Chapter 1: When Strangers Collide
It started on a rainy afternoon in Seoul. I was weaving through racks of books in the mall, grumbling about overpriced coffee and a class assignment I'd procrastinated on, when someone crashed into me—hard.
My bag hit the ground with a thud, books spilling everywhere.
"Yah!" I snapped, glaring up at the man who'd run into me.
He looked vaguely apologetic, but mostly amused. Tall, lean, dressed in a black shirt that clung to his body like it was tailored to his soul. His hair was tousled like a model's, and his sharp jawline twitched with a smirk.
"My bad," he said, not sounding sorry at all.
"Are you blind or just stupid?" I shot back.
He chuckled. "Feisty. I like that."
I rolled my eyes, muttering under my breath, "Asshole."As I knelt to pick up my books, he crouched too. "Want help, or are you too proud for that too?"
I snatched the book from his hand. "I'm good. Thanks."
He stood, winked, and walked away—like he owned the air around him.
---
The next morning, I walked into class like any other day, tired and already done with life. But when I looked up at the front of the room, my blood froze.
There he was.
The mall guy.
Standing at the podium.
Wearing glasses and a collared shirt this time, but the same damn smirk on his lips.