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The morning sun filtered through my bedroom window, casting a golden glow on everything it touched. Today was the first day of my second year at Seoul High School, and I couldn't shake the mix of excitement and nervousness bubbling inside me. New classes, new teachers, and most importantly, a fresh start.
I glanced at the clock and realized I had spent too much time daydreaming. I quickly got dressed, choosing my favorite blue dress, and hurried downstairs to grab a quick breakfast.
"Eun-ji, you'll be late if you don't hurry!" my mom called from the kitchen.
"I'm coming, Mom!" I replied, grabbing a slice of toast and heading out the door.
The walk to school was always my favorite part of the day. The crisp morning air, the sound of birds chirping, and the anticipation of seeing my friends made me feel alive. As I approached the school gates, I saw my best friend, Min-ji, waiting for me.
"Eun-ji! Over here!" Min-ji waved enthusiastically.
"Hey, Min-ji!" I smiled as I joined her. "Ready for another year?"
"Absolutely! I heard we have a new transfer student in our class. I can't wait to meet him," Min-ji said with a mischievous glint in her eye.
"A new transfer student? Interesting," I replied, curious about the newcomer.
We made our way to our homeroom, and as we entered, the chatter of students filled the air. I took my usual seat by the window, and Min-ji sat beside me. Our homeroom teacher, Mr. Kim, walked in, and the room gradually fell silent.
"Good morning, everyone. Welcome back to a new school year. We have a new student joining us today. Please welcome Lee Joon," Mr. Kim announced.
A tall boy with dark hair and sharp features walked in. He had an air of confidence about him, and I couldn't help but notice the whispers and curious glances from my classmates. He introduced himself briefly and took a seat at the back of the room.
"He's cute," Min-ji whispered, nudging me with her elbow.
I rolled my eyes playfully. "You think every new boy is cute."
"Well, he is," she insisted with a grin.
The rest of the day passed in a blur of new subjects and familiar faces. By lunchtime, I was ready for a break. Min-ji and I headed to the cafeteria and joined our friends at our usual table.
As we chatted about our summer vacations, I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned around to see Park Hyun-woo, the school soccer star and my long-time crush, standing there with a shy smile.
"Hey, Eun-ji. Mind if I sit here?" he asked, looking directly at me.
"Sure, Hyun-woo. Have a seat," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady.
Min-ji raised an eyebrow at me, clearly amused by my sudden nervousness. Hyun-woo and I had known each other since middle school, but we had never been more than friends. Still, there was something about him that always made my heart race.
We spent the lunch period talking and laughing, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment. As the bell rang, signaling the end of lunch, Hyun-woo walked with me to our next class.
"Hey, Eun-ji, there's something I wanted to ask you," Hyun-woo began, looking a bit hesitant.
"What's up?" I asked, curious.
"Would you like to go to the movies with me this weekend? Just the two of us?" he asked, his cheeks turning slightly pink.
Before I could answer, a voice interrupted us. "Hey, Eun-ji, can you show me where the library is? I'm still getting used to the school layout," Lee Joon asked, appearing out of nowhere.
I glanced between Hyun-woo and Lee Joon, feeling a sudden wave of confusion. "Um, sure, Joon. I'll show you," I replied, turning to Hyun-woo. "Can we talk about this later?"
Hyun-woo nodded, looking a bit disappointed. "Yeah, sure. Catch you later, Eun-ji."
As I walked with Lee Joon to the library, I couldn't help but feel the weight of the situation. Hyun-woo had finally asked me out, but now there was this intriguing new student who seemed to be taking an interest in me as well. It felt like the beginning of something complicated and exciting all at once.
"So, Eun-ji, do you like this school so far?" Lee Joon asked, breaking the silence.
"Yeah, it's a great place. Everyone's really friendly," I replied, trying to focus on the conversation.
"That's good to hear. By the way, I hope I didn't interrupt anything important back there," he said, giving me a curious look.
"Oh, no, it's fine. Just a small misunderstanding," I said quickly, not wanting to dive into the details.
As we reached the library, Lee Joon smiled. "Thanks for showing me around, Eun-ji. I appreciate it."
"No problem. If you need anything else, just let me know," I replied.
As I watched him walk away, I felt a mix of emotions swirling inside me. Little did I know, this was just the beginning of a year filled with unexpected twists and turns, where my heart would be pulled in different directions. High school was about to get a lot more complicated.
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