The weather was clear. Sunlight poured in through the wide-open window, so bright it stung the eyes. It was a lazy afternoon, and most of the students in the classroom had their heads down, dozing off. He was no exception.
Today, his hairstyle had changed. His previously shaggy hair had been trimmed, revealing his slender neck and soft jawline. It had been the talk of the school since morning.
Junyoung’s gaze lingered on his flawless skin. Her seat was diagonally behind his, making it easy to steal glances at his side profile. His shirt was always perfectly ironed, clean enough to exude an air of crisp freshness, even during this season when most students started to smell of sweat.
As his nodding head finally drooped, he jolted awake, startled by his own movement. Sunlight cut across his face, dividing it into light and shadow.
He had a handsome face—white, noble skin, harmoniously balanced eyes, nose, and lips, and a faint smile that felt shy but perfect, like a painting.
Everything about him seemed out of place in this backwater countryside. Yet the air of detachment surrounding him softened into something approachable, courtesy of his calm and gentle demeanor.
Despite transferring schools in the middle of the semester, he had effortlessly turned everyone into his ally. Truly, a "prince."
“Anyone want to come up and solve this?”
The teacher’s voice broke through the room as they tapped the blackboard with their pointer. Junyoung, her chin propped on her hand, turned her head lazily. She’d spent the entire class staring at the "prince," but even with just a brief glance at the blackboard, she knew the answer to the problem.
“Na Seungwoon, you look well-rested. Why don’t you give it a shot?”
Among the students avoiding eye contact, the teacher’s pick startled Seungwoon. Awkwardly, he stood up. He quickly skimmed the problem and gave an embarrassed smile.
“Uh, this one’s pretty tough, teacher.”
“What’s so hard about it? Didn’t you cover this chapter already in Seoul?”
“Well, we didn’t solve this exact problem before. Plus, I just woke up, so my head’s still foggy…”
His playful tone made the class erupt into laughter, even the teacher’s stern gaze softening slightly.
Junyoung, casually spinning a pen between her fingers, caught the inevitable look from the teacher.
“Junyoung.”
“Yes.”
As she stood, Seungwoon glanced back at her. Ignoring his gaze, Junyoung kept her eyes straight ahead and walked to the board.
The hum of the rotating fan tousled her long hair. She briefly regretted not tying it up—it probably looked messy.
From the corner of her eye, she thought she caught Seungwoon smiling at her with a mix of apology and gratitude. But she didn’t look long enough to confirm it.
Standing at the blackboard, she wrote down the answer with ease. The teacher, arms crossed, chuckled approvingly beside her.
“Daydreaming all class, but still, our class’s top student comes through.”
Top of the whole school, actually. Not that it meant much in this tiny, low-ranked school.
Junyoung bowed her head slightly before returning to her seat. Amid the scattered students, Seungwoon’s pale face stood out. His freshly trimmed hair exposed a smooth forehead, and his radiant smile was dazzling.
Feeling an inexplicable heaviness, Junyoung pressed her lips together and sat back down. Just as Seungwoon seemed about to say something, her expression hardened. But then the teacher’s voice cut through the moment.
“Na Seungwoon, just because you’re in the countryside now doesn’t mean you can slack off. Doesn’t it hurt your pride to lose to a girl?”
The repeated use of “girl” was typical of the teacher, but Junyoung couldn’t help frowning as her grip tightened on her pen. Seungwoon noticed and hurriedly opened his mouth.
“Teacher, Junyoung is—”
“Teacher.”
A loud noise interrupted the room as someone suddenly stood up. All heads turned simultaneously to the back of the classroom.
“Class is over.”
The voice was rough and unrestrained. The teacher scowled, pointing a finger at the culprit.
“You punk, Kwon Beomjin. The teacher decides when class is over—”
“I need the bathroom. Like, now. My belt’s already half undone.”
Beomjin held up the dangling end of his leather belt, prompting shrieks from the female students. Junyoung was the only one who didn’t turn around. The flustered teacher quickly gathered their things.
“Fine, fine. Class dismissed.”
“Thank you for your hard work,” Beomjin said, as casually as if he were the teacher.
With the teacher’s exit, the classroom erupted into noise as students grouped up to leave. Closing her book, Junyoung looked up at the shadow looming over her.
“Sorry for making you solve the problem because of me,” Seungwoon said, scratching the back of his neck. He was tall enough that his shadow stretched far. The rolled-up sleeves of his shirt revealed pale arms, their veins like delicate branches.
A faint scent of soap lingered. It was clean and comforting.
“Move.”
“What?”
“You’re in my way. I need to go to the bathroom.”
