The student council banner was crooked again.
Sera noticed it as she walked down the third-floor hallway. The bold red letters read:
CLUB SIGN-UP WEEK! FIND YOUR FUTURE.
Underneath, a sea of colorful tables had taken over the corridor — flyers, decorations, and students yelling over each other like their lives depended on it.
"I swear," Minjeong muttered beside her, "every year this turns into a war zone."
"You say that like you're not the one who signs up for five clubs and quits four."
"That was one time," Minjeong argued. "And I stayed in dance club. For two whole weeks."
Sera laughed softly, and just as she reached for a flyer—
"Yoon Sera."
She froze.
That voice.
Sweet. Sharp. Sugar-laced venom.
Han Eunbi stood across from her in her pristine uniform and glossy lipstick, the president of the Literature Club — and reigning queen of quiet intimidation.
Sera turned slowly. "Eunbi."
"I heard you and Kang Jisoo are working on the literature midterm together," Eunbi said, voice bright. Too bright.
"We are."
Eunbi tilted her head. "That must be… challenging. He doesn't seem the type to work well with others."
"We're managing."
"Hmm." Eunbi's eyes flicked over her, calculating. "You know, he's not exactly the kind of boy that stays."
Sera narrowed her eyes. "And you know that because…?"
"I know boys," Eunbi said with a perfect smile. "Especially broken ones."
Before Sera could answer, Minjeong stepped forward, crossing her arms.
"Eunbi, did you want to talk about clubs or just throw shade?"
"both" Eunbi responded
She handed Sera a crisp flyer. "Literature Club. We meet every Thursday. If you're serious about writing—and about not being overshadowed—maybe you should join."
And then, like wind, she was gone — heels clicking, hair bouncing, leaving behind a perfume of power and challenge.
Minjeong huffed. "She is so exhausting."
Sera didn't answer. She stared at the flyer in her hand, her pulse still high.
Later that afternoon, the courtyard buzzed with activity.
Taeyang was leading the Drama Club tryouts, swinging a plastic sword and yelling Shakespeare quotes like his life depended on it. A crowd had gathered. Even some teachers were laughing.
Minjeong joined the Photography Club, dragging Sera to the booth while promising they could take "aesthetic depression-core pictures of rainy sidewalks."
Sera still hadn't decided.
She stood by the fountain, watching the scene unfold, when—
"Heard you joined the Literature Club."
She turned.
Jisoo.
Hands in his pockets. Hoodie up. Same stormy expression.
"I haven't," she replied. "Just got invited."
He raised a brow. "From her?"
Sera nodded.
Jisoo looked away, expression unreadable. "Be careful with that one."
"You're being judgemental right now aren't you? i mean you don't even know her that well" she said, surprising even herself.
He looked back sharply—but then his gaze softened.
"I'm not," he said. "Just... observant."
And then, without another word, he walked off toward the edge of the crowd, vanishing like a shadow in sunlight.
Minjeong appeared seconds later, eyes wide. "Did Jisoo just... talk to you? In public?"
Sera blinked. "Yeah."
"And didn't insult anyone?"
"I think he gave me advice."
Minjeong stared. "Okay, what is happening?"
Sera didn't answer.
Instead, she looked down at the Literature Club flyer in her hand.
And smiled.