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Chapter 28: Not How I Want to Start My Day
Ju-kyoung's eyes widened in disbelief. Her mind drifted back to that night—the night she ran out of the makeup store after bumping into Sam-mi, only to collide with a guy on a motorcycle. His aura, his attitude, his piercing gaze...
Slowly, she snapped back to the present.
He was standing there. In a school uniform. Her school uniform.
Ju-kyoung's breath caught. It's him. Every detail of his face was exactly the same.
Her feet froze as she whispered, almost to herself, "He's a student here? What kind of coincidence is this…?"
The motorcycle roared past Soo-hoo and stopped a little further ahead. The rider dismounted, removing his helmet with slow, deliberate movements. For Ju-kyoung, it was like the world moved in slow motion.
Her eyes locked on his face. Shock. Recognition. Embarrassment. Her stomach twisted as if the ground itself might swallow her whole.
"What is he doing here?" was all she could manage, her voice trembling.
The other students gasped, their curiosity thick in the air.
"Han Seo-jin is back?" Su-ah exclaimed.
"Han Seo-jin…?" Ju-kyoung repeated, her expression unreadable.
Su-ah clasped her hands into a triangle. "Like the Bermuda Triangle… or a black hole in space."
But Ju-kyoung barely heard her. Her eyes were fixed on Seo-jin and Soo-hoo. The two boys walked toward each other, their auras clashing like invisible forces. Their eyes—sharp, cold, unyielding—were enough to send shivers down anyone's spine.
The crowd fell silent. Beauty radiated from both of them, but so did danger.
The wind brushed through their hair as they stood face to face, two storms waiting to collide.
Su-ah leaned closer to Ju-kyoung, her voice hushed yet excited. "The charms of these two guys can suck you right in with no escape."
Ju-kyoung's imagination began to wander.
She pictured Soo-hoo sitting on a bench, one leg crossed over the other, a book in his hand. The gentle wind lifted his hair just enough to highlight his flawless features. His lips, soft and pink, curved slightly as he turned the page. Girls all around screamed, clutching their hearts.
Goodness! What do I do? one girl whispered.
I'll report you for stealing my heart! another cried dramatically.
Soo-hoo turned his head just slightly, and the girls nearly fainted on the spot.
Then came Seo-jin.
She imagined him in his sports clothes, a hairband pulling his hair back perfectly. His aura was darker, more dangerous. He tilted his head back, drinking from a bottle of water, his sharp Adam's apple moving with every swallow. Girls squealed from the sidelines, some filming, some clutching their faces. When he poured the rest of the water over his hair and shook it loose, the screams only grew louder.
Polar opposites. Soo-hoo, calm and angelic. Seo-jin, fierce and untamed. Both breathtaking.
Ju-kyoung suddenly broke into a nervous sweat.
"Savior Soo-hoo, the nonchalant Adonis," Su-ah declared dramatically. "Versus Seo-jin, the Almighty Untamed Rebel."
Her eyes sparkled like she was narrating a fantasy movie. "It's impossible to choose who's hotter! Like donuts versus ice cream. Pizza versus fried chicken."
"They're Seabom High's gods. The two towers," she concluded with a flourish.
Ju-kyoung raised an eyebrow. "That was… too cringy."
Her comment went ignored as Su-ah's boyfriend pouted. "Babe, what about me?"
Su-ah giggled, blowing him a kiss. "You're the only one in my heart."
Ju-kyoung rolled her eyes with a faint smile.
Meanwhile, the students' whispers grew louder.
"Han Seo-jin is back."
"Do you think they'll fight again?"
"I can sense trouble coming."
"I don't mind watching."
Ju-kyoung leaned toward Su-ah. "By the way… what's going on? Do they not like each other?"
Su-ah sighed. "They used to be best friends. But… something went wrong. Now, they're always at each other's throats."
The tension deepened as Seo-jin's calm but sharp voice broke the silence. "Hah… not how I want to start my day."
He brushed past Soo-hoo, whose expression didn't change.
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Back in class, the students settled into their seats.
"Good morning, class!" the teacher greeted warmly.
"Good morning," they replied.
Just as the lesson was about to start, the door opened.
Seo-jin walked in.
Soo-hoo's expression darkened instantly.
The teacher smiled. "So, Seo-jin is finally back. Isn't it nice to see him again?"
"Yes!!" the students cheered, but their excitement clashed with the cold silence between Seo-jin and Soo-hoo.
"Let's give him a warm welcome," the teacher said.
The students applauded, but it only made Soo-hoo's jaw tighten.
"Seo-jin," the teacher continued, glancing at the empty seat, "you can sit next to Soo-hoo."
Seo-jin looked at him, his voice calm but defiant. "Excuse me?"
The class went quiet.
Instead of obeying, Seo-jin walked straight to Ju-kyoung's row. She avoided his eyes, but it was useless—he had already noticed her. With a light kick against her chair, he made her look at him.
"Hey. Move."
"Me?" Ju-kyoung blinked.
"This used to be my seat," he said firmly, his gaze chilling.
Ju-kyoung's throat tightened. She couldn't hold his stare.
The teacher quickly intervened. "She sits there because of her eyesight."
He scanned the room, then turned to Su-ah's boyfriend. "Tae-hoon, can you switch seats?"
"Me?" Tae-hoon grumbled, his face tense—then suddenly brightened. "네! Yes!"
He walked over to Soo-hoo's side with a grin. "Hey, neighbor!"
The class erupted with laughter.
Seo-jin ignored the noise, took Tae-hoon's seat, and sat down.
Ju-kyoung offered him a small, awkward smile and a little wave. Seo-jin blinked at her in surprise, but said nothing. Instead, he rested his head on the desk, as if the world didn't matter.
Ju-kyoung frowned slightly. Doesn't he remember me?
"Shall we begin?" the teacher asked.
"Yes!" the class replied in unison.
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