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CHAPTER ONE — THE BOYS, THE GAME & THE BRAINYS
The courtyard of Rosewood International High buzzed like a disturbed hive long before the morning bell. Students crowded near the gate, pretending to chat, pretending to read, pretending to breathe normally. Everyone knew. G4 were arriving.
First came Kai Park, the basketball captain, a tower of strength with broad shoulders and the kind of dimples that caused actual chaos. He didn’t walk—he glided, like the hallway belonged to him. His black hoodie was half-zipped, the chain around his neck glinting in the sunlight. Kai was every girl’s definition of tall, warm, and dangerously handsome. The type who tied his hair up during practice and made half the school gasp. Calm, respectful, soft-but-deadly smile that made girls hug their lockers for support.
“Kaiiiii oppa! Look here!”
“Captain, marry me!”
He pretended not to hear them… but his ears always turned slightly pink.
Next was Jae Min Seo, average height, perfect jawline, soft eyes, and hands that looked like they were born to hold pencils. He carried a sketchbook pressed to his chest, headphones resting over his ears. Jae was the mysterious one—always sketching by the courtyard window, hair falling over his eyes, lost in a world only he understood. He spoke few words, but when he did, girls replayed them in their heads like a love confession. He drew portraits of random students, left them anonymously on desks, and never admitted it. Everyone was convinced that falling in love with Jae Min felt like falling in love with poetry.
Then came Leo Kim, tall, elegant, a face sculpted like a K-drama second male lead who never gets the girl—but absolutely should. He stepped out of a sleek black car, and the courtyard collectively froze. Leo was literally on billboards, modeling for clothing brands, skincare ads, magazines. Students joked that he didn’t walk to school—he made an entrance. His smirk made girls lose their balance, and his wink caused actual chaos. Teachers adored him for his manners. Students adored him for his looks. And he adored himself because… why not? The hallway became a runway whenever he passed.
And last… Xander Lee, the heir. The school owner’s only son. Football star. Tallest, finest, sharpest jawline, deadly eyes, perfect everything. If G4 had a king, it was Xander. Girls didn’t crush on him—they worshipped him. His cold, powerful aura, hands in pockets, headphones around his neck, expression unreadable, hair tousled just enough to look effortless—it was the kind of presence that made people stop breathing. Rumor had it he had rejected seventeen confessions in a single semester with the same sentence: “I don’t date.” No one believed it. Everyone tried anyway. Xander didn’t care for attention. But attention always found him.
The hallway filled with whispers and gasps as students craned their necks.
“He’s wearing white today… oh my God.”
“He’s too fine, it’s illegal.”
“I’m dating him one day, I swear.”
“The only problem? He rejects everyone.”
“So? I love a challenge.”
At the lockers, Mina and Sora leaned close, whispering furiously while pretending to apply lip gloss.
“Today is the day,” Mina said, eyes sparkling with mischief. “I’m finally going to talk to Xander.”
Sora nearly dropped her compact. “Talk? To Xander? He rejected the girl with the ₩14,714,985,000 gift box. The whole school watched her cry.”
“That’s because she lacked strategy,” Mina said, adjusting her ribbon. “Boys like Xander need mystery. Something unforgettable.”
“Unforgettable like what? You tripping and crashing into him?”
Mina’s eyes widened. “…Actually, that’s Plan B.”
“Mina! Are you trying to die?” Sora groaned.
But Mina was already thinking forward, her heart pounding, her lip gloss shining, her courage fake but powerful. Her eyes were locked on Xander, calm, collected, perfect, walking down the hallway like a male lead from a K-drama, the center of every heartbeat and every whispered dream.
“Today,” she breathed dramatically, “I will make him look at me.”
Sora muttered under her breath, “The only time Xander looks at someone is when they’re blocking his path.”
“Exactly,” Mina whispered, stepping directly into destiny.
And G4 passed by in slow, devastating formation, the hallway melting into gasps, whispers, and hearts racing.