At her blunt words, Seungwoon stepped back, his ears reddening. As she brushed past, she heard whispers aimed at her.
“She’s got such a nasty attitude. Don’t bother talking to her, Seungwoon. It’s just a waste of time.”
“But I just…”
“Don’t you feel super drowsy lately? This weather makes it worse. Let’s hang out this weekend.”
Ignoring the syrupy voice, Junyoung left the classroom. Walking down the hall, she glanced at her sleeve. The frayed hem of her worn shirt stood out as if begging for attention.
Everything about her life felt shabby. Nothing she owned was worth anything—all of it old and worn out.
Most of the people around her weren’t much different from her. The only exception was Na Seungwoon.
Though, if she were honest, she was probably at the bottom of the pile.
“Ugh. So annoying,” she muttered under her breath, lifting her chin and quickening her pace. Yet, her mind remained filled with Seungwoon’s awkwardly apologetic smile as he had stepped aside.
***
When the sun sets, the mountains quickly grow dark. With her bag slung over her shoulder, Junyoung walked toward a destination that was not her home.
Her house, sadly, was not a place conducive to studying. For starters, she didn’t even have a desk.
She could have studied at school, but that environment wasn’t ideal either. Few students aimed for college, and those serious about studying typically left for cram schools instead of staying behind.
Of course, Junyoung couldn’t afford cram school. And in a classroom atmosphere where the general sentiment was, Why are you studying and ruining our fun?, she had no desire to fight against the tide.
That’s when she stumbled upon a certain place.
Behind the school, where hardly anyone ventured, there was a small gap in the fence that led to a trail winding up into the mountains. A little further up, she found an old, warehouse-like house. How long it had been there, she didn’t know.
She discovered it one day while wandering aimlessly after being slapped by her drunk mother. The small, two-story wooden house had a desk by the window on the first floor, along with some empty space. Upstairs, there was a single, lonely bed.
It was clear someone had lived there not too long ago. The desk, books, fireplace, and bed weren’t very old, and the plumbing was functional. Outside, there was even a makeshift bathroom.
But for reasons unknown, the place was now empty. That was all that mattered.
Nestled in the mountains, the house was as quiet as a monastery. Evenings were cool, almost chilly, despite it being early summer. It was the perfect place to focus on studying.
As Junyoung adjusted her bag, her eyebrows knit together. The house’s light was on.
Letting out a small sigh, she tucked the key she’d taken out of her pocket back in. It was for the makeshift padlock she’d attached to the door.
Approaching cautiously, she grabbed the doorknob and yanked it open. A wave of warm air greeted her.
“You’re back.”
A low, drowsy voice drifted down from the second floor, accompanied by the sound of movement. Clicking her tongue, Junyoung placed her bag on the desk and looked up. Beomjin, yawning and shaking his disheveled hair, appeared at the top of the stairs.
“You didn’t come in through the usual way, huh? Been here the whole time, sleeping?”
“Yeah. And I plan to sleep some more.”
Despite his words, Beomjin, still half-asleep, trudged heavily down the stairs. Their school didn’t have a uniform, but he always wore a plain black T-shirt like one. Just as Junyoung always wore her white shirt like it was her uniform.
Beomjin was tall. He might not have been much taller than Seungwoon, but while Seungwoon had the lean frame of a celebrity, Beomjin’s broad shoulders and athletic build made him seem much more imposing.
It also didn’t help that his overall impression was intense. His tanned skin, sharp eyes, jawline like a blade, and straight nose balanced precariously between handsome and intimidating.
His untamed black hair partially obscured his features, but his piercing gaze still shone through. Combined with his naturally defiant demeanor, he often came across as more frightening than attractive.
“Want some ramen?”
Whenever Beomjin came downstairs, the already tiny space felt even smaller. Junyoung, as usual, immediately took a seat at the desk when he moved.
“I’m sick of it,” she replied curtly while rummaging through her bag.
“Want an egg in it or not?”
“Put it in, but don’t overmix it like last time.”
Scoffing, Beomjin turned on the faucet. It was he who had brought a pot, bowls, and two sets of utensils to the house. He’d also installed the padlock.
Junyoung had first met Kwon Beomjin in high school, but they had never spoken before. They weren’t in the same class during their first year, and neither of them was the type to strike up conversations with others.
Still, she knew of him. She’d heard he had lost his parents young, bounced between relatives’ homes, and ended up here in his third year of middle school. There were rumors of a violent incident at his previous school, which left even the teachers reluctant to cross him.
In their second year, they ended up in the same class, but Junyoung figured they’d never speak, even until graduation.
That was until about a week after she started coming to this house and accidentally walked in on him sleeping upstairs, just like today.