Kyungmin turned—
Ready to run again—
---
But before he could take even one step—
---
THUD.
---
A hand slammed against the wall beside him.
---
Blocking his way.
---
Serin.
---
With just one hand—
She had completely cornered him.
---
Kyungmin froze.
---
"…I'm trapped."
---
Serin leaned slightly closer—
Her eyes sharp.
---
"…What's going on, Choi?"
---
A pause.
---
"…Why are you running from me?"
---
Kyungmin couldn't answer.
---
For once—
The confident "school prince"—
Had no words.
---
Then—
Footsteps rushed in.
---
"HEY—!"
---
Jihun arrived—
With Yuna, Minji, and Harin behind him.
---
Jihun stepped forward—
Serious.
---
"…Serin."
"…Leave him."
---
Serin didn't move.
---
"…Why?"
---
Jihun didn't hesitate.
---
"…Because Choi likes someone else."
---
Silence.
---
Serin's expression didn't change—
But the air did.
---
She slowly looked back at Kyungmin.
---
"…Is that true?"
---
Kyungmin gulped.
---
Then nodded quickly.
---
"…Y-Yes!"
---
"…I like someone else!"
---
Minji covered her mouth.
---
Yuna blinked.
---
Harin froze.
---
Serin stepped even closer to Kyungmin—
Their faces just inches apart.
---
"…Who?"
---
A pause.
---
Her voice lowered—
Dangerously calm.
---
"…It's not me?"
---
Kyungmin's heart started racing.
---
Say it.
Just say it.
---
His eyes moved—
And landed on—
Harin.
---
Standing there—
Shocked.
---
Without thinking—
---
Kyungmin suddenly ran forward—
---
Grabbed Harin's wrist—
---
And pulled her slightly closer.
---
"…HER."
---
Everyone froze.
---
Kyungmin pointed directly at Harin—
Determined.
---
"…I like her."
---
Silence.
---
Absolute silence.
---
Minji's jaw dropped.
---
Yuna's eyes widened.
---
Jihun slowly turned toward Harin—
Processing.
---
Harin herself—
Was completely stunned.
---
"…What."
---
Serin looked at Harin—
From head to toe.
---
Her gaze sharp.
---
Evaluating.
---
"…Her?"
---
A small pause.
---
Then—
Serin smiled.
---
But this time—
It wasn't calm.
---
It was dangerous.
---
"…Interesting."
---
She took a step forward.
---
Toward Harin.
---
"…So you're the one."
---
The tension in the air—
Became unbearable.
---
And Kyungmin—
Still holding Harin's wrist—
Realized one thing.
---
He might have just made things… much worse.
The air—
Was completely frozen.
---
Kyungmin still held Harin's wrist.
---
Harin still hadn't processed what just happened.
---
Serin's eyes stayed locked on her.
---
Sharp.
Calm.
Dangerous.
---
And in the middle of all this tension—
---
Minji slowly leaned toward Yuna—
Whispering under her breath.
---
"…Didn't Harin reject him yesterday…?"
---
Yuna blinked once.
---
"…Yes."
---
Minji's eyes widened even more.
---
"…Then WHY is he confessing again??"
---
Yuna pressed her lips together—
Trying not to laugh.
---
"…Because he's panicking."
---
Minji whispered dramatically,
"…This is not panic…"
"…This is self-destruction…"
---
Meanwhile—
---
Serin stepped closer to Harin.
---
"…So."
---
A pause.
---
"…You're the one he likes."
---
Harin finally reacted.
---
"…Wait—"
---
She glanced at Kyungmin—
Then at Serin—
Then back at Kyungmin.
---
"…WHAT are you doing?!"
---
Kyungmin whispered quickly—
Without moving his lips.
---
"…Saving my life."
---
Harin whispered back—
Annoyed.
---
"…By dragging me into your death??"
---
Yuna covered her mouth—
Barely holding her laughter.
---
Jihun sighed quietly.
---
"…This is a mess."
---
Serin tilted her head slightly—
Observing Harin carefully.
---
"…You don't seem surprised."
---
Harin froze for a second.
---
"…I—"
---
Kyungmin tightened his grip slightly—
Pleading silently.
