…Why do I care?"
No answer came.
Only silence.
His eyes darkened.
"…She's not normal."
Morning sunlight filtered through the tall glass windows of Seorin High School, casting long golden shadows across the polished floors. Everything looked perfect—too perfect.
Students laughed.
Teachers smiled.
The rich lived their normal, careless lives.
But beneath that surface…
Something had already begun to crack.
Han Soo-min walked slowly through the school gate, her steps hesitant.
Yesterday…
Everything had changed.
She could still hear the whispers.
Feel the stares.
"There she is…"
"The one Jae-hyun sits with…"
"She must be using him…"
"Disgusting…"
Her grip tightened on her bag.
Her heart beat faster.
This is worse…
Before, she was invisible.
Now…
She was a target.
She lowered her head and kept walking.
But suddenly—
A group of girls blocked her path.
Choi Ara.
"You really don't learn, do you?" Ara said, her voice calm—but venomous.
Soo-min froze.
"I… I didn't do anything…"
Ara stepped closer, her heels clicking against the floor like a ticking clock.
"That's the problem."
Her lips curved into a smile.
"You didn't do anything… and yet you're standing next to him."
Soo-min's chest tightened.
"I'm not—"
A sharp slap cut her off.
Smack.
The sound echoed through the hallway.
Students nearby stopped.
But no one intervened.
No one ever did.
Soo-min's face turned to the side, her hair falling over her eyes.
Her cheek burned.
But more than pain…
There was humiliation.
Ara grabbed her chin, forcing her to look up.
"Listen carefully," she whispered.
"Stay away from Kang Jae-hyun… or next time, it won't just be a slap."
Soo-min's lips trembled slightly.
But then—
Something unexpected happened.
She didn't cry.
Instead—
She looked directly into Ara's eyes.
"…I can't."
Silence.
Ara blinked.
"What?"
"I said… I can't."
Her voice was quiet.
But firm.
For the first time—
There was resistance.
Ara's expression darkened instantly.
"You really want to die, don't you?"
She raised her hand again—
But it never landed.
A strong grip caught her wrist mid-air.
The temperature dropped instantly.
"You're getting bold."
That voice.
Kang Jae-hyun.
Ara's face turned pale.
She slowly turned her head.
"…Jae-hyun…"
His grip tightened slightly.
Not enough to hurt.
But enough to warn.
"Let go," she whispered nervously.
He stared at her.
Expressionless.
"Apologize."
The word hit like a command.
Ara's pride shattered in that moment.
"I—why should I—"
His grip tightened further.
Her face twisted in pain.
"I don't repeat myself."
Silence.
Heavy.
Crushing.
"…Sorry."
It was barely a whisper.
But it was enough.
Jae-hyun released her.
Ara quickly pulled her hand back, glaring at Soo-min with pure hatred.
"This isn't over."
And she walked away.
Her group followed silently.
The hallway slowly returned to life.
But the tension remained.
Soo-min stood still.
Frozen.
Jae-hyun turned to her.
His eyes immediately went to her cheek.
Red.
Slightly swollen.
"…Did it hurt?"
Such a simple question.
But coming from him—
It felt different.
Soo-min shook her head.
"…I'm fine."
"…Liar."
She looked down.
"…It's nothing."
He stepped closer.
Too close.
"Look at me."
Her eyes slowly lifted.
Meeting his.
For a moment—
Everything disappeared.
The noise.
The people.
The fear.
Only him remained.
His hand moved slightly—
Then stopped mid-air.
As if he was about to touch her face.
But changed his mind.
"…You're weak."
Her heart clenched."But…"
A pause.
"You didn't run."
Her eyes widened slightly.
"That's new."
For the first time—
There was something different in his voice.
Not cold.
Not sharp.
Something… softer.
"I told you to stay near me," he continued.
"I was—"
"You weren't."
Silence.
"I won't always be there."
His words were calm.
But they carried weight.
"Then why say it?" she asked quietly.
He didn't answer immediately.
Instead—
He looked at her for a long moment.
"…Because I want to."
Her breath caught.
That wasn't logical.
That wasn't normal.
But somehow…
It felt real.
Before she could say anything—
"Jae-hyun!"
A voice interrupted.
Lee Min-jun.
He walked toward them with a relaxed smile, hands in his pockets.
"Man, you're causing chaos again."His eyes shifted to Soo-min.
Curious.
Playful.
"So… this is her?"
Soo-min felt uncomfortable under his gaze.
Jae-hyun stepped slightly in front of her.
A subtle move.
But protective.
"…Don't."
Min-jun chuckled.
"Relax, I'm not like them."
He looked at Soo-min again.
This time—
More carefully.
"…Interesting."
Soo-min blinked.
Why does everyone keep saying that…?
Min-jun leaned closer to Jae-hyun.
"You sure about this?"
Jae-hyun's expression didn't change.
"Yes."
That one word…
Was enough.
Min-jun raised his hands in surrender.
"Alright, alright. Your choice."
But his eyes said something else.
This is going to be trouble.
That evening…
The sky turned dark once again.
Clouds gathered.
Rain threatened to fall.Soo-min walked alone on the quiet street.
Her part-time job had ended late.
Her body felt tired.
But her mind…
Was restless.
Kang Jae-hyun…
She didn't understand him.
Not at all.
Why protect her?
Why stay near her?
Why look at her like that?
None of it made sense.Lost in thought—
She didn't notice the black car slowly stopping nearby.
The door opened.
"…Get in."
She froze.
Jae-hyun.
"What…?"
"It's late."
"I can walk."
"No."
His tone left no room for argument."…Why are you here?"
Silence.
"…I was passing by."
She stared at him.
"…Liar."
For a second—
He smirked.
"Get in."
She hesitated.
Then slowly…
Got inside.
The car moved smoothly through the city.
Silence filled the space.
Soo-min sat stiffly.
Unsure what to say.
"…Do you always do this?" she asked finally.
"Do what?"
"Help people."
"…No."
"Then why me?"
Again—
That question.
Jae-hyun looked out the window.
The city lights reflected in his eyes."…Because you're different."
She frowned.
"How?"
"…You endure."
Her heart stopped.
"Most people break," he continued.
"…You don't."
She looked down.
"…I do."
"No."
His voice was certain.
"You just don't show it."
Silence."…That's not strength," she whispered.
"It is."
She shook her head.
"…It's just survival."
Jae-hyun looked at her again.
Deeply.
"…Then survive."
A pause.
"…But don't do it alone."
Her eyes widened.That moment—
Something inside her heart shifted again.
Something dangerous.
Something warm.
But far away…
A man spoke into a phone.
"Yes… Kang Jae-hyun has taken interest in a girl."A pause.
"…Should we remove her?"
Silence.
Then—
A cold voice answered.
"…Not yet."
Thunder roared.
"…Let's see how important she becomes."
Back in the car—
Soo-min looked at Jae-hyun.
Unaware…
That just by being near him—
She had already stepped into a world—
Where survival…
Was never guaranteed.