The classroom buzzed with noise—
Students chatting, laughing—
Just another normal day.
---
Minji suddenly turned to Yuna—
Eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Yunaaa!"
---
Yuna looked up from her desk.
"…What?"
---
Minji leaned closer dramatically.
"There's a new movie after school."
A pause.
"…Let's go watch it!"
---
Yuna blinked.
"…A movie?"
---
Minji nodded rapidly.
"Yes! Everyone is talking about it!"
---
Yuna thought for a second—
Then shrugged lightly.
"…Okay."
---
Minji gasped.
"THAT EASY?!"
---
Yuna smirked.
"…I'm free anyway."
---
Then—
Without thinking much—
Yuna turned slightly.
Looking at someone beside her.
---
"…Jihun."
---
The entire classroom went silent.
---
Every head—
Turned.
---
Jihun looked at her calmly.
"…What?"
---
Yuna spoke casually—
Like it was nothing.
"…We're going to watch a movie after school."
A pause.
"…Want to come?"
---
Dead silence.
---
One student whispered—
"…Did she just invite him?"
---
Another one—
"…Are they… friends now?"
---
Jihun leaned back slightly—
Thinking.
---
Then simply said—
"…Okay."
---
The classroom exploded.
---
"WHAT?!"
"HE SAID YES?!"
---
Minji covered her mouth.
"…This feels illegal."
---
Yuna rolled her eyes.
"…Relax."
---
From the side—
A familiar voice joined in.
---
"Then we should call Kyungmin too."
---
Harin leaned on the desk—
Smiling.
---
Yuna looked at her—
Then nodded.
"…Yeah."
---
A small smile appeared on her face.
"…He's our friend too."
---
For a brief moment—
Everything felt normal.
---
No secrets.
No chaos.
---
Just four friends—
Planning to watch a movie.
---
But somewhere—
Far away—
In New York City—
Someone else—
Was also planning something.
---
And this time—
The story was about to take a turn—
None of them were ready for.
The excitement in the classroom was still buzzing—
When Jihun took out his phone.
---
"I'll call Kyungmin," he said simply.
---
Minji leaned forward immediately.
"…Put it on speaker!"
---
Jihun ignored her—
And dialed the number.
---
The phone rang.
Once.
Twice.
---
Then—
Click.
---
"Yeah?"
Kyungmin's voice came from the other side.
---
Yuna, Harin, and Minji all leaned closer—
Eyes fixed on Jihun's face—
Trying to read his expression.
---
Jihun spoke calmly,
"…We're going to watch a movie after school."
A pause.
"…You coming?"
---
Silence.
---
For a second—
Jihun didn't react.
---
But then—
His expression changed.
Slightly.
---
"…Where are you?" Jihun asked.
---
Yuna frowned.
Where?
---
Another pause.
---
Jihun suddenly stood up.
Chair scraping loudly against the floor.
---
"…What do you mean 'not there'?"
---
Minji's eyes widened.
"…What's happening?"
---
Jihun didn't answer.
---
Instead—
He grabbed his bag—
And started walking fast toward the door.
---
"…Jihun?" Yuna called.
---
He stopped for a split second—
Then turned slightly—
His expression no longer calm.
---
"…I'll be back."
---
And the next second—
He ran out of the classroom.
---
The door slammed open—
Then shut.
---
Silence.
---
The entire class stared at the door—
Shocked.
---
"…Did…"
"…Did the cold prince just run?" someone whispered.
---
Minji blinked rapidly.
"…What just happened?"
---
Yuna stood up slowly—
Her expression serious.
"…Something's wrong."
---
Harin crossed her arms—
Eyes narrowing slightly.
"…Definitely."
---
Minji looked between them.
"…Should we follow him?"
---
Yuna didn't hesitate.
"…Yes."
---
Because whatever Kyungmin said on that call—
---
It wasn't normal.
---
And for the first time—
Jihun's calm, controlled self—
---
Had completely broken.
The school garden was almost empty—
Only the sound of wind brushing through the trees—
And hurried footsteps.
---
Jihun stopped.
Breathing slightly fast.
---
"…Kyungmin!"
---
From behind a tree—
Choi Kyungmin stepped out.
---
And the moment Jihun saw him—
He froze.
---
Kyungmin was—
Shivering.
---
"…She is coming…"
---
Jihun walked closer quickly.
"…What?"
---
Kyungmin grabbed his arm.
"…She is coming, Jihun."
"…She is."
---
Jihun frowned.
"…Who?"
---
Kyungmin looked around—
As if someone might appear any second.
---
"…She."
---
A pause.
---
"…She just messaged me."
---
Jihun's expression turned serious.
"…Where is she now?"
---
Kyungmin swallowed.
"…At the airport."
"…Heading here."
---
Silence.
---
Jihun ran a hand through his hair.
"…Great."
---
Kyungmin panicked.
"…What do I do now?!"
---
Jihun immediately replied—
Calm but fast.
"…You have to hide."
---
"…WHAT?!"
---
"…Before she finds you."
---
Kyungmin blinked.
"…Why does this sound like I'm running from a villain?"
---
Jihun ignored that.
"…Listen."
"…Go to the storage room."
---
Kyungmin stared at him.
"…Storage room?!"
---
Jihun nodded seriously.
"…Yes."
---
"…You want me to HIDE there?"
---
"…Yes."
---
"…Are you serious?!"
---
"…Very."
---
Kyungmin held his head.
"…This is insane…"
---
Jihun pointed toward the building.
"…Go."
---
Kyungmin groaned—
But still ran.
"…If I die, I'm haunting you!"
---
Jihun sighed.
"…You're not dying."
---
A pause.
"…Probably."
---
Kyungmin stopped mid-run.
"…WHAT DO YOU MEAN PROBABLY?!"
---
"GO!"
---
Kyungmin ran again.
---
Meanwhile…
Yuna, Minji, and Harin were searching everywhere.
---
"…Where did they go?" Minji asked.
---
Yuna looked around.
"…They can't just disappear."
---
Harin smirked slightly.
"…Something interesting is definitely happening."
---
Yuna gave her a look.
"…Not the time."
---
Back at the garden
Jihun stood alone now—
Thinking.
---
"…When she comes…"
He muttered.
"…I'll mislead her."
---
A pause.
---
"…And Kyungmin can run."
---
He nodded to himself.
---
"…Perfect plan."
---
From the distance—
Minji's voice echoed—
"JIHUUUNNN!"
---
Jihun turned.
---
"…Too late."
---
Yuna, Minji, and Harin ran toward him.
---
Yuna stopped in front of him.
"…Where is Kyungmin?"
---
Jihun answered calmly.
"…Safe."
---
Minji frowned.
"…Safe where?"
---
Jihun looked away slightly.
"…Secret."
---
Harin narrowed her eyes.
"…You're hiding something."
---
Jihun sighed.
"…Listen carefully."
---
His tone turned serious.
---
"…She is coming."
---
Silence.
---
Yuna frowned.
"…Who?"
---
Jihun didn't answer directly.
---
"…Just know one thing."
---
His eyes sharpened.
---
"…If she finds Kyungmin…"
---
A pause.
---
"…It's going to be a problem."
---
Minji gulped.
"…What kind of problem…?"
---
Jihun looked ahead—
Calm.
But serious.
---
"…A big one."
---
And somewhere far away—
A plane had already landed.
---
And she—
Was already on her way.