The morning sun filtered gently through the wide windows of a spacious, well-kept house. The sharp buzz of an alarm cut through the calm, echoing faintly off the pristine walls. Lee Soo-ho stirred, opening his eyes with quiet precision. It was two hours before school, but for him, the day always began early. Without hesitation, he sat up and pushed away his covers, already mentally sorting through his morning routine.
The house—neither small nor grand, but perfectly elegant and airy—stood silent as he moved from room to room, cleaning every surface with practiced ease. He folded laundry, swept the floors, tidied the living room, and ensured everything was in its rightful place. It wasn't obligation that drove him—it was habit, the comfort of order.
In the kitchen, he prepared his breakfast from scratch. The sound of sizzling eggs mingled with the aroma of miso soup and freshly steamed rice. He plated the food neatly, sat down alone at the dining table, and ate with quiet focus. Once finished, he washed the dishes, dried his hands, and headed to his room.
His uniform was neatly ironed, every crease sharp. He buttoned it up, fixed his collar, and adjusted his tie with a glance at the mirror. Slinging his bag over his shoulder, he stepped out the front door.
The crisp morning air brushed against his skin as he walked toward school. His house was only a short distance away, so he preferred walking—his footsteps steady, his expression unreadable. Alone, silent, composed. Just the way he liked it.
Meanwhile, in a far more chaotic corner of the city, the incessant beeping of multiple alarms echoed through a sunlit, pastel-colored room. Jay groaned, blindly reaching for her phone and finally jolting awake, eyes widening at the time. She shot up from bed like a startled cat.
In a flurry of movements, she pulled on her uniform, brushing her hair with one hand and tying her shoelaces with the other. Her room looked like a whirlwind had passed through, clothes and books strewn across every surface.
Downstairs, she grabbed a slice of toast, stuffing it in her mouth as she darted around. Her mother, Sadhna Oberoi, looked up from the kitchen island with a soft smile. "Take it easy, dear," she said gently.
But before Jay could respond, her father, Yash Oberoi—CEO of DaeHan FutureTech—spoke in a firmer tone. "You should get up earlier from tomorrow. I don't want to see this haste again."
Jay gave a quick nod, guilt flashing across her face, and gulped down the rest of her breakfast. She slung her bag over her shoulder, ran toward the gate, and barely managed to catch the school bus just in time.
Panting slightly, she collapsed into her seat, whispering to herself, "Every single morning..." But deep down, she knew she wouldn't change a thing.
Both Jay and Lee Soo-ho arrived at school around the same time—he walked in calmly, his bag slung neatly over one shoulder, while she stepped out of the school bus, adjusting her windswept hair.
Waiting near the classroom door with a smug expression and arms crossed, Kang Min-Young raised an eyebrow. "Oh, look who decided to show up. The attention seeker," she scoffed loudly enough for half the corridor to hear.
Jay pretended not to notice, walking past her with a blank expression. But Min-Young wasn't finished. She leaned toward Nam Soo-Ji and started whispering harshly, words laced with venom.
Jay suddenly stopped in her tracks, turned around, and marched toward her with fire in her eyes. "If you say another word," she said coldly, "I'll punch your face so hard, your teeth will scatter all over this hallway." Her voice was calm, yet sharp as steel. Without waiting for a response, she walked away, leaving behind stunned silence.
Lee Soo-ho had been quietly sitting at his desk the whole time, flipping through his book. He didn't comment, didn't flinch—but his eyes had followed every second. Kang Min-Young turned to Nam Soo-Ji, fuming. "What a bitch," she hissed.
Jay, hearing that, stopped in her tracks again and said without turning around, "I know I'm a bitch. That's why you should be scared." And then she disappeared into the classroom.
From his seat, Lee Soo-ho, involuntarily, allowed a faint smile to tug at the corners of his mouth.
Then, realizing what he was doing, he quickly straightened his face. Why the hell am I smiling? he thought and buried himself in his book again.
