Chapter 2
The rest of the morning went by in a blur. Ah-Yumi was focused on the lessons, scribbling notes and absorbing everything she could while trying not to dwell on Eeunsoo's icy attitude. He hadn't said a single word to her, and every time she glanced his way, she was met with either indifference or a sharp glare. It felt like sitting next to a wall of ice.
When the final morning bell rang for lunch, Ah-Yumi exhaled in relief. The weight of trying to fit in and decode a new culture was already exhausting. She made her way to the cafeteria, but the crowded, noisy atmosphere quickly overwhelmed her. Unsure of where to sit, she grabbed a tray of food and decided to find solitude in the library instead.
The library was quiet and comforting, a stark contrast to the chaos outside. Ah-Yumi took a seat near the large windows, letting the sunlight stream over her as she opened a book on Korean history. Her sharp mind quickly latched onto the information, helping her distract herself from the nervous knot in her stomach.
By the time the bell rang to signal the end of lunch, she had returned the book to its shelf and was heading back to class. Walking through the hallways, she couldn't help but notice a commotion ahead. A cluster of students, mostly girls, surrounded someone near the lockers.
Curiosity piqued, Ah-Yumi slowed her pace. As she passed, she caught sight of the center of attention: Park Sunghoon. His name had come up in whispers during the morning classes—he was the school's golden boy. Sunghoon was tall, effortlessly handsome, and carried himself with a charisma that seemed to draw people in like a magnet.
Ah-Yumi hesitated, observing from a safe distance. Sunghoon's smile was as dazzling as the sun, and the way he interacted with the group around him was natural and charming. He seemed completely at ease, unlike herself.
She was about to look away when, as if sensing her gaze, Sunghoon turned his head and locked eyes with her. For a fleeting moment, their eyes met, and Ah-Yumi froze in place, unsure of what to do.
A playful smile tugged at the corner of Sunghoon's lips. He raised an eyebrow slightly, as though amused by her presence. Embarrassed, Ah-Yumi quickly lowered her head and hurried past, her cheeks heating up.
Back in the classroom, she couldn't shake the memory of that brief interaction. "What was that look? Did I offend him somehow? Was it just my imagination?"
As she settled back into her seat, Eeunsoo glanced at her briefly before returning his attention to the window. He hadn't spoken a word all day, and his cold demeanor was becoming more unsettling.
Trying to focus on the next lesson, Ah-Yumi wondered how two people could be so drastically different. On one hand, there was Eeunsoo, distant and unapproachable. On the other, Sunghoon, radiating confidence and warmth.
As the teacher began to speak, she whispered under her breath, "This year is going to be much harder than I thought."