****
The school lounge was alive with idle chatter and the faint scent of coffee from the vending machine, students lounging on sofas, scrolling phones, whispering about everything from gossip to exams. At the center of it all sat the G4—Kai, Jae Min, Leo, and Xander—like four kings of their own private kingdom.
The doors swung open, and the lounge quieted for a heartbeat. A tall girl stepped in, long hair cascading perfectly over her shoulders, movements poised and deliberate. Confidence radiated from her as if she owned every inch of the room, and for a moment, all conversations faltered.
“She’s… unreal,” one girl whispered.
“Tall… and gorgeous. Who even is she?” another asked, eyes wide.
“She walks like she’s royalty…”
Kai’s dimples deepened, heart thudding, already captivated. Jae Min’s pencil froze mid-sketch, his soft eyes lingering, quietly intrigued. Leo smirked, leaning against the counter, amused. Xander raised a brow, calm and unreadable, though his attention was unmistakably drawn to her.
Students whispered and speculated, their voices low and hurried.
“She looks so perfect. Imagine if she sat next to you in class.”
“Who even is she? Where did she come from?”
“I need to find out her name… I need to know everything.”
Then the doors opened again, and a second girl entered. Slightly shorter, neat and composed, moving with quiet elegance, her expression calm but strong. The lounge barely reacted at first, most students’ eyes still glued to the first girl.
“Eh… she’s okay, I guess,” someone muttered.
“Not even close to the first one,” another shrugged.
The murmurs continued, questions floating about her identity, whispered like a mystery no one yet knew the answer to.
Finally, the principal’s voice cut through the lounge, commanding silence.
“Everyone, may I have your attention, please? We are welcoming two new scholarship students this semester. First, Yoon Hae Rin, who has been the second-best student in the state for the past three years…”
Hae Rin lifted her chin, composed, exuding elegance. A flicker of ambition sparkled in her eyes. Next year, I’ll be first. Nothing will stop me.
“…and joining her, Park Seo Jin, recognized as the first-best student in the state, celebrated for her exceptional academic achievements. Please give them both a warm welcome.”
Gasps and whispers spread instantly through the lounge. Hae Rin’s beauty had captured everyone’s attention, but Seo Jin’s revelation as the top student drew reluctant respect. Even the G4, who had barely acknowledged her, paused to take note.
Hae Rin’s eyes flicked toward Seo Jin, the smallest of smiles tugging at her lips, hiding the spark of challenge. So this is the real competition. Next year, that crown will be mine.
Kai’s gaze remained glued to Hae Rin, heart racing. Jae Min’s soft eyes softened further, quietly intrigued. Leo smirked, silently entertained. Xander tilted his head, calm yet calculating, his sharp eyes quietly noting the new dynamics.
The lounge fell quiet once more. Beauty, brains, and ambition had entered the room, and the high school battlefield had officially begun.
*****
Kai Park and Xander Lee—the heir—sat in the science classroom, notebooks open, pens ready, while Mina and Sora whispered across the aisle, trying to sound casual but failing miserably. The hum of students settling in and the faint scent of pencils and paper filled the air. Today, two new scholarship students joined the class, drawing curious glances from everyone.
“Oh my gosh, Mina, look at him,” Sora leaned closer, voice barely above a whisper, eyes darting toward Xander. “Oppa… I mean, Xander oppa… he’s so cool. How do you even survive being near him?”
Mina giggled, hiding her flushed cheeks behind her hand. “Ye, I know, right? And the way he just sits there… like he doesn’t even notice me… but I swear my heart skips every time he glances this way. Oppa Xander is… ugh, he’s perfect.”
Sora rolled her eyes playfully. “Perfect is an understatement. You’re going to faint if he actually talks to you, ye?”
Mina whispered back, leaning even closer, excitement twinkling in her eyes. “I… I think I’d die. I just… I can’t stop thinking about him. He’s so… wow, Sora, I can’t even!”
Sora shook her head, grinning. “Ye, you’re hopeless. But fine, just… don’t scream or throw yourself at him, okay? Keep it cool, Mina.”