After classes ended, Jay walked out into the hallway and was quickly joined by Kim Yu-Ri, Kim Tae-Hyun, and Cho Min-Woo. Yu-Ri, always the cheerful one, looked at Jay with a wide grin. "Jay, you were great today! You really gave Min-Young a piece of your mind!" she said, playfully nudging her.
Jay gave a small smile. "Thanks," she replied, her eyes quickly scanning the rest of the room. She spotted Lee Soo-Ho sitting at his desk, still alone, flipping through a book as usual. There was something about him that made Jay curious.
She turned to Yu-Ri. "Why is Lee Soo-Ho always alone?" she asked, her voice laced with genuine curiosity.
Yu-Ri shrugged, her expression turning a little more serious. "Well, of course, he's the class topper. Quiet, focused, and kind of a genius, you could say. But also, he's really rich, though no one knows much about his parents. What we do know is that he has an older sister who's the CEO of some big company. Nobody really has his number—not even the school authorities, believe it or not."
Jay raised an eyebrow. "That's strange," she murmured, intrigued by the mystery surrounding him.
Yu-Ri nodded. "Yeah, it's like he's a bit of an enigma. We think he lives somewhere nearby, but nobody knows exactly where. He keeps to himself, and he never shares anything about his personal life."
Jay couldn't help but glance over at Soo-Ho again. There was something compelling about the quiet, distant boy. It made her wonder just what was hiding behind his cold exterior.
Kim Tae-Hyun added with a shrug, "He's always the egoistic one. Doesn't talk to anyone, just keeps to himself all the time. It's like he's in his own world."
Cho Min-Woo, who had been listening quietly, piped up next. "Yeah, well, I was once his friend, tried to talk to him, but he shoved me away. It's like he doesn't care about anyone. Honestly, he's just boring."
Jay looked over at Lee Soo-Ho again, her curiosity piqued even more. There was clearly something more to him than just being quiet and aloof. "Huh," she muttered, "Seems like there's more to the story."
Yu-Ri smirked. "I guess so. But you won't get much out of him. He's got that whole 'mysterious loner' vibe going on, and it's hard to crack."
Jay chuckled under her breath. "Well, maybe I'll try and crack that shell."
Min-Woo laughed, shaking his head. "Good luck with that, Jay. He's not someone who's easy to get close to."
Jay just gave a confident grin. "We'll see."
The next day, after a few classes, the bell rang for a short break. Students poured into the corridors, chatting and laughing. Jay stepped out of the classroom, just as Kang Min-Young's voice sliced through the hallway.
"She's just hitting on Lee Soo-ho. Desperate much?" Min-Young sneered loud enough for half the corridor to hear.
Jay stopped in her tracks, her jaw clenched. Without a second thought, she grabbed a half-full water bottle from the window sill nearby and turned sharply—splash! The water splattered right across Min-Young's face, soaking her hair and uniform.
"What the hell?!" Min-Young shrieked, her eyes wide in disbelief.
Jay didn't wait. She bolted down the corridor as Min-Young and her two allies yelled behind her and took off in chase.
"Get her!"
Jay darted around the corner, weaving through the crowd. Her heart was pounding, but she was grinning. She glanced back—they were gaining on her. Just then, ahead of her, Lee Soo-ho was walking with his headphones on, completely unaware of the chaos behind him.
"Move! Move!" Jay shouted, but her voice didn't reach him.
Right at that moment, Lee Soo-ho bent down to tie his shoelace right in her path.
"Ugh—are you serious?!" Jay hissed.
She had no time to stop. In a blur, she jumped—landing right on top of him with a muffled thud before sprinting away again.
Lee Soo-ho blinked, still crouched, looking utterly confused.
"What just happened?" he muttered, looking up as if something had just fallen from the sky. He dusted off his shoulder slowly, glancing around. Then left with headphones on again.
Meanwhile, Jay had darted into the washroom, her breath heaving, her back against the door. She couldn't stop laughing.
"Saved," she whispered, grinning.