Chapter 1: An Accident Named You
Hana Lee believed there were two kinds of students in the world.
The first kind walked through the school gates like they owned the place—confident, perfect, admired.
The second kind tripped over their own feet before even reaching class.
Unfortunately, Hana belonged very firmly to the second kind.
"Sorry—sorry! I'm so sorry!"
Her voice echoed through the student council office as papers fluttered to the floor like fallen leaves. The neat stacks that had once sat perfectly on the desk were now a chaotic mess, scattered across the polished tiles.
Hana froze.
Her heart sank.
Slowly, painfully, she realized what she had just done.
These weren't normal papers.
These were student council documents.
Important ones.
The kind that could get someone in serious trouble.
"I— I didn't mean to—" Her hands trembled as she bowed repeatedly. "I was just trying to return the attendance list. I knocked, but I thought no one answered, so I—"
Silence filled the room.
Heavy. Pressing.
Then, a calm voice spoke.
"…Do you know what you dropped?"
Hana swallowed hard.
She lifted her head and saw him.
Min-jae Park.
The student council president.
He stood behind the desk, tall and composed, his uniform perfectly pressed as if wrinkles didn't dare exist around him. His expression was unreadable—cold, calm, distant. The kind of face that never betrayed emotion.
The kind that made rumors spread.
Strict. Heartless. Untouchable.
"I—I'll clean it up right now!" Hana rushed forward, crouching down to gather the papers, her hands shaking so badly she could barely hold them.
Before she could reach the floor, Min-jae knelt down as well.
"I'll help," he said simply.
That surprised her.
She glanced at him, startled. "Y-You don't have to—"
"You're already here," he replied. "It would be faster."
They worked in silence.
Hana tried not to stare, but it was hard not to notice the small details—the way his fingers moved carefully, the way he aligned the papers with precision, the faint scent of clean soap that lingered around him.
She reached for a paper at the same time he did.
Their fingers brushed.
Hana jolted in shock.
"S-Sorry!" she blurted out, pulling her hand back too fast.
That was a mistake.
Her heel slipped.
Her balance tipped.
And before she could scream, a hand caught her wrist.
Firm. Warm. Steady.
Min-jae looked up at her.
"Careful," he said softly.
For a brief second, the world went quiet.
Hana's heart pounded so loudly she was sure he could hear it.
"Th-Thank you…" she whispered.
He released her wrist immediately, standing up as if nothing had happened. But Hana noticed it.
Just for a moment—
His ears were slightly red.
Ten minutes later, Hana stood in front of the desk, hands clasped together nervously.
"I really am sorry," she said again. "I'll do anything to make up for it."
Min-jae glanced at the clock, then back at her.
"Anything?"
She nodded quickly. "Yes!"
He paused, then spoke.
"Then you'll assist the student council for the next two weeks."
Her eyes widened. "E-Eh?!"
"You caused a delay in today's schedule," he continued calmly. "Helping will be your punishment."
Hana hesitated. "I-I don't know anything about student council work…"
"You'll learn," he said.
That was it.
No yelling. No anger.
Just a decision.
And somehow, that scared her more.
The next day, Hana arrived at the student council room ten minutes early.
She stood outside the door, staring at it like it might bite her.
"You can do this," she muttered to herself. "It's just two weeks…"
She knocked.
"Come in."
Min-jae sat at the head of the table, reviewing documents. He looked up when she entered.
"You're early," he said.
"I didn't want to be late," she replied nervously.
"…Good."
That one word made her heart flutter.
He handed her a clipboard. "You'll organize these files."
"O-Okay!"
She worked carefully, trying her best not to mess up again. Every now and then, she glanced at him—how focused he looked, how serious he seemed.
But there were moments.
Small ones.
When she struggled with a stack of files, he quietly moved closer and held them steady.
When she yawned without realizing, he slid a cup of warm tea toward her.
"You can rest for five minutes," he said. "You've been working for an hour."
Her eyes widened. "You noticed?"
"…Yes."
Her lips curved into a soft smile.
"Thank you, President Park."
He paused.
"You can call me Min-jae," he said.
Her smile froze.
"E-Eh?!"
"We'll be working together," he added. "It would be easier."
"O-Okay… Min-jae."
For the first time, he smiled.
It was small.
But it was real.
Later that evening, as Hana packed her bag, she turned to him.
"Um… Can I ask you something?"
He nodded. "Go ahead."
"Why did you help me yesterday?" she asked softly. "Most people would've gotten angry."
He looked away.
"…Because everyone makes mistakes," he said. "And because no one deserves to be judged for one accident."
Her chest warmed.
"I'm glad," she said. "I think… you're really kind."
He stiffened.
No one had ever said that to him before.
As Hana left the room, Min-jae watched the door close.
And for the first time in a long time—
He felt his heart change.