Mina huffed softly, her fingers drumming on the desk. “Cool… right. I can do cool. I’ll… I’ll just… melt inside quietly.”
Before their chatter could continue, Mr. Han, the science teacher, stepped in, adjusting his glasses. “Good morning, class. Please settle in. We have new students joining today—let me introduce them.”
The room fell silent, attention shifting toward the doorway as the two girls stepped in. Hae Rin moved first—tall, slim, long hair cascading over her shoulders, carrying herself with effortless elegance. Her eyes scanned the room with sharp intelligence, confidence radiating from every movement. Behind her, Seo Jin followed, calm and composed, her presence quieter but no less compelling.
“Everyone, please welcome Hae Rin Kim and Seo Jin Park,” the teacher announced. “They’ve joined us on scholarship for outstanding performance. Make them feel welcome.”
The class murmured in admiration. Kai’s dimples deepened as his gaze lingered on Hae Rin for a moment before he subtly averted his eyes. Xander’s sharp eyes followed the girls, expression unreadable but his mind alert. Mina and Sora exchanged another glance, cheeks flushed from their private little fan-girl moment.
****
The bell rang sharply, echoing through the science classroom. Students began packing their bags, murmuring about homework and the new scholarship girls. Hae Rin carefully folded her notebook, her expression calm and composed, though her mind raced.
Seo Jin glanced at her, quiet and patient, as Hae Rin slid a small piece of paper across the desk.
“Meet me at the school garden after class. —Hae Rin”
Seo Jin’s fingers brushed over the note, hesitation in her soft eyes. She slipped it into her bag without a word. Hae Rin’s gaze drifted toward the window, thoughtful, already plotting her next steps. Ambition and determination always drove her forward—there was no time for distractions, especially not from feelings.
Outside, the school garden glimmered under the late afternoon sun, cherry blossoms swaying gently in the breeze. Xander Lee, returning from a quick errand, spotted them from a distance. Hae Rin and Seo Jin were talking in a low, private way, Hae Rin’s gestures confident, bold, and slightly commanding, while Seo Jin’s posture was gentle, hesitant, as though each word weighed heavily on her heart.
Xander’s chest tightened without warning. He didn’t understand why, but the sight of Seo Jin’s unease prickled something protective deep inside him. He denied it was love. He never felt like this before. But as he walked past, careful not to interrupt, he found himself glancing back more than once, his sharp jaw set and hands clenched in his pockets.
Meanwhile, in the empty science classroom, Kai Park moved silently toward Hae Rin’s locker. His dimples deepened as he carefully slipped a small bouquet and a neatly folded note inside, hoping she would notice.
“I likes you. I… I hope you don’t hate me for being in love.”
He stepped back, heart thudding, imagining her smile, imagining her blush.
Later, Hae Rin returned to the classroom to retrieve something from her locker. As she opened it, Kai’s bouquet and note fell into her hands. She held them for a moment, expression unreadable, then shook her head softly.
“No,” she whispered under her breath, voice quiet and determined. “Not now. Not ever, I can’t… I have too much to study for. No distractions.”
With one swift motion, she discarded the flowers into the trash and crumpled the note into a ball.
Kai, who had been watching from the end of the hallway, froze. His heart sank, a dull ache spreading through his chest. The girl he admired, the one who made him nervous just by existing, had rejected even the smallest token of his affection.
He stood there for a long moment, fists clenching, struggling to hide the sudden sting in his chest.
“She… rejected me ,” he murmured, voice barely audible. “I… I’ll not relent in loving her.”
Unaware of the heartbreak he had caused, Hae Rin walked away with the air of someone untouchable, eyes forward, mind sharp and ambitious. She didn’t notice Kai’s lingering gaze, nor the quiet ache behind it. Love, for now, would have to wait. Victory came first.
The late afternoon sunlight spilled across the courtyard, shadows stretching long, hinting at the quiet storm brewing between ambition, affection, and the hearts that had yet to fall.