---
Please… just go along with it…
---
Harin closed her eyes for a second.
---
"…This idiot…"
---
Then she sighed—
And looked at Serin.
---
"…So what if he likes me?"
---
Bold.
---
Confident.
---
Everyone got shocked again.
---
Kyungmin blinked.
---
"…Wait, she's helping me??"
---
Serin's eyes narrowed slightly.
---
"…So you accept it?"
---
A pause.
---
Harin smirked lightly—
Back in her "prince" mode.
---
"…Why wouldn't I?"
---
Minji almost screamed.
---
"…WHAT IS HAPPENING—"
---
Yuna quickly held her.
---
"…Let it play out…"
---
Serin let out a soft laugh.
---
"…Interesting."
---
She took one step closer—
Now standing right in front of Harin.
---
"…Then let's see…"
---
A pause.
---
"…How long this lasts."
---
Her gaze shifted to Kyungmin.
---
"…Don't run next time."
---
Then—
She turned.
---
And started walking away.
---
Just like that.
---
The moment she disappeared—
---
Kyungmin immediately let go of Harin's wrist—
Jumping back.
---
"…I'M SORRY—!"
---
Harin smacked his head lightly.
---
"…YOU DRAGGED ME INTO THIS—?!"
---
Minji finally exploded.
---
"…YESTERDAY YOU GOT REJECTED—TODAY YOU CONFESSED AGAIN—WHAT IS THIS CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT??!"
---
Yuna burst out laughing.
---
Jihun shook his head.
---
"…We're doomed."
---
Kyungmin held his head—
Still in shock.
---
"…I almost died…"
---
Harin crossed her arms—
Smirking slightly.
---
"…No."
---
A pause.
---
"…Now the real problem starts."
Kyungmin held his head—
Still shaken—
Then suddenly—
He grabbed Harin's hand again.
---
"…PLEASE."
---
Everyone blinked.
---
"…Pretend to be my girlfriend."
---
Dead silence.
---
Harin slowly looked down at her hand—
Then at Kyungmin.
---
"…Excuse me?"
---
Kyungmin bowed slightly—
Desperate.
---
"…Just for some time!"
"…Please!"
---
Harin pulled her hand back immediately.
---
"…Didn't I tell you yesterday?"
---
Her voice turned serious.
---
"…I'm not interested in this."
---
A pause.
---
"…And also—"
She pointed at herself.
---
"…Everyone here thinks I'm a BOY."
---
Minji nodded dramatically.
"…Exactly!"
---
Harin continued,
"…Except you all."
---
Kyungmin froze.
---
"…Right…"
---
"…That's also a problem…"
---
Yuna stepped forward—
Crossing her arms.
---
"…Enough."
---
Everyone turned toward her.
---
Her expression—
Calm.
Serious.
---
"…Explain."
---
A pause.
---
"…Who is she?"
"…Why is she following you?"
"…Why are YOU—"
She pointed at Kyungmin.
---
"…Running like your life depends on it?"
---
Then she looked at Jihun—
And the others.
---
"…And why are YOU all scared of her?"
---
Silence.
---
Kyungmin looked at Jihun.
---
Jihun sighed.
---
"…You tell them."
---
Kyungmin hesitated.
---
Then—
He ran his hand through his hair.
---
"…Fine…"
---
A deep breath.
---
"…Her name is Kang Serin."
---
Minji whispered,
"…We know that part…"
---
Kyungmin continued—
Ignoring her.
---
"…She's not just some model."
---
A pause.
---
"…She's… dangerous."
---
Harin raised an eyebrow.
"…Dangerous how?"
---
Kyungmin looked at her seriously.
---
"…She always gets what she wants."
---
Silence.
---
Yuna's eyes narrowed slightly.
---
"…And what does she want?"
---
Kyungmin hesitated again.
---
Then said quietly—
---
"…Me."
---
Minji choked.
"…WHAT?!"
---
Harin blinked.
"…Excuse me??"
---
Yuna stared at him.
"…You're serious?"
---
Kyungmin nodded slowly.
---
"…Since middle school…"
---
A pause.
---
"…She's been… obsessed."
---
Everyone went silent.
---
Jihun spoke calmly—
Adding more.
