
For a moment.
Then—
He stepped closer.
Very close.
"Because I said so."
Her breath hitched.
That wasn't an answer.
But somehow…
It felt like one.
"I don't need your help," she said softly.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"You needed it yesterday."
She clenched her fists.
"…That was different."
"How?"
She looked down.
No answer.
Jae-hyun sighed slightly.
A rare expression.
"You're weak."
Her head snapped up.
"I'm not!"
"Then prove it."
Silence.
Tension filled the air.
Soo-min's eyes trembled.
"…I can't fight them."
"That's not weakness."
"Then what is it?"
He looked at her.
Carefully.
For once—
Not like a stranger.
"Fear."
Her heart stopped.
Because he was right.
"I'm not afraid," she whispered.
"Liar."
Tears filled her eyes.
But she forced them back.
"I don't want trouble."
"Trouble already found you."
Silence again.
But this time…
It felt different.
Softer.
Jae-hyun stepped back.
"Think whatever you want."
He turned to leave.
But—
"Wait."
He stopped.
"…Why me?"
Her voice was quiet.
Fragile.
Honest.
Out of all people…
Why her?
Jae-hyun didn't turn around.
"…Because you don't look at me like they do."
Soo-min frowned slightly.
"…What do you mean?"
"They look at me with fear."
A pause.
"…Or greed."
Another pause.
"…You don't look at me at all."
Her eyes widened.
"That's interesting."
And then—
He walked away.
Soo-min stood there.
Heart pounding.
Mind spinning.
Interesting…?
She didn't understand him.
Not even a little.
But something inside her…
Shifted.
That day—
Everything changed.
Lunch break.
For the first time—
Soo-min didn't go to the rooftop alone.
She sat across from Kang Jae-hyun.
The entire cafeteria was silent.
Watching.
Whispering.
Judging.
She kept her head down.
Her hands trembling slightly.
"I… I can sit somewhere else," she whispered.
"No."
His voice was calm.
Final.
She swallowed.
And stayed.
Minutes passed in silence.
Only the sound of cutlery.
Then—
"Eat properly."
She blinked.
"…I am."
"You're not."
She looked at her food.
Half untouched.
"I'm not hungry."
"Liar."
She frowned slightly.
"Why do you keep calling me that?"
For the first time—
A small smirk appeared on his lips.
"You lie too much."
Her cheeks flushed slightly.
"I don't!"
He leaned back slightly.
Watching her.
Carefully.
"Then stop hiding."
Her heart skipped.
"I'm not hiding."
"You are."
Silence.
"…From what?"
He didn't answer.
Instead—
He stood up.
"Class starts in five minutes."
And just like that—
He left again.
Soo-min sat there.
Confused.
Frustrated.
But also…
Something else.
For the first time in her life—
Someone saw through her.
And it scared her.
But far away…
From the school…
Inside a dark room—
A man knelt on the floor.
Bleeding.
"Please… I didn't know—"
A shadow stepped forward.
Cold.
Silent.
Deadly.
Kang Jae-hyun.
Gone was the calm student.
Gone was the quiet boy.
Only the mafia prince remained.
"You talked too much."
His voice was emotionless.
"I swear—"
A gun clicked.
Silence.
"Wrong answer."
Gunshot.
The man fell.
Lifeless.
Jae-hyun didn't even blink.
"Clean this."
"Yes, boss."
He turned.
Walking away slowly.
But then—
He stopped.
"…Han Soo-min."
Her name.
Softly spoken.
For the first time—
His expression changed.
Not cold.
Not cruel.
Conflicted.
"…Why do I care?"
No answer came.
Only silence.