CHAEYOUNG'S POV
Mondays at Dulwich College Seoul were loud, shiny, and exhausting.
Every rich kid treated the school gates like a red carpet.
Engines roared. Cameras flashed. A freshman almost got run over by a Ferrari.
Meanwhile, I just stood there, watching the chaos unfold with my usual Monday face—blank and over it.
Then, of course, he arrived.
Jung Jaehwan.
The new transfer student everyone couldn't shut up about.
He stepped out of a matte black limousine like he was filming a CF for Dior. His uniform was perfectly pressed, his tie loose enough to look rebellious but not messy. Even the air seemed to bend toward him.
Girls squealed before he even opened his mouth.
"OMG, it's JAEHWAN!"
"Can I get a selfie?"
"My mom literally loves you!"
He blinked. "…Your mom?"
I almost laughed. ALMOST.
It was chaos. Flashing phones. Perfume clouds. Half the school losing its mind.
He looked like he wanted to disappear.
Meanwhile, I walked past the mess untouched.
People moved out of my way without me saying a word. That's the thing about Dulwich—fear works better than fame.
"She's so cold."
"She's scary, but, like… hot scary."
"Her dad literally owns South Korea."
"Her lip balm could pay for my tuition."
I didn't bother correcting them. Let them talk.
***
Room X.
The private lounge for the Diamond League—the top 1% of the school. My space.
I walked in, dropped my bag on the velvet couch, and poured myself a glass of glacier-filtered water. Yes, filtered glacier water. I didn't ask for it, but apparently, my life comes with luxury I never ordered.
I sat down, crossed my legs, and scrolled through my phone in peace—until the door slammed open.
Jaehwan stumbled in like he'd just survived a fan apocalypse.
"What are you doing here?" I asked, not even looking up.
"I—uh—booked this place too," he lied terribly.
"I booked it first."
"Right, but… I was being chased by someone's mom with a selfie stick," he said, completely serious.
I looked up. "That sounds like a personal problem."
He laughed nervously. "Yeah. Can I hide here for like five minutes?"
I sighed, stood up, and grabbed my bag. "Don't worry. I was leaving anyway."
"Oh. Thanks?"
I stopped beside him, tilted my head slightly, and gave him a slow once-over.
"Don't get used to it," I muttered, walking out.
"Thanks," he said behind me. "I think."
***
First period: Literature.
Also known as "fighting to stay awake with my eyes open."
I sat between Joon and Jaehwan. Bodyguards stood by the door like statues. Miss Shin walked in all smiles, holding a coffee cup that screamed 'teacher barely surviving'.
"Good morning, my lovely students!" she chirped.
No one replied.
"I have amazing news!" She clapped her hands like it was a K-drama reveal. "We'll be performing Romeo and Juliet this semester!"
Groans. Cheers. Someone actually fainted.
"I've finalized the cast," she said, pulling out her designer handbag (because of course). "Mercutio will be played by Joon!"
Joon fist-pumped silently.
"Romeo will be… Jaehwan. And Juliet will be…" she paused for dramatic effect, "Park Chaeyoung!"
Silence.
Literal silence.
I blinked. "Excuse me?"
Miss Shin looked nervous. "Your name was on the audition list."
I walked up, snatched the paper, and glared at the handwriting. "That's not even my handwriting."
Jaehwan raised a hand, smiling sheepishly. "Yeah… that was me."
I stared at him. "You did what?"
"I thought it might help you, you know… open up. Like a butterfly?"
"A what?"
"Your inner butterfly," he said, wincing halfway through his sentence. "You're kinda… in a cocoon right now?"
"Keep talking and I'll show you what happens to butterflies in storms."
He immediately shut up.
Smart boy.
I dropped the script on Miss Shin's desk and walked out.
***
By lunch, I was officially removed from the play for "lack of interest." Fine by me.
I walked into the Diamond Cafeteria, the quietest place in the entire school.
White marble floors. Crystal chandeliers. Students who looked like they were born wearing designer clothes.
And then the guards dragged someone out for trying to sneak in.
I didn't even flinch.
"What now," I muttered, stirring my untouched soup.
"Hey," a familiar voice said.
I looked up. Jaehwan again.
Of course.
"What a small place… we keep bumping into each other," he said, looking around like he didn't believe he belonged.
It's a room with 10 people. Of course we'll bump into each other.
"What now?" I asked, unimpressed.
He shrugged. "Just having lunch."
"It's been two days and he's already in the Diamond Leagues?!"
"It's high time i shoot my shot."
"I can bet a thousand dollars that me plus him would make THE perfect insta couple."
Some girls murmured. They were in the Diamond leagues… couldn't they at least act a bit decent?
I looked away. "Yeah. Congrats, I guess."
He smiled like he meant it. I didn't.
***
After school, the halls finally emptied.
I was walking toward my car when I heard someone call, "Hey, wait!"
Joon.
He looked like he'd been waiting for me. "Can we talk alone?"
My bodyguards didn't move.
"Right," he said awkwardly. "Of course."
"I don't have time."
"Then maybe over the phone?" he offered.
I didn't answer. I just walked away.
***
When I got home, everything felt too quiet.
The marble floors, the chandelier light, the echo of my own heels—it all felt heavy.
A maid greeted me at the door, took my bag, and handed me a blue envelope.
"Mr. Park left this for you," she said softly.
I didn't need to open it.
If my father wrote something, it was never good.
I went straight upstairs, locked my door, and walked to my cabinet.
Inside was a single photo. My mom. My two sisters. And me.
I traced the edges of the picture with my thumb. My mom's smile looked alive, like she didn't know how soon it would fade.
Then my phone buzzed.
A message from Joon.
Joon: I know where to find your sister.
For a long second, I just stared at the screen.
And for the first time in a while… my heart didn't feel so still.