*****
CHAPTER TWO: THE UNSCRIPTED LOVE TWIST
Xander Lee pulled into the driveway of the Lee estate, the sun low and golden, painting the marble walls of his home like it belonged in a movie. He stepped out of the black sedan with the kind of calm that made people look twice. Every step was effortless, precise, like he owned the space around him—even if the house itself screamed wealth and perfection.
A servant was already there, bowing low. “Welcome home, Master Xander.”
“Thanks,” he muttered, sliding past without a glance. Inside, the faint scent of sandalwood and polished wood filled the air, the kind of smell that reminded him this place was perfect in every way—but not him.
His mother, Han Yujin, was in the living room, sitting with her posture straight, her eyes sharp but gentle. “Dinner’s almost ready. Your father’s looking forward to seeing you first,” she said.
“Okay,” he replied, voice calm, but inside, something restless twisted in his chest.
His father, Lee Sungho, looked up from the papers on the dining table. “How was football practice today?”
“Good,” Xander said shortly, knowing that no amount of chatter would shake the thoughts running through his mind. The school garden, Hae Rin, Seo Jin… he couldn’t stop seeing them. Hae Rin had that quiet confidence, that boldness that made Seo Jin uncomfortable, and he’d felt it—like an itch in his chest that wouldn’t go away.
“School going well?” his mother asked gently.
“Yeah. Everything’s fine,” he said, shrugging, trying to sound casual. But the truth was, his chest was too tight to call it fine.
The dining table stretched long and polished, a dark mahogany that gleamed under the chandelier above. Each place was meticulously set: fine china plates rimmed with gold, crystal glasses catching the light, silver cutlery aligned perfectly as if drilled into place.
A soft, white runner stretched the length of the table, dotted with delicate porcelain vases holding single white lilies, their fragrance subtle but elegant. Candles were placed strategically, unlit, their wax forming smooth, pristine towers. Every chair was upholstered in cream leather, straight-backed and inviting, yet commanding a sense of formality.
The room itself was spacious, walls adorned with framed awards and family portraits, soft golden lighting bathing the space in warmth that contrasted the precision of its arrangement.
Dinner was quiet, polite, proper. Xander smiled at the right times, nodded when needed, laughed softly at the right moments, but every bite of food felt like he was chewing through thoughts he couldn’t control.
When dinner ended, he slipped away, his movements quiet and precise. His room was immaculate, trophies gleaming under the soft light, but nothing in this perfect space could quiet the storm inside him.
He dropped onto his bed for a moment, jaw tight, hands clenching the sheets. That soft confrontation between Hae Rin and Seo Jin replayed in his mind. The way Hae Rin’s words carried strength and determination. Seo Jin’s quiet, hesitant softness. And he couldn’t stop thinking about it.
Finally, he threw himself up, grabbing his football cleats. If he didn’t move, if he didn’t do something physical, he would drown in these thoughts. He needed to get on the pitch.
The estate’s private football field stretched out under the evening lights, dew on the grass glinting like tiny stars. Xander stepped onto the field, the ball at his feet. He ran, aggressively, striking the ball harder than necessary, sprinting across the field until his lungs burned. Every shot, every pass, every sprint carried frustration, confusion, and a strange new ache he hadn’t felt before.
From the balcony above, his father watched quietly. He could see that Xander was upset, that something had unsettled him—but his son wasn’t the kind to explain. Not everything needed words.
Xander yelled, kicked the ball harder, slammed it against the post. His chest heaved, his arms ached, but the ache in his chest—the pull toward those girls at school—refused to fade. He didn’t know why he felt so protective, so unsettled, so… alive.
Even as he ran, sweat soaking his shirt and grass sticking to his cleats, Xander Lee, football star, heir, and the boy who seemed to have everything, realized something that terrified him and thrilled him at the same time: someone at school—someone he couldn’t stop thinking about—had found a way past all his walls.
And he wasn’t sure if he wanted to stop her.
