Chapter 1: The Project Assignment
Aiden sat in the back of the classroom, his gaze fixed out the window as he absentmindedly spun his pen. The sun was out, casting a glow over the school grounds, but he barely noticed. His mind was occupied with thoughts about the future deadlines, family expectations, and his carefully crafted plans. He was an heir, after all, and his father made sure he knew that every decision counted.
Then came the sound of Mr. Garcia's voice. "Class, I have an announcement," the teacher called, breaking Aiden's reverie. "We'll be starting a documentary project that I expect you to treat with the utmost seriousness. This assignment will be paired work, and it's your opportunity to show what you've learned about storytelling and analysis."
Aiden's attention perked up slightly. A documentary project? He loved projects that allowed him to research and organize things he excelled at.
Elias, on the other hand, was tapping his foot, waiting impatiently for the announcement to finish. Unlike Aiden, he wasn't meticulously planning his future, but instead, focused on the day-to-day grind. Scholarships, extracurriculars, tutoring his younger siblings all of it kept him busy. He didn't have time to sit back and coast like the elites around him.
As Mr. Garcia started calling out names, Elias's eyes scanned the room, landing on Aiden. He barely knew him, but Aiden's reputation as the school's reserved, untouchable heir had preceded him. Elias had seen enough entitled students in his classes to recognize Aiden's type from afar.
"Aiden Lee and Elias Kim," Mr. Garcia announced, jolting both boys from their thoughts.
Aiden frowned, glancing over at Elias with barely concealed disapproval. Elias returned the look, his expression hardening as if daring Aiden to say something. The room buzzed with murmurs as their classmates exchanged glances, a few smirking at the unlikely pairing.
"Well, this should be fun," Elias muttered to himself as he grabbed his notebook, bracing himself for what he expected would be a grueling experience.
As they approached each other, the atmosphere between them felt like two forces meeting head-on, neither willing to back down.
"Look, let's just get this over with," Aiden said flatly, barely looking Elias in the eye. "I have a schedule, and I'd rather not waste time."
Elias raised an eyebrow, his lips curving into a sarcastic smile. "Don't worry, I won't take up too much of your precious time, Mr. Lee. Just tell me when you're free, and I'll make sure to adjust my unimportant schedule around yours."
Aiden's jaw clenched. "How about we start this weekend? My family has a library we could use quiet, with everything we need."
Elias scoffed. "Right, because I'd be so comfortable working in your mansion. Let's just keep it neutral. How about the public library?"
"Fine," Aiden replied curtly, holding back a sigh. Working with someone who was so stubbornly insistent on doing things "his way" was going to be exhausting.
But Elias didn't relent. He simply gathered his things, refusing to let Aiden's cold attitude get under his skin. As far as he was concerned, he'd dealt with worse, and he wasn't about to let some pampered heir intimidate him.
With a brief nod, the two boys parted ways, each already dreading the weekend.
Elias's POV:
Elias left the classroom, barely able to keep his irritation in check. It wasn't just that he'd been paired with Aiden Lee, of all people the school's untouchable prince it was how the guy had looked at him, like Elias was an inconvenience. As if Aiden had better things to do than work with someone who didn't come from money.
"Great," Elias muttered under his breath. He'd heard plenty about Aiden. Everyone had. Aiden was quiet, always detached, his every move calculated. He was the kind of guy who coasted through life, insulated by his family's wealth and reputation. Meanwhile, Elias had clawed his way into this school on a scholarship and worked hard to keep his grades up.
But as Elias walked down the hall, he tried to shake it off. If there was one thing he'd learned, it was that life didn't give you choices you worked with what you got, and you made it work.
He arrived at his locker, dumping his books inside before heading out the door. His little sisters would be waiting at home, and he still had to work through his part-time tutoring job in the evening. Aiden's "quiet library at home" sounded like some elite fantasy to Elias; he had no use for it.
On his way home, Elias's mind drifted back to the upcoming project. He knew he'd have to put his feelings about Aiden aside if he wanted to keep his grades up. Mr. Garcia was a tough teacher, and this project counted for a big part of their final grade.
"Guess I'll just suck it up," he muttered to himself, pulling his phone from his pocket and typing out a quick message to Aiden.
Elias: Let's meet at the public library this Saturday at 2 PM. We can decide the focus of the documentary then.
After hitting send, he slipped his phone back into his pocket and took a deep breath. Working with Aiden would be a test of patience, but he'd been through worse. He wasn't about to let someone like Aiden get under his skin.