---
"…Her family and Kyungmin's family are close."
"…Very close."
---
Minji whispered,
"…Oh no…"
---
Kyungmin continued—
Frustrated.
---
"…She always decided things on her own."
"…Where I go…"
"…Who I talk to…"
"…Even what I do…"
---
Harin frowned.
"…That's too much."
---
Kyungmin nodded.
---
"…It got worse."
---
A pause.
---
"…She started calling me 'hers'."
---
Minji made a face.
"…That's scary…"
---
Yuna stayed quiet—
Listening carefully.
---
Kyungmin clenched his fist slightly.
---
"…When she left for abroad…"
"…I thought I was finally free."
---
A pause.
---
"…But now she's back."
---
Silence.
---
Then—
He looked at Harin again.
---
"…That's why I need your help."
---
Harin immediately stepped back.
---
"…NO."
---
Kyungmin froze.
---
"…Why—?!"
---
Harin crossed her arms.
---
"…Because this isn't a joke."
---
A pause.
---
"…And I'm not your shield."
---
Kyungmin lowered his head slightly.
---
"…I know…"
---
"…But I don't know what else to do."
---
For the first time—
He looked genuinely helpless.
---
Yuna watched him—
Then sighed.
---
"…This isn't just your problem anymore."
---
Everyone looked at her.
---
"…If she's this serious…"
---
A pause.
---
"…She won't stop easily."
---
Jihun nodded slightly.
---
"…She won't."
---
Minji whispered,
"…Then what do we do…?"
---
Silence fell again.
---
And in that silence—
One thing became clear—
---
Kang Serin wasn't just a problem.
---
She was a storm.
---
And it had just arrived.
Silence still hung in the air—
Heavy.
---
Kyungmin's words—
His helpless expression—
---
For once—
Even Harin didn't joke.
---
She looked at him—
Properly.
---
"…You were dealing with all this alone?"
---
Kyungmin didn't answer.
---
Which was already an answer.
---
Harin sighed softly—
Running her hand through her hair.
---
"…This is troublesome…"
---
Minji whispered to Yuna,
"…That means she's thinking…"
---
Yuna nodded.
"…Yeah…"
---
After a few seconds—
---
Harin stepped forward.
---
"…Fine."
---
Everyone looked at her.
---
Kyungmin blinked.
---
"…What?"
---
Harin crossed her arms—
Still in her confident tone.
---
"…I'll help you."
---
Kyungmin's eyes widened.
---
"…REALLY?!"
---
Harin raised her hand—
Stopping him immediately.
---
"…But listen carefully."
---
Her voice turned serious.
---
"…This is just an act."
---
A pause.
---
"…Inside school—it's going to be difficult."
---
She pointed around.
---
"…Because everyone thinks I'm a BOY."
---
Minji nodded again dramatically.
"…Main issue."
---
Harin continued—
Looking straight at Kyungmin.
---
"…And I'm only helping you because…"
---
A small pause.
---
"…You're our friend now."
---
Kyungmin went quiet.
---
Then Harin added—
Clearly.
---
"…So don't misunderstand anything."
---
Another pause.
---
"…And don't expect that I'll fall in love with you."
---
Direct.
Sharp.
Clear.
---
Kyungmin froze for a second—
Then suddenly smiled.
---
"…That's fine."
---
Everyone looked at him.
---
"…Huh?"
---
Kyungmin rubbed the back of his neck—
A little embarrassed.
---
"…Right now… surviving is more important."
---
Minji burst out laughing.
"…VALID POINT—"
---
Yuna smiled slightly.
---
Jihun shook his head.
"…This is going to be chaotic."
---
Harin smirked.
---
"…Then it's settled."
---
She looked in the direction where Serin had gone.
---
"…Let's see how long I can handle your 'darling' problem."
---
Kyungmin gulped.
---
"…Please handle it well…"
---
Yuna crossed her arms—
A small smirk on her face.
---
"…This is getting interesting."
---
Minji added,
"…More like dangerous and interesting."
---
Jihun looked ahead—
Serious again.
---
"…Be careful."
---
Because deep down—
He knew one thing—
---
Kang Serin wouldn't give up that easily.
---
And now—
---
Harin had just stepped—
Directly into her path.