Han Eiryn stood outside the heavy door of Class 2-A, her knuckles rapped gently against the polished wood. Taking a deep breath, she turned the handle and stepped inside.
The low hum of chatter instantly died down. Rows of elite students turned to stare at her, their eyes scanning her from head to toe, sizing up the newcomer. The teacher, a nervous-looking woman, cleared her throat and smiled warmly.
"Class, please settle down," the teacher announced, gesturing for Eiryn to stand beside her. "We have a new transfer student joining us today. This is Han Eiryn. She has achieved exemplary marks to be here, so please treat her with respect and help her adjust to Eclipse High."
A scattering of polite, empty applause echoed through the room. Whispers broke out immediately in the back rows.
"Isn't she the one who helped that guy on the stairs this morning?" "Wow, she really has no idea where she is, does she?"
The teacher scanned the room for an empty desk. The only vacant spots were toward the back. Right in the center of the rear row sat a single, wide desk with a glaring empty chair beside it. No one dared to sit within a three-foot radius of that desk. It was Kang Raehyun's designated spot. Even when he wasn't there, his presence occupied the space like a phantom.
"Um, Eiryn," the teacher stammered, her voice trembling slightly as she pointed toward the back. "There is... a seat available at the back row. You can sit there for today."
"Thank you, teacher. I'll take that seat," Eiryn said calmly.
She walked down the aisle, her shoes clicking softly against the floor. The students watched in absolute shock as she pulled out the chair directly next to Raehyun's empty desk and sat down.
"Is she crazy?" a boy muttered to his friend. "She doesn't know anything. If she did, she wouldn't survive a second in that chair."
Warnings and New Alliances
The morning classes passed in a blur of rigorous lectures. As soon as the bell rang for the lunch break, the teacher practically sprinted out of the room, leaving Eiryn alone at her desk.
The girl sitting directly in front of her turned around. She had sharp, lively eyes and a friendly smile. "Hey, I'm Minji," she introduced herself, leaning over Eiryn's desk. "I've been dying to talk to you since you walked in."
"I'm Eiryn. Nice to meet you," Eiryn replied, relieved to find a friendly face.
"Are you completely fearless, or just incredibly brave?" Minji asked, lowering her voice. "Do you know whose desk you're sitting next to? That's Kang Raehyun's. Since the term started, I haven't seen a single soul brave enough to sit near him. You're the very first."
Eiryn glanced at the empty desk beside her. "Will something happen because I sat here?"
Minji nodded grimly. "Raehyun absolutely despises people invading his personal space. Last semester, a guy sat there by mistake. The next day, he completely vanished from the school roster and never came back to classes. I'm just giving you some friendly advice—don't offend him."
"Is he coming to class today?" Eiryn asked, looking around.
"Who knows?" Minji shrugged. "Whether he comes or not is entirely his choice. Even the principal doesn't ask questions."
The shared warning broke the ice, and the two girls spent the rest of the break together. Minji took Eiryn on a tour, showing her the sprawling campus, from the elite athletic tracks to the high-society lounges.
By the time the final bell rang, they walked out toward the grand iron gates together. As they discussed their neighborhoods, a familiar figure approached them. It was Jihoon.
"Jihoon-oppa!" Eiryn called out. She turned to Minji. "This is Jihoon, my childhood friend."
Minji's eyes locked onto Jihoon's face, staring at him for several long seconds, caught off guard by his sharp, studious looks. Jihoon cleared his throat, introducing himself politely. After a brief conversation, Minji waved goodbye, and Eiryn and Jihoon began their walk home.
"How was your first day?" Jihoon asked as they crossed into their district.
"It was interesting. I made a friend named Minji," Eiryn smiled.
"That's good," Jihoon nodded as they reached their building. "Go upstairs and freshen up. Come over to our place for dinner when you're ready."
"I will," Eiryn agreed.
The Vice of the Elite
On the wealthy side of Veridian City, the roar of a heavy motorcycle engine tore through the evening air. Seojun rode with absolute aggression, the sleek black bike cutting through traffic. Clinging tightly to his waist was Yoona, her Eclipse High uniform jacket fluttering in the wind.
They pulled up to the rear entrance of a luxury boutique hotel. Without a word to the staff, Seojun flashed a black VIP room card. The receptionist bowed deeply, handing over the key.
The moment the door to the penthouse suite swung shut, Seojun slammed it closed behind them. He grabbed Yoona by the waist, pulling her flush against his chest. Their mouths collided in a fierce, breathless kiss. Their tongues crashed together with an unstoppable, frantic hunger, tasting of sweet liquor and dark desires.
In a blurred rush of heat, they stumbled backward, collapsing heavily onto the king-sized bed. Seojun didn't break the kiss, his lips moving aggressively over hers before trailing down the side of her neck. His fingers tore at the buttons of her school uniform shirt, popping them open to expose her lace bra beneath. His hand slid roughly down, going beneath her plaid school skirt to grip her underwear, a low growl escaping his throat as Yoona let out a sharp, desperate moan.
With frantic movements, they stripped out of the rest of their uniforms, throwing the expensive blazers and shirts to the floor until skin met skin. Yoona reached out, her hands guiding him as he grabbed a condom from the bedside table. Rolling it on, he pinned her down, entering her with a fast, heavy thrust. The quiet room filled with the rhythmic sound of their breathing and Yoona's loud, uncontrolled moaning as they moved together in a reckless escape from reality.
Later, the frantic heat faded into a cold silence. Yoona stood before the mirror, quietly adjusting her school uniform and buttoning her shirt.
"I'm going," she said flatly, not looking back at the bed.
"Whatever," Seojun muttered, his arm thrown over his eyes as he lay exhausted on the sheets, drifting off to sleep. Yoona left without another word, the heavy door clicking shut behind her.
A Fragment of the Past
Back in the modest apartment complex, the atmosphere was completely different. Eiryn sat at the dinner table with Jihoon and Mrs. Park, the room filled with the warm aroma of home-cooked food.
"How was the new school, Eiryn? Did the classes go well?" Mrs. Park asked, placing an extra portion on Eiryn's plate.
"The classes are challenging, but I can handle it, Auntie," Eiryn smiled, sharing a warm look with Jihoon. They talked about her studies and the professors, keeping the dark reality of Eclipse High far away from the dinner table.
After dinner, Eiryn walked back across the hall to her own quiet apartment. She unlocked the door, the silence welcoming her. Walking over to her desk, she unzipped her bag and pulled out her old, worn notebook.
As she opened the pages to write down her thoughts, a loose piece of paper slipped out from the binding. Eiryn caught it before it hit the floor.
It was a faded photograph. She turned it over, her eyes softening as she stared at the face of her father. A quiet determination washed over her features as she clutched the photograph tightly against her chest, ready to face whatever storms Eclipse High had waiting for her.