Chapter 1
Chapter 1 – The Boy Everyone Feared
The sound of rain tapped softly against the bus window.
Teetee rested his forehead against the cool glass, watching the city blur past him. Raindrops raced each other down the window as he tightened his grip on his backpack.
Another new school.
Another new beginning.
He had lost count of how many times he'd transferred. New classrooms, new teachers, new faces... they all blended together after a while.
His phone vibrated.
Mom:
Good luck today. Don't skip lunch, okay?
A small smile appeared on his lips.
Teetee:
I won't. Promise.
Another message arrived a second later.
Mom:
And... try to make some friends.
He stared at the message for a moment before locking his phone.
Making friends wasn't difficult.
Keeping them was.
The bus finally stopped in front of Hanseong High School.
The campus was enormous. Students hurried through the gates while others stood laughing beneath umbrellas. The school looked beautiful, almost welcoming.
"Maybe this year will be different..."
He whispered the words to himself before stepping off the bus.
...
"You're Teetee?"
A woman wearing a navy blazer smiled warmly.
"I'm Mrs. Choi, your homeroom teacher."
"Yes, ma'am."
She looked through a file before smiling again.
"I've heard wonderful things about you. Excellent grades. Perfect attendance."
Teetee laughed awkwardly.
"I just study a lot."
"Don't be so modest."
She handed him his timetable.
"Your classroom is on the third floor. I'll take you there."
As they walked through the school, Teetee couldn't help looking around.
Students were chatting.
Teachers greeted one another.
The basketball team practiced outside.
Music echoed from somewhere inside the arts building.
Everything felt... peaceful.
Until they reached the third floor.
The hallway suddenly became quiet.
Students who had been laughing only moments ago lowered their voices.
Some quickly stepped aside.
Others looked nervous.
Teetee frowned.
"Is something happening?"
Mrs. Choi hesitated.
"...You'll understand soon."
Before he could ask another question, a teacher called Mrs. Choi from the opposite end of the hallway.
"Could you wait here for a minute?" she asked.
"I'll be right back."
"Of course."
Teetee nodded.
Left alone, he looked down at his timetable.
"Class 3-B..."
He began walking, completely focused on the paper in his hands.
One step.
Two.
Three.
Bump.
His shoulder crashed into someone.
His books slipped from his arms and scattered across the polished floor.
"...Ah!"
"I'm so sorry!"
He immediately knelt down to gather them.
The hallway had gone completely silent.
Teetee blinked.
Why was nobody talking?
Slowly...
He looked up.
A tall boy stood in front of him.
One hand rested inside his pocket.
His tie hung loosely around his neck.
His blazer was unbuttoned.
Fresh cuts covered his knuckles.
His expression was impossible to read.
He simply stared at Teetee.
"...Move."
His voice was cold.
Teetee quickly reached for his notebook.
"I'm really sorry. I wasn't looking where I was—"
A polished black shoe landed on the notebook before he could pick it up.
Silence.
Nobody moved.
Nobody dared to breathe.
Teetee looked from the notebook to the boy standing over him.
"...Can I have it back?"
Whispers spread through the hallway.
"Did he just ask him that?"
"He's finished..."
"He doesn't know who that is."
The boy slowly lowered his eyes to Teetee.
For several long seconds...
Neither of them spoke.
Then...
The corner of the boy's lips lifted ever so slightly.
Not a warm smile.
Not even a happy one.
It was the kind of smile that made Teetee's stomach tighten.
"...Interesting."
He lifted his foot.
Picked up the notebook.
Brushed the dust from its cover.
Then handed it back.
Their fingers brushed for the briefest moment.
"You should watch where you're going."
Without another word, he walked away.
The crowd immediately moved aside to let him pass.
No one looked him in the eyes.
No one dared to stop him.
Teetee watched him disappear around the corner.
"...Who was that?"
A student beside him let out a nervous laugh.
"You really don't know?"
Teetee shook his head.
"That was Por."
"...Por?"
"The most feared student in this school."
"He gets into fights."
"He skips classes."
"Teachers don't even argue with him anymore."
Another student joined the conversation.
"And every year..."
He paused.
"...He chooses someone."
Teetee frowned.
"Chooses someone?"
"A target."
The hallway became quiet again.
"Once Por starts paying attention to you..."
"He never lets you go."
Teetee looked down at the notebook still clutched in his hands.
He laughed softly.
"I'm sure you're exaggerating."
The students exchanged worried glances.
None of them laughed with him.
Across the hallway, hidden behind a classroom window, two boys had watched the entire scene.
William folded his arms.
"...He noticed him."
Est kept his eyes on the hallway.
"...Yeah."
William sighed.
"I hoped things would be different."
"So did I."
A heavy silence settled between them.
Finally, Est spoke again.
"...It's starting."
William lowered his head.
"...This time..."
"...I hope we aren't too late."
Far down the hallway, Por stopped walking.
He looked down at his hand—the same hand that had briefly brushed against Teetee's.
"...Teetee."
He quietly repeated the unfamiliar name.
Then, for the first time that day...
He smiled.
"I guess..."
"...I just found my new target."
