In a quiet village where mountains whispered secrets and evenings smelled of fresh earth, lived a girl named Anna. Her home stood just across from the one where a new guest had arrived—Aerin, a rich boy , visiting the countryside for a short break from his privileged, noisy life.
Aerin was staying at the house next door, where a local family lived—three brothers, a sister named Jia, and their parents. From the moment Jia saw Aerin, she decided she had to win him over—not because she truly loved him, but because having a handsome, foreign boyfriend would earn her praise, popularity, and envy. She began her show instantly—overacting, fake sweetness, dramatic gestures. But Aerin hated all that. He despised fake behavior. Especially when someone acted like they were in a drama just for attention.
Anna, on the other hand, was quiet, simple, and lived just across the narrow path. She wasn't interested in visitors or noisy girls like Jia. But her heart still held a faded scar—one of Jia's brothers had once broken her trust. Though her feelings had faded, a small corner of her heart still remembered.
One day, Aerin stepped out of his room. The metal rooftop nearby had a broken spot that he came to check. That's when he saw her—Anna, sitting in her small courtyard, completely lost in a book. Her hair was tied loosely, and sunlight danced on her face. She didn't know anyone was watching.
And Aerin? He couldn't look away.
A soft smile crept onto his face as he watched her turn the pages. Something about her was different—calm, real, untouched by performance. But just as his eyes lingered, Anna suddenly looked up—and caught him smiling at her.
She didn't like it.
With a frown and a huff, she stood up and walked back inside, shutting the door behind her. Aerin blinked, realizing his gaze had made her uncomfortable.
"She wants her space," he thought. "I shouldn't have stared."
Inside her room, Anna sat on the bed, her book now closed.
"Why was he smiling like that?" she wondered.
And for a moment, her heart beat just a little faster.