HEA-RIN POINT OF VIEW
Hae Rin sat on the edge of her bed, textbooks and notebooks scattered around her like the aftermath of a battle she hadn’t yet won. Pens lay half-used, pages were marked with hurried notes, and the floor was littered with fragments of ideas she’d tried—and failed—to master. Sleep had become a luxury she could barely afford; four hours felt like indulgence enough. Every candle she burned late into the night felt like a small offering, a piece of herself surrendered to the fight she couldn’t lose. And yet, no matter how hard she pushed, it never seemed enough. Seo Jin was always one step ahead—precise, untouchable—and Hae Rin had to figure out just how far her rival would go to stay there.
Her thoughts wandered to the flowers she had discarded earlier that day. Guilt pricked at her chest, fleeting and sharp, but she refused to linger. She didn’t have time for distractions—not even for a simple gesture of admiration. And yet the thought clung to her stubbornly. Could it have been Xander Lee? She had glimpsed him earlier, walking past with a small bouquet that looked just like the one she’d thrown away. Could it really have been him?
Xander Lee. The name echoed in her mind, heavy and insistent. Handsome, untouchable, radiating a quiet charisma that made everyone else fade into the background. The G4 were all undeniably striking, but there was something different about him. Something that whispered of ice and fire all at once. And yet, she would not let herself indulge. Love was a luxury she could not afford.
Her fingers curled tightly around a pen, knuckles white. “No,” she muttered under her breath, a mantra meant to steady her. Not now. Focus. Winning was everything.
But even as she repeated it, a small, unwelcome flicker stirred in her chest. A trace of tenderness, of curiosity, of something she wasn’t ready to name. The memory of the flower, the imagined hands of Xander Lee placing it there—somehow, it cracked through her armor, whispering that someone, somewhere, had noticed her. Not just her skill, but her effort. Her determination. Her existence.
Hae Rin drew a shaky breath, closed her eyes, and tried to shove the thought away. She couldn’t afford to dwell on it—not now, not ever. Her dream demanded all of her. She would rise, she would fight, and she would win.
Yet, for a brief moment, she let herself feel it—the flutter, the spark, the undeniable pull. Just enough to know it was there. Then she opened her eyes, straightened her back, and returned to her notes. Winning had always been the only thing that mattered—and it always would be.
*******
CHAPTER THREE — THE FLOWER
Morning sunlight spilled across the school courtyard in long, golden stripes, warming the tiled ground and creating soft glows on the polished windows. Students gathered in clusters, whispering, adjusting uniforms, pretending not to stare at the front gate even though they all waited for the same thing.
And then—
like a slow-motion scene ripped straight from a drama—
the black car rolled in.
The G4 stepped out one after another, each with a presence that bent the air around them.
Xander Lee was in front, as always.
The heir to the Lee Group.
The only son of the school owner.
A quiet storm that walked like he owned the ground but never bragged about it. His uniform was crisp, collar slightly loosened in a way that shouldn’t have looked good but somehow did. His hair caught the morning light, giving him that effortless, untouchable glow students loved to whisper about.
Behind him was Kai Park, silent, observant, the boy who lived in shadows and saw everything. His hands were tucked into his pockets, but his eyes were alive—sharp, restless, carrying secrets no one asked about.
The other two trailed close, forming the unbreakable quartet everyone either adored or feared.
Students parted for them without being told.
A path opened.
It always did.
Hae Rin clutched her books a little tighter as she turned the corner leading to the main hall. She hadn’t expected to see them this close—not today, not when her mind was already buzzing from last night’s exhaustion and the stubborn memory of a flower she kept trying to forget.
Then she saw Xander.
He walked with that quiet confidence that shouldn’t have affected her, but it did. His expression was unreadable, almost cold, like nothing in the world had the right to touch him. The wind shifted his hair gently, and for the briefest moment, she felt something in her chest tighten.
She tried to look away.
She failed.
Her gaze lingered—not because she wanted it to, but because there was something about him that made looking away feel impossible.
And as her eyes followed him…
Kai’s eyes followed her.
