The weeks passed, bringing warmer days and endless assignments. At Hanseong High, the social hierarchy remained unshaken. The privileged elite basked in their wealth, while those like Han Soojin survived on quiet determination. Yet, since their first encounter, Lee Minho had taken an inexplicable interest in Soojin—a fact that did not go unnoticed.
In the crowded cafeteria, whispers buzzed like restless bees.
"Why is Minho hanging around her lately?"
"She's just a scholarship student. Probably trying to climb the social ladder."
"Not a chance. He's way out of her league."
Soojin, sitting alone at her usual spot near the window, ignored the murmurs as she ate her humble lunch. The sunlight streamed in, highlighting her calm demeanor. However, the peace was short-lived.
"Han Soojin," Minho's deep voice interrupted.
She looked up to see him standing there, a tray of gourmet dishes in hand. The room fell silent as every eye turned toward them. Soojin sighed inwardly. "What now?" she muttered under her breath.
"Let's talk," he said, placing his tray down and seating himself across from her before she could protest.
"Lee Minho, do you enjoy making me the center of attention?" she asked, her tone clipped.
"Not particularly," he replied, unfazed. "But you're fascinating. And I'd like to get to know you better."
Soojin set down her chopsticks and folded her arms. "If you're here to experiment with befriending 'the other side,' I'm not interested. You and I live in different worlds. Let's keep it that way."
Minho leaned forward, his expression unreadable. "You talk as if our worlds are fixed. But you're wrong. You're smart enough to break out of yours. Aren't you aiming for Seoul National University?"
Her eyes narrowed. "How do you know that?"
"I listen," he said simply. "You work harder than anyone here, but you isolate yourself. Why?"
Soojin hesitated. "Why does it matter to you?"
"It doesn't. I'm just curious." His smirk returned, but it lacked its usual arrogance.
Before she could respond, a sharp voice interrupted them. "Minho-ssi, why are you wasting your time here?"
Jung Yura, the school's queen bee, stood beside their table, her designer bag slung over her shoulder. Her perfectly styled hair and flawless complexion reflected her family's wealth. Yura had always been vocal about her interest in Minho, a fact she didn't bother hiding.
"Yura," Minho said coolly, "I'm having a conversation. Is that a problem?"
Her expression faltered briefly before she composed herself. "Not at all. But shouldn't you spend your time with people who, you know, belong here?" She glanced at Soojin dismissively.
Soojin clenched her fists under the table, but she kept her face neutral. She wasn't going to give Yura the satisfaction of a reaction.
Minho's voice turned cold. "I'll decide who belongs where. Not you."
The cafeteria buzzed with stunned murmurs as Yura's face flushed with embarrassment. She shot Soojin a glare before storming off, her heels clicking loudly against the tile floor.
Soojin sighed, pushing her tray away. "Congratulations, Lee Minho. You've officially made me a target."
He raised an eyebrow. "You think they weren't already watching you? You're too brilliant to go unnoticed."
"Brilliance doesn't matter when you don't fit their mold," she replied, standing up. "I don't need your help or your pity. Leave me alone."
Minho watched her walk away, her back straight and her steps firm. For someone so small, she carried herself with an unshakable strength.
Later that evening, Soojin sat at her cramped desk in her family's modest apartment. Her mother worked long hours as a housekeeper, and her younger brother, Junseo, sat at the table nearby, scribbling his homework.
"Noona, why do you look upset?" Junseo asked, his small face filled with concern.
"I'm fine, Jun," she said, forcing a smile. "Just tired."
"You're always tired," he mumbled.
Soojin ruffled his hair. "That's because I'm working hard for us. Someday, things will be easier."
As she returned to her studies, her phone buzzed. She glanced at it, surprised to see a message from an unknown number:
Minho: You're right. Our worlds are different. But I'd like to change that. Let me know if you ever need a partner for studying—or for proving everyone wrong.
Soojin stared at the screen, her emotions a tangle of confusion and irritation. Who did he think he was, barging into her life like this? And why, despite her better judgment, did his words stir something in her heart?
That night, Minho sat in his expansive room, staring out at the glittering cityscape. He couldn't explain why he was drawn to Soojin. Maybe it was her defiance, her resilience, or the way she refused to be intimidated by him. Whatever it was, it made him feel alive in a way his privileged world never had.
Both of them, unknowingly, had begun a journey that would challenge their beliefs, blur the lines between their worlds, and uncover emotions they never knew they were capable of.
The spring breeze carried the scent of cherry blossoms through the night, signaling the start of something new—something neither of them was prepared for. 🌸✨