The next morning, the classroom felt different.
Ha-jin noticed it the moment he stepped through the doorway — the low hum of conversations that seemed to dim when his shoes touched the floor, the way shoulders tilted toward each other as whispers passed. A few pairs of eyes darted in his direction before quickly pretending to look elsewhere.
He tightened his grip on the strap of his bag, his pulse quickening. The air was thicker than yesterday, heavier with curiosity. He hated this feeling — like a spotlight he hadn't asked for was pinned on him.
Something had shifted.
H
"Hey, is it true? Mina talked to him yesterday?""I saw it too! She leaned over his desk and everything.""No way—Seo Mina? With that guy? He never even talks."
The voices weren't quiet enough. Each syllable found its way to Ha-jin's ears. He lowered his gaze, headed straight for his usual seat by the window, and pulled out his sketchbook like a shield. His hands moved automatically, flipping to a blank page, pencil poised.
If he looked busy, maybe they would stop staring.
But the whispers didn't stop.
He had always hated attention. And now, thanks to Mina, he was drowning in it.
You
Me
The atmosphere shifted instantly — laughter muted, posture straightened, all eyes subtly turned toward her. She had that kind of presence. Short hair slightly tousled, uniform sleeves rolled up in a way that looked effortless but perfect, her bag slung carelessly over her shoulder. Every step carried confidence, the kind that made people both admire her and keep their distance.
She dropped into her seat without hesitation. And then, as if on instinct, her eyes sought him out.
"Morning, window boy."
The words were light, casual — but in the silence of the room, they hit like a thunderclap.
Half the class turned their heads. Someone stifled a laugh. Someone else leaned forward, eager not to miss what would happen next.
Ha
Mina rested her chin on her hand, watching him with an unreadable smile. "What? Not going to say hi back?"
Her tone was playful, but her gaze wasn't mocking. It was direct, almost challenging — like she wanted to see if he would rise to it.
A ripple of muffled giggles passed through the class. "She's totally messing with him," someone whispered.
But Ha-j
His chest tightened. Every instinct screamed at him to stay quiet, to vanish into the background like he always did. But something about her eyes — steady, bright, expectant — tugged at him.
He forced his throat to move.
"…Morning."
It was barely more than a whisper, but it was enough. Enough to silence a few giggles. Enough to make Mina's expression soften, her lips curving into a small, satisfied smile.
"See? That wasn't so hard." She turned back to her notebook, casual, as if nothing had happened. But the faint grin lingered on her lips.
The classroom buzz returned, louder now, the whispers sharper than before.
"Did you hear that? He actually talked.""No way. She made him.""What's going on with those two?"
Ha-jin ducked his head, sketching lines he didn't even register. His heart was beating too fast, his mind caught between embarrassment and something else he couldn't quite name.
For the first time in years, he had spoken to someone outside his tiny circle. And it was to her.
He didn't know if this was the start of something good or something dangerous.
But he knew one thing for certain — Mina wasn't done with him yet.