Kai noticed the exact moment her attention caught on Xander. A small shift in her breath, her shoulders tensing, the hesitation in her steps. His chest tightened with something he couldn’t name—something he didn’t want to name. He kept walking, kept his face blank, but inside, he felt the sting of it.
He had seen her yesterday.
He had seen the flower incident.
He had seen the way she forced herself to be strong.
But she didn’t know that.
Up ahead, Xander’s gaze suddenly shifted—not to Hae Rin, not even to the crowd around him—but to Seo Jin standing near the staircase. The girl everyone expected him to like. The perfect match, the perfect future, the perfect pairing for the perfect heir.
Seo Jin stood straight, pretending not to notice the way the air changed when he looked at her. Her expression remained calm, but her fingers pressed into her bag straps just a little too tightly.
Hae Rin saw it all.
The air thickened in her throat.
Of course.
Of course someone like Xander Lee would look at someone like Seo Jin.
She lowered her gaze quickly, hoping the heat rising to her cheeks wasn’t obvious.
Kai watched her do it.
Watched the flicker of insecurity she tried to hide.
Watched the way she shrank just an inch—as if reminding herself of who she was and who she wasn’t.
His jaw tightened.
Xander kept walking, expression unreadable as ever, and the G4 moved toward the hallway leading to their classrooms. Students trailed behind them in hushed excitement.
Hae Rin swallowed, forced her breathing to steady, and adjusted her books.
She needed to focus.
She needed to win.
She needed to forget whatever that feeling in her chest was.
But as she stepped forward, aware of Kai’s gaze lingering on her and unaware of the shift in Xander’s eyes when he passed by her—
her heart betrayed her, thudding once, too loudly.
And the school day truly began.
******
The moment the bell rang, Hae Rin didn’t wait for the chatter to rise or for anyone to drag her into conversation. She stood, packed her books with practiced speed, and slipped out of the classroom almost before the echo of the bell faded.
Break time wasn’t for eating.
Not for her.
Not when she still felt like she was sprinting behind Seo Jin’s shadow.
The library greeted her with its familiar stillness, the air cool and dust-softened, the scent of old pages settling over her like a blanket. She dropped her books onto the table in the far corner—her usual spot—and buried herself in formulas, diagrams, anything that kept her mind sharp and steady.
But after a while, her stomach tightened like a fist, twisting painfully.
She pressed a hand over it, biting her lip.
She hadn’t eaten breakfast.
There hadn’t been enough money or time for both.
“Just hold on,” she whispered to herself, voice barely a breath. “Just… hold on.”
Outside the library, footsteps echoed along the corridor—steady, calm, almost slow enough to be careless.
Xander Lee.
He had left his friends behind, wandering the hallway like someone searching for air. His expression was unreadable as always, cool and slow-burning, the kind of calm that made people whisper about him being heartless.
He drifted past the library window…
And then he stopped.
Through the glass, he saw Hae Rin sitting alone, textbooks surrounding her like shields, one hand pressed to her stomach, her face slightly pale under the fluorescent lights.
For a moment, he simply looked.
With a feeling he can’t quite explain.
Not hatred nor pity.
Just… looking.
His eyes didn’t soften. His brows didn’t furrow.
His heart didn’t squeeze in sympathy.
He simply observed her—quietly, blankly—then turned away and continued walking.
Somewhere deeper in the building, the cabinet-room passage was quiet and dim, filled with the smell of cleaning supplies and old metal lockers. Kai Park stood there, clutching a small flower he had plucked on his way in. His heart raced, palms sweating just a little.
He lifted the flower in front of him, practicing under his breath.
“Uh… Hae Rin-ah… this is for you.”
His voice cracked. He frowned, tried again.
“I just… thought you might like this—”
He winced.
That sounded worse.
He cleared his throat, straightened his shoulders, and held the flower out again, rehearsing the moment he wanted so badly to have.
But just as he stretched his arm forward, footsteps echoed softly against the hallway floor—tap-tap, tap-tap—and Kai froze. LHe froze.
The flower wobbled in his grip.
