Chapter 1: The Freaking Science Lab
Okay. OKAY. I set the freaking SCIENCE LAB on FIRE.
Like. Because of MEEEEEEE.
Not on purpose??? maybe like 2% my fault MAX. that bunsen burner was from like 2003 it basically EXPLODED when I looked at it wrong. Full-on sprinklers CRYING. potassium doing nuclear meltdown. The whole third floor smells like burnt shin ramyun and my DEATH.
Vice Principal Park is gonna MURDER me.
SO I RAN.
Hoodie UP. Id badge YEETED. Ninja rolled past the janitor closet like my life depended on it BECAUSE IT DID. made it to the stairwell. My heart??? Doing full choreo. Like BTS concert in my chest. I was FREE. I was GONE. I was um
“Seo Yuna.”
I. froze.
NO.no no no NO.
Because that voice. that slow. LAZY. ur-so-screwed voice??
LEE. MINJAE.
THE LEE MINJAE. third year. Student council prez. Kendo captain. and if the rumors aren’t lying heir to the freaking MUYEOL CLAN.
urf. MAFIA CLAN’S HEIR??? hello??? what is this 18th century joseon??? who HAS a “clan” in 2026??? this is seoul hills high NOT a sageuk drama you delusional chaebol
He’s leaning. against the exit door. arms crossed. blazer PERFECT. not one ASH on him. and me?? I look like a raccoon that lost a fight with a bbq grill. soot on my face. eyebrow?? probably GONE.
how did he
“I SAW YOU”, he says.
NO HELLO . No HOW ARE YOU . just. that.
his eyes do the SCAN. shoes face. like he’s taking MENTAL PICTURES for blackmail. “third floor. science wing. 12:03 pm.”
My scholarship. POOF.mom’s noodle shop. POOF.my brother’s KAIST letter. POOF POOF POOF.
all gone if this gets out.
“I don’t - I don’t know what ur talking about”, I lied. voice C R A C K E D. so embarrassing.
Minjae pushes off the door. one step. two step. suddenly the stairwell is a COFFIN and I can’t BREATHE. he’s too close. way too close. I can see the gold in his earring. I can SMELL him. cedar and ink and money and BAD DECISIONS.
“you’re a terrible liar, Yuna-ya”, he murmurs.
YUNA-YA.
he did NOT.
only family says -ya. or like. people who think they OWN YOU.
“and you’re worse at arson.”
then he holds up his PHONE.
my stomach?? falls to the basement.
on screen: ME. sprinting from the science lab. timestamped. HD. SLOW MO. like he edited it to RUIN MY LIFE.
“DELETE THAT”, I hissed. grabbed for it.
he just. lifts it higher. i’m 5′4" he’s 6′1" of pure EVIL ADVANTAGE. smirking.
“why would I”, he says, tilting his head, “when you’re way more interesting on my leash?”
LEASH.
LEASH??????????
excuse me???
“forty hours community service,” he cuts me off, like he WROTE the student handbook, “or expulsion. your choice. and guess who volunteered to be your supervisor?”
the bell rings. but it sounds FAR AWAY. like i’m underwater.
“library”, he says. ALONE. “3:30. don’t be late, Seo Yuna.”
then he SMILES.
not nice. never nice. the kind of smile that says ‘I just bought ur SOUL on sale’.
and my phone BUZZES.
*UNKNOWN: I HAVE THE OTHER VIDEO. THE ONE WHERE UR BROTHER TAKES THE FALL FOR U. LIBRARY. ALONE. OR HE GETS EXPELLED TOO.*
I look up.
Minjae’s already walking away.
but he SAW. I know he did.
Because his smile??
It gets WIDER.
