Eun-Woo spotted Ji-Woo from across the campus, waving energetically with one hand tucked into his pocket and the other clutching his bag tightly.
Without hesitation, he broke into a run, his footsteps echoing on the pavement as he hurried toward her.
When he finally reached her, he paused to catch his breath, a wide smile spreading across his face.
"Oh… my friend," he said dramatically, voice slightly strained from the run, "I ran all the way for you. You owe me lunch today."
He reached out, placing a hand on her shoulder in a friendly gesture. Ji-Woo rolled her eyes, playfully brushing his hand away.
"I'm not paying for your lunch or anything," she retorted with a teasing smirk. "I didn't tell you to run."
Eun-Woo grinned mischievously, shrugging. "Bah, blah, blah," he teased, winking. "You know you're just mad I beat you here."
Ji-Woo crossed her arms, her hair tousled by the gentle breeze that played with her strands.
She raised an eyebrow, curiosity flickering in her eyes. "I was wondering… how long have we been friends?"
Eun-Woo's face lit up with a nostalgic smile. "Like over seven years," he said proudly. "Just old enough to know you hate when I do this."
Without warning, he reached out again, placing a hand on her shoulders and pulling her hair back in a playful tangle.
Ji-Woo instinctively jerked her head away, her cheeks flushing with a mixture of annoyance and amusement. "Hey, Eun-Woo! Stop that…!"
He chuckled, a warm, genuine sound that echoed softly in the bustling campus.
Footsteps echoed slowly inside the classroom, each step deliberate and measured.
The room instantly fell silent—girls whispering behind their hands, boys clowning around, eyes wide with curiosity and anticipation.
All eyes shifted to the entrance as Ji-Woo, sitting at her desk, looked up.
Her pen suddenly snapped in half, startling her. She quickly turned her head toward the door, mouthing an apology to the class.
The murmurs hushed as a figure stepped inside. He moved with quiet confidence, one hand gripping his back tightly, the other casually slipped into his pocket.
He had an aura that was both handsome and cute—an intriguing combination that made everyone stare.
His sharp jawline caught the light, and his deep brown eyes sparkled with a hint of mischief.
His jet-black hair was cut in a neat, fashionable style, perfectly framing his face.
He looked sharp in his clean, crisp school uniform, radiating a polished, almost regal presence.
He paused at the front of the class, a gentle smile playing on his lips. "Hello," he announced, voice smooth and confident. "My name is Choi Ji-Bok."
The class erupted into cheers and murmurs of excitement. Some students whispered eagerly, recognizing the name immediately.
That's when it hit Ji-Woo—Choi Ji-Bok? As in Mr. Choi's son? The boy she'd only heard about in hushed conversations and gossip.
She had imagined him as cold and distant, maybe even a mafia boss type, but seeing him now, she realized he looked more like a man and a baby all at once—hard to define, yet impossible to ignore.
Meanwhile, Eun-Woo's eyes narrowed sharply as he watched Ji-Woo stare intently at Wang-Lee.
His lips twitched as if he was about to say something, but he paused, sighing softly. His expression was unreadable, a mixture of curiosity and guarded annoyance.
"Welcome, Bok—" Mrs. Posh greeted warmly, breaking the silence. "You may now take your seat."
And just as she finished, it so happened that Ji-Bok's seat was close to Ji-Woo, by the window.
The sunlight streamed in, casting a warm glow on his face as he sat down gracefully.
Across the room, Eun-Woo sat watching, his eyes fixed on how Ji-Bok settled into his seat, a faint flicker of suspicion or maybe envy crossing his face.
The classroom buzzed with excitement and curiosity, everyone eager to see what would unfold next.
But Ji-Woo couldn't help but feel her eyes linger on Ji-Bok, her mind swirling with questions and impressions—this boy was definitely more than he seemed,.
Is this the boy that woman told me he would never look at me She thought quietly arching an eyebrow Yeah he's handsome but not my type he seems cold. Tch..
--
The classroom was bursting with energy.
Boys were nudging each other playfully, shoving for seats, while girls leaned over desks whispering about the latest lipstick trends and weekend plans.
Laughter and chatter filled the air, almost drowning out the sound of Ji-Woo pretending to sleep at her desk.
She figured it was the perfect way to survive until lunch—her escape plan from all the chaos.
Suddenly, a gentle tap on her head jolted her awake. She blinked, eyes half-closed, to see Eun-Woo standing beside her with a goofy grin.
"Lunch time Madam...come on get up I will save you the line in my front. Don't forget your promise," he muttered, giving her a quick nudge and then walking off with a wink.
Ji-Woo sighed, watching him disappear into the crowd.
She slowly sat up, stretching her arms as if she'd just woken from a nap instead of pretending to be invisible. Just as she was about to sneak out, her shoulder bumped into someone.
She looked up—surprised to find Ji-Bok staring down at her with that calm, almost amused expression, he was like not too tall and not too short either, medium.
Her cheeks flushed a little but she sighed. "Oh! Sorry, I didn't see you there," she whispered, trying to slide past him, with a goofy expression.
But he stepped forward, blocking her way with a look that was both cool and… slightly mischievous?.
"Wait," he said softly, voice smooth like butter. "Aren't you the girl..." he tilted his head, pretending to think, "who got humiliated at my birthday party? Mi-Sook cause you trouble and you went missing"
Her eyes widened. Heart pounding like she'd just run a race, she froze. The memory of that night wasn't exactly her favorite it wasn't even the real Ji-Woo's favorite.
She hadn't been there, after all. She wasn't even sure what happened she's just pretending to be who he thought she was—probably a clone of her usual awkward self.
"Y-yeah," she whispered, clutching her skirt tightly trying to look casual. "That's me, I'm famous."
He looked at her carefully, a sly smile hinting on his lips.
"Well, I wanted to say sorry, I was there when that happened." he said, eyelids barely open, voice low and cool.
"Sorry about that. Didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. I tried to follow you but man...you were too fast." His tone made her feel like she was caught in some romantic comedy—awkward but kind of cute.
But she also does kind of girl that will ruin a cute moment and then began to wonder why they are still single.
Ji-Woo blinked, surprised by how sincere he sounded.
"It's okay, I'm fine totally." she managed, hurriedly trying to escape before her face turned tomato red.
She brushed past him, muttering a quick, "See you around Bok."
Ji-Bok blinked and watched her walk away, a faint, amused smile on his face.
He looked down, then back at the door, as if he was contemplating whether to follow her or just leave her to her embarrassing moment.
Meanwhile, the classroom buzzed back to life, but in his mind, a strange, unexpected feeling lingered—like maybe, just maybe, this was the start of something… interesting or yes he had found his teasing target..