The next day, the sun was shining brightly as Seo-yoon, Eun-jin, and Kim met up at the park. Eun-jin was a ball of nerves, constantly adjusting her cute hair ribbons and checking her reflection, while Kim seemed his usual relaxed, friendly self. However, the peaceful atmosphere didn't last long. Just as they were settling down near the fountain, a shadow fell over them. To Seo-yoon's horror, Ji-hoon was standing there, looking effortlessly cool in casual clothes, his red eyes gleaming with amusement. Before she could even ask what he was doing there, another figure approached from the opposite path—Leon. He looked uncharacteristically tense, his jaw tightened the moment he spotted Ji-hoon standing so close to Seo-yoon.
The air between the two boys turned icy fast. Leon stepped forward, his protective instincts kicking in, while Ji-hoon simply smirked, clearly enjoying the challenge. Kim and Eun-jin watched in stunned silence as the park date suddenly transformed into a high-stakes standoff. Seo-yoon felt her heart racing; on one side was her long-time crush who finally seemed to be showing feelings, and on the other was the mysterious transfer student who refused to take "no" for an answer. The quiet afternoon was officially over, and Seo-yoon realized that her simple plan to help Eun-jin had just landed her right in the middle of a chaotic love triangle.
The tension at the park snapped as Leon finally stepped forward, his voice low and protective as he confronted Ji-hoon, demanding to know why he was following Seo-yoon. Ji-hoon didn't flinch; instead, he stepped even closer, his red eyes shimmering with a defiant smirk as he replied that he goes wherever he finds something—or someone—interesting. The air felt heavy with a brewing fight, and the surrounding crowd began to whisper, sensing the clash between the school's golden boy and the mysterious new transfer.
Panicking as the situation spiraled out of control, Seo-yoon jumped between them, her heart hammering against her ribs. In a desperate bid to diffuse the bomb, she grabbed both their sleeves and loudly announced that they were all going to play a high-stakes game of 2-on-2 basketball at the nearby court. Kim and Eun-jin quickly caught on, scurrying to find a ball while the two rivals locked eyes, neither willing to back down from the challenge. What started as a simple afternoon stroll had turned into a public battle for Seo-yoon's attention, leaving her wondering if she had just made things much, much worse.
Before the basketball game could even start, Ji-hoon suddenly grabbed Seo-yoon's wrist and led her behind a large oak tree, away from the prying eyes of Leon, Kim, and Eun-jin. His playful smirk had vanished, replaced by a hauntingly serious expression that made his red eyes seem even more intense. He leaned in close, his voice dropping to a whisper as he admitted that his transfer wasn't just about his father's work. He revealed that he had been searching for her specifically because of a shared past she couldn't remember—a childhood promise made years ago before a tragic accident wiped her memory.
Seo-yoon stood frozen, her breath hitching as he pulled out a small, faded silver locket that matched the one she had kept in her jewelry box since she was five. He explained that he had returned to this city not just to find her, but to protect her from a "shadow" that had been following her family for years—a danger that Leon might actually be involved in. The revelation left Seo-yoon's head spinning; the boy she thought was a creepy stranger was claiming to be her long-lost protector, and the boy she had a crush on was now a potential threat.