At a corporate office belonging to Joonwoo, the atmosphere was tense. He was seated at his large desk, flipping through reports, his sharp eyes scanning every detail. Joonwoo wasn't someone who tolerated mistakes, and the meeting scheduled later that day would determine whether one of his ambitious plans would succeed or not. As the CEO of a rapidly growing company, his demeanor was as cold as his reputation.
That morning, as Eunyeon got ready for school, his father offered to drive him in his sleek black car. It wasn't unusual for his father to take him on days when his own schedule allowed it. Sitting in the passenger seat, Eunyeon scrolled through his phone absentmindedly, replying to messages from his classmates.
As they approached the school parking lot, his father slowed down to find a space to park. But just as they were about to pull into a spot, a loud scraping noise caught both their attention. A silver sedan had grazed their car from behind, leaving a visible scratch on the bumper.
Eunyeon immediately got out of the car, irritation flashing in his eyes. "What the hell? Can't you see where you're going?" he snapped, turning toward the offending vehicle.
The driver of the sedan stepped out—a girl around his age in a different school uniform. Eunyeon's expression shifted slightly when he recognized her. It was Kim Seoyun, the same girl he had run into at the café a few days ago. Her face was flushed with embarrassment as she quickly bowed in apology.
"I'm so sorry!" she said, her voice trembling slightly. "I didn't mean to—"
Before she could finish, the passenger door of her car opened, and a boy stepped out. He was tall with sharp features, and to Eunyeon's surprise, he was someone from his own school. The boy's face twisted into a grimace when he saw the damage but remained composed.
"Seoyun, I told you to be careful," the boy muttered, glancing at the scratch on Eunyeon's car. He then looked at Eunyeon and his father. "I apologize on her behalf. We'll cover the repair costs."
Eunyeon frowned, still irritated but now holding back his words. He crossed his arms, his eyes darting between the boy and Seoyun. "You two better make sure of that," he said tersely, though his voice had lost some of its edge.
Seoyun bowed again, her voice softer now. "I really am sorry. I wasn't paying attention."
Eunyeon sighed, his initial anger fading when he saw her genuine remorse. He looked away, scratching the back of his neck. "Just… be more careful next time," he muttered, turning back to his father, who had been watching the scene silently.
His father nodded toward the boy. "Take responsibility for the damage, and we'll leave it at that," he said firmly, his tone authoritative but not unkind.
The boy nodded in agreement. "Understood. I'll take care of it."
Eunyeon got back into the car, stealing a glance at Seoyun as she hurried back to her own vehicle. He noticed her expression was still uneasy, but her brother placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder before they got in.
As the two cars drove off, Eunyeon couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to Seoyun and her brother than met the eye.
Meanwhile, at the school, Yulhan stood calmly in the parking lot, leaning against the wall near the entrance. His arms were crossed in front of his chest, his face remained neutral, almost expressionless. His sharp eyes scanned the area around him casually, as if he couldn't care less about the hustle and bustle surrounding him. He was always like that—quiet, reserved, yet his presence was impossible to ignore.
When a familiar black car rolled into the parking lot, his gaze lingered on it for a moment longer than usual before he shifted his attention away. His face remained flat, not showing any interest, as usual.
Eunyeon got out of the car with quick steps, his expression clearly showing that he was in a bad mood. His school jacket was neatly worn, but there was a noticeable tension in his movements. Seeing him, Yulhan straightened his back slightly, though he didn't move from his spot.
"Late again," Yulhan said flatly, his voice soft but with a slight teasing edge.
"Don't start," Eunyeon replied sharply, making it clear that he didn't want to be bothered.
Yulhan raised an eyebrow slightly, his gaze still calm and unchanged. "What happened? You look like someone who's had a bad day. Did someone scratch your car or something?"
Eunyeon only shot him a sharp look without answering. Yulhan remained unfazed, his demeanor cold and unreadable.
"Wait," Yulhan spoke again, his voice quieter this time. "Did someone actually scratch your car?"
Eunyeon sighed deeply, one hand running through his neatly styled black hair. "It's nothing. Just some careless driver," he muttered, clearly uninterested in discussing it further.
Yulhan simply nodded, his face as unreadable as ever. He didn't press the matter, just fell into step beside Eunyeon as they walked toward the school building. Normally, he would make a sarcastic comment, but today, he chose to remain silent. However, his eyes occasionally flicked toward Eunyeon's tense shoulders, as if analyzing something without saying a word.
After a few steps in silence, Yulhan finally spoke up. His tone remained cool, but the words somehow felt like a quiet attempt at reassurance. "Don't think too much about it," he said briefly. "It's just a car. Worse things can happen."
Eunyeon glanced at him, surprised by the comment. But before he could respond, Yulhan had already looked away, his cold demeanor firmly back in place.
---
Meanwhile, in his office, Joonwoo sat behind his luxurious desk, focused on a report he was reviewing. When his phone rang, he answered calmly, listening to a report from one of his subordinates.
"A minor incident involving Kim Seoyun?" Joonwoo murmured, his tone almost emotionless, as he leaned back in his chair. His expression hardened as he listened to more details.