Seo Jin turned the corner, holding her books neatly pressed to her chest. She wasn’t supposed to be here. She didn’t expect anyone either.
Kai’s arm was still stretched out, flower dangling from his fingers.
Seo Jin blinked—
then smiled.
A soft, knowing smile.
Not because she thought the flower was for her.
She knew it wasn’t.
Kai Park and she had nothing between them—not even a rumor.
But the sight of him startled and awkward, red-tipped ears and wide eyes, was unexpectedly… cute.
Kai swallowed.
Hard.
Her eyes were round and clear, her smile gentle, almost shy, and for a second—just a second—he forgot how to breathe.
He forgot Hae Rin.
He forgot the flower.
He forgot the entire world.
Seo Jin gave a tiny bow, her hair brushing her cheek.
“Oh… sorry, Kai-ssi,” she said softly. “I didn’t mean to interrupt.”
Her voice was like glass—soft but sharp enough to cut his chest open.
Kai stood frozen, flower still suspended in the air like it was meant for her.
“I—uh—no, it’s not— I mean, it’s—”
His voice tangled all over itself.
Seo Jin giggled quietly—pretty, light, unintentional.
Then she walked past him, her presence brushing lightly against his shoulder as she continued down the hallway.
Kai stayed there long after she disappeared, pulse racing, mind blank, the flower shaking faintly in his fingers.
And in that moment, one truth hit him harder than any punch he had taken on the basketball court:
He was in trouble.
Big trouble.
Kai Park stormed onto the basketball court, his sneakers squeaking against the polished wood, chest heaving not just from running, but from the fluttering chaos of his thoughts. The coach’s sharp voice cut through the air.
“Kai! Late again? You think the court waits for you?”
Kai didn’t bother answering. He nodded once, muttered a quiet “Yes, coach,” and grabbed the ball. The court had always been his domain—his kingdom—and no scolding could diminish that. The rhythmic dribble under his hands, the swoosh of the net, the pounding of his own pulse—they grounded him.
But today, even the court’s familiar comfort couldn’t drown out the echo of something else.
From the bleachers, partially hidden behind the shadows of the gym, someone was watching.
Seo Jin.
She wasn’t supposed to be there; she shouldn’t have been watching. And yet, there she was, leaning slightly forward, eyes bright, her hands loosely clasped around her bag. Her smile—gentle, unassuming—caught him off guard, and the faint way she tilted her head as if analyzing every shot he took made him feel… exposed.
Kai’s fingers tightened around the ball. Every bounce, every pivot, every jump shot seemed sharper, faster, more precise. He was the court prince, exceptional and untouchable—everyone knew it—but her presence distracted him in a way he couldn’t name.
“Focus, Kai,” he muttered to himself between breaths, yet he stole glances anyway.
She clapped lightly when he sank a particularly difficult three-pointer. Not a loud cheer—just a soft, deliberate acknowledgment—and something inside him skipped.
He dribbled again, faster this time, letting the ball guide his frustration and the confusion twisting in his chest.
“You’re staring again,” came a familiar voice.
Kai glanced at his teammate, shrugging with a smirk. “Am I? Just… trying to improve my game.”
But even as he said it, he caught her eyes once more. Her gaze wasn’t filled with admiration or teasing; it was curious, observant, quietly proud. And somehow, that made him feel both invincible and vulnerable at the same time.
The ball left his hands in a perfect arc, and for a moment, the world seemed to hold its breath. Swish.
She smiled again, and it was like the echo of a flower blooming in winter—unexpected, delicate, and impossible to ignore.
Kai caught the rebound, wiped sweat from his brow, and muttered under his breath:
“Why does she have to be here?”
Not angry. Not resentful. Just… unsettled.
He didn’t know it yet, but every shot he took, every sprint across the court from now on, would carry the silent weight of her eyes, her quiet presence—the girl he wasn’t supposed to notice, yet couldn’t look away from.
The game went on. The court remained his throne. But today, Kai realized, there was someone else quietly ruling over his thoughts.
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