The day after the courtyard confrontation, Huweol High felt slightly different. Whispers lingered in hallways, students stealing glances at Hwang Siyeok as he moved with his usual calm, commanding presence. His lean, muscular frame, piercing green eyes, and perfect posture drew attention, even when he tried to stay unnoticed.
Shy Suya walked behind him, notebook clutched tightly in her hand. She had spent the previous night replaying the confrontation over and over in her mind. Hwang Siyeok's movements, his precision, the effortless control he displayed — it wasn't natural. And yet, he remained calm, kind, and collected.
"I still don't understand," she murmured softly to herself as she followed him to class. "How can he be that perfect at everything… and not show off?"
Meanwhile, Kang Jae-Hoon seethed in the locker room with his friends. "I can't let him just walk around acting untouchable," he growled. "Everyone thinks he's some genius, but I'll prove otherwise."
One friend suggested, "Maybe we should challenge him publicly. Force him to fight or compete in front of everyone."
Kang shook his head. "No. That's obvious. If I confront him like last time, he'll make me look foolish again. No… I need a plan. Something clever, something that can catch him off guard."
Across the courtyard, Hwang Siyeok was oblivious to Kang's scheming — though, in truth, he was aware of the subtle shifts in the hallway dynamics. His mind scanned potential threats, observing patterns, calculating probabilities. By the time he entered class, he already knew that Kang would attempt something soon.
The morning classes were uneventful, though Hwang Siyeok's presence caused faint ripples. In literature, when a classmate struggled with a metaphor, Hwang Siyeok guided them quietly with a hint, never drawing attention to himself. In math, he noticed a subtle error in a student's calculation and corrected it indirectly, ensuring the teacher never realized the intervention.
During lunch, he sat under the same tree, calmly unpacking his meal. Ramen steam curled up gently, bread with banana neatly arranged beside it. He ate deliberately, each bite precise, savoring the flavors.
Shy Suya approached him cautiously. "Do you… ever worry about people like Kang Jae-Hoon?" she asked quietly.
Hwang Siyeok looked up calmly. "Not worry. Awareness is enough. He will act, I will observe, and respond if necessary. There is no need to anticipate aggression prematurely."
Shy Suya frowned, unsure what he meant. "But yesterday… he tried to hurt you."
Hwang Siyeok's gaze was steady. "Not truly. He only tested his own limits. And I did not give him reason to escalate."
Across the courtyard, Kang Jae-Hoon's eyes narrowed. Today, he wouldn't act openly. Instead, he observed, waiting for a moment when Hwang Siyeok would be distracted, hoping to catch him off balance.
That moment came during PE. The class was practicing relay races, and Hwang Siyeok ran with flawless form, each stride controlled and precise. Kang decided it was the perfect time.
As Hwang Siyeok passed the baton, Kang subtly nudged a hurdle in the path of a student ahead of him, hoping to create chaos that would force Hwang Siyeok to stumble. But Hwang Siyeok's reflexes were unmatched. He noticed the slight shift in the hurdle's position, adjusted his stride, and lightly tapped the misaligned object so that it remained upright. The student barely noticed, and the race continued flawlessly.
Shy Suya gasped quietly. She had been watching from the sidelines and realized that Hwang Siyeok could notice even the tiniest disruptions before they affected anyone. Every action, every response, was precise and deliberate — not just in strength or speed, but in observation, prediction, and subtle intervention.
Frustrated, Kang clenched his fists. He's always one step ahead… he thought. He needed a plan that didn't rely on brute force.
After PE, Hwang Siyeok walked calmly to the locker area. He noticed the subtle tension radiating from Kang even before the boy approached him. Kang tried a casual tone, "You're… lucky, I guess. But everyone has limits."
Hwang Siyeok raised an eyebrow slightly. "Limits exist only when you fail to observe or understand. I prefer to see possibilities, not obstacles."
Kang scowled but said nothing further, realizing that any direct confrontation would be ineffective. Hwang Siyeok's calm demeanor, perfect reflexes, and sharp perception made it impossible to surprise him — at least openly.
Shy Suya followed Hwang Siyeok out of the building afterward. "You really… you notice everything," she said softly. "Every little thing, every small change… How do you do it?"
Hwang Siyeok glanced at her briefly. "Observation and understanding. That's all. Awareness is more valuable than strength, more than speed. Even a small misstep can have consequences if you don't notice it."
She nodded slowly, though she still couldn't fully grasp it. Hwang Siyeok's abilities were beyond anything she had ever seen — not supernatural, but humanly perfect, honed to a level that seemed almost unreal.
As they left the school grounds, Shy Suya couldn't help but glance back. Kang Jae-Hoon was there too, lingering near the gates, watching Hwang Siyeok with a mix of frustration and determination. She could feel the tension building.
Hwang Siyeok, however, remained calm. He had anticipated this — subtle schemes, challenges, attempts to provoke. All part of the environment he navigated daily. Every action would be observed, calculated, and handled with precision.
And in the shadows of Huweol High, Kang Jae-Hoon began planning his next move, unaware that Hwang Siyeok had already foreseen it.
For Hwang Siyeok, every challenge, every subtle threat, was an opportunity — not for confrontation, but for observation, understanding, and control. His hidden identity, unparalleled abilities, and calm confidence ensured that no one could truly corner him… yet.
Shy Suya walked beside him, her curiosity growing stronger. She knew one thing for certain: Hwang Siyeok was extraordinary, and every day at Huweol High would reveal just how much.
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