"Mr. Motuzenko," Mr. Park said, his eyes returning to the road. The coldness in his gaze softened back into amusement. "They were classmates in middle school."
He chuckled softly, tapping the steering wheel.
"To be honest... Miss fell for him first. I still remember her sitting in the back of this very car, asking me how to talk to boys who like soccer. It was quite endearing."
"Chae-rin? Asking for advice?" I couldn't picture the Ice Princess flustered over a boy.
"Indeed," Mr. Park nodded. "But Han Min-gyu was... unavailable. He was dating his best friend at the time. They were inseparable. But then, there was... a betrayal. He broke Min-gyu's heart."
I frowned, leaning forward. "Wait. He? You mean... she?"
Mr. Park didn't correct himself. He just continued, his tone smooth.
"Min-gyu was devastated. He and Chae-rin attended the same elite cram school after classes. They bonded over the shared pressure, the shared interests. Chae-rin was the one who pulled him out of his depression. She even introduced him to her childhood circle. That never happened before."
"So they're close," I muttered.
"Very," Mr. Park agreed. "They have a genuinely warm relationship. Yes, Min-gyu can be possessive, insecure, and jealous at times—he has trust issues since the betrayal—but they rule it out. Even if Chairman Yoo doesn't approve of the relationship, they find happiness in those stolen moments."
He paused, glancing at me again.
"Why am I sharing this with you?" he asked himself, his voice dropping. "Perhaps because you look like a puppy hoping for a treat that isn't yours."
"I..."
"I don't want you to get your hopes up, San," Mr. Park said gently but firmly. "You make a good team on stage. But off stage? You are merely partners. Friends, at the very least. Do not confuse the performance with reality."
I looked out the window.
The reflection of my new, idol-like haircut and make-up stared back at me, but inside, I still felt like the outsider.
"I know," I said quietly. "Even if I had feelings... which I don't... I couldn't think we had a chance. We are from two different worlds, Mr. Park. And I am leaving Korea in ten months."
Mr. Park nodded, satisfied. "You are a wise young man."
"Please," I pointed to a neon sign up ahead. "Pull up near that bookstore. I need to clear my head before I go back to the mansion."
The car pulled over. I grabbed my school bag and the garment bag containing my new suit.
"Thank you, Mr. Park."
I stepped out onto the sidewalk. The car pulled away, disappearing into the Seoul night.
I turned toward the shop.
"Comic World."
I needed this.
I needed 2D problems, not 3D ones.
I walked in.
The smell of old paper and coffee calmed my nerves instantly.
I went to the counter, where an elderly man was reading a newspaper.
"Excuse me, sir," I said in Korean. "Can I leave these bags here? I'll buy a drink and an hour of reading time."
"Sure, sure," he waved a hand.
I left the expensive suit and my backpack behind the counter and walked into the aisles.
I was exhausted.
My bones ached.
I just wanted to read some One Piece and forget about band drama, scary Chairmen, and beautiful partners with complicated boyfriends.
I turned down the aisle labeled Shojo / Romance.
Not my usual vibe, but I was too tired to navigate to Action.
Halfway down the aisle, someone was blocking the way.
A girl.
She was standing on a wobbly plastic stool, reaching for a volume on the very top shelf.
She was wearing a bright, crimson red blazer.
Hanyeong Arts High, I noted absently.
I felt a strange sense of déjà vu.
The long black hair.
The way she stood on her tiptoes.
It felt familiar.
"Just... a little... more..." the girl muttered, stretching her hand.
The stool wobbled.
One of the plastic legs buckled under the shift in weight.
"Ah!"
She tipped backward.
I didn't think.
I lunged forward.
I caught her just before she hit the linoleum floor.
One arm supported her back, the other stabilized her shoulder.
It was a textbook K-Drama catch, minus the slow motion and the sparkles.
"Gotcha," I breathed out.
The girl gasped, clutching my lapels for balance.
She looked up, her eyes wide with shock.
"Are you okay?" I asked.
Then, our eyes locked.
She froze.
I froze.
It was Kim Yu-jin.
Her gaze dropped from my face to my chest.
To the crest embroidered on my navy blue blazer.
Kirin Arts High School.
She looked back up at me, her expression shifting from shock to confusion.
"You..." she whispered. "Kirin?"
My heart stopped.
My lie had just run out of road.