The classroom was already loud when Geon stepped in.
Not chaotic—nothing dramatic.
Just alive.
Morning sunlight streamed through the wide windows, stretching across rows of desks, catching dust in the air, bouncing softly off restless conversations. Chairs scraped, bags dropped, laughter rose and fell in waves. It was the kind of noise that didn't belong to anything important—but somehow filled the entire space.
And right there—
At the center of it—
She was sitting.
Yoo Ara.
Surrounded.
Not just sitting with people—being pulled into them.
Boys leaning in a little too eagerly. Girls smiling a little too brightly. Questions, introductions, casual jokes that weren't really casual. The kind of attention that builds naturally around someone… without them asking for it.
And standing just behind that circle—
Not part of it, not outside it—
Was Kim Dae-Sung.
Still.
Watching.
Like a scientist observing something rare and potentially dangerous.
Geon stopped at the door.
Just for a second.
"…what is this," he muttered under his breath.
Ara noticed something too.
Not Geon.
Dae-Sung.
That stare.
Too steady.
Too focused.
She shifted slightly in her seat, adjusting her posture, her fingers brushing lightly against her notebook.
Uncomfortable.
But polite enough not to say anything.
Geon didn't notice any of that.
Because his brain had already locked onto one problem.
Why is my friend standing there like a final boss?
He walked in.
Dropped his bag onto his desk.
A girl was already sitting on his desk talking to Ara.
Geon paused.
Looked at her.
Looked at his seat.
Considered asking her to move.
…decided against it.
Today is not the day to create enemies.
He turned immediately.
Walked straight toward Dae-Sung.
Grabbed his arm.
"Come."
"What—"
"No. Outside."
And just like that—
He dragged him out of the classroom.
The hallway was quieter.
Not silent.
But calm enough to think.
Geon turned the moment they stopped.
"What the hell were you doing?" he asked, voice low but urgent. "You were just standing there… staring. You looked like you were about to either confess or arrest someone."
Dae-Sung adjusted his glasses.
Calm.
Unbothered.
"I was judging her."
Geon blinked.
"…what?"
"Analyzing," Dae-Sung corrected.
"…that's worse."
Dae-Sung nodded once, accepting that.
"I was evaluating her compatibility with you."
Geon stared at him.
"…and?"
Dae-Sung looked at him.
Not quickly.
Not casually.
Long.
Measured.
"She is not your type."
Silence.
Geon's brain stopped.
"…why," he said slowly.
Dae-Sung raised a finger.
"Observation one: she has already established multiple social connections within a short time frame—less than one day."
"Observation two: high engagement rate. Majority of the class is interacting with her voluntarily."
"Observation three: physical attractiveness above average. Likely to attract sustained attention."
A pause.
"Observation four: probable academic capability—based on response patterns and conversation topics."
Geon narrowed his eyes.
"…you're making this up."
"I am not."
Dae-Sung lowered his hand.
"Conclusion: she exists in a higher social and academic tier than you."
A beat.
"Out of your league."
Geon stared at him.
Then pointed.
"…I hate you."
Dae-Sung continued like he hadn't heard that.
"You are average looking."
"…I am NOT average—"
"You are not academically strong."
"…that's temporary."
"You barely passed last year."
"…strategically."
"You required assistance."
"…SHE HELPED ME— talking about Seo-Yeon"
"Exactly."
Silence.
Geon took a step forward.
"Okay, Mr. Einstein, listen—"
Dae-Sung raised a hand.
Cutting him off.
"But."
That stopped him.
"You are my friend."
Geon paused.
"And despite your limitations—"
"…limitations?"
"—I will assist you."
Dae-Sung pushed his glasses up slightly.
"No matter how visually underwhelming—"
"I AM NOT—"
"No matter how academically inefficient—"
"STOP—"
"No matter how socially awkward, emotionally unstable, and statistically unlikely your success rate is—"
"WHY ARE YOU HELPING ME LIKE THIS—"
"I will ensure compatibility."
Silence.
Geon blinked slowly.
"…you're insane."
Dae-Sung nodded.
"But effective."
The bell rang.
Sharp.
Interrupting everything.
Both of them paused.
"…we're continuing this," Geon said, pointing at him.
"Yes," Dae-Sung replied.
They walked back in.
Classes started.
And within ten minutes—
Geon was asleep.
Head down.
Gone.
The teacher's voice faded into background noise.
Pens scratched.
Pages turned.
Occasionally—
Geon woke up.
Lifted his head slightly.
Looked toward Ara.
Tried to act normal.
Failed.
"Psst—"
No response.
"Hey—"
A few students nearby laughed quietly.
Dae-Sung slowly turned his head.
And looked at him.
Not angry (maybe little).
Not loud.
Just… disappointed.
Geon froze.
"…yeah, you need to study," he mumbled.
Then turned toward the window.
Outside—
Nothing important.
Inside his head—
Even less.
Before lunch—
A soft tap on his shoulder.
"Hey…"
Geon blinked awake.
And froze.
She was right there.
Yoo Ara.
Closer than before.
"Lunch started," she said softly.
Geon sat up instantly.
"…oh."
A pause.
"…thanks."
She smiled.
Just a little.
And for a brief moment—
Everything felt manageable.
Simple.
Then—
"Lunch."
Dae-Sung appeared.
And reality returned.
Geon stood.
"…yeah."
As they walked out—
He glanced back.
Just once.
And this time—
She was already looking.
And she smiled.
Not polite.
Not forced.
Real.
Geon stopped mid-step.
"…okay," he whispered.
A beat.
"…this is happening."