chapter 1
The first day at a new school always felt like stepping onto a stage halfway through a play. Everyone else had already learned their lines, memorized the entrances and exits, and Taehyung? He was just supposed to walk in and fit somewhere. Seoul University’s campus was bigger than anything he’d imagined — crowds of students moved in waves along the pathways, backpacks slung casually, headphones in, phones out, conversations blending into a constant hum. He adjusted the strap of his bag and tried to focus on his own pace, trying not to look lost, though he was.
As he reached the building for his first lecture, he noticed it — the way a few heads subtly turned to follow him. It wasn’t obnoxious stares or rude whispers; it was curiosity, the kind that made his stomach tighten. He ducked his head and pushed the door open, hoping no one would notice him.
The lecture hall was bigger than any classroom he’d seen before. Rows of seats stretched like staircases, filled with students chatting quietly. He slipped in at the back, sliding into a seat near the wall. That was when he felt it — someone watching him. He glanced toward the window and caught her gaze. Jiwoo.
She was sitting with her friends, leaning slightly forward as though she were trying to catch a glimpse of something that didn’t quite belong in her world. His eyes met hers for a fraction of a second before he quickly looked away. And yet, the feeling lingered — that tiny pull of awareness, like a magnet that wouldn’t release.
“Hey, look at him,” Jiwoo whispered to her friend, a smile tugging at the corner of her lips. Her friend glanced over, and a quiet laugh escaped her. Taehyung didn’t hear the words, but he felt the shift, subtle but undeniable. Something about him had captured attention without him asking for it — the way he carried himself, the calm precision in the way he moved, even in uncertainty.
He tried to focus on the lecture, letting the lecturer’s voice wash over him in a rhythm that almost made him forget the nervous flutter in his chest. But then a notebook slid off the desk in front of him with a soft clatter. He bent down to pick it up, and she was there — Jiwoo.
“Here,” she said, handing him the notebook with a smile that was more curious than polite. It wasn’t the kind of smile that made your heart skip, not yet, but it was close enough to make him notice. His fingers brushed hers briefly, and something in the room seemed to tighten around them, the ambient noise fading to a dull background hum.
“Thanks,” he muttered, trying to sound casual, though his voice felt foreign even to him. She nodded, her eyes holding his just a second too long before she returned to her seat, but the effect lingered. For the first time that morning, Taehyung allowed himself a small, private smile. Maybe this place wouldn’t be so bad after all.
As the lecture continued, he found his mind wandering. He noticed the way she tilted her head when she laughed, the subtle way she adjusted her hair when the sun hit it just right. He didn’t know her, not really, and yet some part of him already wanted to — wanted to understand her, figure her out. He shook his head slightly, scolding himself. That was ridiculous. He barely knew the layout of the campus, let alone the students, and here he was thinking about her.
Still, even in that chaotic, overwhelming first day, there was a tiny spark — a thread weaving through the crowd, connecting him to her gaze again and again. Something told him that Jiwoo would be hard to forget.
