So-yeon stepped into the classroom, her heart still racing from what had happened with Ryu. The moment kept replaying in her mind—his words, his voice, that flirtatious look. She was stunned, barely able to speak. Quietly, she made her way to her seat, trying to compose herself.
As she settled in, the familiar voices of Yuna and Taemin, the teasing couple from earlier, approached her—alongside Joon, the quiet new transferee boy who had walked in with her that very first day.
"What happened?" Yuna asked, raising a brow. "You look like you've seen a ghost."
Before So-yeon could even respond, something across the room caught her eye—and her breath hitched.
There, in the far corner, stood Seo-Jin… smiling.
And next to him? Ryu.
The two were laughing and talking like old friends.
So-yeon blinked, confused. "Hey... look at them," she whispered to Yuna. "What's happening? I've never seen Seo-Jin smile like that."
Yuna nodded. "Yeah. Shocking, right? They've been best friends since Grade 4."
So-yeon turned to her sharply. "What? How's that even possible? They're completely opposite."
Yuna chuckled. "Girl, don't even ask. I was just as shocked. Seo-Jin never smiles, never talks to girls, hates anything that isn't studies. But Ryu? He's wild. Always ditching classes, obsessed with sports, and flirting? Please, it's his full-time job."
So-yeon sat back, stunned. Everything she thought she knew about them was flipping upside down. Her lips stayed silent, but her face wore that confused, heavy expression—somewhere between disappointment and disbelief.
The teacher walked in, snapping her out of it. "Good morning, class. Open your books. Today we begin a new chapter."
But So-yeon's focus was gone. Her pen was still, her eyes blank. The only thing playing in her head was that smile… Seo-Jin's smile.
Then—
A hand touched her shoulder.
She jumped slightly and turned.
It was Ryu.
Leaning in, he gave that playful grin.
"Were you looking at me, sweetheart?"
So-yeon rolled her eyes and turned back around without a word. She opened her book and tried to act like he didn't exist.
The lesson went on, until the teacher finally announced, "You'll be working on a group assignment. Choose your own groups."
Ryu didn't waste a second. "So-yeon and Seo-Jin are with me," he declared proudly.
Before she could react, he grabbed Joon's hand and pulled him in. Then Joon—still unsure but quietly observing everything—took Yuna's hand. Without hesitation, Yuna reached for Taemin, locking him into the group as if it were the most natural thing.
Like a chain—one hand to the next—the group was formed.
Six people, connected by chance… or maybe fate.
And So-yeon?
She was right in the middle of it all.
_ _ _