"I understand," he said curtly, his voice cold and authoritative. "Make sure it doesn't happen again. I don't want to hear a report like this again."
After hanging up, Joonwoo sat still for a moment. His fingers tapped lightly on the wooden desk in front of him, his eyes staring blankly at the stack of documents. He hated distractions, especially when they involved his family.
However, what Eunyeon didn't know was that the girl he encountered that morning was more closely connected to Joonwoo's world than he realized. And her older brother—the quiet student at his school—wasn't just another classmate. Secrets were slowly beginning to unravel, pulling Eunyeon further into a web of intrigue that he had no idea he had become entangled in.
In the classroom, Minsik glanced briefly at Eunyeon, then walked over to him, his tone cold as he spoke. "Earlier this morning, a few people approached us and asked about you."
Eunyeon, who had been resting his head on the desk, raised his head slowly, casually glancing at Minsik before flashing a wry, almost cynical smile. "How annoying," he muttered, clearly irritated.
The entire class observed the interaction in silence, the air thick with the tension of the moment. Every student's eyes were on them, some curious, others apprehensive about the growing unease between Eunyeon and Minsik.
It was a rare sight to see Eunyeon—usually so composed—showing any sign of frustration, and his reaction didn't go unnoticed. Some whispered among themselves, while others sat still, waiting to see how the situation would unfold.
In the classroom, Minsik's eyes narrowed slightly as he spoke again, his tone carrying an edge of frustration. "Those people... they're somehow involved with you. And it seems like they're targeting you," he said, his voice tinged with annoyance.
Eunyeon sat up straighter, a slight frown forming as he processed Minsik's words. "Targeting me? For what?" His voice was calm, but the growing tension was evident in his expression.
Minsik crossed his arms, his gaze hardening as he looked at Eunyeon. "I don't know, but they've been asking questions. About your background, your connections. It's not normal. And I'm getting the feeling they're not here for just a casual chat."
The class remained in an uneasy silence, everyone sensing the rising tension between the two. Eunyeon's usually controlled demeanor was now slightly rattled, but he didn't show it much. His mind was already processing the potential implications of Minsik's words.
Minsik let out a small laugh, though it lacked humor. "Good thing we're not close friends, or I'd probably go crazy like you," he said, his tone a mix of sarcasm and irritation.
"Let's just be careful," Minsik added, his voice lowering. "These people could be more trouble than you realize."
Eunyeon gave a short nod, his eyes scanning the class for any signs of who these people might be, but the whispers only deepened the mystery.
In the classroom, Eunyeon glanced at Minsik, his curiosity piqued by his unusual behavior. "Why do you seem to care so much?" he asked, his voice steady but laced with a hint of confusion.
Minsik shifted slightly, his eyes briefly avoiding Eunyeon's gaze before he answered, his tone flat. "It's because I owe you one," he said, the words almost sounding like an afterthought. "You helped me out yesterday, so I figure I should return the favor."
Eunyeon raised an eyebrow, clearly taken aback by Minsik's response. He had never expected Minsik to care enough to look out for him, let alone feel indebted.
"I don't usually let debts slide," Minsik continued, his voice softening just a little. "But I guess I'm not heartless enough to just ignore this."
Eunyeon didn't know how to respond to that, so he simply nodded, still processing Minsik's words. He had never imagined that their brief encounter the previous day had made such an impact on Minsik.
The tension in the air seemed to ease slightly, but the mystery of who those people were and what they wanted remained unsolved, leaving a lingering sense of unease in the classroom.
During the break, Eunyeon's usual routine was to sleep. He leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes, completely detached from the commotion around him.
Yulhan glanced at him briefly, his expression unreadable, before deciding to leave. He headed to the cafeteria alone, preferring the solitude of his own company.
Outside, a few of Minsik's friends—Taegya, Beomhwan, Kangjoon, and Yeojin—approached him, their faces showing clear annoyance. They surrounded him, and Taegya, the one who often took the lead, scowled.
"Seriously, Minsik? What's with you?" he started, his voice sharp. "Why are you so concerned about Eunyeon all of a sudden?"
Minsik's expression remained calm, but there was a subtle tension in his posture. "It's not like that," he muttered, trying to brush them off.
"Don't try to deny it," Beomhwan chimed in, crossing his arms. "You've been acting all weird ever since yesterday. You're being way too nice to him."
Kangjoon nodded in agreement. "You're getting soft, Minsik. What's the deal? Are you really going to waste your time on someone like him?"
Yeojin, always one to add her opinion, scoffed. "This isn't like you. If we didn't know better, we'd think you're actually trying to protect him."
Minsik let out a heavy sigh, clearly frustrated. "I'm not trying to pay him back for anything," he said, his voice calm but with an edge of annoyance. "I just don't want to owe him!"
Taegya's eyes narrowed. "Just don't get too involved, alright? You'll regret it if you keep playing the hero."
Despite their words, Minsik didn't respond. He simply walked away from them, his mind elsewhere as he tried to make sense of everything happening around Eunyeon.