IT was night.
In a small, remote colony, a broken-down house stood at the far end of a narrow lane.
Half of it was already destroyed—the walls cracked, the roof patched with rusted tin sheets and scraps of concrete.
The rest was just barely holding together, rebuilt with uneven bricks and desperation.
Calling it a house would be generous.
It was more like a hut—fragile, forgotten, and sinking into the shadows of the night.
Inside, there was no electricity.
Only two small candles flickered weakly, their light trembling with every passing breeze.
And in that dim glow sat a boy.
Tall.
his frame curved as he sat cross-legged on the cold floor.
Under him was a single dusty pillow, and in front of him—a small, square piece of wood that served as a table.
On it lay two worn-out books and one pen.
They were the only things in that room that seemed to have any worth.
Everything else—broken furniture, torn mats, cracked walls—told the story of a life built out of nothing.
He reached for the pen, and the candlelight brushed across his face.
Zorvath.
The same Zorvath everyone at KHSS feared.
The boy who ruled Room Zero—the King of KHSS.
But here, in this tiny, crumbling hut, there was no crown, no power, no throne.
Just a lonely boy—
a king in name,
a zero in life.
Zorvath's POV___
Is that her boyfriend?
But she never said she was committed.
Huh, who am I even? to expect her to tell me about herself—about her bf—in this tiny hut where I sit worrying about tomorrow's rice?
But she… she's a princess.
Whether that guy is her boyfriend or not, one thing is clear—she's not in my range. I don't deserve her.
I stood up and walked toward the window. Lighting a cigarette, I inhaled deeply, the smoke curling into the cold night air. Something about it felt… calming.
No matter what, I'll try my best.
Because she's someone special.
I feel like she was brought into my life for a reason.
But by making her mine, will I end up destroying her life?
She doesn't deserve this kind of life—a life of struggle, of hunger, of being a beggar. It would crush a girl who has lived like a princess.
But can I forget her?
I sighed, looking down at the book she had given me—the homework she asked me to do. Just some basic maths. I pretended I didn't know it.
But truth is, I'm the one winning all the competitions, earning prize money, and spending it all to keep KHSS alive.
That little crazy girl has no clue.
She's cute yet bold, neat yet messy, small yet big, rude yet kind.
I don't understand her—and maybe that's what's making me fall for her even more.
Next Day____
Every student of KHSS had gathered in front of the Café Corner.
Excitement filled the air — laughter, chatter, footsteps — everyone's eyes shining with hope and curiosity.
This wasn't just a café to them anymore. It was going to be a life changer.
Then came Zorvath.
The moment he appeared, the crowd fell silent.
He scanned everyone quickly and said in his steady voice,
"Split into groups. Each one takes a different task."
The students hurried to form groups — some cleaning kitchen others counter some tables
And in the end, Aria was the only one left standing alone.
She glanced around, confused.
Zorvath noticed her and said,
"You — follow me."
Aria silently followed him up the narrow staircase.
The wooden steps creaked as they climbed.
It was her first time going upstairs in the café. Two small groups were already there, busy cleaning.
"I didn't even know there was an upstairs here," she said, surprised.
Zorvath gave a small smile. "Yeah. We need to know every corner of this café. Only then can you plan it properly."
"Me?" she blinked.
He looked up at her. "Then who? Did you forget the bet? You're in charge, remember?"
Aria sighed. "Yeah… but seeing you taking charge today, I thought maybe you—"
He smirked slightly.
"You were quiet the whole time since you came, so I thought I'd speak a bit. After all," he leaned a little closer, voice low and teasing, "I am the leader of everyone, right?"
Aria nodded silently.
Something lingered in her mind — maybe because of what happened yesterday.
But Zorvath didn't mention it. Not even a word.
They finally stepped onto the rooftop.
It wasn't too high, but it offered a peaceful view.
From there, they could see the narrow street below — one side opening to a small lake, and the other three sides lined with unique, colorful shops, each with its own charm, just like the Café Corner itself.
The breeze brushed past them, carrying the faint scent of coffee and dust.
It wasn't perfect — but it was special.
Aria and Zorvath spent the whole day alone on the rooftop — talking, laughing, teasing each other, and forgetting the world below.
While the other students cleaned the café downstairs, the two of them stayed up there, doing absolutely nothing useful — just annoying each other in their own way.
It was strange — how easily their arguments turned into laughter, and how their silence never felt uncomfortable anymore.
At one point, while they were chatting, Zorvath casually brought up Sinas.
The moment he said that name, Aria fell quiet.
For a while, she didn't even respond.
It was natural — but deep down, she realized something.
In the past, every minute, every second, she used to check his Instagram… like, scroll, repeat.
But now? She had completely forgotten about him.
When she finally spoke, she admitted it with a small shrug.
"I guess I've just been busy with KHSS stuff," she said.
Zorvath smiled faintly.
He didn't say anything — but inside, he was celebrating.
Because it had been a long time since he'd heard Aria mention Sinas like that — so casually, without feeling.
Still, Aria tilted her head and said,
"I don't even understand why you all dislike him so much. Whenever I ask my friends, they just tell me, 'One day you'll know,' or they skip the topic. So I get it — maybe there's something big about it. But still…"
She smiled softly, glancing away from him. "He is someone special. Or… just to me."
Zorvath didn't get angry this time.
No jealousy. No frustration.
Just a quiet smile.
"So," he asked calmly, "what about your boyfriend?"
Aria turned to him with a confused look.
"What?"
"The guy in the car yesterday," Zorvath said, leaning back.
Aria's eyes widened for a moment — and then she burst out laughing.
Laughing so hard she couldn't even breathe properly.
"He's not my boyfriend!" she said between laughs.
That laugh — it made something inside Zorvath loosen, a deep relief washing through him.
He didn't even try to hide the small, genuine smile that came to his face.
Still, curiosity lingered.
"Then who was he?" he asked.
The question made Aria's smile fade a little.
Her eyes drifted down, thoughtful.
"Just… a stranger," she said quietly.
Their eyes met for a moment — that silent kind of gaze that said everything without words.
Zorvath knew she wasn't telling the full truth.
But he didn't ask again.
Because the only answer he truly wanted…
was already given.
That man wasn't her boyfriend.
And that was enough for him.