The alarm screamed at 7:20 a.m.
Jin slapped it like it had personally offended him.
He blinked at the sunlight pouring through his window. His mind still hadn't caught up with reality.
*New school. New life. New me.*
He dragged himself up, brushed his hair, put on his crisp uniform, and stared at the mirror.
The reflection stared back — tall, fit, handsome, neat.
Still, inside… he felt like the same awkward kid who used to flinch at locker doors.
"Okay," he muttered. "Just… don't mess this up."
When Jin arrived, he froze.
The building was massive — polished white stone, flower gardens, fountains, and banners fluttering in the wind.
*Is this… a school or a five-star hotel?*
He walked through the gates of **Haneul Academy**, feeling tiny under the huge arch.
Students moved in small groups, chatting and laughing. Some wore expensive watches, others held coffee cups like CEOs.
And then, the whispers started.
"Who's that guy?"
"He's… really handsome."
"Is he new?"
"Bro, competition alert — we're doomed."
Jin's heart thumped.
He kept his eyes down, walking faster. *Oh no, here it comes again. They're staring. I'm gonna trip. I'm gonna die.*
He reached his classroom — **2-A** — and quietly slipped in.
The chatter died.
Every head turned.
Jin froze like a deer caught in headlights.
He shuffled to the back seat by the window — classic anime protagonist spot — and sat down, pretending to vanish.
Then *tap!*
A hand landed on his shoulder.
His instincts screamed, *IT'S BULLY TIME! FIRST DAY SPEEDRUN!*
But instead, a cheerful voice said,
"Yo, bro, you new here? I'm Minho."
Jin turned slowly. The boy was smiling wide, friendly and curious.
"Uh… y-yeah. I'm Jin."
"Cool, cool! Welcome to the best class in Korea."
Minho threw his arm around him like they'd been friends for years. "You sit by the window? Nice choice. That's where all the main characters sit."
"Main… what now?"
"Never mind, you'll understand later."
Jin chuckled awkwardly — but for the first time, he didn't feel afraid.
The teacher walked in, smiling brightly. "Good morning, class! Let's have a little reintroduction for our new faces!"
It was chaos from the start.
Students went one by one — some serious, some ridiculous.
"I'm Taeyang, captain of the basketball team. Don't challenge me unless you want to cry."
"I'm Hana — I'll lend you my notes, but not my snacks."
"I'm Yuri. Please don't talk to me before 10 a.m."
"I'm Mina, and my hobby is annoying Hana."
"I'm Minho — the handsome one!"
The class burst into laughter. Even the teacher joined in.
When it was Jin's turn, he stood up nervously.
"Uh… I'm Jin Lee. I just transferred here. I… like ramen."
There was a pause — then an explosion of laughter.
"Simple and honest, I like him already!" Mina cheered.
"Ramen King Jin!" Taeyang declared dramatically.
The teacher smiled. "Welcome, Jin. Class 2-A just got a little more fun."
Jin grinned shyly. He couldn't remember the last time a classroom felt this alive.
Just as the noise settled, the teacher clapped her hands.
"Alright, everyone — we have *one more* transfer student today."
The door opened.
And Soojin walked in.
Time slowed.
Her long hair shimmered under the lights. Her eyes sparkled like sunlight through glass.
The boys stopped breathing. The girls blinked in awe.
Someone whispered, "She's too perfect to be real."
Another muttered, "Teacher, I think heaven is missing one angel."
The teacher rolled her eyes, smiling. "Introduce yourself, please."
"I'm Soojin. Nice to meet you all," she said warmly.
"Nice to meet you too!" the class chorused — or, more accurately, *shouted.*
Then her gaze swept across the room — and landed on Jin.
Her face lit up. "Oh! Jin!"
Jin's brain crashed.
Every head turned at once.
"Wait, she knows him?!"
"WHAT?!"
"Bro, he really is the main character!"
Jin stammered, "H-hi…"
The entire class *lost it.*
Minho whispered, "You didn't tell me you're friends with a goddess!"
"I—It's not—she—" Jin tried to explain, but Soojin just smiled sweetly and took the empty seat next to him.
"Didn't expect to see you here," she said softly.
He scratched his neck, blushing. "Yeah… same."
By lunchtime, Jin had somehow become the center of attention — again.
Minho, Taeyang, Hana, Yuri, Mina, and Soojin sat with him at the canteen table, forming the *most random friend group ever.*
Hana: "So Jin, what was your old school like?"
Jin: "Uh… traumatic?"
Everyone: *laughs too loud.*
Minho nearly spilled his drink. "Bro, we'll protect you now. We're your gang."
Taeyang flexed. "The Handsome Brotherhood. Motto: we don't study, but we shine."
Mina raised her fork like a sword. "And I'm the chaos commander!"
Soojin giggled. "You guys are insane."
Jin laughed — really laughed.
The sound felt strange on his tongue, like something he hadn't used in a long time.
He wasn't the scared kid in a corner anymore. He was surrounded by warmth, noise, and friends.
Even Yuri — quiet as she was — joined in with dry, savage comments that made everyone burst out laughing.
"Taeyang, if your brain worked as well as your biceps, you'd be a genius."
"Whoa—Yuri spoke! Someone write this down!"
It was loud, cheerful, messy — and perfect.
Every now and then, Soojin looked at Jin — a soft, secret smile flickering on her lips.
No one noticed.
But she did.
And Jin… well, he noticed too.
He just pretended not to.
The final bell rang.
Students flooded out, chatting and laughing.
Jin, Soojin, Minho, Taeyang, Hana, Yuri, and Mina walked together, talking about everything from lunch disasters to bad math jokes.
At the gate, a sleek black **Rolls-Royce Phantom** rolled up.
A man in a suit stepped out, bowing. "Miss Soojin, your car is ready."
Everyone froze.
Minho's jaw dropped. "Bro… she's got a driver?"
Mina gasped. "That's not a driver, that's an *actor!*"
Hana whispered, "Is she… royalty?"
Soojin blushed. "Ah, my dad likes… nice cars."
The driver opened the door, bowing. "Please, Miss Soojin."
The group stood speechless.
"Wait—your dad's the *Park* Industries owner?!" Taeyang squeaked.
She smiled nervously. "Guilty."
Mina threw her hands up. "I ate lunch with the richest girl in Seoul and didn't even know it!"
Everyone burst out laughing. Even Soojin joined in, covering her mouth.
Before leaving, she turned to Jin and smiled softly.
"I'll see you tomorrow, Jin."
He nodded, trying to sound casual. "Y-yeah… see you."
The car rolled away, glinting under the sunset.
The group stood in silence for a moment.
Then Minho elbowed Jin. "So… goddess-level girl, billionaire family, AND she talks only to you. Anything you wanna confess?"
Jin turned red. "I—It's not like that!"
Mina sighed dramatically. "Our shy hero. He saves girls, wins hearts, and denies everything."
Taeyang saluted. "Respect."
Everyone laughed.
Jin smiled quietly.
As he walked home under the orange sky, he thought,
*So this… is what it feels like to actually enjoy school.*
He looked up, hands in his pockets, a small smile on his lips.
For the first time in forever… he didn't feel alone.