By the time he got home, his sisters were already waiting on the front steps. Eunchae, his younger sister, perked up the moment she saw him, rushing over to give him a hug.
"Oppa, you're finally home! Can we go get ice cream?"
He smiled down at her, ruffling her hair. "Sure, but let me get changed first. I had a long day."
Chaewon, his older younger sister, leaned against the doorframe, a smirk on her face. "You look annoyed," she observed. "Something happen at school?"
Elias sighed, leaning back against the wall. "I got paired up with the school's resident prince for a project."
Chaewon raised an eyebrow. "Aiden Lee? Isn't he the one who practically lives in a bubble?"
"Yep. And he's as charming as he sounds," Elias replied sarcastically. "But hey, it's just one project. I'll survive."
As he headed inside, he caught Chaewon's skeptical look. She knew him well enough to sense his irritation. But she didn't press him further, and he was grateful for it.
Elias spent the evening helping his sisters with their homework, his focus shifting back to his family and his responsibilities. By the time he finally had a moment to himself, he'd almost forgotten about Aiden. Almost.
Later that night, as he lay in bed, his phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen.
Aiden: Saturday at 2 is fine. Let's be efficient.
Elias scoffed, tossing his phone aside. "Efficient." He could practically hear the coldness in Aiden's message. The guy didn't even know how to text without sounding like he was running a business meeting.
"Efficient it is," Elias muttered, rolling his eyes as he drifted off to sleep.
Aiden's POV
Aiden read Elias's message again, his expression unreadable. The "public library." Of course, Elias would pick a place like that. He didn't blame him; he could already tell Elias was the type who wouldn't feel comfortable in his world.
In truth, Aiden felt a strange mix of irritation and curiosity about Elias. It wasn't just that Elias had come from a different background it was how he carried himself, with a sense of confidence that seemed out of place for someone who didn't have a legacy to inherit or a title to uphold. And the way Elias had looked at him in class? As if he saw right through Aiden's reputation, his family's wealth, the detached persona he wore like armor. That unsettled him.
He could've easily brushed Elias off as just another student, but there was something about him that was… different. Aiden wasn't sure if it was admiration or annoyance he felt, but he didn't have time to dwell on it. This was just a project, after all. Something to get done and out of the way.
After replying to Elias's message, Aiden went back to his study, where his books and notes were neatly organized. His desk was immaculate, everything in its designated place, unlike the chaotic spaces he'd glimpsed around the school. Order was comforting. Predictable. He could rely on it. And if there was one thing Aiden disliked, it was unpredictability something he already sensed Elias would bring in spades.
As he read through the project guidelines again, his mother's voice echoed from the hallway. "Aiden, you should take a break. Dinner's ready."
He sighed, marking his page before heading downstairs. His parents were already seated at the long, polished dining table, the familiar ritual of family dinner unfolding like clockwork. His mother, graceful and poised, asked him about his day, while his father inquired about his upcoming assignments.
"I'm working on a documentary project," Aiden answered, choosing his words carefully. "I'm paired with someone named Elias for it."
His mother's brow furrowed slightly. "Isn't he that scholarship student?"
Aiden nodded, sensing the unspoken judgment in her tone. He knew his family expected him to stay in his "circle" and avoid unnecessary connections. It wasn't anything new; he'd lived under these rules his whole life. But something about that judgment bothered him this time, even if he couldn't fully explain why.
"He seems… diligent," Aiden added, more to himself than anyone else.
His father nodded approvingly. "Good. Focus on the project, get it done efficiently, and don't let yourself be distracted. This is just one more stepping stone to your future, Aiden."
After dinner, Aiden returned to his room, the weight of his family's expectations settling heavily on his shoulders. Normally, he could push it aside, use it as motivation to stay focused. But tonight, thoughts of Elias kept intruding, pulling him out of his usual calm.
It was frustrating. Why did he care? Why was he letting himself be distracted by someone who, in his world, was entirely irrelevant?
He leaned back in his chair, glancing out the window. Beyond his family's gated estate, the city stretched out below, alive and buzzing with activity. Aiden had everything he'd ever wanted or at least, everything he was supposed to want. But there was a strange sense of restlessness growing inside him, one that he couldn't quite place.
Maybe it's just the project, he told himself, shutting the thoughts down. Once it's over, things will go back to normal.
But even as he convinced himself of that, Aiden couldn't shake the feeling that Elias had somehow already disrupted the fragile order he'd carefully constructed around his life. And, in some way he couldn't yet understand, he sensed this project was going to change things in ways he hadn't anticipated.